Endorsers, Influencers, Street Teams, and Reviewers - Oh My!

This post was inspired by two things. This blog by Janet Grant, and my upcoming need for all of the folks listed in the title.

I have a book coming out in October: Murder in the Family. And - YES - the marketing starts now. NO, it is not too soon.

If you're an author, you need to know this. Marketing comes in all shapes and sizes, and it extends FAR beyond, "Hey, y'all, buy my book." It's about involvement, authenticity, and engagement. It's knowing the difference between social media, broadcast media, and long-lead media. It's understanding that in the era of Amazon and indies, the "secret" to discoverability (which is your key to success) is in the word-of-mouth between readers, references from people they trust, and knowing where they find books.

If you're an avid reader, watching for tidbits from your favorite authors can guide you to the next big thing--and as a street team member, you can engage with your favorites in ways never seen before in publishing.

READERS used to be the "end game" in publishing. The final destination. Now, they are an integral part of the process and as involved in the success of a book as anyone else in the publishing process.

Janet does a better job of describing street teams and influencers than I possibly could. Please click over and read her blog.

Endorsers (all those wonderful folks listed in the front of the book or on the back) may or may not be great influencers, but they give readers a glimpse of what a skilled reader thought of your book. Endorsers need to be lined up early in the game, as soon as a final manuscript is ready. (After content edit but before copyedit is a good time to start.) Also, try to give endorsers at least two months to read the book, and don't be afraid to send reminders.

Reviewers can be street team members, but if they don't have the energy or the time to be on your street team, they can still be invaluable just by posting their responses to your book on social media, blogs, and retail sites.

Reading can be both a solitary activity or a group dynamic. Whatever level you want to dig into, I hope 2019 brings plenty of opportunities. 

And if you're interested in working with me in one of these four ways, please let me know, either here or on Facebook.