Photo Credit: Hernani Larrea via Compfight / Flickr
It's not the work that comes after the handshake that makes this moment meaningful,
but the work that precedes the handshake that makes it possible, Grasshopper!
Want to know five super simple, super cost-effective ways to make the most of your writers conference experience before you even set foot in the door on day one? Look no further on how to get the skinny about grassroots self-marketing from the ground up. Of course, these five steps aren't all you'll need for a literary career to expand the ages, but they're sure a great way to get your personal platform and social media footprints up and running -and staying within budget!
1. BUSINESS CARDS
With such self-designed, a la carte online services like Vistaprint, it's super easy to craft business cards (or other marketing materials) with your own personal flair without breaking the bank. I personally have used Vistaprint for my own business cards, and have been very satisfied with the overall artistic look and quality of their products. There's such a variety of designs, you're bound to find something that strikes your fancy and is in line with your personal branding. (High gloss, recycled matte finish, color, black and white, photo, no photo -the options are endless, friends!) Plus, with all of their great deals and specials, you can typically receive 250 cards for around $15-$20 (with tax/shipping, plus any additional bells and whistles- such as a back design -you might add). Not too shabby!
These are my TWO types of business cards (front/back views):
one for agents/industry pros (left), and one for personal networking (right).
Obviously, the orange tabs are for privacy and not part of the card, lol ;P
As for types of business cards, I advise creating two versions: one for agents and industry professionals, which includes more personal contact information such as phone number and mailing address. And a second version that is more suitable for personal networking/business acquaintanceships. Also, I recommend paying the modest upgrade to go for a printed back, as well, just because I think it looks more finished. And if you're going to be using a photo of yourself on your business card, make sure that it is a current, high-quality, professional headshot -not a pixelated, awkwardly cropped Facebook profile pic of you at your great-memaw's birthday picnic (which...actually sounds strangely intriguing...but don't do it!). As for what to put on your card, here's what I recommend based on my own personal preferences. There's no right or wrong as to how much (or how little) you want to put on your card(s), but just make sure that you can be contacted in a way that is timely and appropriate for a given situation:
BIZ CARD TYPE ONE: Agents/Industry Professionals (i.e. a limited few)
-Name
-Phone Number
-Mailing Address (which may be a P.O. Box, for added privacy)
-E-mail
-Blog
-Website
-Facebook Page ("business" page preferred over your own personal account)
-Twitter Handle
BIZ CARD TYPE TWO: Personal/Business Networking (i.e. everyone else)
-Name
-E-mail (may be different from one listed on Type One, for additional privacy)
-Blog
-Website
-Facebook Page ("business" page preferred over your own personal account)
-Twitter Handle
If you take only one thing away from this blog post, I so strongly encourage making the investment for a good stash of high-quality business cards. This is the most rudimentary and essential item you'll need when making connections both at your upcoming conference and beyond! Make a great first impression with those you meet, and continue to make a lasting one with a spiffy business card. Plus...let's be honest: they make you feel really legit. Am I right?! ;D
2. WEBSITE and/or BLOG
While some writers advocate having just a blog, or just a website, or a website that features a blog, what will work for you and your marketing strategy is definitely a personal decision -and one that will most likely be influenced by how much time you have to invest. If you're an empty nester, perhaps you have enough time to maintain both a website and a blog while working on that manuscript. Perhaps you work full-time and are establishing your writing career on the side? Then maintaining a blog you update once a week or bi-monthly, will be a good investment of your time. Whatever your personal preference or fancy, just make sure you have an online presence of some kind -then do that particular online presence well. Two of the biggest (and free) blog providers online are Blogger (which this blog is) and WordPress. Since I can only speak from my personal experience with Blogger, I've really enjoyed how intuitive and user-friendly this provider is. Though, I also have several friends that swear by WordPress -which also has a free website feature. Again, your personal preference here.
The important things to remember are 1) Is this something I would enjoy creating content for on my own and investing time in? 2) Does it help build up my brand's integrity and bolster my credibility as a writer? And 3) Is a blog/website a feasible project I can incorporate into my schedule, or do I know someone who can deliver a product that is in line with my branding?
