Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
“What does an influencer do?”
“Who makes a strong endorser?”
and “Should I ask someone to write a foreword?” are questions my clients frequently ask me.
The answers can help you to:
–obtain a contract
–make your book discoverable
–market your book
–add prestige to your work
What does an influencer do?
Wielding one’s influence on behalf of a book can make an immense difference in the number of copies sold. Once you have a publishing contract, your publisher will ask you to supply a list of influencers. The publicity team often will also ask you to write a letter to those influencers that will accompany a free copy of the book, which the publishing house will send out shortly before your book releases.
The idea is to give individuals influential among your potential readers the chance to tell those they have strong connections with what a great book you’ve written. It’s up to the influencer to decide just how loudly to broadcast their enthusiasm.
Influencers can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, depending on the networks you’ve developed and the people you’ve had the opportunity to develop relationships with. If you attend the same church as a sports super star, and you chat with her every now and then, you would want her to be on your list. (If, however, your book is an academic look at the Trinity, well, the sports star might not mingle with a lot of academicians.)
Bloggers you know (and perhaps have done a guest blog for) also belong on your influencer list.
If you are writing about how you overcame depression, you’ll want to have your book sent to influencers in the counseling realm, especially any whom you’ve met personally.
The way to determine if someone belongs on your influencer list is to ask: Does this person have a megaphone he or she might use to broadcast about my book to potential readers?
Who Makes a Strong Endorser?
Endorsements appear on the back cover of your book, or possibly a snippet of an endorsement will be on the front cover (“Riveting” –Francine Rivers), or in advertising, in the catalog for sales staff to point out to book buyers, and on one of the first pages inside the book.
1. Someone whose name is widely recognized. Your pastor might love your book, but if you attend a church with a congregation of 300, his endorsement would have little weight.
2. A person who is an authority or spokesperson on the topic you’ve written about. If you’re writing a nonfiction book on the importance of losing weight, to have the Surgeon General or Michelle Obama offer an endorsement would be to get your publisher to hum happy tunes.
3. An author who writes in a similar vein to you. If your writing is reminiscent of Ann Voskamp’s, her endorsement can lead those who enjoy her writing style to give your book a try. Or if your fiction bears some resemblance to Steven James’s, having Steve remark on how much he enjoys your suspenseful writing can be a significant help to you.
Should you ask someone to write a foreword for your book?
First, I am compelled to point out the spelling of foreword. This part of your book is a word given by a notable individual that comes before the book’s content–hence it is a “fore” “word.” Not a forward. I see this word misspelled more often than I see it spelled correctly.
The foreword is an explanation of how important your book is, or why the person writing the foreword believes you are the right person to create such a book, or what about the book especially moved or influenced the person writing the foreword.
It is written only by someone extremely well-known and highly-regarded. That’s why, when a book contains a foreword, the cover often will announce: “Foreword by ____________.” Potential readers who respect this person will buy the book on the basis of the foreword alone. So strong potential writers of a foreword might be, for example, Desmond Tutu, Annie Dillard, or someone whose name isn’t a household word but who is an authority on the topic you’re writing about. (e.g., If your book explores the importance that bees play in food production, the president of a national organization focused on feeding the world’s hungry would be an appropriate choice to write a foreword.)
With an impressive array of lined-up influencers, endorsers, and a topnotch person to write a foreword, your proposal would showcase that you understand how each of these individuals can enhance any marketing plan and make it more likely your book will reach as many potential readers as possible.
Have you created a strategy for your WIP to line up influencers, endorsers and a foreword? What might your next step be?
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Great post, and it really points to the need to have a strategic vision for one’s book, and in a broader sense for one’s writing career.
There is the salient need to be genuine in developing the relationships that might lead to influence or endorsement; a transparently venal approach can spread a lot of downstream harm, yes?
This is being typed on a borrowed Smart Phone; not having Internet access is kind of awkward. The modern age is sure different from my Luddite imaginings.
(And reports of my death have been exaggerated, but not by much. Would St. Peter be a good endorser…or am I making an optimistic presumption, there..?)
Delighted to see an early-morning comment from you, Andrew. You’ve been missed!
