A platform is an identity - how you present yourself to the world. Kind of like an online business card. Everything that goes out represents you in a cohesive way – your blog, web site etc. It should be concise and connected.
From a marketing perspective, make sure you project the right image and can be found easily. The worst thing is creating a platform that is not you. People will see right through it. So get to know yourself and identify what you want to project and what kind of writer you are – before you start creating a platform.
Building a platform is really just the art of getting known, liked and trusted, in the hopes of inspiring action. There’s a few ways to do this:
- Get a web presence.
- Network – which means build long lasting and trust worthy relationships not spamming.
- Start now – before you get published – so people start to learn about who you are and what you do.
- Be clear - Identify your brand - what kind of writer you want to be and how you want to be seen by others
- Get a PROFESSIONAL web site!
- Get a professional-looking business card made – it’s worth the money. Now you can get them done online for a great price.
- Join the social networks that work for you and that help you reach the audience you want to reach
- Comment on other blogs, especially ones that you like or new ones.
- Always include your blog in signatures and on business cards.
Don’t forget to have fun!
- Play with your web site – don’t be afraid of it.
- Make connections in a genuine way
- Only do things you like to do (blog, twitter etc) – It’s not fun if you hate it.
- Building a platform takes time. It does not happen overnight. So don’t pressure yourself. Start now and it will grow over time.
S.R. Johannes is the author of Amazon bestselling Untraceable (a teen wilderness thriller) and new tween paranormal, On The Bright Side. She has published short novelettes as well as a teen romance anthology with 16 other authors titled, In His Eyes. Uncontrollable, the sequel to Untraceable, is scheduled for Fall 2012.Connect with the Author:
S.R. Johannes was recently nominated in the YA category as Georgia Author of the Year. She is also the 2012 winner of the IndieReader Discovery Awards for young adult.
She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her dog, British-‐accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes-‐someday-‐ will
change the world.
After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-‐flops, and her love of writing.
Website: http://www.srjohannes.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/srjohannes
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/srjohannes/
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/srjohannesauthor
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes
The views, beliefs, and opinions expressed by guest post authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, beliefs, or opinions of Girl Who Reads.
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Thanks donna!! :)
ReplyDeleteNeat set-up for this post! I like that it includes related articles, that's something I haven't seen before.
ReplyDelete-K8
http://froze8.blogspot.com/