Water The Seed: Growing Your Author Platform
One of the most important things you can spend time on is growing your author platform. This is something that you can work steadily at each week, building visibility, credibility, and community. Your author platform is how new readers will discover you and how current ones will stay up to date with you.
Your author brand is an important part of your platform. It is both a consistent visual narrative synonymous with your work, as well as the way you present yourself. You’ll want to fine tune and narrow down your aesthetics, and then you need to keep it consistent. Pick a color scheme and a couple of fonts that match your author vibe. Consider creating a logo to go with your brand, and don’t forget a professional author headshot! Readers want to know who is writing their new favorite series.
Your website is crucial, author. It is the single most important aspect of being an author next to the actual writing books part. How else will readers know who you are and how to buy your books? Your website needs to be clean, easy to navigate, and professional. If it feels overwhelming, start building it a small piece at a time. Soon you’ll have a complete site! Don’t forget to include a bio with a photo, book pages with purchase links, email signup form, and a contact form including social media accounts.
You can build your author platform by utilizing social media as well. Pick one or two platforms that you think will work best for you. If you’re completely unfamiliar with what’s out there, do a little research to see what type of content is typically posted. Social media can be a beast, so take things one step at a time. You’ll want to keep your account professional and share updates about your writing, your books, and sneak peeks if you’re comfortable with that. Be sure to utilize hashtags when appropriate to get your content in front of a bigger audience.
Like watering a seed, you’ll have to check the soil. Too saturated and your growth could be stunted, too dry and you won’t see any progress. It takes patience and time to grow your platform. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from peers and try new options until you find the perfect balance.