St. Peter? I don’t think so. Go for the Top. Let God be your endorser and influencer.
Seeing your name, Andrew, just made my day. The Lord answered my morning’s prayer.
And I’m going to want to know all your thoughts on that smart phone … after you’ve used it a bit. 🙂
Welcome back, Andrew! I was just praying for you this morning. So glad to see you here. Sorry the internet is still out. 🙁
Hi Jeanne! It was so good to meet you in person on Saturday!
Amber, I loved meeting you too!
All I can say is “YAY!! You’re here!”
Good to see you back, Andrew.
Wonderful to see you here, Andrew!
So glad to hear from you, Andrew! Hope you – and your internet connection – are well soon.
Andrew, welcome back to the land of the living!
Your question goes to the heart of something I wanted to say in the blog but decided to leave it for the comments section. Thanks for the great segue.
If one tries to wiggle his or her way into someone’s life with the thought of what a great endorser, etc. that person could be, well, good luck. Such motivation seldom results in what one had hoped. People sense when they’re being used.
Always ask yourself what you can do to enter into a sincere relationship with a person, or at least, what you can do to help promote that person’s work. Commenting on the author’s blog, retweeting, sharing FB entries are all simple but helpful ways to enter into that person’s writing world. But do so because you appreciate that person’s writing, please.
I never picked out a book because of the endorsement or foreword. Sometimes I read the foreword after I read the book, just to see if I agree with the Big Name.
I often read a book because of an influencer’s recommendation. I keep a note card by the computer to list books I want to read, based on mention in a blog or article. Just me? Or do I represent a trend?
I keep a list in a handy binder of books-to-be-read based on influencers and reviews. Maybe a trend?
I think it depends on your view of the endorser or foreword writer. If a very favorite author endorses a book, my interest is piqued because I respect that person’s writing. And, say, just to be over the top, CS Lewis wrote a foreword to a book, I’d definitely check out the book.
This is a tough one. I know a few people who might be considered influential, but I am more of a “Long Ranger” and seldom ask for help. It would be an uncomfortable (but possibly necessary) step to ask for an endorsement or blurb.
It’s funny that when I think of endorsements, I think of a boy named William. When I was a librarian, William was a voracious reader and he was the school endorser. If William liked it, it was checked out all year! I have thought of sending my completed novel to William for a quick review!
Sheila, this is all part of having a long-range plan for your writing. As much as a writer tends to be a Lone Ranger, she must expand her world when it comes to publicizing her book. And, by the way, you’ve made friends right here, some of whom might make appropriate influencers or endorsers. See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?
This is why, at the end of the day, I think it’s valuable to have a blog. You can use it to meet people in the industry as well as those who have a “bully pulpit” larger than your own. If you’ve made online friends and done your job well, you can ask them to be influencers on your behalf without it seeming that you’re using people.
Amen to that, Hannah. And those relationships all came into existence quite naturally.
I’m always amazed at the way I see writers helping writers. I’m not agented, but I’ve already had hands reach down to help pull me a step higher, to encourage me, to make me feel I belong. And I take that step with tears and gratefulness. It’s always hard for me to ask for help (to be that forward for the foreword!)… but it seems that being agented or having a publisher take you on would give you the courage needed. Someone else believes in you other than your fickle self. And Janet, do agents or publishers ever use their contacts to help their clients in this area? 🙂 Thank you.
Shelli, well, I would never advocate being too forward for a foreword. 🙂
Sometimes publishers and agents will offer an introduction to an appropriate endorser or foreword writer. But I know I do so infrequently since I can’t ask for favors from those folks too often. Publishers tend to be circumspect about those requests as well.
When an agent or publisher makes the connection for you, they are putting subtle pressure on the author being asked to say yes.
You’re here. You write.
You belong.
Plain and simple.
I’m in a great position of watching what’s working for friends as they get published. I’ve also been an influencer and on “street teams,” which is helping me see what I might be able to do when my turn comes for publication (yes, I’m thinking optimistically).
I have begun thinking about people I might ask to influence and endorse my book, should I ever have the need. I’m learning that building relationships in the industry will probably play into having people who are willing to say yes if I ever need to ask for their help. And, at least as far as being an influencer, I’ve had authors say they would do the same for me when I am in the position of needing influencers. I know this will depend on how much time they have available when I ask. 🙂
Building relationships (not just making contacts) now is important for a lot of future steps in a publishing career.
