Branding 101—I know my brand. Now what do I do with it? by Patty Smith Hall

Last month, we talked about the importance of branding and ways to figure out what your particular brand is (click here to read). We asked ourselves the all-important question in branding—Who am I? What do I offer my readers that is unique?

You may be asking yourself why focus on ourselves instead of our work? Aren’t our books what makes our brand? The answer to both questions is no—we are our brand, and it’s important to know who we are before we enter into a relationship with our readers. Because branding plays a significant role in building relationships with our readers.

And relationships are what sell books.

What do you do when you’re in a relationship with someone? First and foremost, be yourself! When my first book was published with Love Inspired, I threw a book launch at the local historical society where I’d done some of my research. Thank heavens, there wasn’t an empty seat in the place! But what struck me the most is the cliché some of the people there had of romance writers—most thought I’d show up with a feathered boa around my neck rather than share the rich history of the Woman’s Army Service Pilots. Even my brother (who knows better!) asked me if I’d written a bodice ripper!

But relationships change all that. When you’re in a relationship with a person, they know the real you, warts and all. That’s what we all crave, isn’t it? To feel an honest connection with the people around us, sharing the good and bad, the silly and sometimes embarrassing situations we find ourselves in. For example, I decide to bake a ham for our family’s Easter dinner. I took pictures of me preparing it and after it was cooked, then posted them on Facebook. But when I cut into the ham, I found that ¾ of it was fat! Epic fail! What did I do? I posted a Facebook video about what had happened.

And the response blew my socks off!

How do we build a relationship with our readers? Through our website, our social media presence, newsletters and personal contacts. Let’s start with our website.

Take a good, hard look at your web page. This is the first impression most readers will have of you. Is it clear who you are and what you write? Do the colors and fonts tell your visitors what kind of books you write? What about your pages? Do you give your readers the opportunity to contact you or join your newsletter? 

For this experiment, I’m going to use my webpage as an example. If you look at it, you may think it’s not too bad. In fact, it’s kind of perky and sweet like me. Great, right? The problem is most people thought I wrote women’s fiction or contemporary romance.

That’s a problem.

I needed to use more muted colors as well as a font that give a historical feel to it. I offered a contact page but no area to subscribe to my newsletter or beta reader list.

So, I went to work. I added more pages including a newsletter and beta reader sign-up. I got a new headshot wearing colors that complimented the sedate colors on my page. I changed everything.

Next month, I’ll show you how it turned out! 

How can you change your website to compliment your brand? 

Branding plays a significant role in building relationships with our readers. And relationships are what sell books. via @pattywrites #SeriouslyWrite

~~~~~~

A multi-published author with Love Inspired Historical and Barbour, Patty lives in North Georgia with her husband of 35 years, Danny; two gorgeous daughters, her son-in-love and a grandboy who has her wrapped around his tiny finger. When she’s not writing on her back porch, she’s spending time with her family or working in her garden.

Social Media, Marketing, and Branding Series: Part One by Edie Melson

Edie Melson

Hey everyone, Annette here. Today we begin a three-part series. Parts two and three will follow tomorrow and Wednesday. Enjoy these great tips!

Social Media, Marketing & Branding Basics Part One: Building Your Social Media Platform

by Edie Melson

The prospect of building—or continuing to build—a viable online presence can seem daunting and wearying. With this series of 3 posts, DiAnn Mills and I will be sharing some secrets, shortcuts, and simplifying techniques to take the intimidation out of connecting with our audience.

Connecting With Our Audience

And that’s where we begin—and what we always return to. This is the reason we engage in social media, marketing and branding. Yes, this will lead to sharing about our books and blogs. That will ultimately lead to book sales. But, a successful platform is not built on a foundation of  advertising.

Basics of Relationship Building

·         We should be on Facebook

·         We should be on Twitter

·         We should be blogging somewhere

·         We must own our list

We’re on FB and Twitter because the majority of our audience is on these two networks combined. We can choose to insert another network in place of one of these, but that requires more effort to connect with the same amount of people. If we target a specific audience—such as YA—we may need to add Instagram or Snapchat into the mix.

We are blogging somewhere because that’s where we connect with our audience on a deeper level. 

Owning our list is marketing-speak for building an email list. Here’s why:

1.      Social media is in a constant state of flux. If we rely solely on that, a single change in the algorithm can take our reach from 60,000 to 600 in less than 24 hours.

2.      Having people who have chosen to add their names to my newsletter or blog sign ups means I can send them up-to-date information and know it will reach them.

What to Share on Social Media

I have several guidelines I follow when I share things on social media. First—unless it is launch week for a book—I stick with Edie’s 5 to 1 rule.

For every 5 social media updates I send out, I then allow myself to send out one about me.

An about me update:

·         An update about a book I’ve written

·         An update about a blog or article I’ve written

·         An update about an event I’m part of

Not an about me:

·         Sharing a favorite Scripture or quote

·         Sharing something that happened to me or touched me

I have built my considerable platform by promoting others ahead of myself. It may sound counterintuitive, but when we’re willing to do this we instill trust in our audience and receive respect from our industry counterparts.

We’re sharing the messages God has given each of us and must remember that there is plenty to go around. Scripture reminds us that the harvest is plentiful, it’s the workers who are few. (Edie’s paraphrase of Matthew 9:37)

Types of Updates

·         A Scripture or an inspiring quote

·         An intriguing question.

·         Something funny.

·         A link to something I find valuable.

I share these things in a variety of ways, through plain updates, through memes, and through video.

I recommend 4 to 5 updates a day, 3 to 4 days a week.  These updates should be a mix of things you post and things you share and/or retweet.

Bottom Line

We live in an age where social media is the way to connect with our audience. It’s a valuable tool, and we need to learn how to use it effectively without fear and with minimal frustration. We also have to guard against it taking over our lives.  

Be sure to leave your thoughts, suggestions and questions in the comments section below. None of us can know everything about social media and we’re all stronger together!

Blessings,

Edie

