Self-published and traditional authors alike shoulder much of the responsibility of promoting their own work. Essentially, an author-platform is how a person reaches an audience of book-buying people. Rather than get overly frustrated at the amount of time it takes to create a platform, view it as a challenge well-worth the learning curve.
So here’s what you do…
- Get a Blog
- Start Tweeting
- Make a Facebook Fan Page
- Participate in LinkedIn Discussion Groups
- Join GoodReads
Yep, just like that you will have a platform. But you gotta work that platform and work it good! Notice how my tone now turns to mockery.
Help by Kosta Kostov
But what about Google+ you might say? I’ve also amassed a growing circle of Authors and Bloggers there. I’ve yet to get involved with Triberr, Networked Blogs, SheWrites, BlogHer, The Independent Author Network, or countless other communities. And what about FourSquare, Digg, and Reddit? You got me. I’ve yet to go there.
You might as well throw in a YouTube account while you’re at it because apparently book trailers are an author essential. Helpful pointer: don’t make a trailer unless you hire someone or have the skills for it not to scream amateur attempt.
While you’re at it, make sure you’re checking that Klout score and giving Klout to others as if you’re life depended on it!
Some days I wonder where it all ends. Will I ever feel my author platform building duties are complete? Here is where self-control comes into play. Decide how much time you can devote to the task and stick with it. Building that author-platform takes perseverance. Like learning anything new, the road can be bumpy at first. Don’t give up.
Out Of Energy by Frits Ahlefeldt
And just as you feel overwhelmed, you can attempt to start scheduling your online presence with the likes of Buffer, HootSuite, and TweetDeck. Oh yeah, and somewhere in there you have to finish writing your novel. Don’t despair. Little by little it will all fall into place.
BTW… you can get sued for “borrowing” images from other websites for your blog. Use pictures labeled for use in the public domain.
Was someone a little cranky today when writing this post? You betcha. In all seriousness, what advice do you have for writers who are just starting to build their platforms?
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This whole “platform” thing is more exhausting than writing the book but you are so right. The real mastery comes when you know just which of these “socialization” sites will give you most bang for your buck.
Lisa at Amalfi Blue recently posted..Beware of Free Ebooks
I just have to keep reminding myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day
That was my thought, too. Choose your sites wisely. Better to use a handful of sites well, then to be on “everything” but manage it poorly. Who uses what platforms? Are they truly your “audience” or just a random bunch of people who won’t care because what you write is not in their interest range? Choose your battles
Stephanie Hilliard recently posted..Dragonflies a Hunting
Life would be much simplier if there was only Twitter and my blog!
I can totally relate to everything you said. It does have a tendency to make us a bit cranky… at least it does me.
Geek Girl recently posted..Motivational Monday – 10/8
I felt the same way about my first year of teaching too. I miss the feeling of being an expert at something, but I know the more I keep at it, the sooner I will find my stride.
You must have been reading my mind. I was out on my walk and saw your post come up. I stopped to read it. I was laugh so hard my neighbor thought I was losing it… seriously!!! I can relate to EVERYTHING. As far as advise, when the fog clears and I have an AH HA moment you will be one of the first I will share it with.
Susan Cooper recently posted..Choices: Story
It’s good to know I made you laugh. I intended the post to be all serious, but my brain just didn’t want to do there. It would probably do me good to let-go like that a little more often when I write!
Jeri — just reading your post tired me out. It’s impossible to keep up with every social media network. You simply must make choices. Like you, I feel guilty when someone says, “Oh, you’re not active on XYZ network?” We each have to find out own path to where we want to go.
Jeannette Paladino recently posted..Why Every Company Needs an Accurate Social Media Policy
At least when I look at where I am now in all of this as compared to a year ago, then I start to breathe a little easier
Exhausting but true!
I’m passing this one along to the memoirist I worked with recently. She’s in charge of this aspect of her book and I want her to do it right.
Candy Korman recently posted..Neighborhood Gargoyles
I love this post Jeri. I can totally relate. It sometimes all seems like so much work, and on days when I’m feeling cranky I wonder if I put the time I spend on building a writers platform into my writing would I ultimately just be as well off. I think the answer comes down to if you want to find a publisher or go indie. If the former, then in a way you may as well wait until you have an agent, because it’ll be a long road until you’re published anyway. Plus a publisher will help you get interviews etc. My thought is that already having a presence may help you to actually stand a better chance of getting an agent in the first place.
That all said, I’ve connected with some great people in the process , yourself included,so the personal benefits are already there. Learning how to write a blog is a great skill , and who knows what the future may bring.
So I say keep going with the platform building with whatever level feels comfortable. It’s def. an art not a science.
A.K.Andrew recently posted..MuseMedium: Change and Junot Diaz
A.K. I’d have to say I agree too that all this social media toil will definitely pay off when trying to find an agent, which is where I think I’m at in the process. Then, if I can’t get signed anywhere, I will already have my platform in place to self-publish my novel.
Hi Jeri
Thanks for retweeting this one.
I love the succinct way you boil down months of work to a few easy steps!
Although, in reality, that is pretty much it. It’s making that platform somewhere that people like to spend time with you that’s the challenge. I must confess since work kicked back in on Monday I’ve been struggling to maintain it, so it’s nice to know I’m not the only one.
I guess the advice I’ve got is to be consistent and on-brand, let your tribe and commentators know what to expect of you and don’t let them down, and only post/say stuff that has value. Just as you would face to face I think.
cheers
Mike
Mike Cairns recently posted..7 days of comics and why you should read them, Sundays choice – Love and Rockets
Mike, I agree that’s it is key to have a platform where people like to spend time. I’m forever tinkering with that aspect
Whatever sort of platform you’re trying to build I think it’s important to find your own groove when it comes to all the social media out there – if you hate updating your Facebook page or can’t get on with Twitter then maybe concentrate on the other stuff. So for me I wholeheartedly agree: life would be so much easier if it was just my blog and Twitter!
Kirsty Stuart recently posted..How to Build a Writing Portfolio and Get Clients
Kirsty: Thanks so much for stopping by! Admittedly, on the day I wrote this post, I most definitely was not feeling my groove