Jeanne, I’m sure that you’re giving generously of your time and influence now will result in reciprocal contributions when the time comes. Hooray for you!
True Conversation:
Me: I’m reading Moby Dick.
My sister (with great drama): “Call me Ishmael.”
Me (with heavy sigh): I’m not there yet.
Sis stops in her tracks and stares at me.
I read the foreward, introduction, prologue, dedications, acknowledgements…whatever comes before the opening line. Some of it may be boring, but there’s also some interesting stuff in those first pages. 🙂
I love that, Johnnie!
I’m with you, Johnnie. I always read the front matter. It warms me up for what’s to come. I bet publishers love us!
One of the things I had a very hard time with was wrapping my head around the idea of making friends in the writer world without appearing to be schmoozing “friends” in the writer world.
Which is weird, because some people see me as a game show host, and the only filter I ever use is the one in the coffee maker.
But then I realized something profound. I was doing the wrong math.
Those (the ones that I know of, anyway) who see me as filter-less are not creative types. Not at all. They are rigid, unwavering type A’s who have scolded me on many occasions for thinking outside the box.
When that hit me, the fear fell away like scales. I accepted that acquiring a pack of like-minded industry friends, who are true friends, to help me along the way, was what everyone was doing. And doing well.
I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know a few truly gifted writers, and those writers have gifted me with the promise of their support when my time comes. I hope that doesn’t sound braggy!
The most important thing I have learned about building friendships with writers at every stage of the adventure is that for the most part, the joy of the journey is shared. Even the multi-pubbed author friends get as squealy and excited about each and every little milestone along the way as those un-pubbed friends who just opened a new Word doc.
I know exactly who I have lined up to endorse, and to influence, my first books. Some are big names, and some are not. One of those ‘not big names’ is a 90 year old friend who has known me since I was 12. And I have to tell you, her influencing and street marketing skills will not be matched. Between her and my parents, no one in Vancouver has a chance of not buying the book!
Amen.
Amen and amen. Preach it, Jennifer!
“The joy of writing is shared,” is a nice reality. Jennifer, what I take from your comment is that our author connections are tiered, enjoyable, practical and useful. Thanks for encouraging the thought, especially for those of us who are on the first rung of the ladder. Helpful post.
Wow, this all looks very daunting when you don’t know any movers or shakers. I’m a quiet but friendly introvert who lives at a Bible camp in the mountains. We have to use a generator and battery system for power and drive through a herd of elk in the morning to get to the school bus stop which is a 15 minute drive from our house, the first town is 30 minutes away. I go to a church of 60 people and remember remarking to my mother–“If I can’t walk into the Pastor’s office, take a book off the shelf and leave a sticky note on his desk explaining that I’ve borrowed the book and will return it shortly, the church is too big.” I love my life. But I don’t know anyone. I love to write and will press forward. Thanks for all your advice Janet even through I’m a bit flummoxed by it at times.
And you know, Kristen, the Lord will provide. Just in time. Like always. 🙂
Thanks Shelli, you are always so encouraging. I’ve decided not to worry about it. I’ll just keep plugging forward and see what the Lord has in mind.
I am currently reading Quiet:The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. We need more unashamed introverts. Keep writing. And feel free to borrow any book off my shelf and leave a sticky note.
Thank you, Shirlee.
Kristen, you know us. Online friends help and might be willing to read and help spread the word about your books.
That is true, Janet. As I hang out in this fun writing community I am meeting more and more people. Good thing to remember, thanks.
My thought was the same as Janet Collins’s–all you have to do is walk over to your computer. The writing world is on the tips of your fingers.
You’ve established many friendships here, which could lead to authors and writers helping you when your time comes. And other connections with writerly folks await you online. Most of whom, I might add, are introverts.
I do really appreciate the community here, Janet. That is the way to go. I’ll just keep on writing and meeting other writers online. Thanks so much you guys for all the good ideas.
