Authors: What, Why and How to build your platform
Kathleen Gage
??? ??Podcast Host & Producer - Plant Based Eating for Health - Visibility & Marketing Consultant & Strategist for Vegan and Plant Based Experts, Businesses and Organizations.
There's no argument from those in the know when it comes to securing a publishing contract and selling books. Many decisions are made based on an author's platform.Even if you self-publish, you need to build your platform.
Your author platform is how you are currently reaching an audience of book buyers. It’s also how you plan to do so. It is your influence, your ability to sell to your market. It is your ability to sell books because of who you are or who you can reach.
Your author influence is your ability to impact your readers perspective, beliefs and point of view. It is also the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.
What is Your Platform?
Your platform has to do with who you are… what makes you unique? It's also your personal and professional connections and any media outlets you can tap into in order to sell books.
In reality, if you want to get a book deal or agent, you need a platform. If you are a self-published author, you need a platform to sell your books. When your book is ready you absolutely must have a platform if you want to sell books.
Your platform includes your current customers and clients, audiences you present to, listeners who hear you on interviews, television audiences, blog readers, social media platforms, current email list and the market reach of collaborative partners.
Start Now
Many authors delay building their platform. Successful authors know there is no time to wait. They work on their platform on a consistent basis.
To build a rock solid platform you need to start immediately by doing something every day. Whether it's to blog, guest blog, set up interviews and speaking engagements, create a media kit, secure endorsements or be a featured expert on a summit, radio show or podcast, you will be well served to embrace the fact you need to build your platform.
Not sure where to start? Check out the Book Accelerator program to learn how to build your platform AND create a successful book launch.