Essential Tools for Launching Your Book

Essential Tools for Launching Your Book | Your Author Platform Matters

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Building a strong author platform is crucial for nonfiction authors looking to launch their books successfully. We are going to discuss the top two tools you need to employ to bring long-term success. Implementing these ideas will help you establish a solid foundation for your promotional efforts, ensuring you have direct control over your communication channels and a reliable way to reach your audience.

Key Takeaways:

  • Avoid these mistakes in your book launch: Ensure you have a website and an email list to secure your author platform.
  • Essential tools for launching your book: A professional website and an engaged email list.
  • Maximize your book’s reach with email marketing: Direct communication with your readers is vital.
  • Your author platform matters: It’s the foundation of your book’s success.
  • Build a strong author platform: Invest in a website and email list to maintain control over your outreach. Essential tools for a successful book launch: A well-designed website and an active email list are crucial.

Your Author Platform Matters

Your author platform matters. For a successful book launch and ongoing promotion, two essential tools stand out: a website and an email list.

your author platform matters

You Need an Author Website

While teaching a workshop on book launches, a participant had been thinking of getting rid of his website. By the end, he knew he was keeping it. Websites are crucial, whether you’re running a business with a book page or you’re a dedicated author with multiple titles.

In today’s world, having a website is essential. Think of it as your castle–a place you own and control. If social media platforms go down, your website remains a steadfast resource for your readers. For instance, if Facebook is down and you have an event, you can update your website, ensuring your audience can still access important informations

Ownership and Control

Owning your website means you control your online presence. Unlike social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, your website is your domain. Ensure it’s professionally designed, user-friendly, and communicates your brand. Key pages include a homepage, author page, book pages, and contact pages. This guarantees a consistent place where people can find you, regardless of changing trends or platforms.

Importance of an Email List

Equally important is having an email list. Like your website, you own your email list. When someone subscribes, they give you permission to communicate directly with them. This is invaluable compared to social media, where your posts might not always reach your followers.

Building Relationships via Email

With an email list, you can maintain constant communication. Include a signup form on your website where visitors can enter their name and email for something valuable, like a free chapter or exclusive content. Engage with your subscribers regularly to build a meaningful relationship. Encourage responses and interaction to foster a two-way communication channel.

Regular Email Updates

Regular newsletters or updates keep your audience engaged. Frequency can vary, and some authors find a monthly newsletter sufficient. Share what you’ve been up to, your writing progress, and any other relevant updates.

Using Other Platforms

Using social media and other platforms such as YouTube, podcasts, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram will help drive traffic to your website and expand your email list. This ensures you always have a direct line to your audience, even if these platforms disappear.

Build your website. Build your email list. An email list of five is an email list. You start sending newsletters immediately.

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Your Next Steps to Build an Author Platform

Set Up a Basic Author Website:

  1. Choose a Website Builder:
    • Use a user-friendly platform like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace to create your author website. I use WordPress.
  2. Create Essential Pages:
    • Ensure you have an About Page, a Book Page for your books with descriptions and purchase links, and a contact page with your social media links.
  3. Ask for Feedback:

Start Building Your Email List:

  1. Choose an Email Provider:
    • Pick the provider that best suits you. For example, ConvertKit focuses on creatives, so if you don’t have an email provider, check them out. You can start for free.
  2. Create a Reader Magnet:
    • Offer something valuable for free, such as a sample chapter or exclusive content, in exchange for visitors’ email addresses.
  3. Use Sign-Up Forms:
    • Place sign-up forms prominently on your website, such as in the sidebar, footer, or as a pop-up.

Taking these steps will ensure that you establish a solid foundation for your author platform, helping you effectively launch and promote your book. By having a professional website and an engaged email list, you’ll have direct control over your communication channels and a reliable way to reach your audience.

Author Nation is your go-to resource for becoming a successful nonfiction author, from planning to promotion and everything in between. 
Disclaimer: This blog may contain affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, we will earn a small commission. Please understand that we have experience with these products, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make.

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