This article was origianally published on MelanieRockett.com
I’ve worked on hundreds of Amazon and Kindle promotions. The BIGGEST mistake I see is the absence of an author bio, or a wimpy, lifeless bit of nonsense that does nothing to sell you as an author or sell your book.
You MUST have a bio. If you are shy, reticent or don’t know what to say, hire someone to help you.
Your bio is part of your sales strategy. It should engage your reader. It should be interesting and informative. It should sell your books. It should sell YOU.
If you write FICTION … tell your own personal story. You can include information like:
* how you came to write your first book
* why you love the genre you are writing in
* a short run-down of who you are
* where you live
* your pets, hobbies, interests
* whether or not this is a series, or a planned series
* awards and kudos
If you write NON-FICTION … use your bio to sell your expertise. What qualifies you to write this book, or this series. People want to be assured that you actually know something about your topic.
Yeah But … Yeah But …
I’m boring. If you are boring you wouldn’t have managed to write a book. Suck it up and get over it. You are in the business of publishing – marketing – selling. Pretend you are someone else and make THEM interesting.
I’m using a Pseudonym I’m not going to ask why. I’m sure you have your reasons. Your alter ego still needs a bio. Make it up. What you should NEVER make up is any credentials of any kind. Don’t pretend you are a Doctor is you are not one. Don’t say you are a licensed nutritionist unless you actually are one. Don’t put a PhD behind your name unless you have one. You could get your ass sued off for false misrepresentation … so just don’t go there.
Your IMAGE
Be sure to upload your photo in the author section. I really hate seeing the “No Image Available” panel, but if finding a photo is going to be your excuse for not doing the bio … forget about the photo and just write the bio. Don’t use a picture of your dog unless you are one. If you are using a pseudonym, purchase a royalty free photo and use it … find an over the shoulder or a photo where the “subject” is in the distance.
How To Add Your Bio
If you don’t already have an Author Central account. Sign up HERE by clicking on JOIN
Log into your Author Central account. Click on Profile and add your bio.
You can do a pile of other nifty promotional stuff while in your Author Central panel, but the minimum is to create your bio.
Here is a fabulous article from the Huffington Post by photographer and author Heather Hummel:
10 Tips on How to Write an Author Bio
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