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No matter where you are in your writing journey, kikaDESIGN can help you create an author website that is just right for you. Not sure where to start?
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    Author branding is vital no matter what stage of writing journey you’re in. From your website to newsletter and social media, we'll make sure your brand stays consistent.
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With no more delay, here is Day #9 of the Conferen With no more delay, here is Day #9 of the Conference Prep series. Please note: this is our last post that has a "how to" attached. 

👊 Side note: For those of you who have an email list and know you want the checklist , just comment "HELP" and I'll send it over (please note: I am traveling through Sunday, May 25 so I will do my best to send quickly but there may be some delays).

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👂 Email lists—Post #8 went over the important of having an email list. But you know that and you have one. Score, right? 

Right! But.......
Now, you have to maintain that list. You want to make sure your list is healthy—growing and evolving with you as you grow your brand. And today we're going to talk about what you can do to make sure that is happening

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3 THINGS YOU SHOULD BE USING TO BOOST YOUR EMAIL LIST
▶️ Incentives. Think a "thank you gift" for following you.
▶️ Automations. Take things off your plate by setting up email automations that will reach out for you.
▶️ Segmentation. Offer subscribers the option to choose what content they would like to receive from you.

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3 THINGS YOU SHOULD TEST ON YOUR EMAIL LIST
▶️ Sign up forms. The first step is the most important. Make sure your sign up forms are working
▶️ Double Opt-in. This supports your sign up form and keeps things healthy. You don't want anyone to get trapped here. Make sure it is clear and it works
▶️ All links. There's nothing like a broken link to kill the mood

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3 THINGS YOU SHOULD UPDATE ON YOUR EMAIL LIST
▶️ Sign up form. Every so often you should review this and make sure you're getting the info you need
▶️ Download incentive. This should be changed out at least twice a year to encourage subscriber growth.
▶️ Automations. Check your automations for any out of date content or updates that should be made to the process.

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💭 In summary,  a healthy email list requires a bit of time and effort but, when done properly, the direct line keeps subscribers engaged and coming back.

#emaillist #mailerlite #newsletters #signupform #marketing #christianwritersconference #writersconference #websitedesign #branding #brmcwc #writetopublish
The final two posts of the Conference Prep series The final two posts of the Conference Prep series have been delayed until Saturday, May 24 due to flooding. In full transparency: I hadn’t quite finished the posts yesterday when I managed to flood part of my house. With today being a travel day, the delay is unavoidable. To better days ahead!
We're on Day #8 of the Conference Prep series. Onl We're on Day #8 of the Conference Prep series. Only a couple more days to go! Today and tomorrow, we're going to be talking about Email Lists!

👊 Side note: For those of you who know you need to get going on your email list but aren't sure where to start, just comment "HELP" and I'll send you an outline of what you can do.

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👂 Email lists—they're the popular girl at the party right now, am I right?

Everyone is talking about the importance of having an email list. Why? Because you—and you alone—control your email list. 

No one can "turn it off" or take it away (cue the TikTok panic of early 2025).

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Social media is great and everything but not everyone will see your post (thank you, algorithm). Email lists give you a direct line straight to your audience—and, even better, it's a captive audience because they've requested for you to contact them when you have news!

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🐤 The best part about starting an email list is that you don't have to have all your ducks in a row to start collecting email addresses. 🐤 
🐤 
All you need is a sign up form you can direct people to and you're good to go. You can chase those ducks later! 🐤 🐤 

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🤯 Think an email list is out of budget? Think again! 
Most service providers have a basic free plan that you can start with. It might not have all the bells and whistles but it's enough to get going and you can always upgrade when you're ready.

Best of all: even the free plans allow for basic branding, so you're still building that brand recognition through colors, fonts, and imagery.
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💭 In summary, email lists are a very good thing and if you have the time, this is one marketing tool you definitely want to have set up for your next conference.

#emaillist #mailerlite #newsletters #signupform #marketing #christianwritersconference #writersconference #websitedesign #branding #brmcwc #writetopublish
Rolling on with Day #7 of the Conference Prep seri Rolling on with Day #7 of the Conference Prep series with how to prepare your website for a conference.

