Only if your desire is to take every opportunity to develop your brand.
Sometimes your book is a big business card. It opens doors to speaking engagments at book clubs, writing groups, service clubs, schools and other organizations.
Being accessible is important.
On the average, everyone knows two hundred people who also know two hundred people. This is a potential 40,000 opportunities to expand your brand.
A small percentage of authors and writers place their email address in their Google Plus profile. Even fewer show a business phone number although one is available, free, through Google.
My Google number allows me to screen calls by giving me the persons name when I answer. I then have the option of accepting or rejecting the call with a message and opportunity for the caller to leave a message.
What is your long term objective for authoring a book? To sell the average of 200 books to your family and friends? Or is your vision much greater?
Do you see yourself as a well known author? A well known speaker? An influencer? A teacher?
Can you see a business locking its door so that no one can enter? No phone number available to customers? No opportunity to communicate?
That business won’t last long.
Change something today to make your tomorrow better.
Tom Blubaugh
Literary Strategist, LLC
TomBlubaugh.net
tom@tomblubaugh.net
417-812-6110
Great article. I certainly agree that you have to be willing to interact with readers in order to build your business. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know readers, and when they get to know you personally they become dedicated fans and want to tell all their friends about you. Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you for the kind words, DelSheree.
Hi Tom — I agree with you. When I learn that an author is isolated from fans or won’t talk to them, it makes my blood boil. As an example, my opinion of John Green went down, way down, when I read on his website that he NEVER answers mail from anyone. Obviously I am not in the same category with Green — few are — but such as I am, I am proud to be a “reader-friendly author” who responds to anyone who writes to me. As for the business end, you’re right about those things, too. An author is a brand, and like any branded entity, needs to be open to multiple revenue streams. (If you find any I can take advantage of, let me know — I still have my day job…)
Thanks, Matt.