Many authors write because they have to. Everyone has a book in them. But when these books are actually published, it suddenly belongs to the readers. Readers have a stake in the books they read; otherwise there would be no fandoms. Achieving and keeping reader loyalty can be tough, especially if you are a new author. It can be difficult even if you are a well-known author. Here are a few tips to help you on.
1. Write well
There are no short cuts to achieving reader loyalty. The first basic rule is to write well on topics they identify with. There are large markets for almost every subject, so the trick is to find them. Research a lot, let potential readers tell you what they want to read and try to avoid mistakes in your writing. There is no substitute for good writing, so this is of primary importance in achieving reader loyalty. Do not spend all your time in publicizing and marketing your books. Put in the time and effort to create a wonderful product that the readers will love.
2. Build a community
With social media, it has become very easy to interact with your readers. Get a Facebook page, sign up for a Twitter account, join Yahoo Groups, start a blog, create a Goodreads author page. With the help of these tools, you can directly speak to your readers. Let the readers interact with other readers. This is how literary communities are built. Be nice and avoid making controversial remarks. Don’t pick up fights and do yourself a favor – don’t complain about negative ratings in public. An author cannot afford online scandals.
3. Keep readers informed
Ensure that the readers have a stake in your books. To do this, they have to know what is going on. Let them know when your book is due. Even more important, let them know exactly what you are writing about. You can share tidbits about the various new projects you are working on. You can also talk about things that interest you. Start discussions on the topics you write about. This helps readers feel close to you and conveys your own excitement about the book to them.
4. Book readings
It helps to be associated with literary clubs and bookshops. A lot of potential fans are often found in these places. Such shops and clubs market your books to their customers, and often put up posters and give away small gifts like bookmarks. Organize book signings and book readings with the help of your local bookshop. This is where you can actually talk face to face with your readers and they too will take away a treasured memory.
5. Be professional
Don’t take readers for granted. In a world where you can be on show every time you open your mouth (or type a few words), it is important to not make promises you cannot keep. Try to keep to schedule even as you inform readers about the release date of your next book. Don’t make literary engagements and then not show up. Be professional in everything that you do. If you have to let down your reader in some way due to reasons out of your control, do so gently and apologize for the inconvenience. To achieve loyalty among readers, you need to be loyal to them.
Image credit: David Goehring on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hv1.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of eBooks India. He is also a prolific eBook writer with over 25 titles to his name.[/author_info] [/author]