Power Pointers For Story Selling
No matter how good your writing actually is, if you can't figure out how to sell it, you've got a big problem. So in this post we're going to go over some pointers for getting your work up and running. We'll talk about the best ways to heed your marketing voice and find an audience that will not just enjoy, but need what you have to offer. This will probably require a bit of work on your part. But you can do it, and your readers will thank you for it.
But here's the big key to being successful at selling stories – presentation!
What makes one person want to read your story and another person avoid it is presentation. It doesn't matter how great the story is if they can't find a way to get it from point A to point B. In addition, out there on the Internet are a thousand other writers just like you trying to make their mark. So you need to put your best foot forward right off the bat. And that means engaging in a bit of self-promotion.
So here we go…
Write A Good Story Description If you look at any website selling anything on the web, one of the first things you will notice is an attention-grabbing description that includes a hook that makes someone interested in what more is there.
You don't need to describe every last detail of your story in your story description because once they get to the product page they can read all that, but you do need a quick and dirty description that gives them an idea of what they are buying.
And speaking of buying, don't just say that it is free. Say what kind of experience they'll have when they download the file or click on the link. And do so in a way that makes them want to purchase it immediately.
Write a good description for your story and then put it front and center on your site. If you want to go further, then go ahead. Mention that you are going to give away many of your stories for free but ask for just $25 per month to feed the dragon so to speak. Make it as enticing as you can and you'll see that many people will pay to get the whole collection. Then, when you give them the free stories, they'll want to come back for more.
Put A Great Cover On It
This is extremely important because the first thing someone will see is the cover of your story and if it doesn't catch their attention, then you're not going to get anywhere.
And what about your story? What image do you have for it? It also doesn't have to be professional but it does need to be grabbing. Your goal here is to get them wanting to read more, so look at the images used by other writers. Maybe you'll come up with your own. Maybe not. Either way, you need one – and soon.
Put Your Best Foot Forward In Your Bio
I always put a space between my given name and the last name. That way when I refer to myself in conversation I don't have to keep saying "Anthony, or Anthony Armstrong." I also like to put my email address at the end of my bio.
But if you are writing as a member of a collective such as NaNoWriMo or The Write Stuff, then your bio should be formatted differently and feature that group's logo rather than yours. The same goes for your writing style.
On the other hand, if you write in an online magazine or as a guest blogger for others, or write as a book reviewer on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, then you can include your name at the beginning of your bio. But be sure that you don't overstuff it with stuff about yourself.
There are other ways to get attention on your marketing site but we're going to save those for another post and see how everything else stacks up. If you need more help then reach out to us at The Write Stuff and we'll be glad to help you.
Cheers and Good Writing!
Anthony & The Write Stuff team PS – Please tell your friends about our free writing classes. Just place the following links on your Facebook or Twitter page…
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Conclusion
Start by writing a good story description. Then put a great cover on it. Finally, put your best foot forward in your bio. Do this, and you'll stand out from the crowd.