The pressure is constant.
Everywhere you turn these days, you hear the word.
Platform.
It’s a must have, a deal breaker.
And you’re told that if you expect any success at all as a writer, you should have started building yours three years ago.
You hope for an out, but it appears that nobody can escape its reach.
Whether an Indie or traditional author, a writer of fiction or nonfiction, published or still grinding through your debut novel – the robustness of your platform is continually questioned.
So you’ve tried.
You’ve tinkered with a free blog, only to have it succumb to a quiet and anonymous death.
You’ve dipped your toe into the social media whirlpool and found yourself repeatedly dragged under.
Branding, guest posting, speaking engagements, blogging, media kits, email marketing, blog tours, networking, interviews, conferences, webinars… seriously?!
Oh, and don’t forget that you also have to write a book worth reading. Even the sturdiest of platforms won’t support a book that’s garbage.
Or maybe you haven’t tried at all.
The web is rife with stories of the fruitless efforts of your writerly comrades; those who’ve already attempted the “platform thing” and failed miserably.
So why bother?
A writer’s life isn’t a cakewalk at the best of times, so why add more pain and suffering to your (possibly ill-chosen) life’s path?
If so many others have tried and failed, the concept clearly doesn’t hold water, right?
Still, the threat remains.
No platform building means no significant web presence, no engaged audience of adoring fans (or at least no direct access to them) and wasted opportunities for book marketing, promotion and visibility.
If you decide that building your writer platform is a colossal misuse of time, what’s your Plan B? How will you connect with your target readership, promote your work and build your authority and influence as an author?
Forced against your will, do you succumb to the pressure?
How to Remove the Threat
Authors are inundated with the “how-tos” of platform building (some advice better than others), but few are addressing a more immediate concern: how to encourage authors to actually WANT to build their platform. And dare I say, even enjoy building their future empires.
A steep hill, I know, but creativity and inspiration can’t flourish under extreme duress. So in order for you to move forward with the idea of platform, we must try to remove the unappealing gun-to-the-head “motivational” technique that you’re currently working under.
Here are four concepts that may provide a bit of direction, and help you approach the problem in a new way:
1. Inaction Leads to Nowheresville
Avoidance may be a good strategy for some threats, but not this one.
The opportunity for interconnectivity, the sharing of ideas – and the amplification of those ideas – that new media provides will only increase over time. So don’t fear innovation and change, embrace it.
Choose growth and strive for continual learning and self-improvement. Be a problem-solver. Stop avoiding challenges and instead, lean into them. Accept risk as part of the game.
Remember that your abilities aren’t fixed. Skills can be honed and improved upon and being a writer doesn’t preclude you from being a savvy business owner, a clever marketing strategist or a social media crackerjack.
Those that are stubborn or not open to new information and ideas, stagnate. Successful writers are constantly seeking, asking questions, and then applying what they’ve learned.
So beat inertia by taking the first step. And then another.
Combine quick wins (like setting up a social media account) with longer-term strategies (like developing your author brand or outlining your writing goals for the next 5 years).
2. Mindset Changes Everything
This is a slippery one.
As writers, I think we can be especially creative with the mental barriers and invisible scripts we allow to run on a loop in our brains.
Here are a few that are platform related (I won’t get into the “I’m fat”, “I’m unlovable” scripts 😉 ):
“I’m a writer, not a marketer.”
“Writers write. My agent/publisher will take care of the rest.”
“I don’t have time to write and promote my work.”
“I’m terrible with technology.”
“I can’t start any platform building until I have a book to sell.”
“What could I write about on my blog that people would be interested in?”
“I’m a creative person. I just don’t understand the business side.”
“Author X is so much better at this than me.”
“It’s easier for Author X because of A, B, C…”
“This kind of thing won’t work for my particular situation.”
“I’m an introvert.”
“I’ve already tried and it didn’t work, so forget it.”
“It’s impossible.”
Identifying the negative internal dialogue can be tricky. After all, you’ve been listening to it for so long it has gone from thought, to belief, to fact.
