Can You (and Your Book) Be Found?
A simple keywords strategy can help readers and opportunities find you.
Last week we talked about spring cleaning your author marketing—clearing out what’s not working and making space for what really matters.
This week, let’s zoom in on something authors often overlook: being findable. Not just your book. You.
Because author marketing isn’t just about visibility—it’s about connection. And that connection can’t happen if readers, podcast hosts, reviewers, or collaborators can’t find you online.
I’ve worked with a lot of authors who assume that once their book is published, people will somehow just… discover it. But the truth is, your author platform is the bridge between your work and your readers—and one of the most powerful tools in that platform is something surprisingly simple: keywords.
Not just SEO-level jargon or hashtags. I’m talking about the intentional words and phrases that connect you to your audience. Words like:
Your name
Your book title
The topics you write about
The problems you solve or the stories you tell
The themes you explore, especially if you’re writing fiction
Too often, I see authors unintentionally make themselves harder to find by using a URL based on their book title (which might not apply to the next book), something quirky from their story, or even their publishing company’s site as their main web presence.
That might seem clever at first. But if someone hears about you and searches for your name—and your website doesn’t show up? You’ve lost a chance to make a connection.
The first and most important keyword in your author brand is your name.
It should be consistent across your website, social media, Amazon profile, podcast bios, and anywhere else you show up.
It’s not just about being “search engine optimized”—it’s about being findable so that readers (and media contacts, and buyers, and event hosts) can take the next step toward building a relationship with you and your work.
The team at 1106 Design recently wrote a great post about how to use keywords when you’re publishing a book—things like optimizing your subtitle, book description, and Amazon categories. It’s well worth the read:
How to Use Keywords to Boost Your Book’s Visibility
But I’d encourage you to take it one step further. Ask yourself not just can your book be found, but…
Can you be found?
Can people connect your name with your message?
When they land on your website or social media, is it clear what you’re about and who your book is for?
That’s the foundation of a strong author platform.
DO THIS:
Try this mini visibility check:
Google your name. What shows up first?
Google your book title. Is it linked to you clearly?
Now search a phrase someone might use to find a book like yours. Does your name appear?
If not, take 5–10 minutes and write down 3–5 keywords or phrases your ideal reader might be searching for. Then ask yourself:
Are those words showing up in your website copy?
In your blog post titles or podcast interviews?
In your social media captions or bio?
Even small changes can create big shifts over time.
ONE THING TO KNOW:
More than 60% of readers discover books online—but that doesn’t always mean social media. It often means search. That’s why your digital presence—your name, your messaging, your keywords—matters more than ever.
Not sure what’s standing between you and the readers you want to reach?
Let’s take 30 minutes to look at where you are, where you want to go, and what might be getting in the way. If I can help close the gap, I’ll share how — whether that’s coaching, consulting, or done-for-you support.
Book your free UnStuck appointment here.
Lynn brings her more than 30-years experience in small business marketing, publishing, and multiple best-selling author campaigns to her Substack newsletter. She helps authors build and grow their platforms to reach their unique marketing goals through private coaching, non-fiction consulting, and done-for-you marketing programs. And all this, through her computer, in her little lake house in rural Pennsylvania which she shares with her husband, son, and two fluffy companions, Kaiju and Bella.