Skip to main content

How authors' profile should look like?





Inspired by Instagram, I am writing this post. Many authors want to get followers there using the option follow to follow.

How much is this kind of following honest and why does it look like a manipulation?

Imagine you are going shopping. The vendor says: "If you buy this, I will buy something from you." This is not how things work, isn't it?

The same is with social engagement. If you want to follow someone, you will do because this profile is something that attracted your attention.

Some authors need to be more informed about what the author's profile should be like.




A basic belief about the author's profile:

Book links.

Book covers.

Book presentations.

No profile photos, no selfies, or memes.

If you have a photo, let it be professional. Now, I found some links that want to earn by photographing authors. 

Authors are people. It means we have our emotions, reactions, and imagination. The primary task of every author is to represent himself to readers.

Here is what I am thinking.

I am not here to please some standards. If I look angry or sad in my photo, this is about human perception.

I will not do professional makeup or filter my photos to look better. 

I have no agent so my book presentation will be Tik Tok video, my English is with a Croatian accent.

My covers are not expensive.

I will not post in underwear to get a bigger audience. 

I will not offer free books or awards to attract the audience.

I love music, it expresses my feelings. 

What are the essential elements of every author?

Imagination.

Spontaneity. 

A possibility to change your style and step out of standards.

The last word is for readers. You will decide what is interesting in my books.



Comments

Eva Pasco said…
I agree with you. I don't stand on my head spitting nickels either.

Popular posts from this blog

Should we respond to negative reviews?

Recently I had a discussion in my social media about negative ratings. There was a situation in Goodreads, where I got two negative reviews on my two books. The point was in the way how the ratings were set up. First rating for my book "Body in the waves" was placed under 5-star review from another reviewer. While the reviewer praising my book, the troll came under to say "This is really bad book." Second rating was described as " Poor author needs writing lessons." Both reviews broke standards of reviewing, because there is no visible evidence that book was downloaded in Kindle unlimited or purchased. It was a clear troll act from a new page, without a profile photo and with a nickname. I reported this to Goodreads and they responded me they are processing this. Meanwhile, I heard from other authors that Goodreads failed to do anything about trolling.  In these terms, Goodreads should delete such profiles and forbid the access because of breaking rules. T...

Why the refund is damaging indie authors?

I understand someone can be disappointed with a book. It is like I was disapointed with my trousers online and returned it. What makes a difference, my trousers were 40 euros. The book was 2.49 cents. This makes return funny, because what can you do with this money? Some readers don't understand story behind the refund. The author will get minus royalties. - 0.13 c in my Kindle report, that will vanish when someone else buy the book. The situation happens. Someone accidentaly clicked and bought a book. A random customer wants a refund. Maybe it was not a random move. Maybe the customer clicked, bought and did not like the book. When you don't like the book choose another options, instead of damaging authors. Write a negative review. Write negative one star rating. Don't purchase another books from this author. Or, maybe to reconsider and read it, again? If you write negative reviews or rate it with 1 or 2 stars, you are making a favor to authors. You are moving algorithms i...

Five myths about promo sites

Recently I asked for a featured Bookbub deal for one of my books. I got response that my book should be free priced and my expense would be 230 dollars. This is really funny, because I could expect people grab my book for free and give me one star (as it happens when books are available for everyone). To pay such amount of money would be waste and without a purpose. I am mix of traditional and indie author. Having a publisher, but not bestseller books, I am looking for ways to increase my book sales. Promo sites like Bookbub are very expensive and they offer their deals for 25% books from authors who applied for this. I had an insight to author's books who grabbed Bookbub deals. It works will authors who are already selling a good amount of their books. In general, promo sites are not working for favor of indie authors. These are five myths about promo sites: Promo sites give many readers. It is not true, because you will get visibility and many trolls, but not readers. Promo sites...