But in order to move forward, it’s vital that you throw out the negativity. It will permeate everything if you let it. You want people to recognize the quality of your work, your talent and your voice – not your negativism.
Take responsibility for your own actions and the present state of your writing career. Don’t blame others, the technology or the industry for your failures. If something doesn’t work out the way you hoped or anticipated, learn from the situation, and move on.
“…attitudes towards a task matter just as much as a person’s actual ability to perform them.”
Think of platform building as a challenge and an opportunity – not cruel and unusual punishment.
Look for the benefits and what you can gain from the experience and the effort.
Think cooperation, not competition and realize that the success of others increases the possibility of your own success.
Don’t hoard ideas and information. Share your work and the work of others, giving credit where credit is due.
And perhaps most importantly, curb any feelings of entitlement and choose gratitude instead.
3. Prioritize What’s Important
Have you noticed that it’s unsuccessful people (not successful people) who complain about lack of time?
In fact, top performers treat time differently than the rest of us. They treat it like a valuable commodity where ideas, opportunities, tasks, and so on, are either worth their time, or they’re not.
Value your time and use it wisely. Get focused on the tasks that can really move your career forward and be prepared to make some sacrifices to attain your goals.
If you find yourself unfocused, procrastinating or doing excessive research without taking the next step, stop.
Most of the time, “busy” doesn’t equal productive. Write down your goals and develop a simple strategy to get from here to there.
Recognize mistakes so that you don’t repeat them, and stop looking for excuses. Look for what you can improve, and identify areas of your schedule that you can streamline.
Building a writer platform takes time and hard work, so don’t expect instant gratification. Learn to control your time, rather than allowing others to control it for you, and be prepared to Do the Work
.
4. Knowing the ‘Why’ and the ‘Who’ Makes it Easier
What’s your purpose? What excites you? What exactly is it that you’re striving for and why have you chosen this particular path?
If you haven’t worked it out yet, building your platform will remain a daunting task.
As Simon Sinek notes in his book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
, the common denominator shared by people who are more innovative, more influential and garner more ardent followers, is that they know why they do what they do, not just how they do it.
Knowing your “why” and being able to communicate it effectively to the “right” people (i.e., your ideal readers) makes marketing your work infinitely easier.
How do you find this elusive group of people?
You look for them.
Everywhere.
Don’t expect them to find you. Follow the breadcrumbs they leave as they seek to satisfy their interests both online and off.
They’ll leave clues in the form of comments on blogs within your genre or niche. They’ll pose questions and state opinions on forums and Facebook groups. They’ll follow similar people on Twitter, and likely be influenced by the same sources and speakers.
Find the intersection between their interests and your purpose.
Learn as much as you can about your readers.
Empathize with them.
Understanding their desires will help you connect with them on a deeper level.
The size of your readership won’t matter nearly as much as the quality of your connection to them, so take great care to form this relationship early. Don’t just “collect” readers or followers. Invite them to join your community, believe in your message and take part in your journey.
It’s this small –but loyal – group that will help you build a writing career that matters.
Less Fear, More Platform Building
You may still not be jumping for joy at the prospect of building your writer platform, but the threat has been removed – the gun raised.
If you’ve tried and failed, procrastinated, or refused to build your writer platform until now, then it’s time to press the reset button.
Decide to take action TODAY. Even if it’s just one small step toward your goals.
“To create anything remarkable, it takes not one giant leap after perfect prep, but many baby steps in the right direction once you have barely enough to get started.”
~ Tim Ferriss
So, what’s stopping you?
Good post, Kim. Lots of ideas that nail most of us on why it’s hard to keep building – or start building – that platform. My take on #2 is a little bit different: even if you can’t toss out the old negative dialogue, just acknowledge that it’s there and continue forward. It’s helpful to call those thoughts “stories” (how handy for writers!) That gives us a bit of distance from them so we’re looking AT the thought instead of FROM it. Example: Your mind says, “I’m terrible at technology.” You say, “Oh, there’s the ‘I’m terrible at technology’ story. Yep, I hear that story, mind, and now I’m going to build my platform.” Or, “There’s the ‘I’m a writer, not a marketer’ story . . . ” You get the point.
