Why You MUST Brand Yourself As An Author And How To Do It

If you’ve written a book, series of books, or are planning to, one of the most important thing you can do to ensure book sales is to create an author brand. Branding is the key to simplified marketing and increased sales. Failing to create an author brand means you pretty much blend in with all the other authors in your genre. It might even mean your books languish on shelves.

Think about how big companies and corporations brand themselves. When you see those famous golden arches, you know you’re getting the same meal, prepared the same way, and served in the same atmosphere no matter which store you go into. You can pick those golden arches out of the sky and know exactly what they represent in seconds. When you create an author brand, three similar and exciting things happen:

• You position yourself as a leader and an expert
• You create instant recognizability with your target market
• You create a relationship with your ideal reader

Again, think about it. When you pick up a John Maxwell book, you know you’ll be reading about leadership. When you grab a book by Laura Ingalls Wilder, you know you’re going to read about a family in the pioneering days. No matter what your writing genre, you must create a brand that tells your story, shares your personality, and speaks to your ideal reader. The following three strategies will help you create an author brand that does all the above.

1. Start with an image. Multiple images, actually. Have a selection of images of yourself – professional pics only please – and images of your book cover(s). Make sure you have clear, high-resolution photos and graphics that translate well across a variety of mediums including print, digital, thumbnail, etc.
2. Pick the top ten keywords your target market uses to find you, your books, and other books in your genre. Be careful not to choose keywords you like, but that your target audience doesn’t. Use a keyword finder to find the right words.
3. Build a brand board. Head on over to Canva and use the plethora of tools they offer. With a paid account, you can create a color story and select some uber cool graphics to create an author brand and visual identity.

Don’t forget to create a logo. Use the elements of your brand board, message, and color story to create a logo that depicts your brand all over the internet and lets your target market keep up with you. The purpose of building an author brand is building an audience. Use input from your graphic designer, audience survey, and competitor information to build a logo and a brand that leads to profits.