One Size Does Not Fit All
Just like your favorite piece of clothing, certain items are tailored specifically to you, author. The same can be said for your website, social media accounts, newsletter, and blog. One size will not fit all. A lot of advice out there won’t work for you, and that’s ok! The most important thing is to try and see what is best for you, just like shopping for clothes.
Your website, just like a shoe, needs to fit well. You need support, a frame, some cushioning, and a way to hold it together. Your website needs very similar things: you need a landing page (your frame), you need content about your work (cushioning), you need a bio (laces or a zipper), and you need a URL that is tied to your name (support). Start with the basics and build it from there.
A shirt needs four things: fabric, and holes for your head, arms, and torso. That’s it! Think about your social media accounts the same way. All you really need are four things: a username, a tagline, relevant content, and a link to your website. Of course, there is more to it than just that, but if you’re overwhelmed with the idea of starting social media accounts, boil it down to the necessities and start there. Build it up over time.
All authors should have a newsletter, just like all folks should have some form of pants on. But if you’re wearing a dress, you don’t necessarily need to have pants just yet. Eventually, you’re going to want to have a newsletter. Newsletters are a great way to reach your audience through more personal means; they are a long letter you write to your fans. Using your newsletter you can promote your latest book, ask for feedback, host giveaways, and express yourself in whatever form you want.
A blog is like a hat, fun, occasionally practical, but not always necessary. Your blog needs only 2 things: to match your author brand with content and to be short and sweet. Think of it like matching a hat with an outfit. You don’t want the hat to take over your outfit and be too overwhelming. That’s what a blog is, a short form way to get information across to your readers. But once again, a blog is not a necessity, unlike shoes. I will recommend a blog if you can possibly manage it.