Sometimes we use the idea that we have to wait to get the negative thoughts and feelings out of our lives before we can go forward. But this only leaves us stuck! How about moving forward even WITH those thoughts and feelings? Because that’s all they are – thoughts and feelings. It’s not like they’re holding a gun to your head!
😉
I like your point on allowing your mind to “say its piece”, but not allowing it to prevent you from moving forward (or to taint your perspective of what needs to get done).
I’ve linked to your guest post on the “prehistoric brain” for more background on this topic.
Thanks for your insightful comments, Bobbi!
That’ s a really nice comment and a funny sort of link to Kimberly’s comment “I won’t get into the “I’m fat”, “I’m unlovable” scripts ;)” because it’s much more effective to say “Even though I’m fat, I love and approve of myself” than trying to tell yourself you love yourself but in the background your mind is shouting, “But I’m fat!”
I have been seriously struggling with the ‘gun to my head’ platform-building scenario and I’m so grateful you wrote about it. But at the end of your post I’m still left with that sinking feeling of “It’s something ‘out there’ that needs to be done. I’ve had two separate highly ranked New York agents telling me they love my non-fiction book but I need to build my platform before they take me on.
I compare myself to others who are already established and it bruises my confidence despite my positive head talk. I’m also not a natural at social media and i find it hard to really care about it all (except for my blog which I love). What I’ve found really helps me is treating the whole thing as a personal growth experience. Seeing how I feel about putting myself out there, seeing how easily my confidence can be knocked and then learning how to handle these experiences has really changed me for the better as a person.
So bottom line? I may resent the pressure and external influence – but I’m really grateful for how much it has helped me grow.
Thanks for your work
http://www.eilataviram.com
Thanks for being so honest. I struggle with these same issues (which is often why my writing resonates with writers). It’s not about taking a day to get your head straight, and BOOM!, you’re good for the rest of your writing career. It’s about the experience, the flops and facing your fears – over the long haul.
Looking at it in terms of personal growth is a great way to approach it. If you think about it, there’s really not much experience in easy. It’s the tough stuff that really helps you grow and learn, so keep at it! Enjoy the challenge, and if you feel the pressure building, take a step back and look at how far you’ve already come. 🙂
Thanks so much. I’ll hold onto this encouragement. Brene Brown’s blog is a good help for facing the vulnerability. Check it out if you haven’t met it yet.
Your welcome! And I agree – Brene Brown is a great resource! 🙂
Wonderful. I’m 83 after a long career as an actor in NYC when I lost my voice. Then a change of careers and now I write with about fifteen books, Romance/Suspense to my credit and I use social media a lot but because reviews are 5star and sales are clearly not enough. Small publishing house, Vanilla Heart, so helpful and good to me. What to do? I’m willing and so creative with stories in my head ready to write all the time.
Fantastic, Charmaine! What sort of support do you receive from your publishing house in term of book promotion or publicity?
You’re active on social media, have lots of titles, and I can see that you also have a blog, but it sounds like sales aren’t where you would like them to be.
Do you have a marketing/business plan for your writing career? Do you know specifically the market or audience you’re trying to reach? (Hint: it should be more specific than Romance/Suspense).
Are you building an email list? Are you using your books to promote previous and future titles (link to your website/book sales page in the back of each book)?
