The Business Side of Being An Author

So you wrote a book. Now what? Writing the book is only half of the journey. If you want your book to sell and build your audience, there are some steps you need to take to build your business as an authorpreneur. Whether you’re self-published, traditionally published, or a hybrid author, treating your writing like a business is essential for long-term success. Let’s take a look at 5 essential steps necessary to ensure your career as an author thrives.

Step 1: Develop a Clear Brand

Your brand is more than your book covers; it’s the essence of who you are as an author. Define what makes you unique and the messages that resonate throughout your work. In order to do so, get clear about your messaging. Build an author website to show your professionalism. Make sure your website is displays your books and is user-friendly. Also, create a bio that resonates with your audience and share how your readers can follow and contact you. The next step in building a clear brand is to be visible. This means using social media platforms to engage with readers. Using hashtags like #bookstagrammars on Instagram or #booktok on Tik Tok (if it’s still here) is a great way to find readers, other authors, and book influencers. Lastly, using a brand style guide to build your brand identity is important. Ensure your visual branding (colors, fonts, tone) is cohesive across all platforms.

Step 2. Protect Your Intellectual Property

Your writing is your intellectual property, and you should take that extra step in protecting them. Register with your country’s copyright office because in the event that you need to sue someone for stealing your work, you are required to be have copyrighted your work. To take it a step further, trademark any unique pen name, logo, or series title to prevent unauthorized use. If you are interested in licensing your book, educate yourself about subsidiary rights (film, TV, audiobook, translation) and negotiate them wisely. Consider hiring a lawyer for trademarks and license negotiations.

Step 3: Build an Engaged Audience

Your readers are your customers, and connecting with them is vital. There are several ways you can nurture your audience. One critical way for authors is to build an email list. You can use platforms like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to send newsletters with updates, giveaways, and exclusive content. In addition to build an email list, you can participate in book festivals, conferences, book signings, webinars, or virtual Q&A sessions to build rapport with your readers. Cross-promotion is another great way to get in front of new readers. You can partner with other authors or influencers to expand your reach.

Step 4: Plan Your Marketing Strategy

Book marketing is an ongoing process, not a one-time effort. It takes time and trial and error. You can either work with a company to help you market your books or learn all the strategies and resources to market it yourself. Either way, you should develop a marketing plan. Marketing is done in three phases: pre-launch, launch, and post-launch. There are strategies to be done in each phase. In the pre-launch phase, you want to build anticipation, build your email list, and secure reviewers. During the launch, you can host giveaways, live events, or discounted promotions. For one to two months after the launch, you should keep your book in the spotlight with reviews, ads, and new content.

Step 5: Be Data Driven

The business side of being an author involves trial and error. Regularly assess what works and what doesn’t work. This means you have to review sales reports and marketing analytics. You should also ask readers and peers for constructive feedback. Lastly, don’t be afraid to pivot. Be open to changing your strategies to align with new goals or market trends.

Remember, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14 KJV)  Go out and be the true BAWSE that you are! Thank you so much for reading my blog “God-Made,” a dose of PURPOSE + GOD.

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