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Author platform.
Two words every writer dreads at some point along their writing journey.
But, at the same time, we’re all aware that it is needed if we hope to be published one day.
And so we research what’s required for one. And the results are overwhelming.
Website. Facebook. Twitter. YouTube. Instagram. Pinterest. TikTok. Newsletter. Podcast.
And then comes the advice of what to do.
Post every day.
Write regular blog posts.
Grow your email list.
Do guest appearances.
Oh, and continue to write, because that’s what the platform is for.
While juggling the demands of everyday life, family, and work.
It’s no wonder many authors are overwhelmed when they start working on their platform. And while there’s plenty of advice on what to do and how to grow your audience, there’s very little aimed at conquering overwhelm.
Let’s take some time today to look at this, shall we?
The Problems
Every author’s journey is unique, as are the challenges they face with regard to their platform. However, there are universal things that authors face when it comes to building their platform. Time management and content creation are two of the top ones, followed by knowing where to be and who to talk to.
Time Management
Here’s a secret: you don’t have to be everywhere.
Here’s another secret: you don’t have to do everything at once.
You already know that your time is limited and that any time you spend building your platform and growing your reach is time away from doing what you love: writing your story. But the chief challenge here might not be managing what little time you have but rather knowing where to spend it.
Remember this: most of the advice you’ll find on building your platform is coming from authors and marketers that have already spent years doing this. By now, they are old hands at this game. They know what works and what doesn’t. They know where to find new followers. They might even be earning from their efforts.
You’re not.
They are also not in your shoes. They don’t have your family, your commitments, and your work to factor in.
Yes, there is the thing of making time for what needs to be done.
But there is also the challenge of preventing yourself from becoming stressed while you go about it.
So start small.
Choose one thing.
Create one social media account.
And start posting, even it’s once a week.
Which leads us to our next problem …
Content Creation
This particular topic takes on so many different faces, ranging from having no ideas to having too many to wondering if your efforts are even doing anything.
There are two things to consider when it comes to this: who is your target reader, and what is your brand?
Oh, help. More things to think about.
But before you close your browser, let’s take a closer look at these.
Both of them can be answered by taking a look at what you like to write.
In other words, take a step back and look at your stories.
What are some common themes and topics in them? What captures your imagination and drives you to craft a tale to share with the world? If you look closely, you’ll see the same threads woven through all your stories.
For J. R. R. Tolkien, it was the power of friendship.
For C. S. Lewis, it was his faith.
If you look closely at their work, you’ll see these threads. They might be below the surface, but they’re there.
It’s their brand.
Once you’ve found yours, consider who you’re trying to talk to. How old are they? What is their background? Are you writing for twenty-somethings seeking purpose, forty-year-olds who enjoy a gripping tale, or elderly folk looking for an entertaining story?
Who would enjoy your story the most?
Take your time answering these questions, because the answers to them are going to determine more than just what content you create. They will also determine where you need to be.
One thing I’d highly recommend is researching the demographics of the various social media sites. This will show you which platforms your target audience spends time on. That can be a good way to get an idea of where to start.
Then take a look at your brand and at those themes you identified. What do you want to become known for? And what are some ways you can start sharing that with the world even if you are still unpublished?
Lastly, when it comes to content creation, just remember that it’s not about you. It’s not about the number of likes or followers you get or if your posts go viral.
It’s about your audience. Those few who need to hear what you have to share.
As you shift your focus from yourself to them, you’ll build relationships with them. And something amazing will start to happen.
They’ll show you what they love about your platform. And, if you listen closely, they will also start to give you ideas of what unique problems and challenges they face, meaning that you’ll have the unique opportunity to create content that speaks to those things.
Ultimately, this is what content creation is about: crafting space for you to connect with your audience and build relationships with them.
Some Tips for Starting Out
In preparing this post, I asked authors at varying points of their journey to share one piece of platform building advice to those just starting out. Here’s what they said!
Don’t try to do everything!—Lindsey Stirling, author of The Eagle Rider Saga. Lindsey’s website.
Don’t focus so much on the platform that you lose sight of who you are as a writer. Be the writer you’re supposed to be, then you will gain the right platform for you!—Jessica Smith, writer, singer, and actress. Jessica’s website.
Do a little bit at a time and have fun with it!—Katherine Ruskey, Children’s book author. Katherine’s website.
Find your niche, focus on relationships, and be kind.—Lydia Jane, author and editor. Lydia’s website.
Pick one medium and start there—you don’t have to be everywhere at once.—Kelli McKinney, children’s author and speaker. Kelli’s website.
Spend some real time thinking out your plan. Not sure? Figure out what you’re good at doing, and what can be used to make your platform stand out. Not sure? Figure out what you’d like to learn, and would be willing to spend time developing as a skill that could help. Be prepared to take time off from writing to learn.—Wes Brzozowski, retired engineer and programmer, sci-fi enthusiast, and amateur Bible scholar. Wes’s website.
Just close your eyes and write!—Rick Moore, publisher and author. White Cat Publications’ website.
It doesn’t take a lot of time to put yourself out there and, therefore, takes very little time away from your writing. A few minutes on one social network, a few minutes on another. But remember one thing and I can’t stress this enough: you are developing relationships. The same as making friends. Not just numbers. As your connections get to know you, they will want to read what you have written and will use the good ol’ advertising element: word of mouth!—Lynn Mosher, devotional writer. Lynn’s newsletter.
I recommend picking outlets and a frequency that is actually doable, whether it matches the expert opinions or not. And start building audience months before your release.—Chris Brown, author of the Child of Grace books. Chris’s website.