If you’ve got the foundation in place, check out this list of marketing ideas that might help you get things buzzing: https://yourwriterplatform.com/promote-and-market-your-book/
Kim, thanks for the Steven Pressfield quote- sometimes so true! You nailed it with #2. When I had first started writing- the “i’m a writer, I need to be free to create my art” was this elitist thing I kept thinking to keep me from querying( blasted subconscious defense system). As I got further into my writing #3 was only an issue for a minute, before I started to actually create more time for my writing- and then just seemed to have all the time in the world. #4 has been more difficult because in selfish truth- I create and write for me… the fact that other people like it is just a bonus. That said- I don’t do well with the external requirements of “platform”(I really am coming to this from a we are all one, all the same energy mentality, so to be servicing something outside of me feels separate and unnatural). I am currently stuck in #1 and had two things cross my path this week to help me see things differently. 1- sometimes you have to act yourself into a new way of thinking ( as in maybe start slating 30 min a day to social media posting and tell all your friends you’re a totally guru) and 2- from a swim coach: “I don’t ask you to hold your breath so you can get good at it, I ask you to hold your breath so you can become comfortable being uncomfortable.” So i’m gonna play with that and see if I can get through the inaction part.
Also, I think as writers we can all be really organic in how platform gets created- it could just be posting the awesome lines from your book, or getting into the role of your fiction character and instagramming as that character. lots and lots of options.
I couldn’t agree with you more on the idea of organic platform building, Rochelle. How you share your work with the world is ENTIRELY up to you. The tools (social media, blogging, etc.) can be bent to your will. The more you that can be added to the mix, the better.
For your work on #1, I think you are onto something:
1. by acting on behaviour first (i.e., scheduling a daily social media session),
2. you can experience a rewarding outcome (more Retweets, shares, feedback or interactions with your followers),
3. which reinforces a more positive mindset (potentially leading to a change in attitude about the value of social media’s role in building relationships with your readers, as well as your capabilities).
Good luck, and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
“Is the magnitude of the task just so overwhelming, you have no idea where to start?” This! I’ve started my platform (FB and Twitter), but I got SO overwhelmed, I just stopped. I know I can (and should) tackle it in little pieces, but I’m so overwhelmed, I do nothing.
Yep, it’s no small task, but the key thing to remember, Laurie, is that you build your platform and career over time. Only one or two small things need to get done today. Then one or two tomorrow.
You wouldn’t get your first job as a waitress, and worry about what you’d have to do and know to run the whole restaurant, right?
If you’ve started with FB and Twitter, just focus on those two things for a bit. Start connecting with people and building a small following. Test different types of content to see what kind of response you get. Join a group. Get comfortable with the “buttons and the switches”, so that you can focus on the people and the message – not the medium by which you are sharing it.
Then, incorporate the next thing. Within a few months you’ll be well on your way, and you’ll wonder why you took so long to get started! 🙂
I feel really fortunate to have begun my writing career in an online community where I could easily find mentors and people willing to help. I also read a couple of books on how to start a website and blog. Thanks to that, I have a platform now. I accept that my learning curve on new tech is slow. If I can learn one new thing every 2 months, I’m happy. By the time my novel is ready to be published, I’ll be ready. There’s not much pressure now, it’s just fun. There are a lot of things I don’t know, but unlike a lot of first time authors, I’m not under duress. Advice to everyone: before you have a book, do get your platform in place. Have fun with it, because your enthusiasm will shine through.
Excellent advice, Jess!
Many times writers wait until just before their book release (when they already feel under the gun) to start building their platforms.
Then, instead of their platform amplifying enthusiasm and excitement for their book, it amplifies panic, desperation and misery. 🙁
Good for you for taking the time now – even if it is slowly – to build your community and fan base.
Thanks Kim for your undying interest in us unknown authors. I read a lot of blogs and ebooks about the writer platfrom but in every article I feel like they miss the key ingriedient (including yours… sorry). That key and all criticle ingriedient is traction. I’ve been an online marketer for several decades and I have told all my clients that a website or platform doesn’t equal traffic or sales. The same is true for writers. I have several websites and social media accouts up the wazoo but no traffic. If i were my own client I would tell myself to go rent a targeted list and email it once a week. while this would work, spending $50,000 on an email list is twilight zone dreaming. can you tell us of the best ways to build a following besides hanging out in obscure chat rooms and BBs? Always love your emails, thanks for caring.
