While the majority of business and relationships are built and maintained online, you can’t forget about in-person connections, author.
Visit your local library and independent bookstores. Introduce yourself, be friendly, and find out if your book is available. If not, work on building that relationship so that they will. For libraries, speak to your favorite librarian about a presentation and how you might get them to order your book. For bookstores, find out what they need in order to carry your book. Librarians and sales associates are your best friends, because they will make recommendations to new readers, and you want them to recommend your book.
Once you build a relationship with your local library and independent bookstores, find out how to collaborate on events, like workshops, books clubs, and book launches. They will help draw readers out to meet with you.
Check out your community calendar. There might be a book fair, literary festival, writing workshops, and school events that you could attend and use to build relationships. Don’t discount First Fridays and other art events. You can always set up a booth (don’t forget to go through proper channels) and meet new, local readers.
Visit your local businesses. Your favorite coffee shop might host author events every third Thursday! And if they don’t, reach out and see if they are open to collaborating with you and other local authors to set up an event.
Reach out to schools for reading events, Q&As, or maybe volunteering during the next book fair. Visiting local schools (and their libraries) will introduce young readers to your work, giving you an entirely new demographic of supporters.
It is easy to hide behind a screen and respond to comments, share posts, and send emails. But getting out there in person and introducing yourself, creating events, and making an impact in your local community can have far reaching, positive effects. Step away from the digital occasionally, author.