Languishing in obscurity?
Things pretty quiet on the visibility front?
You’ve tried to follow advice from the “guru de jour” to get your writing career on the map, but despite your best efforts, your ideal audience remains surprisingly resistant to your appeal.
What’s worse, is that you know it’s possible to build a loyal, invested community, because the evidence is all around you.
Somehow, both new and experienced writers are finding ways to stand out and get their work noticed.
But here you are, playing patty-cake with the crickets, debating if it would hurt to just let one of those spam comments through (it’s about time your blog got a little love, right?):
“am to a great extent impressed with the article I have just read. There is not much to say except the following universal truth: You never know where to look when eating a banana. I will be back.”
Okay, maybe not.
(Desperate chic is not the look that bestselling authors are wearing this season.)
So what does it really take to get noticed?
Let’s be honest. Some of the top-selling authors and über successful Indie-entrepreneurs are pretty impressive.
There’s no doubt they have that it factor that compels us to listen (or to act).
But are they six figures a year more charismatic than you? 65,000 plus Twitter followers wittier than you? Sell a million copies and get a sparkly-vampire-movie-deal more talented than you?
What is it that they have that you don’t?
Deep pockets? A better agent?
Nope.
It’s influence.
Turns out, your ability to effect the behaviour of a particular group greatly impacts your sales results (and many other outcomes). Your skill at persuasion–or becoming a compelling force on your target audience–is critical to the advancement and success of your career as a writer.
And here’s the good part: People don’t start influential. They get influential. (Tweet this idea!)
Which means you can get there too.
Defeat Obscurity: Play a Bigger Game
So, how can you go from anonymity to notability and begin making a difference in your book sales?
Stop doing what is currently bringing you no results, and start doing more of what will.
Need a little more? Here’s a list of 17 surprisingly simple ways to fight obscurity, and increase your authority, your influence and your impact:
1. Don’t push. Pull.
Stop trying to convince people to like you, follow you or buy your stuff. Find the people who already desire what you have to offer, and draw them to you.
2. Do something that matters.
When you believe in the significance of what you do, and can articulate why you do it, people are often compelled to listen.
3. Be fearless.
Avoiding risk is inherently risky. The cost of settling is far more than you may think. So be bold! People are not inspired or moved to action by meekness.
4. Act with purpose.
Don’t make decisions and choices out of habit. Be intentional in your actions, your message, and the outcomes you seek for your work.
5. Live your legacy.
Ironically, when you shift to living your legacy, your interest in prestige and acclaim dwindles, while your influence (and fulfilment) rises.
6. Find ways to help.
Focus on what you can do as opposed to what you can get. This small shift in mindset is HUGE. Don’t ask “What can you do for me?”, but rather, “What can I do for you?”
7. Know yourself and build your talents.
Knowledge is power: the clearer you are on what you have to bring to the table, the easier it is to exploit your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses.
8. Find Mentors.
Model the people that are getting results. Mentors can empathize with where you are at, but they won’t indulge your excuses for not going further.
9. Learn networking 2.0.
Networking is no longer about handshakes, elevator pitches and collecting business cards. People with influence build valuable and meaningful connections by ensuring others get as much (and maybe more) from the relationship as they do.
10. Think long term, not 15 minute fame.
This is a marathon, not a sprint, so plan your race accordingly. Adjust your expectations to take into account that momentum requires time to build–and you’re just getting started.
11. Screen your inner circle.
Surround yourself with people who pull you up; not hold you down. Let go of those who aren’t committed to the dream. Learn to do what can’t be done by hanging out with the people who have already accomplished the “impossible”.
12. Get comfortable being a little uncomfortable.
Find the edge of your comfort zone, then take two steps past that. (You’ll find it’s the spot just past anxiety and right before panic…)
13. Change how people feel.
Focus on emotion, sentiment, passion and empathy. Change how people feel about your work before you try to change what they think about it.
“People don’t change based on what they know, they change based on what they feel.”
~ Unknown
14. Embrace greatness.
You can’t expect greatness if you can’t envision it. See it. Feel it. Breathe it.
15. Kill excuses.
Yes you do have enough time, money, skills and resources. Skip the hobbyist mentality and go all-in.
16. Innovate, not just imitate.
There is no clout in a copy. Originality is the heat behind significance, and absolutely no one does YOU better.
17. Build your platform.
If done right, a platform will amplify your voice, extend your reach, strengthen your authority and deepen your connection with your “fans”.
Lay the proper foundation, and the influence you wield will only gain in momentum and force.
Time to take Action
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
~ Thomas Edison
Ready to roll up your sleeves and take action on some (or all) of the ideas listed above?
Do you have any of your own insights on what it takes to build influence and ban anonymity? Please share them in the comments below.
This post weighs its word count in gold. Nothing more needs to be said. I’m sharing anyway I can. Thank you!
Awesome! Glad you liked it. 🙂
Hey Kim,
These are such great, pithy ways to build a platform. Like your headline says, they’re simple! But they are also slippery like an eel if we don’t remember them so it’s great for you to put them right in front of us as both reminder and motivator. Thanks!
Thanks, Bobbi! They are simple ideas, but you’re right–sometimes it’s easy to forget that influence is something that we can build, even if it’s a bit “slippery”.
