Your platform is your following, your credibility or recognition\u00e2\u20ac\u201dyour way of attracting readers for your book. There are two types of platform: the platform that you come into your project with and the platform that you build from scratch. <\/p>\n
If you are a well-known artist who writes a book on technique or promoting your art, your expertise and reputation make up the foundation for your platform. If you won teacher of the year in your state, this is definitely a building block in your platform for promoting a children\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s book. Maybe you have contributed hundreds of thriller stories to numerous magazines. When you write a thriller novel, your popularity as a short-story writer will certainly count toward your credibility in this genre. <\/p>\n
If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re like most new authors, however, you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have a platform. As I state in the speech I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll deliver at the Spring Book Show in Atlanta in a few weeks and later in Nashville, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Many writers suddenly emerge from their writing rooms and announce to their family and friends, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcSurprise, surprise, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve just written a book and now I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m going to get it published.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I point out that the budding author might be the one who is surprised when he or she enters into the huge, competitive world of publishing knowing nothing about the publishing industry and without a platform.<\/p>\n
Publishers are definitely more interested in authors with a solid platform. Many of them, once they glance at the synopsis in your well-researched book proposal, will turn to the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153About the Author\u00e2\u20ac\u009d page and the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Marketing Page\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to find out if you have a platform or, at least, the potential to build a sturdy one. I tell audiences that if a publisher has a choice between two or three excellent manuscripts, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to choose the one with the greatest sales potential. And how do you think he will determine sales potential? By the author\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s popularity, reputation\/credibility in the subject\/genre and his\/her marketing aptitude or potential.<\/p>\n
The best time to start establishing your platform is before you ever start your book. In fact, this truth might even sway you in the type of first book you write. Why not start out by writing a book that is within your realm of experience or expertise? Write a book on a topic or in a genre where you have some credibility or recognition. Use it as a platform building block toward the type of books you want to write. <\/p>\n
In the meantime, work on that platform. Get out your tools, polish your skills, revive your talents and tap into your creativity. For many authors this means stretch! It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time to start and continue the platform-building process. Become known and respected in your field\/genre. Strive for more name recognition. How? By asking for it, putting yourself out there, making news, helping others, creating innovative techniques in writing and in your field, etc. Here are a few specific things that you can do to establish or add to your platform. If you are an author with a faltering book or you hope to be a published author, these are things you really must do toward the success of your book in the highly competitive publishing field:<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tWrite and contribute articles or stories in your field\/genre to magazines, newsletters and websites regularly. Read A Writer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Guide to Magazine Articles <\/em>to help you get started. \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tMake news and then report it. Start an organization, charity, contest or informal program related to your subject or genre. Publicize it widely. Send press releases to newspapers nationwide. Read The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book <\/em>for guidelines and resources. \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tJoin a local Toastmasters Club and hone your speaking skills. Then go out and speak to local groups and present workshops on topics related to your topic\/genre. Plan seminars nationwide or connect with conference organizers in your topic\/genre and promote your program. (You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll find resources for locating conferences in The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>.)<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tEstablish a mega-mailing list and keep building on it. Use it to keep people apprised of your activities related to your genre\/topic. This might be through periodic announcements or a newsletter, for example.<\/p>\n \u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tCreate an amazing, useful, information-packed website and informative or entertaining blog. <\/p>\n Of course, there is more that you can do to establish and build on your platform. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d love to hear some of your ideas. Send them in and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll feature them in upcoming blog entries. In the meantime, whether you have a completed book or you are just thinking about writing one, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time to start building or continue establishing your platform. If you need help with this or any other facet of writing, producing or promoting a book, read my book: The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em>. Your platform is your following, your credibility or recognition\u00e2\u20ac\u201dyour way of attracting readers for your book. There are two types of platform: the platform that you come into your project with and the platform that you build from scratch. If you are a well-known artist who writes a book on technique or promoting your art, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5,3],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
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