March 11th Edition of the CraveBooks Author Newsletter
Do you remember the Author Brand Equation from last week?
Your Book² x You = Author Brand Power
If you missed it, here is the link.
When you nail down this equation, you’ll save yourself a ton of stress.
No more thinking “What content should I make?”
No more second-guessing if your messaging aligns with your audience.
No more feeling stuck.
When it’s time to post, you post because your brand equation gives you a clear roadmap of what to post.
And here’s the thing, (I’m calling you out here), you don’t realize how powerful You are and how able You are to lead your tribe of readers.
Here’s how the You value in your author brand equation will provide you with clarity to help you build a tribe of loyal fans.
The You equation…
You = Engagement + Humanization + Shared Values
Want to know something interesting?
In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, fulfilling the need for belonging and acceptance comes before self-esteem.
What does that mean?
It means readers are looking for a like-minded community to belong to. They want to feel connected before they care about their personal status or achievement.
This desire for a sense of belonging is your opportunity.
“If you build it, they will come.”
Building your tribe of readers…
This is the part that really frustrates authors.
The trick is to create a community around your book(s), NOT about your book(s).
Sneak peeks, behind the scenes, Q&A, etc… will only take you so far.
(I’m not saying that you can’t be successful if this is all you do.)
However, you can be far more successful by employing the concept of shared values.
Why should you build it?
In-Group Bias
Readers have a tendency to favor and feel a stronger connection with those who are part of their group.
Shared beliefs, values, and identity that resonate with readers will naturally increase their connection to you and your community.
Author benefit: Readers will be more loyal and likely to advocate for your books #Word-Of-MouthMarketing #SellWithoutSelling
Okay, are you ready to level up?
Group Polarization
This happens when people in a like-minded group become even more extreme in their beliefs through discussion and reinforcement.
When you continuously reinforce your core message, readers who already agree with you will become even stronger supporters.
Author benefit: Your readers don’t just like you and your books, they feel it’s part of their identity (And we humans can’t help but share our identity with others). If your readers’ identity is attached to you and your books, then you get —> #Word-Of-MouthMarketing #SellWithoutSelling
A clear example of group polarization is how opinions on climate change have become increasingly divided along party lines in the U.S.
Decades ago, addressing climate change was a relatively bipartisan issue, with members of both major parties acknowledging environmental concerns. However, as political discourse intensified, each side moved toward more extreme positions—many liberals advocating for aggressive climate policies and many conservatives becoming more skeptical of climate regulations.
This shift wasn’t just about new information; it was driven by group discussions, media reinforcement, and social identity. When like-minded individuals discuss a topic together, they tend to reinforce and amplify their shared views, making their stance even more extreme.
How do you build it?
Share your thoughts, opinions, and experiences on any topic in society or your life that is relevant to your book and/or genre.
A few examples…
- Scifi – Your opinion on the new Star Wars movies and Star Wars as a whole.
- Romance – Your opinion on the celebrity dating scene and romances.
- Christian – Your experiences with your faith and how those experiences might be able to help your readers.
- Mystery & Thriller – True crime discussions and theories.
- Historical Fiction – Share your enthusiasm for history and historical topics with readers.
- Children’s books – Share your beliefs on how to make a difference for the next generation.
You can even go broader than your genre as long as you are able to tie it to your books in some way, shape, or form…
Maybe you’re passionate about helping the ‘Little Guys’ and want to encourage readers to support small bookstores.
You can talk about yourself as an author, and your experiences selling outside of big retailers like Amazon.
Movements like this are something readers can rally around. It’s something that can polarize readers. It strengthens the community.
But remember these aren’t one-and-done topics. You can’t post about them once on Instagram and ‘Voila’ you’ve got your tribe of readers.
The more you talk about these topics the more you amplify the effects of shared values.
It’s important to remember that in-group bias and group polarization have feedback loops built into them.
Readers feed off this energy. As their energy and fervor grow, the more their loyalty to your community grows.
So what interests you?
What is something that you’re passionate about?
It’s as easy as sharing your opinions, beliefs, and values with your readers.
Yes, it may take time to build your tribe of readers, but it’ll be well worth it once you do. #SellWithoutSelling
