Some people are great at networking. They are outgoing, talkative, funny, interesting, energized, and always coming off as someone you could be friends with. But even quieter people can be good at networking, and as an author, having a good network can be the key to your success.
You actually may need to build up several kinds of networks. For instance, one may simply be a network of those in book publishing, from editors and literary agents to authors and professional associations. These are the people through their positions, connections, ideas, or encouragement, who can help you get published.
Another network that you might need is the one that relates to your subject matter. Let’s say you wrote a book about how to lose weight, and you are a nutritionist. You want to keep your professional profile high by being in touch with other individuals and organizations related to the health and fitness field, from doctors and gym trainers to hospitals and nutritionists. Eating disorder experts, and other related people, even former patients (if appropriate), will be in your network.
Lastly, you want a network of potential readers
-- these are people who fit your targeted profile of anyone who would need or
want your book. So, who would buy your book?
- Anyone seeking to lose weight - the overweight, obese, and
post-pregnant women, etc.
- Anyone looking to maintain their weight loss -
athletes, the formerly overweight, people recovering from an incident that
caused temporary mobility issues, etc.
- People who have diseases and conditions that require a special diet - diabetics, cancer patients, people with heart disease, IBS sufferers, those with food allergies, people with back or knee injuries, etc.
You can establish and build your network in many
ways, including:
- Attend networking-specific events.
- Meet people at gatherings of specific types of people.
- Get introduced to others by people you know.
- Connect online through social media platforms.
- Find directories or listings and cold-call them.
- Meet people in one arena (like at a church) and then find out they or someone they know is actually the kind of person you want to be connected with.
So, how do you build up a network?
1. Don’t be shy. Talk. Introduce yourself. See an interaction as an opportunity,
not as something you merely do or tolerate.
2. Ask questions, learn what they do, who they know, and what circles they travel
in.
3. Follow up. Do email people or connect on social media after you have met
them. Stay in touch.
4. People network with you if they think you can
help them, if it pleases them to
help you, if you are interesting, if you make them think or laugh, and
sometimes, just because you are attractive.
5. Keep good notes and hold onto contact
information. Jot down useful bits
of information so that you can call upon it later.
6. Utilize people in different ways. Someone may be of use to you because they:
·
Know information that
can help you
·
Can introduce you to
people who can help you
·
Are in a position to
directly help you
·
Can be emotionally
supportive to you
·
Offer really good advice
or ideas
Networking is a two-way street. Be willing to help others and give back/ pay-it-forward. Offer your brain, time, money, connections, resources, encouragement, and assistance to others and it will work its way back to you.
Do You Need Book Marketing Help?
Brian
Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four 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
This award-winning blog has generated over
4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ posts over the past 14 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.” Copyright 2025.
For
the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He
formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the
head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the
director of publicity 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.
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).
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. He served as a judge for the
2024 IBPA Book Awards.
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.
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.
You
can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum
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