Networking Tips For Shy, Ugly, or Stupid Authors

 

 

You don’t have to see yourself as shy, ugly, or stupid to embrace the following proven networking strategies and tips -- but they are especially for you if you meet one or more of such criteria. Look, we can’t all have beauty and brains and personality. It’s okay. Don’t get caught up in all of that. Focus here on networking, whether online, in-person, or through some other means. Networking opens doors to you for getting published, coverage from the news media, and generating book sales. Networking builds your brand and helps others to see you as a worthy entity.   

So, how does one network if they feel they lack something, whether it be a smile, looks, intellect, or an ability to communicate well? Quite simply, you have a few good options: 

 

1. Try to remedy the area you fall short in. For instance, if you want a better smile, then smile differently. Have crooked teeth? Fix ‘em or accept yourself as is. But don’t keep feeling insecure and doing shit about it or letting it stop you from moving forward. 

 

2. If you can’t easily get around something -- like having a wimpy voice or getting crippling stage fright, consider seeing a voice coach, a therapist, or some other expert to rid you of the baggage that weighs you down. 

 

3. If you feel ugly, dumb, or shy, it’s okay. Solution: put yourself in a situation to succeed. Find other people in your situation who perhaps won’t harshly judge you since they too fall short on the perfection scale. 

 

4. Put yourself in situations where you’ll have better success. For instance, if public events aren’t your thing, use zoom. If you don’t like video or how you look, use the phone, email, or social media. If you don’t like how you sound, just use digital communication: text, email, or exchange social media posts. If you can’t talk, look like a dog, and don’t write well, just close up pursuing a writing career.   

Alright, now that we got that stuff out of the way, what are the best tips for networking?

1. Do it daily. Plan for it. For instance, make a concerted effort to e-mail a dozen people that you know -- and a dozen that you don’t. Or, plan to solicit a connection on social media -- ask 30 people to connect with you. 

 

2. Be ready to network when it’s not planned. Perhaps you chat someone up on a Starbucks line and you find they are interesting. Be ready to share your elevator speech, offer to exchange cards, or find out their social media handle. Networking can happen when we least expect it. Be open to it. 

 

3. Attend events -- online or in person -- with organizations that you want to know its members. It could be a fellow writer;s group. It could be a group of people you hope to sell your book to. Find fairs, conferences, events, parties, seminars, etc to circulate in, whether for free or a fee. 

 

4. Join lots of groups online, such as on Linked In or Facebook, and join real groups, from non-profits to business groups, writers associations to professional trades.

 

5. Seek out leadership positions or committee assignments with the groups you are a member of. It’s a great way to connect with individuals. 

 

6. Ask your connections to introduce you to other people. 

 

7. Have a list of questions to ask people you meet, to help you filter if they can be of assistance to you. 

 

8. Offer to help people in some capacity. They’ll feel inclined to return the favor.

 

9. Have an updated website, and business cards that include your book title, website,

email, phone number, name, and photo.

 

10. Just start talking to the person next to you regardless of the setting. You’ll meet helpful people.

  

Please Contact Me For Help

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2022. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This blog, with over 4,000 posts over the past decade, was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Susan RoAne, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, IBPA, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.