Public relations can seem a foreign concept to someone who only wants to write. But, it doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Yes, it can mean a multitude of things that feel out of your wheelhouse. Now take a breath. Maybe take a couple more. Are you ready? Feeling a bit relaxed? Don’t worry. We’re going to take it in small steps and focus on the one thing you should already have before your book launch: a website. Yup, it’s that easy. And yes, a website is all about public relations. How could it not be! Enough prattle; on to the heart of the matter.
You NEED a Website
Having a website should be a no-brainer. But the excitement of a book launch can overshadow everything else. I mean, you should already have one, but if you don’t, do it NOW! Your website should be clean, to the point, and intuitive. You want people to find your books and navigate your site with ease. A messy site can be a turn-off, especially to new fans. With more and more people using their phones as their primary source of scrolling through the internet, make sure your site is mobile-friendly.
Looking to create a website but you don’t have the skills? Check this list of quick and easy NO CODE ways to get a site up and running in no time:
For something a little different:
Glide — A quick and simple solution to turn your spreadsheet of books into a stunning app! Get creative and create a whole site for all your authorly needs. If you can put it in a spreadsheet, Glide can create an app from the spreadsheet data.
A website is #1 for a reason, as it contains everything else we will talk about in this article. When creating your author website, remember to KISS! Keep It Simple Scribes! (See what I did there?!) At a minimum, your website should contain the next 5 items.
1. A Home Page
A home page is a landing site for readers coming to learn about you and your books. It should reflect your style and convey your author brand. This is where you’ll ask for their email address; you’ll want it for that snazzy newsletter you’ve been planning in your head. They want to get updates from you, and a newsletter is a great way to let them know about events they can attend to hear you read your favorite passage in your new book.
Your home page should be clean and easy to navigate. Visitors shouldn’t have to guess where to go to find a list of your books, upcoming events (such as your first book launch!), or your blog if you decide to have one. The home page is the gateway to your world. They want to be there, and you should have a welcome mat at the door!
2. A List of Your Books
A must-have for any author is a place for your books. You have a prized space on your bookshelf at home for them. Why shouldn’t there be one on your website? Plus, it lets you control where your fans purchase your books. You might be happy to let an online bookstore or retailer do the heavy lifting, or you might want not want to divvy out a commission on the sales. You can choose to sell them directly, allowing for larger margins. Plus, you can give the books a personal touch. Maybe a signed copy.
PRO TIP: If you choose to sell the books yourself and shipping within the USA, you can opt to send by Media Mail via the Post Office for a lower price. But be aware that this method does take longer.
3. Multiple Ways to Contact You
There are many ways you can let people contact you. It is best to think about what kind of access you feel comfortable allowing others to have to you. I’d steer away from giving out your home address or phone number. It opens you up to any number of transgressions. And some can be downright scary. On the other hand, giving out your email address can be tricky, too. My suggestion would be a contact form. It allows people a limited way to contact you that you control. There again, you may not feel comfortable with this either. On the positive, it does allow for businesses and industry people to easily contact you. Who knows, maybe a podcaster wants you to be on their show! Cough, cough! I’m just sayin’.
Don’t forget social media buttons linked to your accounts. I’m assuming you have a social media presence already. If you don’t, get crackin’! It’s a great way to connect with fans. They love seeing a bit of the ol’ human in their favorite authors and getting a glimpse into your process.
4. Your Biography
Putting together a page about you, usually called an About page, is a great space for new fans to learn more about you. It can be as small as the blurb you put together for the About the Author page in your book, but this is a place where you can let your creativity shine! Tell them more about you, add links to your favorite cat videos, tell them about why you became a writer. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination. Your bio can be simple. My own About page is pretty minimal and contains calls to action to connect with me. You can even beef-it-up later if you want. You should also add a picture of yourself. Maybe something fun or a picture of you working in your favorite spot.
Your About page can also help set yourself apart from other authors with the same name as you. You’ve seen it. You pick up a book, and when you go to find the author on the internet you can’t figure out who-in-the-world this person is among all the other Toms, Dicks, and Harrys with the same name. Many don’t even include their web address in their book! Epic failure by the author and they miss out on capturing their readers’ attention, emails, and connecting with them in any real way. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to collect readers’ information and connect with them! You’re here on this website because you want to make writing your day job. Grab all the opportunities you can!
5. Media Kit
A media kit might not be something that’s remotely on your radar. So, stop what you’re doing and pay attention because this deserves some serious care. A media kit will save you a lot of time and a clogged-up email especially for any book launch.
A media kit is a group of information put together for the press, bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, or anyone else that wants to interview you or highlight you and your books in some way. It’s a one-stop-shop for them to get all the information they need about you and your latest book to share with their audiences.
Now, why should you make it easy for them? Unless you’re famous already, they may not care enough to do the legwork. Or they may pester you with the same questions over and over again. There again, this is your job. You are a writer. Do this once and get back to writing. Once again, this is your job. Your dream. Your passion. These interviews and other forms of press are what attract new readers to your books. Make it easy for them to get the information. Plus, you can craft it yourself.
Some of the must-haves for your media kit:
- A photo of you they can use on their show, website, etc.
- Author bio
- Book cover image along with information about the book.
- Contact info
- Anticipated media Q & A
- Facts and figures (add some fun facts about your writing process)
- Book reviews
- Accolades
- Book excerpts
They are only suggestions. It’s up to you what you would like to include. Remember, though, to update your media kit frequently, especially with each new book.
Conclusion
There are hundreds of things you can do before your book launch. So many that it’s easy to get lost doing them instead of launching your book. So, in the end, you do what’s best for you. I still recommend getting that website up and running. There are tons of templates out there to get you up and running fast. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be functional. To paraphrase Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn, if you’re not embarrassed by the site you put out there, you’ve waited too long. You can always tweak it later.
Connect with me on social media to share a link to your website and share your thoughts on what makes a good author website and let us know about your book launch.
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