A Writer's Brand ... Or Not

[ysabetwordsmith]

 This fascinating post talks about whether or not a writer is a brand, especially in terms of promotion on social networks.

I am not a brand.  I am ... a yardsale, a museum gift store, a giveaway, and occasionally a bottle shop.  I therefore tend to attract people who like those ways of acquiring goodies.  I'm probably not as appealing to people who like six-pack entertainment that offers the same thing over and over.  But I try to do a thorough job of telling you what kinds  of things you're likely to get from me, and keeping you amused when I'm not currently trying to sell you something, because yeah, buy-buy-buy is boring.

Comments

[aldersprig]

I'm amused by the yardsale metaphor :-)

I head a lot of "I am a brand" when I went to Albacon - promoting your brand, and so on.

There is something to be said for promoting yourself, and I think, within the parameter of "that antique store down the street with the neat doohkickies and the pretty art," people know what to expect when they come to your corner of the interweb.

I think you have hit the nail on the head with buy-buy-buy is boring; I won't read people who are like that. Why bother? I already know what they're going to say.


This is a particularly amusing discussion for me because I'm in the process of branding myself and it amuses the hell out of me (I am working with an artist to design an alder-leaf tatto).

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> There is something to be said for promoting yourself, and I think, within the parameter of "that antique store down the street with the neat doohkickies and the pretty art," people know what to expect when they come to your corner of the interweb.<<

Agreed. The main thing I need to communicate is: "Contrary to popular practice, I sell the STEAK not the sizzle. If you are looking for steak, sit down and eat. If you are expecting sizzle to be sold, you'll probably be happier at McFantasy's down the block." Then it's just a matter of directing people's attention to the steak menu.

But branding is primarily about how to sell the sizzle, not the steak.

>>I think you have hit the nail on the head with buy-buy-buy is boring; I won't read people who are like that. Why bother? I already know what they're going to say.<<

*laugh* Yeah. There's a wonderful installment of "The Three Micahs" on unslimy advertising.

>>This is a particularly amusing discussion for me because I'm in the process of branding myself and it amuses the hell out of me (I am working with an artist to design an alder-leaf tatto).<<

Cool. Have fun with it.

Re: Yes...

[aldersprig]

>>But branding is primarily about how to sell the sizzle, not the steak.

Mmm. I can see that. There needs to be a word for selling the stake.

>>There's a wonderful installment of "The Three Micahs" on unslimy advertising.

Yup! I <3 the 3 Michah's stuff and have gotten quite a few ideas from those articles

>>Cool. Have fun with it.

*grins* yes. I'm pretty wildly excited.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

"I am ... a yardsale..."

This is me as well.
;)

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I am probably a yardsale, but am trying to give it a brand-y gloss. :)

*laugh*

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's something to be said for the equivalent of stapling your flyers on lightposts and such.

[filkferengi]

Good analogy!