There
has always been talk about how to promote your work once you finally get
published. If you’re like me, I’d rather
write stories – promoting take effort and time.
But a writer must make time and take efforts to create a writing platform.
Oh, I’ve heard it, “Do I really need to have a
platform?” No, not really, but then that
depends on your goals and aspirations of selling your books.
If you desire – need – want – commercial
success and great sales, then I would say, “Yes, having a platform will make
all the difference in the world.” It’s
irrelevant whether you’re an indie (self-published) or traditional published
author. You must decide how you can grab
those readers and get exciting exposure for your books if you want to be
competitive in the marketplace.
What exactly do we mean by platform? Simply put, your platform is the means
through which you get your book noticed – then purchased. It has a lot to do with who you know,
creating networking, and learning to appeal to the massive world of readers.
You must be willing to take the time to
nurture relationships, establish a sound foundation, and create or build
effective networking to reach your target demographics and beyond.
So the next question, “How do I do that?” There are so many ways you can create your
platform, and it actually depends on your skillset, how large/small you want
that platform to be, and finally your knowledge of the avenues available to
help in this process.
Let’s discuss some of those avenues available
to you.
·
Do you have a Website? I’d say the most
important first step will be to create a writer’s website. It doesn’t have to cost much . . . I use a
program called www.web.com
and pay around twenty dollars a month.
It’s an easy self-create site –and there are a lot out there – even free
sites. Check with friends of sites you
really like.
·
·
Do you have a Blog? Carve out your own writer’s corner space and
use it as a place to post articles that establish your expertise in your field.
Share news about your book, speaking schedule, upcoming interviews, etc. If you
don’t want to do this by yourself, ask a fellow writer to share a blog site
with you. Wonderful writer, Ginger
Simpson, asked me to join her blog a few years ago … it’s a great working
relationship (as well as sister-ship).
·
·
Are you active on Social
Media? It is critical to develop
a social media network for communicating with your target audience. There are so
many to choose from - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so many more. Taking full advantage of any or all of these
incredible online relationship-building tools.
·
·
Do you network at every opportunity and events? Remember
to hand out your latest book postcard, bulletin, or business card when going to
the doctor’s office, or even when ordering food. I never leave a restaurant without leaving
one of those forms of advertisement with my payment. Also, ask if you can have signings or leave
your writing pamphlets at book fairs and other events – include your email
address for comments, signed bookmarks, etc. Take advantage of opportunities to
get your book circulating and to interact directly with new readers. As the years roll by you will find you’ve
created quite the network of fans.
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