Let's Start the Year Off at the Beginning

Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting your writing career, we could all use some tips to help with the ever-demanding task of marketing. We understand how challenging it can be to start, so we've curated this list to assist you in your efforts. Our goal is to provide guidance for long-term success as marketing is often seen as the least enjoyable and stimulating aspect of being an author but crucial for sustained success. This is especially true for romance writers who may have plans for multiple book series. It requires consistency in style, design, and cover art that must be kept in mind while promoting your books.

And a comprehensive marketing plan must include various elements and phases, but no matter where you are on your journey as an author or marketer, these steps in our weekly blog will get you closer to your desired goal.

As your business evolves, your plan will need adjustments from time to time, and Restless Heart Publishing is available to consult and inspire you anytime. And remember, in any undertaking, there is always a beginning. So let’s start there.

Create An Author Website

The first step is to create an author website. And we know from experience that looking at building your website can feel like a daunting task. However, with careful planning, it can be an enjoyable experience. Our recommendation to keep you from giving up in frustration is that you consider these three factors when choosing your tools.

(1)  Cost should be a primary consideration, especially for unpublished authors or those with limited funds. Free options may be the best starting point until you gain readers and followers.

(2)  Ease of use is another important factor, especially for individuals who are not tech-savvy. Platforms that simplify website design and building can be helpful, but they may have drawbacks or eventually require additional expenses and frustrations.

(3)  Be mindful of portability and longevity when selecting a platform. Not all platforms will withstand the test of time, which is particularly important for long-term use.

Invest In Your Own Domain

Your website’s URL is where it will live, and it should reflect your author name rather than a specific book title. Your author name will become your brand for many years and should represent the books you publish. If yourname.com is unavailable, try variations like yournameauthor.com, yournamebooks.com, or

yournamewriter.com. If none of those are available, consider alternative options like .net or .me. Take the time to carefully research and choose a website theme or design template that fits with your brand and aesthetic preferences, as it essentially serves as the visual "skin" for your website. It sets the tone for colors, layout, and overall appearance.

Content For Your Website

(1)  Your professional bio. If you don’t already have one, write a 100-300 word professional bio in the third person that would be appropriate if used to introduce you at a reading or event. Optional but encouraged: a first-person bio that’s much longer.

(2)  Book cover images. For every book you’ve published, obtain the highest resolution image you can find. While you’ll be using lower resolution images for most of your site (to ensure fast loading time), it’s helpful to make the high resolution version available for download or as part of a media/press kit.

(3)  Brief descriptions of each book. Your book’s Amazon page probably has a brief description of your book that you can start with. If not, develop a 25-100 word description.

(4)  Long descriptions of each book. This would be the back cover copy or flap copy for your book. It’s

probably around 200-300 words or the full-length Amazon description.

(5)  Links to all major online retailers where your book can be purchased. At a minimum, you’ll want to link to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound. Consider adding Apple, Google Play, and Kobo as well. Get links for print, ebook, audiobook, large-print, and foreign language editions.

(6)  Links to your public social media profiles. If you have an official Facebook author page, or accounts with Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, etc., collect all of the direct links. Don’t bother with accounts where you’re not open to being friended/followed by the general public.

(7)  Your best blurbs or reviews. Collect any praise that appears on the front or back cover of your book, or official (positive) reviews your book received from the media.

(8)  Contact information. This is arguably the most important aspect of any author's website. Your contact information should be present on every page. You’ve put a lot of time and effort into creating the perfect website so make sure those who land on it can easily contact you.

Restless Heart Publishing hopes these few beginning steps will have you well on your way to creating your unique author brand. With just a little patience and some imagination, your long-term success in marketing yourself as an author is only a mouse click away.