I participated in my first-ever webinar last week, given by social media guru Thomas Umstaddt. I don’t know about you, but when I think social media, the two names that come to mind are Mr. Umstaddt and Kristen Lamb. And although he said some things that oppose what Kristen Lamb might advise, the core of their philosophy remains the same.
Serve the reader. Whether that be book readers, blog readers, or people who read our Facebook or Twitter updates.
In a post titled Making Marketing More About Them and Less About Us, Jody Hedlund says, “The needs of the reader should be at the heart of our marketing and publicity efforts.”
I love this message.
It’s a message that is near and dear to my heart. Because to be quite honest, focusing on myself is exhausting. The more I focus on myself, the more self-conscious and insecure I feel. I start to second-guess everything I tweet. Everything I post. I start to worry, “What if nobody likes me? What if nobody even notices me!?”
The whole thing becomes very draining. Very….unfun.
The only cure I’ve found is the one Jody Hedlund, Kristen Lamb, and Thomas Umstaddt offer.
Take our eyes off ourselves and focus outward.
Which is no natural thing.
We are self-centered creatures. Or let me back that train up. I am a self-centered creature. It’s so, so, so easy for me to get wrapped up in my little world. But then I read a blog post like Jody’s or listen to a webinar from Thomas or read a book by Kristen and I receive a much needed slap in the face.
Switch gears, Katie.
Marketing is about being a blessing. Marketing is about serving. Marketing is not about me.
And as soon as I start looking outward again, it’s like a sharp pin pops my growing tension and this whole thing turns fun again. Energizing, even.
My newest endeavor, as I wade these waters of debut authorship, is creating an author website. And as I start to think about what I want my website to look like and what types of pages I want it to have and what information I want to provide and what colors I want to use, I’m taking this advice to heart.
How can I create a website that is less about me and more about my reader?
It’s an important question for any of us, no matter what we’re doing. It’s a question I haven’t figured out yet. But will continue to ponder as I work with my web designer.
Let’s Talk: What features do you enjoy in an author website? In what ways can an author make their website more about the reader and less about themselves? Please share!