Thanks for your honesty, Greg.
Here’s my take on things:
The epicentre of a writer platform is your author blog. It’s the meaningful core where all other points of contact are funnelled back to create a sum that’s greater than its parts.
It’s where the magic happens.
Unless your focus is on traffic, not people.
Then it becomes this thing that mocks your efforts with its desolation, wastes your treasured writing time and sucks out any remaining hope that you could possibly make a go of marketing your own work.
“Traffic” isn’t really what you’re looking for; it’s customers, clients or readers. Specific people. You don’t just want movement to and from your website. That’s not how you will gain the traction you’re talking about.
You want the “right” people stopping by, and that’s why I spend so much time talking about getting to know your audience. You can’t attract the right people if you have no idea who they are.
Every post is another opportunity for interaction with your reader. And it usually takes several points of “contact” with a reader before they’re ready to buy.
And to be painfully blunt, your content has to be worth their time. If your content isn’t interesting or useful to the people you are trying to reach, no amount of “traffic” will help. People just won’t stick around.
Guest blogging is a great way to get some momentum for your own site (if it’s currently a ghost town). Plus it’s also a good way to judge the quality of your posts (if nobody will accept your posts for their blog, they’re not good enough for yours either).
I agree with you, Greg, that websites or platforms don’t equal traffic, but they can equal a loyal audience and a strong community if you do it right.
Once you have that, sales are often inevitable. 😉
Kim, good post. Persuasive and cogent. You have thrown a rope to us, stuck in quick sand. Thank you. God bless.
Ignatius Fernandez.
Thanks, Ignatius! 🙂
Great post, Kimberley. I started out in the Platform Building trade about 3 years ago, all earnest and furrow-browed, determined to do it, even if it killed me.
Along the way, I forgot I was trying to build a platform, and just made friends instead. I read lots of blog posts by other people that helped me, and I thought, “Hmmm, I wonder what I know about that could help someone else.” And I began to blog about those things and gradually built a readership.
So I guess I’ve built a platform. But I just think of it as a community. 🙂
So true, and this is why I’m so passionate about what I do and the YWP community, Belinda!
It’s easy to overcomplicate things, and since we’re all coming from different backgrounds and experiences, our interpretations and reactions to platform building, marketing and even sales can differ greatly.
For me, platform is just a word to describe all those creative and interesting things you do – combined together and building upon each other – to form your community or “tribe”. It’s the medium that connects you and your work with the people who can benefit most from it.
Nothing cheesy, dirty or painful about it. 🙂
And while I can teach writers how to use some of the tools available, I have the most fun encouraging them to find creative ways to apply the tools. Like any great recipe, it’s the chef’s secret ingredient that makes all the difference!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
My problem is my web presence revolves around a second dream, not my writing. As to writing I have not done the hard work of answering “why”. You can see it is easy for me to have unfocused time and to procrastinate. Yes, I’d like someone to hand it too me on a platter, all done, but that will not happen. Deciding priorities is a weak point. Also I am totally intimidated by writing a business plan. I’ve probably done it for others during my career in non-profits, but am, for some reason, blocked on what it looks like for an author.
Wayne, believe me when I tell you that you are not alone in the “unfocused procrastinator” department. 😉
I’ve also found overwhelm and intimidation to be a lethal combo, as well.
Instead of looking at everything you could be doing, try to pick one smaller project to work on first.
If you’re stuck on the “why”, try do a little brainstorming on the “who”, instead.
Who are the people you’d like to surround yourself with? What type of person would it be exciting to work with, or enjoyable to have a deep conversation with? How would you describe them? What do you hope is important to them? What do they care about? What do they talk about, read about or watch on t.v.? Where are they from? What distinctive life experiences have they had?
It might feel a bit weird at first, but you’re just noting the qualities and characteristics of people that are enjoyable to connect and engage with. And as you work through these ideas, you might also discover that you either share some of these characteristics and values, or that they are things you strive for in your own life.
