Networking for authors may sound dreadful to some and exciting to others – and it’s necessary for all. Many authors are introverts and would rather eat cockroaches than put themselves out there with other people, especially strangers. The term “networking” itself can be off-putting, conjuring images of slimey sales people rubbing elbows with each other, spouting inappropriate jokes before exchanging business cards, and moving on to the next table, already forgetting each other’s names. Building relationships with other authors, readers, and people in the industry is paramount to your book’s success. Even indie authors don’t do everything on their own – not if they want a sustainable career, anyway.
Networking for Authors = Building Community
If the term “networking” incites dread or makes your eyes roll, consider instead that you are building community. Because truthfully, it’s all about making meaningful connections with others for the benefit of all. A community shares goals, knowledge, experience, and other contacts as a way to support each other in achieving success – lifting each other up as they climb. When one member succeeds, so does the whole. So focus on building relationships and creating your author community.
Start by connecting with other authors and forming relationships with them. Social media provides many avenues of doing this, including Facebook groups, hashtags that lead you to specific genres or stages of career, LinkedIn communities, special events for writers, etc. They, in turn, will likely lead to connections with publishers, agents, cover designers, publicists, author and reader event organizers, merchandise designers and makers, and printers.
Connecting With Other Book Lovers
You also want to reach out to booksellers and librarians, starting in your own backyard. They often love to feature local authors and their books and may want to set up a reading and/or signing event for you. In the same vein, reach out to those in the location of your book’s setting, if applicable and possible (probably less likely if you write sci-fi or high fantasy). They’d also love to feature books about their area. Then expand your reach to other locations.
Consider taking them a free copy of your book or at least a compelling sales sheet about your book that includes your author bio to leave with them so they can consider your book and offer later, when they may have more time. Always have something on hand to leave behind when you’re traveling, no matter how far away.
While it’s important to start gathering book reviews before your book launches, don’t stop then. Starting with those who have already reviewed your book and expanding out to new reader-reviewers, reach out to them to thank them for what they do for authors like you and ask how you can support them. Some ideas are to share their reviews on social media, whether for your book or somebody else’s, recommend them to other authors, and feature them in your own blog, social media, or newsletter, and they may have their own ways you can help them. Just be mindful of the line between mutual support and incentivizing reviews.
Building rapport and forming relationships with these bibliophiles can lead to unexpected book marketing opportunities. You may find yourself invited to do signings and exclusive author/reader events. They may be the one to connect with you that “unicorn” author, agent, publisher, editor, or event organizer you’ve been wanting to meet for years.
Speaking of events, conferences and reader and book events provide more opportunities for networking for authors, and they can be fun as well as educational. You will not only gain new friends, readers, and a support system, but you will likely find yourself returning home inspired in ways you never thought possible. If you can invest in at least one of these a year, you will be serving yourself and your career well. You may not see a direct return-on-investment in the form of book sales at the event, but you will almost certainly gain in other tangible and intangible ways.
Networking for authors doesn’t have to be scary or leave an icky feeling on your skin. In fact, it can be quite rewarding when you realize you’re simply making friends and connecting with others over something you love – books.
