The worst feeling in the world is when you launch a book and the first day nobody buys it. I’ve been there. One of my books was like this, and it was like getting punched in the stomach.
This book was a completely new genre and niche for my other books. It was something that I had thought about for a long time but didn’t confirm if it would be a hit.
In the end, it tanked at first. However, months later, I was able to recover and to date, it has sold more than 1,000 copies. It became a #1 Bestseller long after its initial launch.
But the problem was that I didn’t have an author platform for that niche.
Once I realized that, I started making some plans. I built up a small niche platform and started pointing people to my book in email sign-ups, social media, and at the end of every one of my blog posts.
At first, it was slow going. But now, I see regular monthly sales on this particular book, which has changed everything. It was so significant that it helped me with my other books.
So, today, I want to share exactly how you do it.
10 Steps to Building an Author Platform
Authors have more chances than ever to interact with readers, promote their work, and launch a lucrative writing career in today's fast-changing publishing environment.
Creating an author platform, a vital tool that enables writers to build a devoted following, increase their visibility, and interact with their target audience, is a critical step in this process.
This ten-point article aims to assist prospective writers in building a solid and efficient author platform.
Understanding the Author Platform
Before starting this trip, it's essential first to comprehend what an author platform involves.
A writer's impact and visibility within their chosen genre or niche is referred to as an author platform. It includes several things, such as a writer's website, email list, social media following, and networking contacts.
A writer can promote their brand, broaden their audience, and engage with readers and business leaders by building a solid author platform.
Identifying Your Target Audience
To develop a platform, it is essential to understand your target audience.
By identifying your ideal readership, you can customize your marketing strategies and content creation to meet their unique needs.
You may effectively align your platform-building efforts by conducting detailed market research that identifies your target audience's demographics, reading preferences, and desires.
Crafting Your Brand
Creating a solid author brand is essential to differentiating yourself from the competition.
A distinctive author name must be carefully chosen, as must an appealing visual identity and a consistent tone and style across all media.
A strong connection between you and your audience can be made when you have a well-designed brand that makes it easy for people to recognize and remember your work.
Creating a Professional Author Website
An author's website acts as your online residence and the focal point of your platform in the digital era.
A successful author website has critical components, including an exciting homepage, an about page highlighting your personal narrative, book-specific sections, and a blog section for sharing informative content.
For your website to draw in and keep visitors, optimizing it for search engines and user experience is essential.
Harnessing the Power of Social Media
Social networking platforms provide authors a fantastic opportunity to interact directly with readers, expand their audience, and create a supportive environment for their work.
Different social media networks work for different niches and topics. Learning how to make exciting material, expand your audience, and efficiently manage your online presence will be essential parts.
I would suggest first starting with only one platform to build and share. Then spread out to other ones as you grow your following on your initial social media platform.
Building an Email List
For every author, having an email list is a significant resource.
It lets you communicate directly with your most ardent followers and share special updates, material, and promotions.
To grow an email list, you must develop alluring lead magnets to draw in subscribers and maintain those connections over time.
Content Creation and Blogging
Blogging and content production are potent tools for showcasing your writing abilities, imparting knowledge, and connecting with readers.
There are clear advantages of blogging, and learning to create high-quality material while making blog entries search engine-friendly helps grow your platform.
Learning to create a content schedule that appeals to your audience will also help you connect with them more and grow their connection to you and your books.
Networking and Collaborations
The visibility of your platform can be significantly increased by growing your network and working with other writers, influencers, and business experts.
There are strategies for interacting with like-minded people, including guest blogging, radio appearances, cooperative marketing campaigns, and more.
The more people you connect with, the greater your reach and the opportunity for your book to do well.
Engaging with Readers
Building a faithful following requires establishing deep ties with your readers.
Some tactics for increasing reader participation, such as holding competitions, prizes, and Q&A sessions, are easy ways to connect.
The relationship between you and your audience is strengthened when you respond to reader comments, reviews, and communications.
Tracking and Analyzing Your Platform's Performance
Tracking and analyzing important indicators is essential to ensuring the success of your platform-building activities.
There are outstanding methods and tools for keeping track of website visitors, social media activity, open email rates, and book sales.
You may optimize your platform and accomplish your goals by making informed decisions based on understanding these indicators.
Final Thoughts on Building an Author Platform
My greatest takeaway is that the author platform has critical aspects but can look different for everyone. Some might gain most of their platform from social media, while others have a lot of blog traffic.
At the same time, the email list seems to be a standard key for every author I have ever known. If your list is solid, your sales will be solid up front.
Nevertheless, developing an author platform is continual and calls for commitment, flexibility, and tenacity.
This ten-point article intends to provide you with a basic understanding of building and improving your author platform and arm you with the resources you need to succeed in the cutthroat publishing market of today.
Let's take this thrilling trip together and realize your full potential as a writer.
J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon who loves helping people grow in their faith and helping writers become authors. You can connect with him on Medium, his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Substack!
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Are there other books to read? Sure, are. I have two short lists of them in my Writer’s Starter Pack on Gumroad (It’s free, you should check it out). The only other book I want to highlight is my own.
It’s called Transform Your Medium Stories.
Initially written for writers on the Medium platform, the content of this book works for any online content. And it is a great short guide to help you write and publish your first book. So grab your copy today!