Are You Annoying?

If you joined us for July’s Author Lunch & Learn, you heard New York Times bestselling author Chris Enss share a powerful reminder: no one will promote your work like you will. In today’s world, that means building a strong digital presence, especially through social media marketing and online outreach.

Let’s be honest, putting yourself out there is tough. It can be hard to figure out what to post, when to post, or how often. One of the most common concerns we hear from authors is this: “I don’t want to be annoying.” Nobody wants to come off as spammy or overly self-promotional.

But here’s something to keep in mind: it can take up to 50 touch points before a customer makes a purchase. That means someone may need to see your book (or your name) up to 50 times before deciding to buy. Every industry is different, of course, but the point stands: visibility matters.

So no, you’re not being spammy by posting consistently. You're building trust.

And trust is key. For local history authors, your audience needs to believe two things to build that trust:

1. You know your subject.

2. Your book is worth their time and money.

How do you build that trust? By showing up consistently and offering value, whether that's an interesting historical tidbit, behind-the-scenes content, or simply sharing your journey as a writer.

You also want to cast a wide net. Readers should be able to find you in multiple places: on social media, your author website, in local stores, at events, or even just from a flyer in their favorite coffee shop. Every touch point counts.

The bottom line? Consistent engagement isn't just important—it's essential.
The more people see you, the more familiar you become, and the more likely they are to trust you enough to buy your book.