The Author-Reader Relationship, Part I

Let's continue our conversation, but if you think today's topic is about book marketing (as opposed to where we've been focusing), you're not wrong. I haven't lost my mind—or my place—in our conversation. Book marketing is one of my favorite topics, and what most people don't fully understand is when book marketing begins. It begins in the beginning, even as you're crafting your book. So while the next few posts may feel like they are about marketing (they are), they are also about crafting and writing your book. Three for the price of one. Pretty cool, right?

The truth is the best time to think about optimizing your book (which I define as commencing and building the author-reader relationship) is when you've got a blank page (or are still working on your book).

Yes or yes: you're writing (or have written) your book because you (a) want to help people with your book and (b) would love for them to engage you at a deeper level. Of course this is true.

So how do you do that? You focus on developing the author-reader relationship in these ways (and this week is all about how in detail):

1. Before you put pen to paper, think about who the ideal reader is, and what you want the reader to be able to do by the end of your book.
2. Then decide: "what content must I provide so they can do it in an easy and informed way (without a conversation or any future connection with me)."
3. But perhaps they will need a little more information (hint: book bonuses).
4. Or a lot more information (hint: companions and/or courses).
5. Or some hand-holding (hint: consulting or coaching).

Let's use my recent book, You Must Market Your Book, as our example. I was (and am) incredibly clear that this book is for published nonfiction authors, regardless of publisher (trad, hybrid, or indie), who want to market their books effectively so they can increase their impact, sell more books, and make more money (directly from book sales or through other income streams).

By the end of my book, I want readers to know how to market their books in ways that fit their personality, complement to the role of their book, and are in alignment with their time availability and budget.

Said another way: I want readers to know how to think about book marketing, and to know what to do, when, where, and why . . . so they get amazing results.

Now an exercise for you:

• Get clear who your book is for and what your reader must be able to do by the end of the book. All content must and should be geared toward this outcome.
• What must the reader be able to do by the end of the book? Write it and be able to state it clearly so anyone you talk to will understand.

That might take you a minute, so I'll sign off for now.

See you tomorrow.

Honorée Corder | I help professionals write, publish, market, and monetize their books.

Click here for more information about my courses, to book a session, if you'd like to receive this letter in your inbox, and more!