An additional note: If you are wanting to aim for the big leagues here (and who isn't right?), go with purchasing a privately owned, totally independent domain name, such as your name/pen name or the title of the series you're writing. (And, if at all, possible, go for the ".com" versus the ".net." Be aware of other people, organizations, weird cult followings, etc. that may be in association with your potential domain name. Cover all your bases!) This is something I have arranged, as well as have a very talented, artistically savvy website guru to create something really beautiful and professional that upholds the integrity of my branding. Be on the lookout for my new website's launch later this year! Details to follow in the upcoming months! :D
3. TWITTER
#HEY! #LookMa! #ImOnTheTwitter!
1. It's concise. You've got 140 characters, baby, so say something short and sweet, post a link, post a photo, you're good to go. I personally am not a fan of the loooooooooong Facebook post, so the fact that you're forced to keep things direct and to the point is refreshing.
2. The beauty of the #! Yes, yes, yes, THE HASHTAG, the symbol formerly known as the "pound sign," or even before that the "octothorpe" (thanks, Word-a-Day calendar!). Want to know who's #AmWriting? #MysteryWriter? #WritingTips? Simply click and you'll be directed to a whole list of people posting on the same topic of interest. This is a super efficient way to not only to get links to helpful information, videos, blog posts, etc. relevant to your writing career, but it is also helpful for the third Twitter advantage below-
3. The wealth of networking. Twitter is one of the best ways to expand your social media footprint and to get exposure to your personal brand. Through utilizing hashtags in your own posts- and clicking along in the posts of those Tweeters you follow, yourself -you'll be connected with other writers or members of the publishing industry. One follow typically leads to another, then another, and then another, and pretty soon you'll most likely have a solid following.
By the way, want to know what research shows is the best days of the week/times of the day to post on all types of social media? Check out this article by Shea Bennett posted on mediabistro for some really helpful insight -plus a really handy graphic.
4. FACEBOOK
Like the blog versus website consideration, your private page versus a business page is also something you need to consider for your self-marketing strategy. To start with the glass half-empty, if you decide to go with having both a personal page and a business page, you'll now be maintaining two separate Facebook pages. The plus is though, with two separate pages, you can maintain your private life and your writer life independently. Fans can follow you on your business page, and you can keep your photos of your great-memaw's birthday picnic private. However, the other option- just having your personal page -means that you'll most likely be overhauling how your personal page looks to make it more brand-friendly (sorry, Great-Memaw, but that cover photo of the whole family smeared from cheek to cheek in cake has got to go). Of course, Facebook has the capability to allow those to follow you without submitting a friend request (which is really smart), and when you post, you can personally select what group of individuals receive exposure to those posts on their timelines (also, very smart). Again, this is a personal choice, and if you currently have no presence on Facebook, then perhaps going just the business page route would be best.
5. POST-CONFERENCE QUERY: THE CONFIRMATION POSTCARD
This fifth self-marketing tip is a bit more of a "bonus" tip than the others -and it may seem a little less "market-ty" than other avenues such as Facebook and Twitter, but like the business card, it's all about the presentation and a positive lasting impression.
Technically, the self-addressed, stamped confirmation postcard is something that comes in handy after a conference, and technically, it may be obsolete given that so much is done over e-mail, BUT! For the traditionalist in all of us who likes to send queries, contest applications, partials, etc. via snail mail (and some contests, submission guidelines, etc. may still require it), below is an example of my confirmation postcard, which I also customized through Vistaprint:
The back side (left) features my name, the words "Confirmation of Receipt," and the following text: "Your submission materials were received in my office on: (blank line for date)," "Signature" (blank line for signature), and "Company" (blank line for company/agency name). The front side (right) again features my name, my mailing address, and the following text along the bottom: "Thank you for confirming the receipt of my submission materials."
*Special Note!* Be sure that the side that will be written on with pen is matte finish. If it's the standard glossy, nothing but Sharpie will take, and it's going to be unlikely that whomever you're querying will think to use a permanent marker. So, if you're going the Vistaprint route, play it super safe and delve out the little bit extra and opt for the "Recycled Matte" card stock, ensuring that there will be no unsightly smears. Your query-ees, will thank you -and Mother Earth, too!
All right, friends! The third and final installment of the CONFERENCE PREP series will be coming up a little later into September. Who knew that August was going to be so crazy busy on my end of things, y'all? (PLOT TWIST!) After a busy month, it's great to get back into the writer's saddle and to move forward with SECRET KEEPER on the publishing front. Until next time, friends :)
Keep Calm and Write On!
~Riley
