Blogger: Rachel Kent
Yesterday, I was reading an article in the CBA Retailers + Resources magazine (April 2015) about welcoming little children into Christian bookstores (to increase sales) by having a large children’s section with toys and books for sale and also for the children to play with while in the store. As a mom, this set up is likely to increase the amount of money I spend at the store because I nearly always purchase something for my daughter at a bookstore and if she’s occupied with some toys in a visible play area, I am more free to browse. This type of store does make me feel more welcome and will result in my spending more time and money there.
The article got me thinking…how can authors make readers feel more welcome? Authors are trying to sell books and readers that feel included and welcomed into the author’s space are more likely to continue to buy from that author. Many readers like to feel close to the author, even if they’ve never met him or her before. How can you make your website, Facebook, blog, etc. more welcoming to readers–inviting them in to spend some time with you and hopefully increase the chances of their purchasing your book?
And yes, as Christian writers, it’s not all about sales–but to spread the message you are hoping to share, people do need to be purchasing your product.
Here are a few suggestions I have to make readers feel more welcome and I’d love to hear yours!
1) Create a Q and A section on your website that answers the most popular questions you are asked in your emails. Do get a little bit personal, but don’t share private information, 0f course.
2) Share pictures on Facebook, in your newsletter, and on your blog. You don’t need to share pics of your kids if you are uncomfortable with that, but put pictures of you on trips, with your pet, doing research, and more. Visuals are really important these days.
3) If you create a special “street team” don’t announce that to all of your fans. You want everyone to feel special and you don’t want to make any of your readers feel less special than others.
4) Include snippets from reader emails (with permission) on posts or in newsletters. This shows all of the fans that you are paying attention and care about what they are saying. What they share with you can really be life changing for you, too, and it’s good to let them know that you are touched.
5) Create a guestbook on your website–these can allow for fans to “check in” and show where they live on a map of the world. The guestbook doesn’t need to allow comments or pictures–they come in all different types. You might not want comments or pictures if you don’t want to spend much time approving the posts. Find one that fits your needs.
How have you made readers feel welcome? What new ideas have come to you as you’ve read this post? Please share! 🙂
I loved going to Ally Carter’s blog back when she did it herself because she was so personable. She told us all about getting new cabinets and how there was no spot in her kitchen for the baked Lays! She told us what she was writing on that week and made me feel welcome. I hope to have a similar feel to my website. My first step was to hire a pro to draw an appealing top bar picture for my new site. One that gave the feeling of a good book and was welcoming. Now I’m working on getting my site to match. I have a lot of work to do before September, but the feeling I got when visiting Ally Carter’s site is helping me to know what to do as I work on my own.
I love how people can be so welcoming online! It’s like they have the gift of blog or webpage hospitality. And I’m so thankful we can learn from them.
Rachel, these are wonderful ideas!
The idea that crosses my mind would be to have a bunch of book plates (stickers) made and offer to write a note to the book owner and send it if they private message their address to you. For about 50 cents, you would make a very personal connection.
What is a street team?
Sheila, a street team is a group of people who help an author get their book noticed. The couple that I’ve been a part of have been fun. They put it on Facebook and tweet about the book, and anything related to the book–contests, awards the author may receive.
Some authors share tweets on a private Facebook page or a private page on their website that the street team has access to. the street team can then cut and paste said tweets and Facebook posts. There are probably more things a street team does, but does this give you an idea?
And I love your idea! Bookplates are inexpensive and readers love to get a signed something from an author.
Thanks for popping in for me, Jeanne! I’m sorry I am not good at responding to comments right away.
A street team is a group of readers that are hand selected to help you promote your book. Some authors believe this is the best way to market.
How do you make readers feel welcome? Don’t be or turn into a snob. Never consider yourself high and mighty. Stay humble. Treat readers like you would your very own neighbors at the local grocery store … you’d not shun them; you’d acknowledge them. I know there are people who know no boundaries, and you have to be wary of those, but that’s not the norm. Never take readers or success for granted (Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. –Proverbs 16:18). And Jesus set the sweetest example of this … because of His amazing love, being approachable, people followed and still continue to.
Good words, Shelli! Humility and reaching out will definitely encourage readers to feel welcome. 🙂
So much truth there, Shelli. Great words to lead us into the Easter weekend. Thank you!
Great advice!
I don’t think I’m aware of guest books on websites, Rachel, but I’ll look into it. Are they different than a reader subscribing to a newsletter? Thanks for a great list, and have a blessed Easter weekend.
I’m not sure if she has it any longer, but Robin Jones Gunn had one for awhile.
And they are different than subscribing to a newsletter because they allow for the readers to see a bit of information about each other.
I always try to either “like” or reply to comments people are kind enough to leave on my blog posts, Facebook page, etc. It takes time, but it just seems polite to me. If my readers are willing to engage, I want them to know I appreciate it. We all have time challenges in our lives, and when readers use theirs to communicate with me, I always want them to feel welcome.
Stephanie, as a reader this act of kindness is so appreciated.
I think you do a great job of it! 🙂
I think it’s important with the social media medium to remember it’s about relationships. It’s *social* media. So the irony you listed above is it’s what gets the readers and gets the money, but it’s has to come from a collaborating “we’re in this together” mindset. Readers are the biggest supporters, so I think it all starts from that heart posture of involvement and collaboration – each post is a conversation, not a commercial.
Like Stephanie said (in another comment), liking or commenting is a common courtesy in this. But I think it goes a step beyond that, before the comments even show up, in that it’s not just spouting one’s own opinions (in blogpost, article, facebook status, tweet, etc.), but about asking questions and valuing dialogue from the get-go. I think that draws readers.
Now I say that loosely, because I am still learning the art of that – eliciting reader response is not my forte haha, though I’m trying.
It’s hard for me too! It’s hard to balance social media and getting actual work done.
Ladies, I have to tell you how I feel when I log on to your blog. The first thing I see is all of you as a group and I immediately get a warm feeling as though I have known each of you for years. It is a wonderful picture. After reading today’s blog it just seemed fitting to let you know how welcoming you are in your photo.
Thank you!!! We recently had new pictures taken, too. We might be updating that one soon. 🙂