I read it again yesterday: Authors must have a strong web presence. In fact this came from a publisher who wrote in his submission guidelines, “Our best selling books are by authors with a strong web presence.”
What does this mean? In this case, it means that the authors whose books are selling are those who have created the most opportunity for exposure online. These authors are, most likely, showcasing their books at their own websites, they’re blogging regularly and frequently, they’re posting at Twitter and maybe a few other social networks. But they’re probably also commenting on other blogs related to the theme/genre of their books, getting their books reviewed online, being interviewed at appropriate sites, being guest blogger at active blog sites, and inviting big name authors, publishers and others in their field to be guest bloggers.
But there’s more that you can do to enhance the web presence you are so actively attempting to establish. Your potential readers who use Google Alerts to keep abreast of books and authors within their favorite topics/genres will easily find you. Those who are excellent researchers will stumble across your site and become aware of your book. But what about the many others out there who would read your book if they knew about it, but don’t know about it? Here are a few additional things you can do in order to boost your excellent web presence:
• Submit articles or stories related to your subject/genre to appropriate magazines and ezines regularly. And be sure to link it to your website.
• Send press releases every so often announcing an activity or event you’re involved in, a contest you’re running or a charity project you have started.
• Go out and speak publicly to your audience.
• Hand out and send out brochures, biz cards, etc. with your web address on it.
• Launch a newsletter and strive to keep building your subscription list.
• Create a spectacular book trailer that everyone will be talking about and post it at your website, show it from your booths at book festivals, etc.
Yes, a web presence is necessary for authors today. But if you stop at simply building a nice site, you will not even be noticed.
For much more about how to promote your book in this competitive publishing climate and so much more, read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
Visit my new website and sign up for a free ebook. http://www.patriciafry.com