Trying an Import Again: f5304fcb062e17e4fe64525c228b670f

[alanajoli]

No, it doesn't make sense. It's a string of random numbers that, if my RSS feed works correctly, will mean I have a blog live on Tokyopop. I've got an e-mail in to the folks at Amazon Connect to see if I can get my blog imported there as well. My words, goofy and serious, will be everywhere! (This terrifies me a little bit, but I remind myself that "I Am the Brand" and therefore any place people see me means that I have a better chance for people to read my books.)

Out of curiosity, to the other writers who pop by and read this: how do you feel about the "I Am the Brand" philosophy. Is that true in your market? Do you cultivate the brand concept, or reject it?

Comments

[eyezofwolf.livejournal.com]

For what it is worth, here are my two cents on the matter...

I think that the "I am the brand" motto of pushing your books is a good one. How many different people will tell you that no one is going to love or care about your writing more than the author? Or how about how you need to push yourself out there to get your name noticed? I think it is a good thing, and I give you lots of credit for doing it.

Now, I should probably take my own advice one of these days. I am not great at putting myself out there. I have been doing a little bit, but I often am remiss about how I should do more. I am sure you will do fine - your words are enjoyable to read.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Dylan. I think you've actually done a great job at putting yourself out there--of all the people on author alley last year, you were the person who seemed most enthusiastic about your work, along with putting across an air of competence (rather than, say, disillusion, or "my mother loved my novel"). That's why I ended up taking your work home rather than someone else's.

You're also putting work up online for free, which seems like a good move to me. How has that worked for you? Do you feel it increases your visibility?

[eyezofwolf.livejournal.com]

Putting the story up there helps in some respects, but to be honest, I am not sure how well it is working. It is hard to gauge. The biggest problem I run into is that since it is a continuing story, it is hard for people to jump in in the middle. So I think I need to rework that... I have heard about people who come by to check it out and get turned off with all of the back stuff to read.

It is nice to have something out there where I can tell people "Hey, read this. If you like it, buy my book." I say that a lot at conventions and do get a bunch of people emailing me afterwards. I also know that I have a decent following because of the story. It gives people something to come back to.

As for my presentation at Cons, thanks for the compliments. The secrets I was told by another author were:

1) Don't sit behind the table
2) Don't sell your book
3) (added by me) Ask people about their stories and be interested.

3 is a big one. I have a habit of talking to less people in volume, but talking for longer periods of time. I like hearing people's stories and finding things to talk about. Of course, the flip side is I think that the ratio of sales to people talked to is higher, but I have no clue. It's just a guess.