Promotions vs. Connecting with Your Readers

I'd like to welcome author, Wendy Young on my blog today where she will be discussing her experience about connecting with her readers. She is the author of Come to the Shadows and Red Sky Warning.

As a new author I have so much to learn, especially in the area of marketing – ie: finding readers and convincing them that I have something they will enjoy.

The first solution that pops into most author heads is: PROMOTION. I’ll do ads. They’ll find readers. I need to pay money for PR and I’ll be set.

Or, will I?

Ads may bring you short-term gains but there’s a good chance you won’t even make your money back, much less build your brand if, well, you have no brand to back up the hype.

In comes a scarier and more personal approach: Connect with readers.

Be it meet’n’greets, author appearances and book signings, book clubs or the virtual equivalent meeting of the minds on Twitter, Goodreads, or via Blog Tours, a sure-fire way to build true fans is to go to them and offer an introduction. Humanize the work in your own words, with your own face, and you will see your fan base develop.

What has worked best for you? Do you rely on promotion? Or do you focus on connecting with readers?

~*~

Wendy L. Young has been writing for more than twenty years and now focuses on writing mystery/suspense novels with a healthy dose of thrills. Connect with her on Twitter @wendyyoung and pick up her new release Red Sky Warning, and her debut novel, Come the Shadows, anywhere eBooks are sold.

You can learn more about Wendy by checking the following sites:

http://wendylyoung.wordpress.com
http://www.facebook.com/wendylyoungwriter
http://www.twitter.com/wendyyoung
http://www.goodreads.com/wendylyoung

Do You Always Think About Your Readers When Writing Your Novels?

Yes. Writing is an emotional experience and each time I read a book, I feel like I’ve changed. When I write my novels, I want it to be meaningful so I can share it to the world. I always tell myself that my story better be good and worthwhile for my readers to be interested in the book. It boils down to your theme and the message you want to deliver to your readers. What do you want them to feel when they read your book? Can they relate to your characters? Will your message resonate with them even after they’ve completed your book? These are questions you need ask yourself before writing your book.