👊 Side note: For those of you who know you need to update your website but need a little hand holding, just comment "HELP" and I'll send you list of things you can update and how to do it.

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Websites are an investment—both in time and money. Like any investment, you want to do what you can to make sure it succeeds. 

Some people are afraid when they think about touching their website but it shouldn't be that way!

With a little ongoing time and effort, you can help keep your website in tip top shape.

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There are 3 types of updates to run on your site:
▶️ Backend (this involves updating themes, plugins, and software)
▶️ Content (going through each page and updating any out of date text and/or images)
▶️ User experience (checking for any outdated design, broken items, and how the site looks on mobile devices)

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3 things your to test on your website
▶️ Contact forms (check that you receive emails from your website)
▶️ All links (make sure they all work as they're supposed to. Don't forget to test your newsletter sign up and any download incentives!)
▶️ Mobile experience (make sure the site looks good on a mobile device—clean, clear and easy to read)

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3 commonly forgotten updates:
▶️ Current year (in the footer)
▶️ Numbers / counts(books, kids, grandkids, years experience)
▶️ Events (your events page should only show upcoming events) 

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3 things to ask yourself when updating your website:
▶️ Will people recognize me from my headshot? (Here's a hint: if your hair has changed colors since your last headshot, update it!)
▶️ Am I featuring my most current / upcoming release?
▶️ Do I provide an easy and clear way for someone to reach me?

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💭 In summary, updating your website is an important part of having a website. It doesn't have to be a laborious task—in fact it only takes a little time and effort to keep things running smoothly.

#websiteupdates #marketing #christianwritersconference #writersconference #websitedesign #branding #brmcwc #writetopublish
Starting off week 2 of our Conference Prep series Starting off week 2 of our Conference Prep series strong: We're talking about websites! Because it's a big topic, today we're covering what to do if you're attending a conference without a website and tomorrow, we'll talk about things you can do to prep your website for a conference. It's all about ⚖️ 

👊 Side note: For those of you who know you need a website but it's just not going to happen before you get to your conference, we've got some suggestions of what you can do in this post and, if you want some direction on the who, what, where of getting things going, just comment "HELP" and I'll send you our recommendations.

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Websites are important. We know this and you don't need me here telling you why you should have one (unless you're that one guy who came up to me years ago and point blank said you wouldn't be getting a website until you sold your book and that was final. Hope you're doing good, dude). 

What I do want to say is this: If the thought of getting a website up and going before your conference makes you want to hide under the covers and not go, this post is for you. 

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Here are 5 things you can do pre-conference when you're going to a conference without a website:
▶️ Relax. Deep breath. It's OK. You can go to the conference and still have a great time.
▶️ Show initiative. Buy your domain name and a hosting plan.
▶️ Put up a "Coming Soon" page.
▶️ Be honest. If asked, just let them know you're working on it.
▶️ Ask for input. This is a great opportunity to find out what your site should include.

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💭 So to summarize, websites 🆗 // stressing over them (or the lack of one) ⛔ 🆗 
Remember, everyone is rooting for your success. We're all human and we know branding takes time and effort. You're doing great!

#authorwebsite #authorwebsitemarketing #marketing #christianwritersconference #writersconference #websitedesign #branding #brmcwc #writetopublish
We're wrapping up the first week of our Conference We're wrapping up the first week of our Conference Prep series with Social Media—specifically how to get your social media ready for a conference.

👊 Side note: For those of you who know you need to update your social media profiles but need a little push and some direction, just comment "HELP" and I'll send you list of things you can update (and image requirements for the most popular platforms) to get you going.

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Social Media is more than just a means of self-expression. In a professional setting, it serves as a reflection of who you are as a person and what you are offering. Most often, it is the first place people go to find out more about someone.

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Preparing your social media for a conference will create a good first impression, showcase yourself and goals as well as encourage engagement and networking with other conferees.

3 things you can do pre-conference to get your Social Media ready:
▶️ Update your profiles
▶️ Announce where you'll be
▶️ Pre-schedule content

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3 things your Social Media profiles should do:
▶️ Be active!
▶️ Reflect who you are and your purpose
▶️ Thoughtfully engage with others 

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3 key things to update on your Social Media profiles:
▶️ Your bio
▶️ Profile picture
▶️ Header image (for platforms like Facebook and X (formerly twitter))

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💡 Want to start engaging more but confused by all the different requirements and specifications different platforms have?
Design sites like Canva make it easy with pre-made templates that allow you to make customizations like color and fonts to match your brand. 