Great post, thanks for all the reminders.
A pleasure! Glad you liked it.
Kimberley, hands down you are one of my very favorites. I talk on ya to everyone all the time. 🙂 Thanks for another great, info-packed, posting.
I’m blushing, Juleee! 🙂
I appreciate all the support, and I’m glad you’re getting something out of the blog. 🙂
Great article! Very inspiring. I especially like the “Don’t push. Pull” advice. Concise but packed with implications. Number 2 is so important. Too many are out there just to make a buck. If you don’t have something important to say, why are you writing?
Thanks!
It’s so, so important to have this figured out, isn’t Gary? Why you do the work that you do, and who cares that you do it.
If you can’t express these two things clearly, you have little hope in influencing others.
Wow, that is some list, but it makes sense. Thank you.
Thanks, Janet! Make sure you put it to good use! 🙂
Wow, that is quite a list. A big lesson for most of us I would think. Well done.
Hi Kimberley,
Thank you, some very good advice, I will have to try it.
Regards
Margaret
Thanks, Margaret! Good luck!
A lot packed into little. Thank you. God bless. Ignatius Fernandez.
You’re welcome, Ignatius! 🙂
Great post, Kimberley! So many important, yet simple, points to remember, apply and refer to while working/writing. It seems to me that it’s a lot about the art of giving! Inspirational and motivating advice. Thank you.
Good point, Liz. There is a strong component of “giving” in influence; I’m glad you found it inspirational. 🙂
Kim,
This is truly stellar, and reaches down to the core of motivation and relationships. What we can do for others, what we can do for others, is far more fulfilling than all of those pithy and meaningless sayings about getting ahead. This post sums up (beautifully) what I have been living for, quite frankly.
Thank you for this.
Lee
Isn’t it interesting, Lee, how something as slippery as “influence” can be boiled down to a few simple concepts that EVERY writer has the ability to act on?
Obviously there is more to gaining influence than these 17 ideas, but by practicing a few of these, we can really make a difference in how we reach out and impact the world.
I’m happy to hear this is in line with your philosophy, Lee. 🙂 Keep at it!
Too true! We all have it within us to contribute something amazing to the world; HOW we do that will depend on the individual. The important thing for all writers to hold onto is that it is possible.
I like the way you’ve articulated this:
“Find the edge of your comfort zone, then take two steps past that. (You’ll find it’s the spot just past anxiety and right before panic…)”
It’s been my experience that the most worthwhile actions that move me forward are always tinged with that terrifying feeling of lightheadedness leading to panic 😉
Toni
Ha ha! I know, Toni. If you’re not freaking out at least a little, you’re probably not reaching far enough. 😉
Hi Kimberley.
Another brilliant post.
Thanks
I’m also envious of your blog style – especially those nice blocks on the RHS for your popular posts.
Is there a special plugin you use for that?
Paul
Thanks, Paul!
For the nifty popular posts boxes, I use a premium plugin called “PostSkin” by Viperchill.
Okay, thanks
I like the look of it but I purchased the optin skin from ViperChill the other day and encountered problems whereby it was loading two skins on the same page and not saving settings.
I’m not sure if that was a clash with my responsive theme or what – but in any event i had to backtrack and unload it. Very frustrating.
So I’ll see what ViperChill say about that before purchasing another one of their products.
Best
I use OptinSkin as well, Paul, and have had no problems. It may be the theme, or perhaps a conflict with another plugin?
It’s a good idea to check with the guys at Viperchill–they’re usually quite helpful.
Another option to create opt-in forms, lightboxes, slide-in boxes (and even squeeze pages) that you can look into is HybridConnect (that’s an affiliate link). Perhaps it might work better for you than OptinSkin.
I don’t know of another plugin that adds the popular post graphics like PostSkin, though.
You could create some of your own popular post graphics on a free photo editing site (like PicMonkey.com), add them to your sidebar and then link them to the post. That’s what I’ve done with the “resources” and the “101 ways to build…” graphics. It’s a great way to manually choose what posts you think deserve more attention.
Hope that helps!
I really appreciate your advice here Kimberley.
You do a great job.
I’ll see what those Viper boys have to say
Hope they can help you out, Paul.
I suppose this along the lines of your point #9, “Learn networking 2.0,” but I would say connect not only with the people you want to directly influence (“your audience”) but also with the folks that operate within the same domain as you, who have the similar goals/worldviews/motivations.
These are your peers and colleagues, people who you mutually support and learn from.
Nice post!
Agreed, Jason. And thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Great tips! I can relate myself with point no 11. We should surround ourselves with positive minded people! Negatives ones can harm us a lot!
It’s great that you’re on top of this one, Tuhin. It can be very easy to get thrown off your game if you allow your “inner circle” to be negative or skeptical. The more positive, inspiring and passionate the group that surrounds you, the better. 🙂
Love the posts. Keep it up and hit me up sometime. Would love to hear more about your strategy.
Thanks, Rob! 🙂
Hello Kimberely:
Great information! I’ve read this article several times. I’m convinced this information can help people make a “life map”
Thank you and keep up the good work.
Thanks for the positive feedback, Bob!
I agree–this can be used as a guide to help you reach further and dig deeper. And hopefully help you leave your mark on the world. 🙂