Does Every Author Have A Brand?

 

When I say the word “brand,” you might think of big corporations, like Coca-Cola, Amazon, Google, Delta, and Apple. Or, perhaps you think of sports teams and influencers, celebrities, and politicians. All of them have a certain persona, look, or sound to them. We identify with them., on some level, seeing them in a light that sticks out. Do authors have brands, like these famous people and businesses? 

Sure do.  

The authors with a known brand are usually ones who have written best-sellers or had their books turned into movies. Their brand is likely linked to the genre or subject matter in which they write. But make no mistake, every author needs a brand. 

A brand can define a writer, maybe even seduce you into reading their works. Writers have distinctive writing styles, unique backstories or origins, and they represent - or speak for - certain voices or types of people.  

Author brands form in one of two ways -- they are either self-created or are crafted by the public. Many authors try hard to establish their brand but only a handful really succeed at becoming known to the masses. 

 What exactly is an author brand? 

It’s several things. First, it’s your books. Secondly, it’s you, the writer. 

When it comes to your book, there is a style to your writing that defines your brand, from theme and subject matter, to plot patterns, language, character development, pacing, and setting. Eventually, you can tell the writer apart from others based on these things.  

There’s also a certain look and feel to the books of a writer, from the type of cover art to the text font to the length of the book. Perhaps certain colors are used on the cover that tie the books together. A distinct look can develop.  

When it comes to the writer, as a person, their brand can come from their personality, looks, hometown, political views and social activism, and careers beyond authorship.  

Authors should consider these factors when developing a brand:

• Understand that a brand will exist, with or without your intentional action. Own it and craft it. 
• Compare how you can carve your lane out against rising competition. 
• Be mindful of all the branding tools available to you -- from the news media, social media, and influencers, to advertising, public appearances, and testimonials. 
• Strive for consistency, but if you are failing to stick out, abandon your strategy for a new one.
• Know the difference between what people will care about and find interesting about you vs. what you care about or assume others will like about you. See yourself through the eyes of others. 
• Express your brand with every social media post, every press release, on fliers and postcards, your website, business card, and wardrobe.
• Determine what type of lens you want people to perceive you through - and then take actions and make statements that serve that image.  

Yes, dear author, you need to have a brand, and you’ll have one. Whether you create it -- or not. 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and director of publicity positions 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, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, 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. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.