The Reader Journey Map: How to Build Familiarity, Not Just Followers

Branding

Jul 22

Every author I’ve met has said that they love it when readers send them messages about their books. It’s a way to feel connected to your readers and to relive your story through the reading experience.

It’s a way to become more familiar with your readers. But it’s not the only way.

Think about your most used social media platform. What does it look like? Does it reflect the emotions you wish to convey in your books? What about your website? Does it draw in your ideal reader?

Having a consistent author brand is just the beginning to creating familiarity with your readers.

Define Your Core Feeling

You’ve probably already done this, even subconsciously, but think of two to three adjectives you want to convert in your books. Your content should feel the same.

For example, I want to make readers laugh out loud, but also get teary-eyed in the same book. I work to touch on hard topics, like anxiety or suicide ideation, in a way that feels real and raw, but also focus on family and happily ever afters.

I want my books to feel safe, warm, and real. And my Instagram reflects that. My color palette is warm, my images are cozy, and my presence is real. This creates familiarity with my readers and turns them into loyal readers.

Audit Your Current Platforms

Create a quick checklist for the images and graphics you create.

Do your captions match the tone of your books?
How about your replies to readers?
What does your CTA look like? Is it too salesy? How would you word it in person?
In what areas are you lacking?
Does your color palette reflect your brand? Do you even have one?
Are the fonts you’re using going to attract your ideal readers?
Does your social media presence even sound like you?

Everything about your online presence can be used to draw readers in or drive them away.

Consistency Does Not Mean Cutting Corners

It’s okay to have a more playful social media presence and a more serious newsletter. Just like no book is all fluff or all conflict, it’s important to mix both.

However, it’s important to make maintain your author branding. You should spend the same amount of time and give the same amount of effort into social media as you do your newsletter or website, and vice versa.

Don’t lose your author voice, your author brand, just for the sake of throwing something together.

What Even is an Author Brand?

But you may be asking, “How do I know where to start?” That’s a great question to be asking, and it’s one I’m ready to answer.

Coming October 1, the Solar Society (Substack paid subscribers) will have access to monthly workshops, a subscriber chat, and a discount on design services. October’s workshop is Typography: How to Choose Fonts to Build Your Brand. But if you don’t want to wait, digital courses are also coming to the website on October 1. These are self-paced and more detailed than the Substack workshops will be.

So what’s in it for you right now? Join the Solar Society before September 30, and lock in the founder price of $5 (half off!) But that’s not all. I’m giving away one branding audit to everyone who joins the Solar Society before October 1. Each month of membership is another entry into this giveaway.

Branding Audit - $75 Value