If you keep teasing out more of the values and goals of the people that intrigue you, you likely get a clearer picture of what makes you tick.
I can’t hand it to you on a platter, Wayne, but I hope that helps you get started. 🙂
Kim, I so related to your blog today. I feel as though I am dodging bullets all the time with’ you shoulds’ and do this do that.
After finding myself close to tears in front of my computer because I had to learn more technology (being over 70 this is not easy) ad switch to WordPress for my web site/blog because I was told it is essential to my platform—and there was some truth in that–I bit the bullet and found someone to do it for me. Phew!!
Been there, Susan (and technology is no easier to master at 42)!
I’m glad the post resonated with you, but I’m also sorry to hear it as well. So many writers dread the idea of platform building, but I hope now you can see things from a more positive perspective.
It’s unfortunate the word is linked to such a negative connotation, when the actual act of building your platform – which is really just sharing your coolness with other cool people – can be so enjoyable and rewarding. 🙂
Worry a little less about the ‘shoulds’, Susan, and focus on the fact that – despite the hiccups – technology allows us to connect with people that we never would have had the opportunity to before. For me, at least, that makes it worth the challenges. 🙂
Hello Kim: As a writer, I want to improve my platform not because I have to – but because I want to. I feel what Amazon has done to the publishing world; should empower all writers.
Yay! That’s the spirit, Ivan! 🙂
It’s a much better place to be working from, and I completely agree – writers should feel empowered.
Such a great post! I actually enjoy social media. I’m way more outgoing on line than I am in real life. And I truly enjoy the connections and friendships I’ve made via social media. If it happens to help book sales are boost my visibility, then that’s just the cherry on top 🙂
Thanks, Julie!
And I do believe you’re proving the point of this post, as well! 🙂
Your excellently intriguing post caused me to perk up and listen to my own preaching.
As a science teacher with over fifty years in the classroom, my mantra has continued to be “The Mind Matters Most.”
It guides and determines our every decision. All we need to do is act on the thoughts we develop I in appositive and productive manner.
Building my author platform has been my personal procrastination point since starting my Internet focused venture.
Thanks to your inspirational post, my passion is fueled to head down that road.
John
I’m glad to have inspired you to start your platform building efforts, John. It’s hard work, but definitely worth doing. 🙂
Great thoughtful post. I’ll try anything to build my platform, but so much goes no where. I’m one of those who gets side tracked with trying new things and forget to be consistent on others and then run out of time to write everyday. I thought I was doing good by interacting with others on FB and Linkedin, etc, but ended up talking to only other authors trying to sell their books too. Things changed when I found the nerve to find and go after more of my direct audience (mature female, outdoorsy type, mystery lovers) . I went onto hiking blogs and women’s adventure sites and found interested people (male and female) who interact and immediately buy my books. Link to your audience.
Stepping outside our comfort zone is EXACTLY what we need to do to start making the connections that matter, Jeanne.
It’s relatively easy to commiserate with fellow writers about the difficulty of building a career – there’s no shortage of us! 😉
But taking a risk and reaching out to your “real” audience, that takes courage. So good for you for taking on the challenge. I’m glad you’re seeing some results.
Thank you for this post, and for the encouragement. I started my blog, related to the subject of my novel, a little less than a year ago, and I knew at the time it was not and never would be a general interest kind of thing. (It was, by the way, your blog that encouraged me to start my own, so thank you again. )But a year later, I have… about four followers? (All them being my own friends in real life. ) And honestly, I know the only thing that has kept me back is fear. I love my blog, and I enjoy my work, and my friends have had nothing but encouraging things to say, but every time I think about approaching an established community related to my subject – and there are some, I know there are people interested in this topic (well, Jack the Ripper. The topic is Jack the Ripper) and, moreover, know where to reach them – I got nervous. I started emails in JANUARY and started to register to post on a prominent Jack the Ripper website, and the email just sat in my drafts folder. For half a year.
