A Writer’s Start in the Marketing World
by Bri Sandoval
What on earth do I do now?
This was one of the first questions I asked myself after my thriller novel was completed. How do I find and keep readers? How will I spread my work to the masses? How will I get people to like me, let alone my book?
To help me begin to answer these questions, I took a page from the story of Warby Parker and the answer was as clear as day:
Social Media.
In 2010, college classmates Neil Blumenthal, Andrew Hunt, David Gilboa, and Jeffrey Raider were sick of the lack of options and high costs of prescription eyeglasses. Together, with four brains and $2500, they launched Warby Parker, a business that focused on the online distribution of prescription eyeglasses to lower costs and cut out the middle man. It was truly the first of its kind and it put the brand in direct business with consumers. But certainly they couldn’t expect consumers to trust the idea of online eyewear overnight. This is when they used social media to their advantage. They realized that they could use social media sites to communicate with customers, alter any preconceived notions, gain trust, and eventually capture the loyalty of eyeglass wearers across the globe. By offering a more personalized experience and consistently communicating with, and responding to, customer comments through social media, Warby Parker has thrived in the eyeglass business (Mahoney, 2016).
Social media is all about relationships and connections, but it doesn’t stop at family and friends. On social media, you can find influencers building loyal groups of supporters, movie stars surprising a fan with a personalized comment, and businesses interacting with individual consumers (cough* cough* Warby Parker).
Just look at Kim Kardashian and her online activity. Her personal life, multiple businesses and even her reality tv show is widespread on the world wide web. It allows her to create her own narrative, mold her image, share information, gain a loyal army of Kim K lovers, and sell the hell out of shapewear.
In 2021, Gitnux Blog reported that 91% of small businesses use social media and 63% report that it is effective for their business.
63% is a high enough number to convince me.
If I can gain a loyal readership while also creating relationships and bonds with people all over the world, I’m in. And I don’t expect that loyalty to be given without giving loyalty in return. I feel like a deeper understanding of my readers will allow me to create content that is more relatable, more engaging, and overall more thrilling. And in turn, a better understanding of me, as a writer and a human being in general, will allow readers to gain deeper meaning from and a greater appreciation for my stories.
And let’s be real. I’d love to be on some best seller’s lists.
So here I am. Putting myself out there and highly encouraging you to follow me on all social media platforms. Isn’t that how we are all forming new friendships in today’s age anyways?
So let’s be friends! I promise you won’t regret it.
Giveaways, sneak peeks, coupon codes, heart racing short stories, and great conversation. What more could you want from a dear friend? And I love to hear from anyone with an interest in the eerie, dark, and twisted realities that humanity so often buries. It’s truly a win-win!
Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!
Hope to see you soon.
XOXO
Bri
Bristol rose 
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