10 Common Problems Authors Face When Building a Platform
And How to Solve Them!
Building an author platform feels overwhelming. You know you need one to sell books, grow your audience, and make a living as a writer — but where do you start?
Social media feels crowded.
Email lists seem complicated.
And getting reviews can feel like pulling teeth.
The truth is, most authors make the same mistakes.
But with the right solutions, you can turn your platform from a source of frustration into your most powerful tool for success.
And today, I want to address the 10 most common problems authors face with it comes to building their author platform.
#1 - You Don’t Have A Clear Audience
Solution: Define Your Niche
Many authors try to appeal to everyone, but a broad focus dilutes your message. Especially when you are starting out because you may not be 100% sure what you message is yet.
Instead, define a specific niche (e.g., faith-based fiction or self-help for busy professionals) and tailor your content to that audience. Knowing who you’re writing for helps you create content that resonates.
Insider Tip: Think about who you might be writing very specifically. Are you writing to yourself, but five years ago? Are you writing to a friend? Try to imagine an exact person.
#2 - You are Inconsistent with Content Creation
Solution: Build a Simple Content Plan
Authors often struggle with consistency. Whether because you are over creating because you have so much to say or under creating because you don’t know what to say, its a common problem.
Create a realistic content schedule — whether it’s weekly blog posts, daily social media updates, or monthly newsletters — and stick to it. Focus on quality over quantity to avoid burnout.
Insider Tip: A simple content calendar works great. Decide how often you will create and have themes for week. After that, there is freedom in creation. If you need more detail, ask Chat GPT.
#3 - Low Social Media Engagement
Solution: Focus on Community, Not Numbers
It’s frustrating to post on social media and get little engagement. Shift your focus from follower counts to building relationships.
Ask questions, respond to comments, and engage with your audience’s content. Authentic interactions lead to loyal followers. The key is to get to know people and then they get to know you.
Insider Tip: Focus on one platform at a time. For example, if you are new everywhere, why not focus right here on Substack. Start with Notes, grow some followers and email subscribers, and then branch out.
4 - You Don’t Have a Huge Email List
Solution: Create a Lead Magnet
Relying on social media alone is risky. Build an email list by offering a valuable freebie (like a sample chapter, guide, or checklist) in exchange for email addresses. This way, you control your audience and can nurture them directly.
Grow that email list with a Lead Magnet. Don’t know what to create, ask Chat GPT with this prompt: “I am a writer who focuses on (niche) and I help (people you are helping). I am trying to grow an email list through blog posts and social media posts. Can you create for me a lead magnet for my email list that can solve a problem for my audience to give them a quick win?”
Insider Tip: Create more than one. Something I have done is to take a winning blog post or piece of content and turn that into a lead magnet because that idea is already validated.
#5 - You are Unclear with Your Author Brand
Solution: Develop a Consistent Brand Identity
Authors often have scattered messaging. Define your brand voice, visuals, and core message to ensure consistency across all platforms. This helps readers recognize your work instantly.
Not sure where to start, start somewhere. Pick three colors you want for your branding. Create a logo that you put on everything, and then write one-sentence description about your content.
Insider Tip: You can change your branding as you go, but you need to start with something. And review how it goes as time goes on. Ask for input quarterly and people will share feedback.
#6 - Low Book Sales
Solution: Focus on Providing Value & Telling Stories
Authors who only promote their books can turn off potential readers. Instead, offer value — blog posts, podcasts, social media tips — that align with your book’s theme. This builds trust and makes readers more likely to buy from you.
Share other insights that you left out of your books or tell stories about things you have learned from writing your books. This insider information tends to help people identify even more with you.
Insider Tip: The more relatable you become on your platform, the more people will be invested in checking out your books.
#7 - You Refuse to Self-Promote
Solution: Shift Your Mindset
Many authors feel awkward promoting their work. Reframe self-promotion as helping readers solve a problem or entertaining them with your stories. Believe in the value you provide, and promotion will feel more natural.
I like to remember that I believe in my content. And if I believe in it, why wouldn’t someone want to read my book? Consider how important it is for you to share your book with that one person whose life could be changed.
Insider Tip: If a friend has a problem and you had the answer, wouldn’t you share it with them. Focus on one person at a time when sharing, don’t think about promoting to the masses.
#8 - You Have Time Management Issues
Solution: Use Atomic Content Creation
I have a lot going on in life for example. I have a full-time job, a family of five to care for, five acres of property to maintain, and my wife and I host a house church. We have some things going on in our lives.
Lots of authors feel overwhelmed trying to do it all. Use atomic content creation — start with one piece of long-form content (like a blog post), then repurpose it into smaller pieces for social media, email, etc. This maximizes your efforts.
Insider Tip: Use Chat GPT or another AI as an assistant. Write your blog post and then have Chat GPT break it into the smaller pieces of content. It’s not cheating. Trust me.
#9 - You Lack Reviews and Testimonials
Solution: Create a Review Request System
Getting reviews is tough without asking. Develop a system to ask readers for reviews — include a request at the back of your book, send follow-up emails, or offer a freebie for honest feedback.
You need reviews and it’s okay to ask people who have read your book to review your book. Ask for honest reviews. And focus on capturing them both within Amazon or other platforms and personally.
Insider Tip: There are a lot of ways to capture reviews, here are ten that I use on a regular basis. Just remember, you need to ask, because people do want to share their thoughts.
#10 - You Have Not Monetized Your Platform
Solution: Diversify Your Income Streams
Many authors rely solely on book sales for income. Expand your platform by offering courses, coaching, digital products, or memberships. This not only boosts your income but also deepens your connection with readers.
Another important thing to remember is that monetization isn’t selling out to the man, it is making money so you can make more books. And your monetization efforts help you build your authority too.
Insider Tip: When starting out, use the book you have written and turn it into a freebie, workbook, and a course. That’s three digital products to get you started.
Next Steps to Your Author Platform Success
Building an author platform doesn’t have to be a mystery or a chore.
By solving these ten common problems, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success as an author — growing your audience, increasing book sales, and creating opportunities beyond writing. Now it’s your turn.
Choose one problem from this list to tackle today. Start small, take action, and watch your platform grow step by step.
Get the Author Platform Boost Today!
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Bonus: Author Platform Solution
Check out my book, Author Platform Solution and learn how you can work your way from zero to having a thriving platform to sell more books.
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My name is J.R. Heimbigner and I am a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon with 18 self-published books. I have something I want to share with you:
Also, this post may contain sales or affiliate links, so I might get a little kickback if you purchase anything. Thank you in advance!