Kristen, I live in a small city in Eastern Canada. I have no writer friends anywhere near me. I don’t get to hang at Starbucks and shoot the breeze about adverbs with anyone. Which is probably a good thing.
“Hello there, I’d like a candy cane white hot chocolate in a bucket, with 9 vanilla scones on a platter. Thanks.”
What I’m saying is my entire, yes, ENTIRE network of writer friends was built online, over the phone and over Skype. I met one writer friend in person, in 2012, in Phoenix, and then my other writer friends at ACFW 2013 in Indianapolis.
I have yet to meet my very awesome crit partner.
Skype is a wonderful thing, and has changed how I do business, because I can speak with friends and get a vibe of what they think, how they react, etc, without an actual physical encounter.
You may be by yourself, but you are not alone.
Good morning, Janet! Thank you for such detailed definitions. I’ll save them for the day when I need them, hopefully soon. You’ve jogged my memory of a request from a wonderful author to be an influencer. I’ll hop over to FB and return her message with a Yes!
Meghan, I’m so glad I jogged your memory about the opportunity to be an influencer. You’ll probably learn some new ideas of how to utilize influencers as well as help an author in need.
I was just thinking about these very things the other day. Thanks so much for the informative post.
Perfect timing, eh? I’m so glad!
Foreword . . . Forward.
I guess if someone writes “This book is great” that’s a Fourword.
Ha! I guess you’re right!
One of the highlights at my first conference was sharing my WIP with a well known publisher and in our discussion the editor mentioned 3 names that came to mind – and I aleady had ALL 3 as confirmed endorsers.
Important to note that these three groups of people can be helpful to push you over the edge to a contract, they won’t (at least usually) replace the need for the ‘P’-word – Platform.
Working on the platform, but never forgetting the need to build the indluencers and endorsers list – and can’t wait to put that list to work with the letter and advanced copies!
Rich, you’re so right that having significant endorsers and even an amazing person to write the foreword is unlikely to be enough to get you a contract if you don’t have ways to promote the book yourself. But, if the publisher is leaning toward a yes on offering a contract, either/and having the right people lined up to align their names with you, will be the tipping point.
Not to mention, they can help to sell copies of your book.
Love to see that tipping point take place. Hearing a couple of the influencers talk about their eagerness to share my ideas/concepts in their future books and talks was almost surreal. At one conference one of them told me afterwards that during a stage time Q&A he wanted to call “time out” and ask me if he could share it.
For the next year or so my focus is on building a separate but easily transferable platform, then back to the proposal.
I’m so glad I read your post on the “foreword.” I’ll soon be finished writing a 366-day devotional, and I was considering asking a chaplain to write the foreword. Now I won’t. I see its importance and significance. I’ll change direction and write an introduction to my book, God Designed. So I appreciate this information.
J.P., I’m so glad my blog post was timely for you. Congrats on your book; writing 366 devotionals is a huge undertaking. I know, I’ve worked as a writer on one.
Thank you for sharing this, Janet. Gives me much to think on.
Having a well-known person with a significant platform is very important in marketing a book, in many cases, it can make all the difference.
Before he passed, a distant relative of mine, Hugh Prather (author of Notes To Myself), agreed to write a blurb for my first book before being published. It gave it some credibility and helped with marketing because he had such a huge following in past years. Then, I secured an LA radio and voiceover personality to write another one. This also helped some. But, getting a major celebrity or sports star would be gold in helping an author sell books. I only wish I knew Michael Jordon or Payton Manning. LOL.
Something which I’ve already thought of, since I have a new novel ready, is reaching out to other writers I interact with on social media to possibly write my forward and reviews on Amazon, etc.
This is something most writers could tap into since social media connects us with many who are in a position to help, and have large established platforms.
Thanks for sharing another great article.
Randy, thanks for chiming in with how having the right person write a blurb made a difference on your first book. Michael Jordan and Peyton Manning would be great “gets,” but if I’m writing a historical fiction, their names wouldn’t help me all that much. Relevance to your book’s topic is important too.
Yes, absolutely, a big name would only work if they’re relevant to the book’s topic. The genre I write is adult/inspirational fiction so I think that could hopefully attract many voices from different arenas.
Thanks so much for commenting. I always enjoy your articles.
Really nice advice.