It can be difficult to make your mark as a writer. If you hope to build a thriving business as an author or freelance writer, you’ll need to focus on consistent self-promotion. Read on for tips from Made For Success Publishing on essentials like how to formalize your business, write up contracts that protect your interests as well as your clients, and create an effective digital marketing strategy.
1. Working from Home
One of the hardest aspects of writing professionally can be your home environment. If you tend to get distracted or are interrupted frequently, you’ll need to make a space where you can focus on your craft. Dedicating a space allows you to write off certain expenses at tax time, though. And if you’re making any home upgrades, like converting a basement or even repainting a bedroom-cum-office, your home appraisal could improve, too.
2. Register Your Business
By formally registering your writing business with your state, you can establish yourself as a professional. Most writers either choose a sole proprietorship or set up an LLC. The latter will grant you limited liability and beneficial tax advantages. Furthermore, you don’t necessarily need to pay a lawyer for assistance with this task – instead, try filing on your own or using an online formation service. For example, it’s easy to start an LLC in Washington with ZenBusiness. Each state has its own requirements for business formation, so dig into your own state’s rules before you get started.
3. Create Strong Contracts
While working with ironclad contracts may not seem like a marketing or branding strategy, it does grant your business a new level of legitimacy. Using strong contracts will give you and your clients or customers peace of mind.
As you’re drawing up terms and contracts, you can use a helpful tool to sign and fill out PDF forms online. This will allow your clients to sign contracts without printing them out. Once the contracts have been signed, you can share the files securely.
4. Keep Business Cards Handy
For writers, business cards are an invaluable tool in promoting their work and expanding their professional network. With business cards templates online, creating a card that encapsulates your personal brand and writing style becomes a straightforward and creative process. These templates provide a range of designs that can be customized to reflect your unique identity as a writer, whether you’re a novelist, journalist, freelancer, or blogger. By incorporating elements such as your preferred genres, website, and contact information, your business card becomes a powerful marketing tool. It’s not just about sharing contact details; it’s about making a memorable impression at workshops, conferences, and literary events.
5. Set Up a Website
You need to ensure that your audience can find you online! By creating an author website, you can sell your books online and create a virtual destination for your audience. To design your website, Jerry Jenkins suggests including a home page and about page, a contact form, a blog, and a page for readers to purchase your books through linked sellers.
6. Utilize Social Media
You can use social media entirely for free, and it’s one of the simplest ways to connect with other authors and avid readers. Make sure to create social media accounts tied to your writing business, and spend some time thinking about how you could use these platforms strategically. Media Bistro recommends creating profile bios that reflect your genre and personality, posting content on a daily basis, responding to comments in a timely manner, and sharing excerpts of your work.
7. Focus on Networking
In any industry, networking is the key to getting ahead. In order to meet other authors in your genre, connect with agents, and even get to know your audience better, you need to put yourself out there and start networking! You might want to register for local conferences, join a local writing workshop, let people know that you’re available for public speaking, and go to events for writers in your area, like open mics or happy hours. After a while, networking will feel natural, not scary!
As a writer, it can be hard to build a thriving career in a competitive industry. By leveraging smart business practices like registering your business and using protective contracts, as well as investing time in digital promotion, you can make a name for yourself. With these tips, you’ll be ready to succeed as a writer.
At Made for Success Publishing, we have been helping authors realize their dreams for decades. We craft each manuscript into exceptional books designed to create a legacy.