The Digital Surrogate: Who They Are & What They Do

A Roadmap

Hello Confidantes,

This week, we are discussing digital surrogates. I’ve previously broached this topic, but this is a slightly deeper dive for paid subscribers.

First, a bit of housekeeping. Don’t forget to sign up for my online course, Book Publicity 101, on April 10 at 1 pm EST. It costs $50, and you can learn more about it here.

Also, I am offering digital audits for people who will become founding members in April. My fee for this is usually $350, but this month, you can score a deal and get it for $150. A digital audit means I assess your website, social platforms, and newsletter, then send you a report on what to improve.

If you purchase a FOUNDING MEMBERSHIP, you will receive a digital audit from me. Here is how it works. Upgrade to a founding membership ($150), email the confirmation to publishingconfidential@gmail.com, and I will send you a short form to complete. The form will ask simple questions about your website/social media, etc. After you complete it, I will perform a digital audit and send a short report back to you within two weeks. This offer does not include a Zoom call.

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY:

Restrictions: This offer is only valid for new founding members who upgraded from free to paid subscribers. It is NOT valid if you already have a paid subscription.

And now, digital surrogates!

THE WHAT

I coined the term digital surrogate to describe people with robust followings who can help authors promote their books. That’s the simple answer. In more complex terms, digital surrogates are other authors publishing adjacent people or friends/family who are online and are willing to help promote your book. If you have decided to stay off social media or have a modest following, digital surrogates with substantial followings can provide an audience for your book. You can also line up several people with mid-sized platforms to help spread the word about your book. Let’s look at what that means.

THE HOW

Let’s use this example:

You are an author with a modest Instagram following (500 followers), and your debut novel will be published within the next 4-6 months. Your publisher isn’t allocating much to your marketing campaign and has put the onus on you to spread the word about the book. What should you do?