Digital Marketing Ideas for Authors

  1. Get your own domain name.
    • A domain name is a permanent internet address that you own.  Examples:
      1. openpolitics.com (my domain name)
      2. emtiazzourob.com,  or
      3. emtiazalnahhal.com
    • I found your blogspot blog:
      1. emtiazalnahhal.blogspot.com
      2. Blogspot is good, but it would be better if your site’s address were independent of blogspot.com
    • Having your own domain name allows you to customize the site, and add additional features, or switch to a different hosting provider without having to change the site’s address.
    • You can purchase your own domain name for about $10-15/year.
    • There are many different companies through which you can purchase  a domain.
      1. I use namecheap.com
      2. I would recommend gandi.net if your site might be controversial because I think gandi will be more likely to stand up for you if others are trying to censor you.
  2. Optional: Switch Your Blog to Your Own Domain Name
    • Move from emtiazalnahhal.blogspot.com to emtiazalnahhal.com.
    • I can help you with the transfer if you like.  Talk to me more if you’re interested in this.  This would also mean a switch in software from blogspot to wordpress.
  3. Register for Twitter
    1. If you don’t already own your username on twitter, I would sign up, if for no other reason than to reserved your name.
    2. Unlike Facebook, Twitter is public.  If you want to get a message out to the public, Twitter can be more effective than Facebook.
  4. Get Business Cards to hand out at readings
    • List the domain name that you purchased in step 1, your twitter name, your email address, and any other info you want, such as phone number.
    • Your physical address may change if you move to a different apartment, but your gmail address and domain name can stay the same.
    • There are many places to get business cards.  I don’t have experience ordering my own cards.
      1. I’ve heard advertisements for www.vistaprint.com but I don’t know how good they are.
  5. Get your own Email Lists
    • You can collect email addresses from people at readings and put a signup form on your website.   As you collect them you can categorize them based on language or interest.  You can send some emails to the whole group and others to a subgroup (like English).
    • The big advantage to email lists is that you can reach out to people who don’t follow you on Facebook or Twitter when you have a book to sell, or an event to publicize.
    • There are many sites that offer group email functionality.
      1. Constant Contact is a popular site for non-profits
      2. I recommend MailChip to people starting up because they are free for lists smaller than 2000 people.