My reporting days may be behind me, but the ABCs of journalism are still embedded into my brain:
- Accuracy
- Brevity
- Clarity
When it comes to marketing ourselves and our writing, those ABCs come in handy.
Accuracy: Are your marketing efforts, well, accurate? Are they professional and well-crafted? Think of each marketing piece—whether it’s your website, a bookmark, a business card, even a YouTube video—as a potential reader’s first introduction to you. Make sure what they see is exactly what you want them to see!
Brevity: We live in a fast-moving, constantly on-the-go world…which means brevity is always a bonus. See: Twitter. J But it’s totally possible to say LOTS while saying little…whether it’s in a blog post, your author bio, or even a Facebook status. Learn to be pithy and brief in your marketing efforts, and you’ll likely see an uptick in response.
Clarity: This one’s simple. On your website, printed materials, social media, etc, make sure it’s clear who you are, what you write and what you want the person on the receiving end to do. Do you want them to buy your book? Then be sure to include links to Amazon and Christianbook.com! Do you want them to comment on your blog? Then end with a question. The best marketing efforts prompt an action—so be clear about what action you want your reader to take.
There you go, the ABCs of journalism applied to author marketing!
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Marketing Coordinator, Melissa Tagg
Former reporter and native Iowan Melissa Tagg writes contemporary romance heavy on the hilarious. She won the 2010 Frasier Award and finaled in the 2010 ACFW Genesis contest. In addition to her homeless ministry day job, she is My Book Therapy’s marketing/live-events planner. Visit Melissa at www.melissatagg.com where she waxes eloquent on faith, fiction and frivolity. Contact her at: marketing@mybooktherapy.com.
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