Ep 95: How to Build a Fandom Filled with Readers Who Will Show Up on Launch Day and Buy Your Book!

81% of consumers must trust a brand first before they ever consider buying from it, and readers are consumers, just like authors are brands.“People buy from people they know, like, and trust” may sound cliché at this point, but there’s a reason marketers have repeated it for decades: it works. Most indie authors don’t struggle because their books are bad. They struggle because they launch to an audience of strangers. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about one of the biggest mistakes authors make before publishing — waiting until launch week to start trying to get readers’ attention. By then, the Amazon algorithm is already watching, readers are overwhelmed with content, and shouting “my book is out now!” into the void rarely creates the momentum authors hoped for.The good news? There’s a far better way to approach book marketing, and it doesn’t require going viral, becoming an influencer, or constantly selling to people online. In this episode, you’ll learn why building genuine relationships with readers long before your launch can completely change your publishing career, how loyal reader communities are created, and why showing up to launch day with an existing fanbase can dramatically impact your visibility, sales, reviews, and long-term success as an indie author.What You’ll Learn in This Episode·        Why you must become friends with your readers first·        How to connect with your ideal readers organically·        What to do once you connect with them to build relationships·        How to nurture the relationships you’ve started and build a fandom·        When you need to start this strategy and how to do itRESOURCES & LINKSLearn More About Me: https://christinakaye.com/ Free Resource: https://bit.ly/430ToqZ Book a FREE Session: https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/69634d3f7a5de72a93761652 My Etsy Shop (The Bookish Swag Shop): https://thebookishswagshop.etsy.com Find Me, Follow Me, DM Me on These Platforms:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christinakayeofficial Substack: https://substack.com/@christinakayeofficial Facebook: https://facebook.com/christinakayeofficial YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristinaKayeOfficial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinakayeofficial/ SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW THIS SHOW If you enjoyed this episode, follow and/or subscribe to Write! Grow! Launch! wherever you listen to podcasts, so you don’t miss future episodes on successfully self-publishing, profitably launching your book, and building a sustainable indie author career…without burnout or BS.