How to Build a Strong Personal Brand as an Author
Before you say that personal branding is a corporate buzzword, let's make it clear—it's not about creating a fake persona or sleazy sales techniques. Personal branding, especially for authors, is a way to share their unique writing identity with potential readers. It's an authentic extension of your literary self that showcases your style, values, and personality and leaves a lasting impression.
But it can also significantly influence your writing career. When potential readers, publishers, or collaborators search for you, what they find will shape their perception of you as a writer. Whether we are talking about your digital presence or your offline activity, it’s important to approach it with intention and craft your personal brand rather than allowing it to happen to you.
What Personal Branding Is and Isn't
This is probably the most important thing to remember: the cornerstone of personal branding is authenticity—being genuinely you. It's not about creating a fictional persona; it's about letting your true self shine. People connect with real stories and real people.
Personal branding is an intentional way to cultivate and promote your writing identity. It's about showcasing your unique writing style, values, and personality to create a lasting impression on your audience and give them a peek into what happens behind the scenes of your writing process.
It's not about crafting a facade or adopting a persona that's detached from your true self. It’s not a sales strategy to trick people into buying more books. And it’s certainly not reserved just for celebrities and movie stars.
How much you can benefit from a personal brand depends on your goals and efforts. It’s not a panacea or a sure way to achieve something, though it can significantly improve your chances for success. And we will do our best to help you get started!
Why Personal Branding Matters for Authors
Even though personal branding isn’t limited to digital space, in this article, we’ll mostly focus on your online presence, which gives you visibility, trust, and a community of engaged readers. So what other benefits can you expect?
Increased Visibility and Recognition
First and foremost, a strong personal brand helps you stand out in the market. Readers are more likely to pick up your books when they recognize your name and associate it with a specific style or genre.
Trust and Credibility
The literary world can’t exist without trust. A well-crafted personal brand adds to your credibility with your audience and helps to showcase your professionalism.
Connection With the Audience
Create deeper connections with readers by giving them a peek into the person behind the pen. When readers feel a personal connection, they are more likely to engage, attend events, and follow your writing journey. And for publishers, a writer with an existing audience is always a plus.
Genre or Niche Establishment
Your brand can carve out a niche in a specific genre, similar to creating a unique identity linked to that style. It's akin to associating a certain author with a particular genre, like when you think of J.K. Rowling and magical fantasy. This distinct association helps your audience recognize your belonging to a specific style and what to expect from you.
Effective Marketing and Promotion
And last, but not least, is, of course, marketing. At the end of the day, your personal brand exists to help you sell more books, get better publishing deals, and live your dream lifestyle. It makes it easier to engage with readers on social media, build a loyal fan base, and market your books effectively.
Who Did It Right?
J.K. Rowling (Fantasy Fiction): Rowling's personal brand is synonymous with the magical worlds she creates. Her online presence, engagement with fans, and advocacy work contribute to her brand's success.
Malcolm Gladwell (Non-Fiction): Gladwell's brand revolves around insightful commentary and intellectual exploration. His engaging writing style and consistent media presence have established him as an authority.
Tim Ferriss (Self-Help, Productivity): Ferriss has built a strong brand around efficiency and lifestyle design. His podcast, "The Tim Ferriss Show," emphasizes practical strategies for personal and professional improvement.
Neil Gaiman (Fantasy, Horror Fiction): Gaiman's brand is characterized by unique storytelling and engagement with fans, creating a sense of connection and accessibility.
Rupi Kaur (Poetry): Kaur's brand is intimately tied to her minimalist poetry and visual aesthetics, with a strong presence on platforms like Instagram.
Fiction vs. Non-Fiction Personal Branding
While strategies might differ a little bit, authenticity is the key pillar in both fiction and non-fiction personal branding. Regardless of genre, readers want genuine connections; they want to know the person behind the pages. The personal brand should remain true to your values, style, and narrative.
Fiction Writers
For fiction authors, personal branding is an extension of their storytelling. The focus lies in encapsulating the essence of their fictional worlds, with the brand revolving around genre, themes, and the distinctive voice that breathes life into their narratives. For fiction writers, the goal is to create a brand that entices readers even before they delve into the plot, making the author a character within the broader story of their literary journey.
What to expect
Genre Recognition: A well-crafted personal brand helps fiction authors establish themselves within specific genres, facilitating reader identification and connection.
Reader Engagement: The personal brand serves as a portal for readers to enter the author's imaginative universe, fostering anticipation and familiarity.
Author as a Character: Fiction authors often embody a character-like presence in their personal brand, aligning the narrative with the enchanting tales they spin.
Non-Fiction Writers
Conversely, personal branding for non-fiction writers centers around expertise, authority, and the tangible impact of their work. Non-fiction authors are perceived as guides or experts in their fields. Think of Malcolm Gladwell, whose personal brand is synonymous with insightful commentary and intellectual exploration.
