By Stephanie
Chandler
When I ventured into
the publishing world in 2003, agents and editors asked me the same
old tired question: “What’s your platform?” As one agent told me,
“You need to have an audience of thousands who want to buy your
book.”
Because the major
publishing companies cannot afford to take chances, authors are
expected to come to the table with a ready-made audience (platform).
Determined to turn rejection into acceptance, I decided to take
matters into my own hands. This recipe worked like a charm.
Whether you’re just
starting out in publishing or you have dozens of books to your
credit, having a platform is a sure-fire way to make agents and
editors fall in love with you. And if you're self-published and
don't care about attracting traditional publishers, building a
platform should be just as important to you because it is your
ticket to selling plenty of books.
Here are ten ways to
leverage the Internet to build your author platform and ultimately
sell more books:
1. Launch and
Optimize Your Website:
No matter where you are in the process, a website essential to build
an audience, share samples of your work, showcase your
accomplishments, attract media and impress publishing professionals.
2. Host a Blog:
A blog can be a wonderful creative outlet for a writer, not to
mention a savvy promotion tool. Update it frequently (three times
per week) and your audience will find you. To start yours, check out
www.Typepad.com or
www.Wordpress.com.
3. Update Online
Profiles:
Many sites allow you to post a bio with your public profile. Make
sure you have several versions of your bio readily available in
short, medium and long formats. Showcase your expertise in your
subject matter, mention your book(s) and always include a link to
your site and/or blog.
4. Publish a
Newsletter:
Build loyal fans for life by publishing an interesting electronic
newsletter with content related to your book(s). Include a sign-up
box on every page of your site. Get started with
www.ConstantContact.com or
www.iContact.com.
5. Form Online
Partnerships:
Find people who reach a similar target audience and look for ways to
team up and promote each other. You can publish articles on each
other’s websites or newsletters, host an event or contest together
or even share a blog. Be creative and pool your resources.
6. Promote with
Articles:
Write for industry publications and related websites to build your
credibility. Writing opportunities are abundant on the Internet! You
can also make your articles available for reprint through sites like
www.ezinearticles.com,
www.ideamarketers.com, and
www.goarticles.com.
7. Contact Bloggers:
Search blog directories such as
www.Technorati.com to locate blogs that cover subjects related
to yours. Contact bloggers to inquire about book reviews, guest
posts, interviews and other ways you can work together.
8. Be a Guest on
Internet Radio Shows:
Podcasts, teleseminars and Internet radio shows provide a fantastic
opportunity for exposure. Unlike traditional radio where you might
be interviewed for 10 minutes, online shows typically have guests on
for up to an hour. An added bonus: listeners are often at their
computers ready to buy. To find relevant shows, search Google for
keywords and look at shows archived on iTunes. Also check out sites
like
www.blogtalkradio.com,
www.alltalkradio.net,
www.wsradio.com,
www.womensradio.com, and
www.planetteleclass.com.
9. Leverage Social
Media:
Sites like LinkedIn.com, Facebook.com and Twitter.com are ripe for
finding and building an audience. Create an interesting profile and
get active in social networking communities. The biggest cost here
will be in your time so spend it wisely and identify the best
opportunities to expand your reach. Here are some helpful tools:
www.tweetdeck.com,
www.hootsuite.com and
www.ping.fm.
10. Be Seen and
Heard Everywhere.
Marketing is all about repeat exposure. Build your brand by getting
known for your expertise. Participate in all of the above
suggestions and more. Contact the media, go out and speak, write
articles for trade publications and find new ways to reach your
target audience.
About the Author:
Stephanie Chandler is an author of several business and marketing
books including “The Author’s Guide to Building an Online Platform”
and “From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur.” She is also founder and CEO
of
AuthorityPublishing.com, which provides custom book publishing
and author marketing services for business, self-help and other
non-fiction books. A frequent speaker at business events and on the
radio, she has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, BusinessWeek,
Inc.com and many other media outlets. For hundreds of resources for
entrepreneurs, authors and speakers visit
http://BusinessInfoGuide.com. For author and speaker details,
visit
http://StephanieChandler.com.
*You are welcome to reprint this
article provided the author bio is included.
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