Strategies for authors to build an audience online, including examples from successful authors interviewed for my book: Own Your Niche. Presentation prepared for the National Speakers Association Conference 2012 in Indianapolis. For information on the book, visit http://businessinfoguide.com/own-your-niche/.

1. Own Your Niche
on the Internet and Beyond
Simple Strategies for Authors to Increase
Website Traffic and Build Buzz Online
Stephanie Chandler

2. What Do You Want to Be Known For?
Get Ready to Step on to the Virtual Stage
1. Define Your Target
Audience
2. Identify Their Wants/Needs
3. Establish Your Authority
4. Become a Resource
5. Choose Your Business
Model
GOAL = SERVE

3. Small Biz Thoughts.com
Speaker/Consultant for IT Business Owners

4. Melinda Emerson
Small Biz Lady

5. Patrick Schwerdtfeger
Social Media Victories

6. Kemble Scott
Fiction Writer

7. J.A. Konrath
Thrillers and Publishing?

8. Gretchen Rubin
Come On Get Happy!

9. How the Search Engines Work
And Why it Matters
17 Billion Searches Per Month:
= 66.4%
Microsoft Sites (Bing, MSN) = 15.9%
Yahoo = 12.8%
Ask = 3.2%
AOL = 1.7%
Source: Comscore.com, August 2012

10. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Increase Your Chances of Getting Found
Keywords/Key Phrases
• Page Title
• Description
• Header
• Repeated on Page
• Page URL
• Images

11. SEO Best Practices
Small Changes Make a Big Difference
• Keyword Concentration
• Relevant Incoming Links
• Anchored Links
• Minimal Use of Flash
• Frequent Updates
• Content is King

12. The Power of Blogging
Your Secret Weapon
• Great SEO
• Build Your
Audience
• Media Potential
• Content from
Customers,
Peers,
Employees

13. The Big Secret: Content
Showcase Your Expertise
• Articles/Blog Posts
• Product Reviews
• Industry News
• How-to Tips
• Case Studies
• Interviews with Executives
• Editorial Commentary
• Enlist Peers, Clients, Employees
*Your Site and Other Sites

14. Podcasts, Teleseminars, Webinars
Expand Your Reach
• Single events, series
or conferences
• Be a guest on other
people’s programs
• Host your own
• Promote via social
media
• Archive on your site
• Distribute via iTunes

15. Video
Potential to Go Viral
• Generate traffic
• Attract target
audience
• Establish expertise
• Add interest to your
website
• Inexpensive to
produce

16. Information Products
Give Away or Sell for Profit
• Books
• Ebooks
• Special Reports
• Whitepapers
• Tips Sheets
• Workbooks
• Training Programs

17. Grow Your Audience
Tap into the Power of Community
• Community is vital
• Find your target audience
• Figure out where they spend their
time
• Engage in existing communities
• Start your own
– Meetup.com
– LinkedIn Groups
– Ning
– Yahoo Groups

18. Email Marketing
It’s Not Dead!
• Permission to market!
• Build your list
• Give incentive
• Options:
– Constant Contact
– iContact
– Mail Chimp
– Aweber

19. Corporate Sponsors
They Need You
• Speaking
• Spokesperson
• Blogging
• Site Ads
• Give-Aways
• Webinars
• Twitter Chats
• Event Sponsorship
• Books in Bulk

20. Social Media
Why it Matters
• Build brand awareness
• Engage past clients
• Attract new clients and
readers
• Immediate impact
• Create community
• Viral marketing

21. Facebook Strategy
Engage Your Audience
• Build a Business Page
• Share Blog Content, Tips,
Articles, Links, Videos, Photos
• Ask Questions
• Participate Daily
• Cross-Promote on Your Site,
E-mail Marketing, Ads, etc.
• Promoted Posts and Ads

22. LinkedIn Strategy
Find Professional Connections
• Add Keywords
• Import Contacts
• Find Groups
• Get Introduced
• Ask for Endorsements
• Locate Key Contacts
• Invest in LinkedIn Mail

23. Pinterest Strategy
Visual Network
• Pin Your Blog Posts
• Pin Blog Posts by
Others
• Share Resources
• Be Interesting
• Always Remember Your
Target Audience

24. Google+ Strategy
Link Juice Here
• Share Blog Posts,
Interesting Content
• Use the +1 Button
• Add People to Your
Circles
• Interact With Others

25. Twitter Strategy
Microblogging in 140 Characters or Less
• Follow Those You Want
Following You
• Share Links to Blog Posts,
Resources, Industry News
• Retweet Often
• Post Often: 5+ Times Per Day
• Repeat Your Tweets

26. Steps to Success
Commit a Little Time Each Day
• Define Your Target
Audience
• Leverage Community
• Become a Resource
• Optimize Your Site
• Blog Often
• Add Content: Videos,
Podcasts, Webinars
• Distribute Information:
Ebooks, Books, Reports
• Join Social Media

27. Thank YOU
I Appreciate Your Time!
Questions?
www.AuthorityPublishing.com
www.BusinessInfoGuide.com
www.StephanieChandler.com
Twitter: @bizauthor
877-800-1097