Great Lock-In to NYE Goals: Why Your Author Rebrand Comes First

You’ve probably seen all the buzz about the September Lock-In, Lock-In Season, or Great Lock-In on social media by now. You know, that trend where you go all in on getting your 💩 (re: life and business) together with absolute unwavering commitment and dedication before the new year? The girls are going hard this fall season!

And if you’re like most book editors, indie authors, or literary service providers, you’re also no stranger to New Year goals. This is definitely the more traditional take on that trend, but that fresh-start energy is practically irresistible regardless of what you call it — especially to a type-A gal like me.

Well if you’re a book brand and your 2026 goal includes FINALLY taking your online literary business seriously… a new or re-brand should be your top priority.

Because the journey to creating what I call a bingeworthy author platform doesn’t start with marketing.

It doesn’t start with refining your offers.

And it doesn’t even start with your website.

👉🏾 It starts with BRANDING

Let’s dive into why.

Branding Is Your Foundation 🏠

Your author brand isn’t just a logo or color palette — it’s your entire online foundation. It’s the part of your literary business that everything else grows from.

When your branding isn’t clear, everything you do feels “off” because…

You can’t market if you don’t know what your business is about.

If you aren’t clear on your mission, purpose, and values, your audience won’t understand what you stand for or why it matters.

You can’t refine your offers if you don’t know who you’re talking to.

And even if you do, it’s really hard to sell when you don’t know HOW to reach your target audience. Also, your positioning is what helps you stand out from the sea of editors, authors, and bookish service providers doing similar things.

You can’t build a website if your visuals don’t communicate your essence.

You genuinely can’t build a website with colors and fonts at a minimum. But your brand character—your look, your vibe, your personality—is what makes you recognizable and memorable online. Without it, your author website is just another basic template that doesn’t serve your needs like it should.

Use This Season’s Energy to Clarify Your Author Brand 💫

If you’re treating your author business or editing services like a side project right now but want it to feel like a career in the new year?

This is your window. This is your time.

Use the momentum of the Great Lock-In or your New Year reset to focus on your brand:

• Clarify your purpose → why you do what you do
• Define your mission → your focus right now
• Set your vision → your long-term aspirations
• Get to know your audience → who you’re serving and why they matter
• Craft the visuals → bring everything together aesthetically

Once those are in place, your brand will naturally become more magnetic. More bingeworthy. More you. And everything else — your copy, your website, your marketing — will flow effortlessly.

When to Rebrand as an Author or Editor 🪞

Not sure if a rebrand or even a new brand is the right move? Here are a few signs to look for:

1. Your logo, fonts, or colors no longer match the tone of your work.
2. You’ve shifted genres, offers, or ideal audience.
3. You feel embarrassed sending people to your website.
4. You’ve invested in marketing but aren’t seeing results.
5. You don’t feel seen in your current brand.

If any of these sound like you, a rebrand is probably the missing link — not a new marketing strategy.

🎁 Not Sure Where to Start with Your Rebrand?

That’s exactly what my free Book Brand Aesthetic Quiz is for. It helps you uncover your overall brand vibe and gives you instant clarity for creating your own bingeworthy author brand. It’s the perfect first step if you’re considering a rebrand but aren’t sure what your first step should be.

📝 Take the free Book Brand Aesthetic Quiz here

And if you’re ready to go deeper and build out a complete brand identity based on you WITHOUT the hassle of doing it yourself? My 1:1 author brand services are designed to help indie authors, book editors, and publishing professionals move from side hustle to full-time career with branding that finally feels aligned.

🎨 Explore Author Brand & Web Services

SO whether you’re locking in this fall or mapping goals for the new year, remember: let branding be your business revamp foundation and everything else will flow smoother than your favorite fall drink.

With light — Ty 🤎

Enjoy this read? Learn something new? Tell me everything in a comment below! And remember, it takes no effort to be kind 😊

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Disclaimer: The information in this post is for entertainment & subjective educational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as business, legal, medical, marketing, or sales advice.

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