You've come to the right place...

Marketing and promotion are the not-so-hidden secret of a writer's life: the time, the effort, the energy it takes to promote you and your books. Once your book is on its way to publication, the work begins.

 

A writer and marketing professional all rolled into one.

Hi, I'm Jeannie Ruesch -- a romance author as well as a marketing and design professional, with 15 years of experience working for Fortune 500 companies to small start ups and everything in between.

 

I offer a unique perspective of your needs: Being an author, I know the work involved in your marketing efforts. Being in marketing and design for the whole "day job" thing, I also have a qualified opinion about what works.

 

BRAND: It's not a swear word. (I promise.)

An author's brand is as personal as your signature...and it conveys just as much to the people inspecting it: your readers.

 

Your brand is your promise to them: it's what they can expect from you, it's your voice, your style, your storytelling all wrapped up in a pretty package and tag line. Every outward connection you have to your readers should re-establish your brand in their minds.

 

Brand is not your genre. It's your style.

 

The biggest misconception: the genre you write is not your brand. It's the style, the message, the focus underneath that most likely translates across all your stories, no matter what genre. Are you a funny writer? Then your website, your cards, bookmarks, book covers, will reflect a whimsy that a more serious writing brand shouldn't. Do you write dark, tortured characters? Your "branded" look should reflect that.

 

Get a branded look on ALL of your materials.

Your marketing efforts are focused on gaining exposure, readers and building your brand. It's decidely more difficult to build a focused brand when you have different people working on your materials. Your website will look one way, your bookmarks another, and everything else, yet another.

 

I offer a one-stop shop for all your marketing needs. Together, we will help you focus your brand...or decide on it, if you aren't certain of what it is. And from there, I offer custom-designed materials from bookmarks to ads, to business cards and novelty items such as magnets - however much or little you want. I have worked in print and online marketing in many situations, have qualified experience to help you really establish yourself, and with one designer building your materials, your brand can be seamless.

 

Case Study: Bella Andre, romance author

Bella Andre came to me with a request for a website, bookmarks, myspace page, postcards, business card... and all of these, she wanted to focus on her brand: her sexy covers for her Football Series, Game for Anything and Game for Seduction and start advertising for her upcoming series next year, the Hotshots of Fire series.

 

We started with the website, created a design and look she loved:
"I adore it. Love it! You totally translated what I wanted to the page. THANKS!" - Bella Andre.

 

From there, the rest of the elements were created to compliment and match the design of the website, so no matter where a reader or potential fan visited Bella, they would feel the same impression. They would learn to trust what they would get from her. (Hot, hot, hot men, anyone?)

 

Your Website is a starting place...

An author's calling card is her (or his) website. It's the place your readers will go to find you. Your website should offer the style you offer in your books - it should reflect you, who you are and what you want your readers to take away. It should compliment the emotions you evoke in your writing, so the reader visits your site and continues feeling what they feel as they read your work.

 

Other Marketing Options...
It's the place to start, but it's not the only option available. Marketing & Promotion can include any type of print or online promotion, such as print ads, banner ads, bookmarks, magnets, totchkes, postcards, business cards or almost any other design element. Each element can help build your emotional brand, remind your readers of the emotions your book gave them.

 

With many other designers, you can get a website OR an ad OR a bookmark. With me, you can meet all your design needs...and know that your promotional efforts will be done on time, the way you want them. I have almost 15 years of experience in the marketing and design world - I've designed and created it all, from websites, to brochures to bookmarks to catalogs to manuals.

 

Visit my services, the pricing and my portfolio...then contact me today to get started.

 

I look forward to working with you.

Jeannie

 

PS Wondering what the whole "Will Design for Chocolate" is about? Check it out here. :)