Many authors worry that building their author platform takes too much time and competes with working and writing a book.

Sure, that can be the case.

Yet, if you approach it correctly, platform building can become a superpower, providing your business with the boost it needs, especially during economically challenging times.

When I saw this comment from Cathleen Armistead on a recent blog post, I just had to share it with you:

What an incredibly helpful blog post! I first came across Lisa Tener’s work by accident while procrastinating on writing a book for nonprofit leaders. Her workbook, Quick Start to Kick Start Your Book, and a book concept consultation were game-changers for me.

This blog post is no different. The specific, practical advice on building an author platform gave me the push I needed to take actionable steps.

Since reading it, I’ve presented six proposals for relevant speaking engagements, three of which were accepted within just two weeks! I’ve also recommitted to regularly posting on my own blog and reached out to a nonprofit organization to contribute to their newsletters.

What’s been most surprising is how wrong I was to think building an author platform would detract from my work. It’s actually been the opposite. It’s made me more focused, strategic, and aligned in sharing my message. Thank you, Lisa, for another excellent resource!

Cathleen works in the nonprofit sector where her company, Sunshine Nonprofit Solutions, provides strategic planning, development, and advocacy services. As you might expect, her industry has been especially hard hit by government spending cuts. She has seen many of her clients and prospective clients lose funding due to the vast changes in government support. By being proactive in her support of her clients and reaching out to both former clients and the broader community and networks, she’s having an impact on her own business and her clients’ and new clients’ successes during challenging times!

What’s your author platform-building path?

It’s easy to be seduced by the messages—often ads—you’ll find on social media, telling you how you can grow your following (or author platform) by a hundredfold or more, just by using the steps some expert took. Or taking classes that tell you how to sell more books. And sometimes these can be useful. But before you jump into the “shoulds” and one person’s supposedly perfect, foolproof method, take time to think about your big picture goals and vision:

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  As you grow your author platform or reach, in anticipation of connecting with and developing a community for your book, consider what else you want to accomplish. How does it relate to your business and work in the world? How can the two support each other?

• Where do your people hang out online and offline? Of those places, which appeal to you? You don’t have to be everywhere your readers go. You just need to find the relevant areas of overlap!
• What skills do you currently have? Which ones do you need to build to be successful online? Of those, which ones do you feel excited about building? Start there first. Remember, you don’t have to do everything. You just need to do what works for you!
• Some strategies work especially well for book sales and others are hit or miss, at best. Having a huge social media following may or may not work for you and your book. So think more broadly, as Cathleen did. Focusing on speaking is particularly effective, as people tend to purchase books at trainings, presentations, conferences, and other in-person gatherings. Other strategies that have worked well for me and my colleagues in supporting book sales are blogging and guest blogging, podcasting or guest podcasting, Amazon ads and leveraging organizational relationships, including bulk book sales (also called special sales or organizational sales).

Could you use the clarity offered in a book concept consultation to clarify the vision, audience, content, features and structure for your book? Or would you like support around how to seed business opportunities in your book? Contact me to explore.

Please share your insights, successes and questions in the comments, and I promise to respond!