What to expect
Subject Matter Authority: Non-fiction personal branding positions authors as authorities, enhancing credibility and influence within their niche.
Tangible Impact: The brand reflects the practical outcomes or solutions offered by the author, creating a trust-based connection with readers.
Expertise Showcase: It serves as a platform to showcase the author's proficiency, whether in business, science, or self-help.
5 Steps to Get Started With Your Personal Brand
Alright, let's break it down into actionable steps. When you're crafting your personal brand as an author, think of it like building a strong foundation for your writing identity. Here are five key steps to get you started:
1. Understand Yourself
First things first, know yourself as a writer. Think about what makes your writing unique—your style, what you love to write about, and what gets you excited. This self-awareness can be helpful for both your personal and professional lives. And when you feel stuck - this is a good reminder about why you started writing in the first place.
Questions to ask yourself:
What aspects of writing bring me the most joy and fulfillment?
Can I pinpoint specific themes or genres that resonate deeply with me?
What words would I use to describe my writing style to a friend?
2. Understand Your Readers
Forget just knowing the demographics; it’s all about making real connections with your readers. Understand not just who they are but what they care about and why they read your work. You might even create a community where you and your readers share stories and ideas, making your brand more than just words on a page.
Questions to ask yourself:
Who are the people I imagine enjoying my writing the most?
What common interests or themes might connect me with my readers?
How can I engage with my readers beyond just sharing my writing?
3. Plan Ahead
Instead of a complicated strategy, think of it as planning your journey. Where do you want to go with your writing? Set some goals and think about the bigger picture. This way, you'll have a roadmap to guide you through this process.
Questions to ask yourself:
What are my long-term goals as a writer?
Are there specific milestones I want to achieve in my writing career?
How does my personal brand align with the direction I see for my writing in the future?
4. Stay Consistent
Keep things consistent, not only in how you present your brand but also in when you share your writing. Imagine it like having a steady rhythm. Readers like knowing when to expect your work (looking at you, George R.R. Martin), and it keeps your brand reliable and trustworthy.
Questions to ask yourself:
How can I maintain a consistent tone in my writing and branding without stretching myself thin?
What is the minimum commitment I’m prepared for?
How can I establish a reliable schedule for sharing my work?
5. Find Your Way to Share
Rather than stressing about finding the perfect platform, think about how you naturally like to share things. Whether it's through talking on podcasts, creating visuals, or using social media, find the way that feels right for you to connect with your audience. Don’t try and be present everywhere, better pick one platform that feels the best and stick to it.
Questions to ask yourself:
What forms of communication align with my personality and preferences?
Are there specific platforms where I feel most comfortable sharing my writing journey?
How much of my life am I prepared to share with my audience?
Bonus: Get a Professional Headshot
Your personal brand is your public image, and a great first impression starts with a professional headshot. In the digital age, where readers connect with authors online, a high-quality headshot enhances your visibility and professionalism. It’s an investment in your author journey—capturing the essence of your brand and making sure you're ready to be seen by publishers, readers, and collaborators. A polished image speaks volumes about your commitment to your craft.
How do you align your personal branding with your writing style?
Aligning your personal brand with your writing style is all about creating a connection between your author persona and the emotions you evoke in your writing. If you're writing dark romance, your brand can’t be all pink and fluffy. Your brand needs to resonate with your writing, not go against it.
Focus on the elements of your writing and your personality that naturally connect. Whether it's visuals, colors, or language, make sure they work together in harmony.
FAQ
How do I balance my unique writing style and try to appeal to a broad audience?
Finding what works for you is key. Your unique style is like the heart of your writing, and you want to keep that essence. At the same time, sprinkle in elements that resonate with a broader audience. Write stories that matter to you, but add a touch of relatability so more people can connect with your work.
Is it possible to rebrand my author identity if I've already established a presence in a specific genre or style?
Absolutely! Think of it like redecorating your room. You can keep some favorite pieces, but you're free to add new colors and furniture. In the same way, you can tweak your brand, but keep in mind that the more niche your writing is, the more difficult it will be to veer off into new styles. Not impossible, though!
Can personal branding help new or aspiring authors who haven't published their first book yet?
Yes, indeed! Even if you haven't published yet, share your writing journey, your thoughts, and your process. Start building your brand on social media or a blog. This way, when your book arrives, you'll already have friends waiting to celebrate with you. There are plenty of people who are even sharing their writing as they go, getting feedback and validating their ideas before they publish.
Is there a risk of personal branding overshadowing the actual writing, and how can I avoid that?
Your personal brand is there to support your writing, not to take attention away from it. Keep it authentic and focused on your books. Your personality can still shine; it’s just important that, at the end of the day, it’s about your writing, not just you.
Is there a point where personal branding might become too personal or intrusive for an author's private life?
Share what you're comfortable with. Your readers are interested in your writing life but not every detail of your personal life. Keep a balance. Share enough to connect, but keep some parts just for yourself.
