What is an author platform?
An author platform focuses on who you are as an author and how many people you influence. It is what you represent. It’s what comes to mind when people hear your name.
There are four components to building an authoring platform.
Authors must think of themselves in the same way that celebrities do. Getting famous doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, you don’t become famous without having a following.
And you can’t have a following without first having a presence. People have to get to know you as an author. They must find your brand to get to you.
Many new authors tend to believe that the only thing they need to focus on is writing the book; When that’s so far from the truth As an author, yes, you must write books; But, you also have to think about how you are going to put yourself in front of the people who matter most in your career: your readers.
What are the four components to building your platform as an author?
1. Presence. How will people find you if they don’t even know you exist in the first place? You should spend time doing the things that will get you in front of the people who will read and promote both you and your work. Having a presence opens the doors to opportunities that you might never have imagined in your life. Social media has made it easy to build your online presence.
2. Relationships. This has to do with the people who can help you broaden your reach and exposure as an author. They are bloggers, radio show hosts, newspapers, magazines, and other forms of media. What connections are you building with the people that can help you put yourself in front of the people who will one day become your fans and followers? The relationships you build determine how big you can play in the world.
3. Tribe. You have to become the person your reader wants and needs to know. The person your reader wants to connect with. Take the time to get to know your readers. Authors become your BFIMH (Best Friend In My Head) readers. But you can’t become that if they don’t know you and you don’t know them. Once your readers get to know and love you, they will become members of your tribe. They will be your biggest supporters and help spread the word of your jobs, appearances, and more. Tribe members do not ask to be compensated; They support you because they love you.
4. Brand. What does it represent in the eyes of your readers? Are you a hot male romance author? Do you write Christian erotica? Whatever it is that makes you unique, it’s part of your brand.
Focus on building your platform as an author. It will determine the success or failure of your career. Although it may take time, effort, energy, and even finances, having a solid foundation is worth the sacrifice.