Tag: platform building
Platform building tip: Create an anthology and give away half of it for free
Getting readers onto the hype train that is the love of your writing is the hardest part of being an author. To overcome that barrier, consider compiling an anthology of short stories and one or two sample first chapters. Give away some of those short stories anyway you can. For example, I’d suggest putting some […]
The best way to sell books is to sell books
Nothing sells a book to a reader like selling another book to the reader and them loving it. Fiction authors can platform build just by finishing more books.
The reader onboarding problem
We authors have but one problem – reader onboarding. Once a reader loves one of your books, they are on board to read the rest. The challenge you are trying to solve is the reader onboarding problem. This is what an author platform is for.
Your author platform is not marketing it is reputation
An author platform is not (just) marketing. In fact, it is mostly anything but marketing. Marketing is what you use to grow your platform. The platform itself is the reach you gain, so that those who want to hear about your next book can. Your platform is your connection with the people who will be […]
What an author platform is not
There can be some confusion around what exactly an author platform is or is not. Here are a few things an author platform definitely is not. An author platform is not shouting endlessly on social media Being the biggest attention grabber on social media will not, by itself, build you a platform. I see a […]
Platform building tip: Use the local press
One way to demonstrate platform reach to an agent or publisher is to demonstrate real-world reach. Many local newspapers accept freelance writers to help tell the news. Even ones that do not will often jump on a well-written press release. Be it by press release or freelance writing, make a point of getting published in […]
Become a book reviewer – I will show you how to convert that hobby into book sales
Book review blogs are a big deal. The most popular review sites have to charge to review book submissions if they even take them at all. This is something you can leverage to get many book sales. Let me tell you how. First, invest some time – several months at least. During that time publish […]
Platform building tip: Mockup a social profile for your protagonist
Here is an author platform building tip – mockup a social profile for your protagonist This is an exercise in content creation for your platform as well as getting to know your main character better. You are helping yourself to write and your readers to get invested in your character before they even see your […]
When it comes to author platforms, perfection is overrated
As an author – established or starting out – a perfect website is not a thing that matters. As long as your platform engages readers and does not actively drive potential readers away, that is good enough. Your website could be the ugliest thing on the planet but if your readers engage with it, that […]
Platform building tip: Interview your villain
Here is another author platform building tip – publish an interview with your villain. That’s good for character exploration for you and interesting enough to attract readers too.