More than 3,000 romance authors and readers attended the Romantic Times Convention, which was held in Las Vegas this year (many attendees noted that their husbands were more than happy to tag along to this one!). Romance authors are among the most savvy when it comes to online community building, creative marketing, and reader engagement, so they are worth listening to even if you write non-fiction or mysteries. Here are some of our key takeaways from the convention:
1. Get your street team working for you. A street team is a curated group of your biggest fans that helps build buzz and excitement for your books. The romance authors we talked to give them early access to new books, chat with them regularly via email and video, and give them other exclusive experiences. In turn, their street teams spread the word about their work online and off. A street team is not quite your mother boasting about you but also not quite a hired PR-hand. Find your most passionate fans and cultivate them. We recommend using a Goodreads group to build and communicate with your team.
2. Every author is a reader first. Always remember what first inspired you to write: reading a story and realizing you wanted to tell one, too. Even the biggest romance authors get star-struck when their favorite authors are in the room with them. Engage on Goodreads as you would as a reader by reviewing, rating, and shelving books—meeting other readers and building your platform while you’re at it.![]()
3. Driving discoverability is the key to building a readership. 60% of survey respondents told us that because they read so many romance books, they actually have a hard time finding enough good new romance books to read! Reviews and recommendations from friends top the list of where readers turn when looking for their next book. At Goodreads, the book page reflects the social circle of each member, displaying reviews from friends first, then people you follow, and then the general community.
4. Rethink your tchotchkes. Besides the standard bookmarks and buttons, we saw shot glasses, breath mints, and temporary tattoos getting handed out for free—the raffle prizes were even more elaborate! If you’re going to invest in promotional items, invest in something memorable. But remember, for most readers, the most valuable thing is still your time and your writing.
5. Your cover is your biggest advertisement. What’s on your cover should reflect what’s between the lines without giving too much away. Don’t mislead a reader by showing a sweaty, shirtless guy with a six-pack, only for them to read a clean love story. Keep the packaging consistent if you’re writing a series, and make sure the cover looks good as a thumbnail image on a computer screen or phone.
6. Metadata can be sexy... Though we know it’s not the most exciting thing (we heard that groan!), metadata is critical for helping readers find your book. Be as descriptive as possible and think hard about what keywords to use. For instance, keywords for inspirational romance books would include ‘sweet,’ ‘wholesome,’ and ‘gentle.’
Did you attend RT this year? What was the most important thing you learned as an author?
Next: How Authors Can Participate in Shakespeare Week 2016
You might also like: Elizabeth Gilbert's Top 10 Tips for Writers
Goodreads Authors can subscribe to the Monthly Author Newsletter by editing their account settings.
posted by Cynthia on June, 21
1. Get your street team working for you. A street team is a curated group of your biggest fans that helps build buzz and excitement for your books. The romance authors we talked to give them early access to new books, chat with them regularly via email and video, and give them other exclusive experiences. In turn, their street teams spread the word about their work online and off. A street team is not quite your mother boasting about you but also not quite a hired PR-hand. Find your most passionate fans and cultivate them. We recommend using a Goodreads group to build and communicate with your team.
2. Every author is a reader first. Always remember what first inspired you to write: reading a story and realizing you wanted to tell one, too. Even the biggest romance authors get star-struck when their favorite authors are in the room with them. Engage on Goodreads as you would as a reader by reviewing, rating, and shelving books—meeting other readers and building your platform while you’re at it.
3. Driving discoverability is the key to building a readership. 60% of survey respondents told us that because they read so many romance books, they actually have a hard time finding enough good new romance books to read! Reviews and recommendations from friends top the list of where readers turn when looking for their next book. At Goodreads, the book page reflects the social circle of each member, displaying reviews from friends first, then people you follow, and then the general community.
4. Rethink your tchotchkes. Besides the standard bookmarks and buttons, we saw shot glasses, breath mints, and temporary tattoos getting handed out for free—the raffle prizes were even more elaborate! If you’re going to invest in promotional items, invest in something memorable. But remember, for most readers, the most valuable thing is still your time and your writing.
5. Your cover is your biggest advertisement. What’s on your cover should reflect what’s between the lines without giving too much away. Don’t mislead a reader by showing a sweaty, shirtless guy with a six-pack, only for them to read a clean love story. Keep the packaging consistent if you’re writing a series, and make sure the cover looks good as a thumbnail image on a computer screen or phone.
6. Metadata can be sexy... Though we know it’s not the most exciting thing (we heard that groan!), metadata is critical for helping readers find your book. Be as descriptive as possible and think hard about what keywords to use. For instance, keywords for inspirational romance books would include ‘sweet,’ ‘wholesome,’ and ‘gentle.’
Did you attend RT this year? What was the most important thing you learned as an author?
Next: How Authors Can Participate in Shakespeare Week 2016
You might also like: Elizabeth Gilbert's Top 10 Tips for Writers
Goodreads Authors can subscribe to the Monthly Author Newsletter by editing their account settings.
posted by Cynthia on June, 21