Any creative person knows that generating new ideas is only half the battle. The real challenge is turning those ideas into something tangible that your readers are actually going to WANT TO HAVE!
You can give your readers more than just your story book excerpt.
Turn your new content idea into a content offer (aka reader magnet, reader upgrade, freebie) that’ll not only entice your reader to sign up to your email list but also increase reader engagement on social media!
Offer More to Your Readers and They Might Thank You!!
I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I wished for something else besides your book excerpt. As a marketer, I understand the need to have an excerpt. Your excerpt has a very important purpose in your marketing.
As a reader, I hate excerpts!! I don’t read them nor do I want them.
Instead, I created content ideas that I always wanted to see (and have) and created templates for you to easily and quickly make your own. Now you can offer your readers something different to your readers in addition to your book excerpt.
Typically a content offer comes in a few formats. They would include:
downloadable pdfs
- printables
- reports
- planners
- journals
downloadable graphics
- infographics
- photos
- graphics
How to Repurpose Your Content Idea into a Reader Incentive
Before you begin editing your content template, it’s important to consider what type of content you want to include. Do you want to focus on keyword-rich content that will help your website rank higher in search engines? Or are you looking to create more evergreen content that will attract and engage readers?
Once you know the purpose of your content, you can start to edit your template accordingly.
For example, if you’re focused on SEO, you’ll want to make sure that your headlines and subheadings include relevant keywords.
If you’re looking to create more engaging content, on the other hand, you may want to add additional images or videos. Ultimately, the best way to edit your content template is to tailor it to your specific needs and goals.
No matter the purpose behind your new content, you’ll find a content template to help you jump start your creating!
First, you need to decide what format your content idea will take.
For the purpose of content opt-ins, freebies you’ll give your readers, we’re going to focus on the ideal formats to give your readers in an email. This could be downloadable pdfs (printables, reports, planners, journals, etc.), or downloadable graphics (infographics, photos, pictures, etc.).
Once you know the format, then you can decide WHAT you want to give. To help you out, you’ll find more than 30 content ideas on the Build Your Own Content Library page!
These ideas all have a purpose to why you’d give them to your readers.
Each is a content template to edit and customize to your own branding and style.
Please note each content template can be used in more than one way. For this example, let’s customize the Inspiration Pics template. Inspiration pictures can be used to bring awareness back to a book that you wrote ages ago or it can be used to show off parts your book that’s coming out soon. Depending what your purpose is will depend on the wording you’ll use in your marketing.
Decide Which Content Idea to Offer
To continue with the Inspiration Pics idea, let’s imagine you’ve finished your latest book and it comes out in a couple of months. You’re in need of getting more readers on your list to get more sales.
Take the time to edit the template using pics that helped you to write your story and characters. Here’s a sample idea:
Note: please follow the instructions on each content template to create the content piece you want.
Here’s a few design tips to remember when creating your design:
- your design needs to be both eye-catching and informative.
- your design needs to match your own personal branding and style.
- include a call-to-action at the end to guide your readers to know what to do next.
After you’ve edited your template, download it as a pdf. You’ll also need to create a graphic from your finished template. Like this:
And while I’m not an expert on email platforms, I recommend Aweber. It’s easy to use and navigate.
Add your new content idea to your email management system.
Make sure to add a sign-up form to your website. This idea is a simple form that pops up at the bottom of the page your reader is currently reading.
Promoting Your New Content Idea
If you’ve just created some new content, then you’ll want to make sure that it gets seen by as many people as possible. Here are some action steps that you can take to promote your new content:
- Share it on social media. This is a great way to get initial exposure for your content. Make sure to use relevant hashtags and tagging people/brands who might be interested.
- Email your list. If you have a mailing list, then let your subscribers know about your new content. They’re likely to be interested in what you have to say.
- Reach out to influencers. If there are any influencers in your industry who might be interested in your content, then reach out and let them know about it. They could help to spread the word and get more people interested.
- Promote it on your website. Make sure that your website is set up in a way that promotes your new content (e.g., through featured posts or an RSS feed).
- Paid advertising. If you’re willing to spend some money, then paid advertising can be a great way to get exposure for your new content. Platforms like Facebook and Google offer different options for targeting potential readers with ads.
- Submit to directories and aggregators. There are many online directories and aggregators that accept submissions from new websites and blogs. By submitting your site, you will get more exposure and traffic.
By taking these action steps, you can significantly increase the reach of your new content and make sure that it gets seen by the people who are most likely to be interested in it!
If you’d like to dive deep in learning how to promote your new content, follow the link below!
Tips to Adding Your Content Upgrade
Because your author website is the most important tool in your book marketing arsenal, it’s the perfect place to connect with potential readers and let them get to know you and your books.
One of the best ways to engage website visitors, is to offer a “reader magnet”. This is an incentive for visitors to sign up for your mailing list, such as a free ebook or exclusive content.
Here are a few tips for adding a lead magnet to your site:
Choose an incentive that’ll appeal to your target readers.
As a romance author, typically, you’d offer a free ebook of one of your first books. This is a great way to attract your new readers. You can also create an exclusive newsletter with behind-the-scenes info, sneak peeks of upcoming books, or even contest giveaways.
Here on RomanceAuthorVA, you’ll find several more content ideas that your readers will LOVE to have! And content templates to make them.
Make sure your sign-up form is prominently displayed on your website.
The easier it is for your website visitors to find a sign-up form and fill it out, the more likely they are to take advantage of your offer. You can add your form on any of your pages. I’ll even show you the best place to add in a certain type of reader upgrade.
Include a CTA on each page.
Include a call-to-action on each page of your website encouraging your readers to sign up for your incentive. A simple statement like “Sign up for my newsletter and get a free ebook!” can be highly effective in getting people to take action.
By following these tips, you can quickly and easily add a reader magnet to your author website – and start building a network of loyal fans.
What’s Next…
Get the Essential Website Content Checklist here, FREE!!
If you’re ready to take your website to the next level, check out how you can Build Your Own Content Library and pick a content template that fits your readers.
Check out the Ultimate Guide to Building your Content to get tips on how to do-it-yourself!