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💭 So to summarize, social media is a very important marketing tool and you want to make sure it is reflecting the very best (and most up-to-date) version of you.

#socialmedia #socialmediamarketing #marketing #christianwritersconference #writersconference #websitedesign #branding #brmcwc #writetopublish
Rolling right into Day 4 of our Conference Prep se Rolling right into Day 4 of our Conference Prep series with Bonus Marketing Materials! Bonus Marketing Materials are extra promotional items you can bring to amp up your conference presence. 

👊 Side note: For those of you who are interested in extra marketing materials but need some inspiration, just comment "HELP" and I'll send you list of ideas to help you get started.

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Bonus Marketing Materials are a great way to create excitement about an event (think promoting an upcoming book, announcement, newsletter giveaways, etc). Bonus Marketing Materials go beyond the traditional marketing items and use outside the box tools to increase your audience reach. 

Bonus Marketing Materials should:
▶️ Be clean, concise, and easy to read
▶️ Use your branding (logo, fonts, and colors)
▶️ Focus on one singular item
▶️ Give the recipient a way to learn more (QR codes are great for this)

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💡 Interested in Bonus Marketing Materials but don't know where to start?
You can find pre-made templates on design sites that allow you to make customizations like color and fonts so that the card will match your brand.

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👊 Already have a design in mind but aren't sure about the specs?
Many companies will have templates you can download and bring into your favorite design program so you can make sure your card fits the necessary specifications.

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🫠 Worried it's too late to print your Bonus Marketing Materials (or that rush shipping is going to cost you an 💪 and a 🦵) ?
Look for brick and mortar shops in your area. Some of these companies will print in-house so you can get your items quick—sometimes even same day!

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So to summarize, if you have some exciting things coming up in the near future or you'd like to increase your brand awareness with some out of the box ideas, Bonus Marketing Materials are a great option to bring along to a conference.

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Don't forget if you need some inspiration, just comment "HELP" and I'll send you list of ideas to help you get going. 

#bonusmarketingmaterials #authoronesheet #marketing #christianwritersconference #writersconference #websitedesign #branding #brmcwc #writetopublish
Day 3 of our Conference Prep series is all about O Day 3 of our Conference Prep series is all about One Sheets! If you are planning to pitch to an editor, agent or publisher at an upcoming conference, this is a great resource to bring along.

👊 Side note: For those of you who need a One Sheet but don't know where to start, just comment "HELP" and I'll send you a free outline of how to put together a One Sheet.

👊 👊 Side side note: Edie Melson, director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, put together a blog post discussing One Sheets (with examples—woohoo!). Check it out on the BRMCWC blog: https://www.blueridgeconference.com/what-is-a-one-sheet-why-do-i-need-one-7/

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A One Sheet is a visual introduction of yourself and your project. One Sheets show professionalism and preparation, support your verbal pitch, and leave a physical reminder to follow up after the event is over. 

A One Sheet should:
▶️ Be clean, concise, and easy to read. 
▶️ Communicate key information about your project. This includes the title, hook, summary, genre, audience, word count, and status. 
▶️ Contain your vital information. This includes your name, bio, email, and website. Optionally: phone number, social media handles, and a professional headshot.
▶️ Be a visual representation of who you are (yes, you should brand a One Sheet too!)

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💡 Need a One Sheet but don't know where to start?
You can find pre-made templates on design sites like Canva that allow you to make customizations like color and fonts to match your brand. 

Don't have Canva? You can sign up for a free account and start designing right away!

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🫠 Worried it's too late to design and print your One Sheet (or that rush shipping is going to cost you an 💪 and a 🦵) ?
Look for brick and mortar shops in your area. Most of these companies will print in-house so you can get your prints quick—usually even same day!

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So in summary: One sheets are a great tool to have in your writers toolbox—and a great resource to have if you'll be pitching at a conference! 

#onesheet #authoronesheet #marketing #christianwritersconference #writersconference #websitedesign #branding #brmcwc #writetopublish
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