Free State of Author Social Media
*Phew* You made it. You cranked out your messy first draft, you muscled through revisions, maybe you spent a year or more querying agents, and another year with your agent submitting to publishers. Maybe you decided to control your own publication schedule and publish independently or with a hybrid publisher. But now, you’re ready. The book is done. You have a cover. You have an ISBN. Your book is coming out this year! Congrats!
And then the panic sets in.
OMG there’s a million things I need to do. Where do I even start? I know I need to be posting more, but I’m paralyzed trying to decide what to post next, or wasting hours in Canva feeling like I don’t know what I’m doing. Should I try to schedule book events? A book party? Should I pay for advertising? What’s actually worth it? What’s going to help me sell books?
If this sounds familiar, boy oh boy, do I understand. I’m in the same place myself currently, with the launch of my debut novel this September. You’re not alone. Even I, a seasoned book marketer who has launched countless debut novels, am feeling that panic and overwhelm set in.
But you’re in luck. I’m taking everything I’ve learned in my 13 years in Big 5 publishing, and everything we’ve learned from our clients’ campaigns in the first 15 months of the future of agency, and putting it into an 8-week course that is open to authors of all genres, all kinds of publishing.
Every week, we’ll walk our class cohort through one aspect of the book marketing launch campaign, from social media and design (hello, Canva!), influencer and book club marketing, author websites, SEO and discoverability, and more—and we’ll teach you how to tailor each of our techniques for your own specific book and audience. (See the tentative schedule here.)
You’ll also get detailed, step-by-step instructions and tutorials in your inbox each week during the course to guide you through some of the more detailed processes along the way, like claiming your Google Knowledge panel and taking control of your search results. You’ll get the same proven templates for influencer outreach, friends and family emails, and more, that we use ourselves for our clients. And my favorite, you’ll get the support of your cohort, your fellow authors who are in the same place.
Ready to join us? Scroll down for a special promo code just for our newsletter and friends of the agency.
Not convinced yet? Join us for a free webinar on March 22 for a taste of what you’ll get in the course.
Now, most importantly, take a deep breath. You’re doing great, Colleague, your book is awesome, and you’re not alone.
Andrea DeWerd
Founder, the future of agency LLC
andrea@thefutureofagency.com
TIP OF THE WEEK
What to Include on the Book Page of Your Author Website
If you have a book publishing in the next year, you should have a page or tab on your author website dedicated specifically to your book. Not only does this help with searchability, but it can be an online one-stop shop for potential readers and consumers looking for you and your book online.
On this page, it’s recommended that you include the following info so people can learn more about your book, purchase your book, and learn more about you as an author.
High-resolution book image
ISBN (the 13-digit number used to identify your book)
SEO optimized book description
Link to your publisher page/book page on your publisher’s website
Retailer links for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and other relevant online retailers
Relevant and click worthy blurbs (reviews and praise for your books)
Author bio (short author bio separate from your author page)
Your social media links
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: Shelmina Babai Abji
In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8) and Women’s History Month, check out Show Your Worth: 8 Intentional Strategies for Women to Emerge as Leaders at Work by Shelmina Babai Abji. Learn more and get your copy at shelmina.com.
If you're a woman, especially a woman of color, you know this already: you face unique challenges and obstacles as you work to scale the corporate ladder. From not seeing other faces in the room that look like you to dealing with the stereotypes and (often unconscious) biases in the workplace, you may know what to do to succeed, but not how to get it done in this environment. Show Your Worth shows you how.
In pages that are both inspirational and practical, Shelmina Babai Abji speaks directly to professional women―especially women of color―about how the power of being intentional and strategic can help transform the headwinds you face into much-needed tailwinds.
Show Your Worth takes you on a deep dive into the 8 Intentional Strategies that will help you achieve success, including:
Success: Define what success means to you
Attention: Develop your Personal Success Plan
Work/Life Balance: Achieve work-life balance in our disrupted world
Value Creation: Overcome fear, find your voice, and contribute at your maximum capacity
Growth: Seek relevant and meaningful growth
Relationships: Connect meaningfully with first-line managers, peers, mentors, and sponsors
Leadership Branding: Build and preserve your reputation as a leader
Promotions: Be strategic about earning a promotion
These Intentional Strategies are imperative for women whose confidence can be chipped away daily when they're overlooked because of negative stereotypes and biases due to differences in race, socio-economic, cultural, or academic backgrounds. Through Abji's personal experiences and the inspiring stories of other successful women who have applied these strategies in their own lives, you will come to deeply understand just how important your voice is and know that your unique value makes you a force in any room.
NEW COURSE: Book Launch Marketing Accelerator: 8-Week Blueprint for Authors (Cohort 1.0 - Spring 2024)
We’re launching a book marketing course! Join the future of agency and Big 5 publishing veteran Andrea DeWerd for an exclusive 8-week, live author marketing course.
Throughout the course, Andrea will provide you with insights distilled from her experience launching over 105+ New York Times bestsellers and practical, current guidance based on the ever-evolving world of social media—focused on what’s working now, what’s not working, and where authors should really be spending their time for the biggest ROI (book sales!).
In these live sessions, Andrea will lead you through a comprehensive exploration of effective marketing strategies, helping you prioritize the most impactful and results-driven tactics for your own book launch. By the end of the 8-week program, you'll have your own elevated, manageable book launch strategy, your author platforms and content strategy underway, and tangible, realistic next steps for everything from book clubs to bookstagram.
P.S. Use code TFOAFRIENDS for $150 off the course if you register by 3/23.
