Most think of February as the month for romance, proposals, flowers, chocolates, Hallmark Cards, and overworked cupids. For weeks we’re blinded by flashes of red hearts and roses, as lovers get high on the possibility of romance – especially romance readers.
But if you think about how well branded Valentine’s Day is, romance writers prepare months in advance just for this annual event, ensuring they fit the brand of V-day.
Branding. It’s a thang. And when it's done well, readers don't realise they’re following a brand - like 80% of the people on social media do.
Do you think romance writers need a brand?
If you don’t, your readers will make one up for you. Which they do!
WHAT IS AN AUTHOR BRAND FOR ROMANCE WRITERS:
An author brand is what a romance writer creates to help their readers recognise them especially in a crowded bookstore—or in a marketplace like social media.
Here are a few more ways to explain:
- An author brand is your reputation.
- Building an author brand is about building trust with your readers.
- Your author brand is the promise you are making to your readers.
- When creating an author brand, it’s all about creating an emotional trigger to help readers remember you.
WHY AN AUTHOR BRAND IS IMPORTANT FOR ROMANCE WRITERS:
With over a billion books on the market, and over a million books published every year that’s the equivalent of ten packed Superbowl’s full of authors screaming out ‘BUY MY BOOK’. (Go on, read that again.)
Having an author brand helps you stand out in the crowd because an author brand is all about recognition.
Readers have shorter attention spans, and with so many books to choose from, having an author brand helps you draw attention to yourself. So by creating an author brand, it can give you that competitive edge over other authors.
If you make it unique.
And about you.
Because it’s your unique qualities that your readers are searching for.
Want to stand out in a crowded bookstore?
And you want to start an author brand...
But you want to skip the marketing complexities, that involve too many moving parts, to just unpack the basics for starting an author brand that works.
Then this is for you.
Included is a step-by-step plan that allows you to do things your way – which is the essence of what building an author brand is all about. It’s you.
It’s your brand.
It’s your story.
Are you ready to tell it your way…
Visit YOUR AUTHOR BRAND HERE>>
Melissa Rowe helps aspiring authors build their author platforms through her books, courses, and kits. She’s an award-winning blogger, an international bestselling fiction author, and team leader at: THEAUTHORPLATFORM.COM
**This post is a condensed version from the original article: “Create an author brand to stand out in a crowded bookstore” printed with permission by the author, for THEAUTHORPLATFORM.COM **