You are probably thinking “What could I possibly have in common with Mrs. Ryan Reynolds?”

Well, about a year ago Blake launch a lifestyle web site called, Preserve.  It was similar to Goop.

I saw her promoting it on shows like The Chew.  I even check it out online.  However, I never went back.

I guess not many people did because this week she is shutting the web site and brand.

She admitted she failed at its mission.

“We have an incredible team of people who do beautiful work, but we launched the site before it was ready, and it never caught up to its original mission: it’s not making a difference in people’s lives, whether superficially or in a meaningful way,” said Lively.

She admitted the site was using her celebrity was a crutch because it was up and running and they had not built a brand yet.

So what can authors learn?  A few things.

1. Branding.  Find out who you are and how your book fits in with that.  What type of author do you want to be?  Horror, YA, Non-Fiction.

2. Make sure your web site address is not your book.  Make it your name.  You may write more than one book.

3.  Publish your book when you are ready.  Don’t publish and then play catch up.  The publishing industry has many rules for reviews.  If you publish before you have any identity it’s tough to gain popularity.

4. Be bold but strategically so.  Think big but also with common sense.  Have a plan.

5. Don’t use the most obvious marketing tactics.  Blake sold herself on the site but buyers wanted more.  Don’t just do book signings and call it good.  How about other venues.  Antique shops, hotels, airports.

Happy Fall!