What was so panic-inducing about sending an email, I cannot fathom. But I was afraid. I just happen to be a nervous kind of person, I guess. Never been outgoing. Never liked attracting attention. And I guess that’s what this all is, attracting attention.
I sent that email last week. I know it’s time to get started. I know my work is good. Heck, I think my work is excellent. I hope to do well… I just need to get out of my own stupid way.
Fear is a powerful tranquilizer, isn’t it Val? It subdues your urge to do and be something more.
Jim Carrey (a Canadian comedian) gave a convocation address to the graduating class of the Maharishi University School of Management.
Here are two quotes that really stood out for me:
“So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach so we never dare to ask the universe for it. I’m the proof that you can ask the universe for it.”
“I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which, was that you can fail at what you don’t want so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”
Does that hit home for you?
Here’s a couple of practical suggestions to get things rolling:
1) The white writing on a black background fits the mood and topic of your blog, but it is extremely difficult to read – especially the longer posts. Check out this post on blog blunders to avoid: https://yourwriterplatform.com/blog-post-blunders/.
2) Do some research. Make a list of as many sites as you can that are blogging about Jack the Ripper related topics. Do a Google search for Jack the Ripper, Jack the Ripper Letters, Books on Jack the Ripper, Videos on Jack the Ripper, Jack the Ripper Victims, History of Jack the Ripper, Blogs on Jack the Ripper, and so on (here’s one I found with a quick search: http://saucyjacky.wordpress.com).
Which ones catch your attention? Have the most interesting content? The most comments or reader feedback? The most shares? What do they look like? Is it easy to explore the site? What is the tone the writer is using? What angle are they approaching the story from (historical, entertainment, thought-provoking)?
Once you see what is working (and what’s not), you can modify some of the ideas to suit your site and the audience you wish to serve. You can also offer to guest post for some of these sites, note who follows them and who they follow on social media, and so on.
Your audience is out there, Val, you just have to dig in and go for it! 🙂
Great post, Kim, and I love the comments, too.
I agree about taking the Platform Building one step at a time. It is daunting. The good thing is that it can mushroom. At least for me it seems to be, but not without a lot of hard work. My book is a memoir about my husband’s Traumatic Brain Injury. It’s called, “Prisoner Without Bars: Conquering Traumatic Brain Injury. The first thing I did was join about ten online Facebook TBI sites and became involved with the discussions. The next thing that grew out of that was developing my blog, which features interviews with TBI survivors, and caregivers, guest bloggers, and a category for brain injury resources. Every time I have a post (and that is almost every day) I post it to my TBI Facebook sites.
Through my blog, I have become known to the folks on the sites and recently a host from the Brain Injury Radio contacted me to ask me to host my own radio show. My show, “Another Fork in the Road” will launch, live, on the Brain Injury Radio Network on Monday, August 4th, 2014 at 5:00pm Pacific time. (8:00 EDT, etc.)
Another thing that happened because I joined the TBI sites was I was asked to write an article for an online magazine called, “Disabled Magazine.” That article can be read here. (http://www.disabledmagazine.com/)
See what I mean about the mushrooming? Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Donna O’Donnell Figurski
survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com
donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com
Absolutely, Donna. There seems to be a tipping point. At first, you need to put in a lot of time and effort that appears to go unrewarded, but over time, that effort builds momentum.
One thing builds on another, your reach is amplified and growth becomes exponential.
It’s like pushing a snowball over a hill. The first bit is a tough go, but once you get over the hump things get bigger AND easier. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and some practical examples of what’s working for you, Donna!
Kim, your 3-post series on building an email list coupled with this post have helped me leap outside the box and add to my current platform (writer blog, FB, Twitter) my first attempt at starting a newsletter. However, I’m doing this without the ever-present freebie right off. I want to see what kind of list I build without and then with, so I can sell some others on doing the same. BTW, I have linked to your 3-post series on email lists in my first newsletter which will be emailed out on 8/14/15. If you’d like to sign up just to receive my inaugural edition, please see my blog. I’d love your feedback.
