Build Your Digital Footprint
SEO ChecklistIf you’re new to SEO and building your digital footprint, this is the place to start. We’ve put together a simple guide for you to follow that will allow you to begin your journey on the right foot.
What Does SEO Mean for Authors?
SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization – but what does that mean for authors and why should they care?
The internet has grown to include information on just about everything. It’s an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an advertising platform, and a marketplace all rolled into one. If your readers and customers are online – then it’s important to learn how to optimize your online presence to maximize your results and reach your goals.
However, SEO as an author or creative doesn’t follow the typical SEO path. There are different strategies and goals for authors and their work. And, while a cookie-cutter approach might work for some, what authors really need is a blueprint specific to their unique search engine optimization needs and goals.
That’s where we come in.
What Does Good Author SEO Look Like?
Before we dive into SEO – we need to first establish what good SEO looks like for an author.There are three primary indicators of good author SEO.
Following our step-by-step approach to mastering these SEO indicators will help you build a strong web presence for you and your books.
Connection
A well-connected web of your author assets.
Searchability
An easily-discoverable footprint in search engines.
Authority
A trusted resource on all things you and your books.
Step 1: Creating Your Online Author Assets
Your online author assets consist of everything you use to establish and maintain your online presence. This can include your website, landing pages, sales platforms, social media accounts, subscription services, and more.
The key to understanding online author assets is recognizing the level of control you have over them. The more control you have, the more important the asset becomes for your author SEO efforts.
For eample, a website that you fully own and manage is far more valuable for SEO than a profile on a third-party platform, even if you can edit it. This is because your website allows you to control every aspect of its content, design, and structure.
However, that doesn’t mean that those other assets you have less control over aren’t useful. These still play a critical role in your overall SEO strategy. What it does mean is that having your own space on the internet, independent of other platforms, is essential for authority and visibility.
Step 2: Improving Searchability
When it comes to your author and book searchability – no one should beat you. Anytime anyone searches for your author name, book series, or book title – you want to dominate the top of the search results. Having a strong collection of online author assets makes this much easier than it is when you don’t have those assets available.
Being a dominating presence in the search results helps people searching for your author name or book to know, without a doubt, that they’re finding you. You want to leave no room for ambiguity or confusion when it comes to your specific search presence.
There are some instances with common author names or book and series titles that can make this more challenging for some authors. However, there are ways to break ahead from the pack and really stand out.
Step 3: Building Your Online Authority
No one knows more about you and your books than you. Building authority is about making sure your expertise shines online.
In the world of SEO, authority signals to search engines (and readers) that you are a credible and reliable source of information in your niche.
Building authority is about providing high-quality content, establishing connections, and earning backlinks from other trusted sources. It also includes engaging with your audience on social media and through newsletters.
Authority is essentially your digital reputation. The more you demonstrate your knowledge and forge strong connections, the more you’ll be viewed as an expert. It’s not just good for SEO, it’s good for your career as an author.
My Base SEO is Complete: What’s Next?
Now that you’ve learned the basics of creating assets, improving searchability, and building authority, it’s time to take the next step. Every journey starts small, and consistency is key.
From here, you can:
- Learn More: Explore in-depth strategies for each step in our dedicated courses.
- Plan Your Strategy: Use our downloadable guides to map out your goals.
- Track Your Progress: Set up tools to monitor how your online presence grows.
