Getting discovered as a creative isn’t easy. As an author, taking your passion to a professional level can take several years of hard work, and success is never a guarantee. By taking the right steps and approaching your career with an entrepreneurial mindset, you can increase your chances of getting discovered and making a living with your creative passion. In this article, I will share some tips, tools, and resources to help you launch and grow your personal creative brand.
Have Your Clients Sign Contracts
Treating your creative pursuit as a business is a best practice for any freelance or independent contractor and is especially important for authors seeking to protect their rights and interests. Before entering into an agreement with a client, have them sign a contract. This will establish everyone’s expectations, ensure you’re properly compensated for your work, and help you avoid disputes. If you’ll be signing and sending contracts digitally, consider this tool. This makes it easy to sign and share documents without printing and scanning.
Register Your Business and Form an LLC
Registering your business and forming an LLC can offer several benefits to your creative career. Writer Sanctuary explains that by forming an LLC, you can protect your personal assets from being seized in the event of a lawsuit or bankruptcy, allowing you to focus on your writing without fear of financial consequences. Separating your personal and business finances through an LLC can also make it easier to track your income and expenses, providing valuable insights into the health of your business. Plus, forming an LLC can give your writing career a professional appearance and help build credibility with publishers.
You can hire a lawyer to help you form an LLC, but this will come with an additional fee. Save yourself some money by using an online formation service to register your business and establish your LLC. Do some research and read reviews to find the best LLC formation service for your needs and budget.
Build an Online Presence
Crafting an online presence can go a long way toward helping you get discovered as an author. Your online presence will allow you to reach a wider audience, connect with other creatives, and showcase your work in a professional and easily-accessible way. At the same time, an online presence allows you to control the narrative around your work and build a reputation as an author. Post on social media, set up a website, and use other digital platforms like freelance job boards to connect with potential clients online.
Create a Marketing Plan
Building an online presence isn’t enough on its own. To draw people to your online platforms, you must develop a marketing plan. For example, optimizing your website with metadata, keywords, and authority content can help your site rank higher in search engine results. You can gain greater exposure through book giveaways, guest blogging, and chatting with fans on social media. Planning a book tour is another great way to get the word out about a finished piece.
Never Stop Networking
Networking, like marketing, is essential to your success as an author. Connecting with industry professionals will help you gain valuable insights into the publishing world and learn about new opportunities. Craft Your Content explains that you may also come across potential clients and collaborators through writing events and online author communities. Building a network of industry contacts can also help you to develop a support system as you navigate the ups and downs of your creative career.
Going professional with your writing passion requires careful planning and plenty of hard work. By signing professional contracts with your clients, forming an LLC, building an online presence, and creating an effective marketing plan, you can craft a solid foundation for your career as an author. Whether you're an aspiring author or an established writer, investing time and effort into these areas can help you achieve your goals and make a lasting impact in the literary world!
If you’re looking for new ways to market your writing business, Kadaxis can help! Kadaxis applies artificial intelligence to metadata optimization in the publishing industry. Contact Kadaxis today to learn more!