I went a year or so without my current opt-in offer, partly to see if I was offering enough value on my site for people to choose to sign up without the bribery, and partly due to procrastination.
I have seen my email opt-ins double (and some days, triple) with the Quick Start Guide opt-in incentive.
My suggestion: take a bit of time to understand your audience so that you can create something that they’ll find truly valuable – but don’t put it off for too long. 😉
Another great article, Kimberley calling for action and purpose . I personally read copyblogger to help me in the content marketing and publishing advice, read James Altucher’s advice in his weekly Q&A on twitter; Ryan Holiday is also a valuable source of information about publishing industry as well your site too. I liked the quote of Tim Ferris at the end of the post. What I see today is that everybody makes a blog, and the blogsphere is overfloated. My opinion is that the platform itself doesn’t guarantee anything but in a relative matter helps if one has followers and a significant traffic. So, the question is how to make a working writer’s platform.
Absolutely, Antara! The problem is rarely the tools, but the application of the tools. Anybody can throw up a blog; not everybody can create a blog that matters and that truly makes an impact.
I want to be a writer not a marketer. Foolish I know.
Not foolish, Lee, but perhaps a bit naive. 😉
Excellent post Kimberley. I particularly love the bit about Simon Sinek. I watched a TEDex video he did about “Why?” and have been working to try to find ways to expose and express my why as I build my platform.
Thanks again and keep up the good work!
Thanks, Tiger! I appreciate your support. 🙂
I’ve seen the same Ted talk (more than once), and read his book. Very compelling stuff, and I think his ideas on leadership are just as important for writers to consider, as for corporations.
I also think writers, like you, that put some serious thought into their “why” have a significant advantage over those that don’t when it comes to marketing their work and building a significant and meaningful platform.
Forgive the weebly.com. It was buy food for my animals or buy a domain. Everyone starts somewhere!
I’m new to your blog and want to compliment you on your commitment to replying to every comment as well as on the quality of your responses. I would not have subscribed were it otherwise- thus showing how important it is to be human online!
I have a question for you and your community on how to market literary fiction. My writing is difficult to place in today’s standardized, generalizing Amazonian world. I’ve considered calling myself a philosophical fiction writer but suspect that like most literary fiction writers, my stories will disappear in the heap of unclassifiables.
I absolutely ADORE the idea of making my blog a part of my storytelling. You’ve peaked my curiosity and given me lots of bread crumbs to follow. Hopefully there is no wicked witch in a gingerbread house at the end of the trail.
I will be sure to link you on my site and will tell my friends at other blogs about this site. It is really well done and a blessing to get help as a fiction writer.
Thank you and I will be shadowing your every post!
my fetal blog: http://reneevaughnfiction.weebly.com/blog/guest-blog-on-writers-village
Thanks, Renee, and welcome to the blog! 🙂
Here are a couple of helpful resources on marketing literary fiction:
http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/amazon-makes-life-easier-for-authors-of-historical-literary-fiction/
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2012/09/04/selling-literary-fiction/
I appreciate the support and the positive feedback. Best of luck on your literary fiction journey! 🙂
I think that the task seems so huge that there’s never enough time to start but I completely agree on the baby steps approach. One small step per day to actually DO something, anything, is better than nothing. I’ve been doing 15 minutes per day on my author platform and am finally finding a small amount of forward momentum.
Agreed, Simon! It does seem like a monumental task. Starting is usually the biggest hurdle, but consistent effort – even if it’s small – can get you there.
Thanks for the article. I think the key question that you asked is “What excites you?”
I approach my blogging and social media interactions around two things: what I am passionate about and what I am learning.
This gives me ample material from which to draw.
Otherwise, I would think that I would flounder about.
Sounds like an excellent approach, Peter! The clearer your “vision” for your platform and career, the easier it is to share with others. And when you find that bit of common ground that both you and your audience are passionate about, creating content is rarely a struggle.