~~~~~ 

While My Child is Away by Edie Melson

WHILE MY CHILD IS AWAY

Parents and children are separated for many reasons: divorce, school, camp, even work. It might be for just a few days or indefinitely. These prayers give voice to all that you are hoping for your child when you can t be the one to meet their needs. Prayers of blessings, protection, instruction and grace. Or prayers for those around your child to choose wisely, see their needs, and love them as you would. Prayers for friends, teachers, coaches and mentors to step in and fill every need. Knowing that a loving Father God is caring for your child, even when you can t, gives you the peace and assurance that all will be well.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/While-My-Child-Away-Prayers/dp/1617957313/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/while-my-child-is-away-edie-melson/1123199238?ean=9781617957314

Christian Book Distributor: http://www.christianbook.com/while-child-away-prayers-when-apart/edie-melson/9781617957314/pd/957314?product_redirect=1&Ntt=957314&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

~~~~~ 

Find your voice, live your story…is the foundation of Edie Melson’s message, no matter if she’s addressing parents, military families, readers of fiction, or writers. As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books, including While My Child is Away and While My Soldier Serves, reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them during these difficult times.

In addition, as a respected expert in social media, Edie has the proven expertise to teach others how to plug in and reach their target audience without the restraint of physical boundaries. In her role as social media coach she’s worked with clients that range from authors and speakers to business and ministry leaders. Her bestselling eBook on this subject, has been updated, expanded and re-released as Connections: Social Media & Networking Techniques for Writers.

As a respected blogger, her personal site, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s also a regular columnist on Guideposts.com, Just 18 Summers.com, and Putting on the New.com. She’s the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the social media director for Southern Writers Magazine, the Senior Editor at Novel Rocket, and a long-time member of the Advance Speakers and Writers Association.

Edie and her husband of 35+ years have raised three sons. They live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina with their dog, Jake and cat, Emily Dickinson. You can connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook.

How Will You Be Known?

Thursdays - Devotions for Writers

“Therefore, by their fruit you will know them.” (Matt. 7:20 NKJV)

As writers we can get caught up in branding.

You know . . . that thing that makes us stand out from other writers. That tag line that speaks to what we write, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction.

“Don’t forget to breathe . . .” lets you know when you open a Brandilyn Collin’s novel, you’ll find a story full of suspense.

Kim Sawyer uses “gentle stories of hope” for her historical romances.

You expect humor with Kathleen E. Kovach’s tag, “Spiritual Truth…With A Giggle.”

Some authors are so well known for their genre, they don’t need a tag line. Their name alone represents their brand.

Dr. James Dobson. Everyone knows what he stands for and what to expect from any publication written by him.

No one choosing a Stephen King novel would anticipate reading something lighthearted.

I hope to have a brand and a cool tag line some day.

But when I get caught up in my writing and desire to be published, I put this before me . . .

Even if I’m bearing fruit on the page and writing 3,000 words a day (I wish!) – how am I known to those around me?

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” (Galations 5:22-23 NIV)

More than my desire to be known for what I write, I want to be known for bearing fruits of the Spirit.

And you?

How will you be known?

Dawn