We are now comfortably in the 21st century, we have technology stuff that I pretend I understand and for the last 5 years I’ve spent more time pushing buttons on an e-reader than I have turning pages of a book. And it has never ever been so easy for me to spend money on books. Giving money to authors (well retailers who give it to publishers who, I assume, give some of it to authors) has never been easier for me! Well, if they let me - and sadly, they don’t always make it easy.
Now I’m sure lots of professionals can give some great advice on marketing and whatnot to authors - certainly better than I. But here is what I want, as a lazy reader, in order to give you money. And that, right there, is the simplest guideline all authors and publishers need: pretend the reader is a lazy git. A lazy git who wants to give you money. So long as you don't tax my Laziness. Because, ultimately, if you make it too much effort, I'll be giving my money to someone else; don’t make me work to get my hands on your book, make it easy for my Laziness to give you money.
Firstly, you need a website. Really really really need it. It’s the 21st century, join us in it. The first thing I do when I am recommended/come across a new author is google their name and click on the links. If your website isn’t up there, you’re letting other people tell me about you. They may not like you very much, they may be wrong, they may be rabid Twilight fans. Wouldn’t you rather have your say first? Or worse, you may not have a web presence AT ALL. Which is a little better than not actually existing, but not much. If I’ve gone through 4 google pages and still haven’t found your name? That’s bad. You’ve made me work to try and track down your books. The Laziness does not approve.
Now, if I find your website, it’s fairly imperative that it be updated and contain all your books. We have recently discovered the wonderful tool that is Fictfact, that tells us when new books are released and shows us all the books in a series. And we discovered that there were several series we read that had many many books we’d never heard of! Authors, why are you hiding your books from us? The Laziness does not approve of having to play hide and seek to find the things we want to buy.
Similarly, if I find your website, I’m sure there are many fascinating things there. Your blog. Links to other authors you like (I love them, helps me find more good stuff). Short stories. Web content. A series playlist/wiki. Fanart. Some pithy quotes, even pictures of your pet. Pictures of you in numerous daring poses/fancy dress... or what I took to be fancy dress but apparently isn’t. By all means go with all of them - but put your books first. The Laziness is here for the books so I can give you money, everything else is secondary (though fascinating. Except maybe for pictures of the pets). Don’t make me dig to find your books. Don’t make me work to give you money - the Laziness does not approve of that. Upon reaching your site it should take me, at most, 2 clicks to get to all of your books. 1 click for books, 2nd click for series. No more. More is a treasure hunt.
