Introduction to Initial Thoughts

I remember the first time I heard of an author’s platform. My initial thoughts? “What’s that?”

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Looking for Help

A few years ago, I developed a promising book idea and sought assistance in bringing it to fruition. To help with this effort, I participated in a webinar hosted by a company that specializes in providing comprehensive services for crafting book proposals intended for submission to publishing houses. After purchasing their premium service, I surprised them by completing the book proposal myself.

Once I had navigated the various challenges of assembling the proposal components, the company’s role was to refine and edit it. I found I had to advocate for them to fulfill this part of their service, which they ultimately did, albeit with some reluctance.

It seems clear now that the company likely expects many of their clients to struggle with finishing the initial draft of a book proposal, but I managed to complete mine. I recall a phone conversation with the company’s owner, during which she expressed her admiration for my determination. While compliments can be nice, staying focused on the task at hand is essential.

Further, along my journey, I discovered that publishers typically prefer authors with an established platform. This raises an important question: what exactly constitutes a platform?

Social Media Followers

In today’s social media landscape, having followers is more essential than ever for authors. A decade ago, platforms like Twitter and Facebook were the primary avenues for building an audience. With a substantial following, literary agents found it significantly easier to secure book deals with publishers, as they equated a larger audience with the potential for higher sales.

However, expectations have shifted considerably. Whereas publishers and agents once had the responsibility of cultivating an author’s audience, that duty now falls primarily on the authors themselves.

When seeking representation from a literary agent, you can expect them to inquire about the size and location of your audience and your growth rate across various platforms.

For instance, I developed my own author platform through another business venture. In 2016, I submitted a book proposal but ultimately chose self-publishing instead of traditional publishing. This experience taught me valuable lessons about effectively establishing an author platform.

I am committed to sharing the insights and resources I have gained through my Your Author Platform website, podcast, and YouTube channel.

I’ve Already Done It!

I have conducted 223 live streams for my other business, which is based on a nonfiction book I published in 2015. These streams reach an audience of 17,893 members in my Facebook Group and over 50,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel. I have uploaded over 1,000 videos that have collectively garnered five million views. While the membership of my Facebook group remains stable, my YouTube channel continues to grow, adding hundreds of subscribers each month.

I share this information not to boast but to demonstrate my experience building an author’s platform. This marks my first article on this new website, and I am excited to be here. Alongside my website, I have established a dedicated YouTube channel, podcast, Facebook Profile, and Facebook Group, all of which I recently set up.

This article will be the foundation for my initial live stream and my first podcast episode. As we will cover in future live streams, articles, and podcast episodes, launching a podcast usually requires several episodes before it becomes widely accessible, a process we are still in the midst of.

The first step is to publish an episode and upload it to Apple Podcasts. From there, it will be distributed to hundreds of apps. Additionally, we aim to reach platforms like Gaana, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and other specialized destinations.

Fiction and Nonfiction, Both

In this discussion, I will outline the successful choices I’ve made for my existing nonfiction author platform, the informed decisions I’m currently implementing for my second nonfiction author platform, and the strategies I am adopting for yet another project—this time for a fiction author platform.

My science fiction work, published under the pen name J. Hiram Peacel, combines my first initial, middle name, and last name translated into English. It’s important to note that I effectively established an author platform for my first nonfiction book, which resulted in book revenue accounting for only 4.3% of my total business revenue. This indicates that I have generated 20 times more revenue through alternative income streams.

You can achieve similar success, and I am here to guide you through the process.

Standing Out from the Crowd

To effectively begin developing your author’s platform, it’s important to understand the reasons behind this necessity. The current state of the internet is quite fragmented. A decade ago, around 250 social media sites existed, and the primary ways to connect with your audience were mainly through Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter).

However, that situation has changed significantly. Today, numerous prominent social media platforms hold a relatively small share of the market.

You should focus not on the numbers but on connecting with your audience. You aim to establish a connection that goes beyond being another voice lost in the crowd, like someone shouting in a stadium filled with fans. Instead, you want to be the engaging person entertaining commuters on a train pulling into Grand Central Station or sharing interesting stories with others waiting in line at a baseball stadium’s hot dog counter.

Though those train cars and vendor lines may not seem crowded, the essence lies in the direct engagement you can create. You can speak directly into the ears of your podcast listeners, engage with them during a live stream where they can pose immediate questions, and interact on platforms like Facebook, X, Threads, Reddit, and through emails or website comments.

Managing your presence across these various platforms might seem daunting, but it is completely achievable. You may need to acquire some new skills, such as:

• Speaking clearly into a microphone.
• Presenting yourself confidently in front of a camera.
• Remember to smile during both podcast recordings and video presentations.

Believe it or not, your audience can discern whether you’re smiling, even when they only hear your voice.

Connecting to Your Audience

Explaining these concepts and much more will require several articles. Unless you happen to be reading this several months later, that comprehensive discussion is still forthcoming.

If you are from the future, greetings! I have one question: Do we have jetpacks yet? No? That’s unfortunate.

Connecting with your audience is essential for engagement and revenue generation. However, the priority should be to establish that connection first. When you engage sincerely with your audience, the financial benefits will often follow as a natural outcome.

Credibility is crucial in today’s digital landscape. It’s clear when someone focuses solely on making money rather than building a genuine relationship. Authenticity in your interactions is critical; if your intention is to connect, your audience will recognize that.

Sincerity is important to differentiate yourself from others who are primarily motivated by profit. This approach is not only effective but also straightforward.

Just Start

Please take a moment to consider the nuances involved. It is entirely possible and even likely that you will be able to generate income. However, some individuals may claim that your primary motivation is financial gain.

It’s important to recognize that providing a beneficial service in exchange for payment is not the same as deceiving someone. Individuals who are envious may overlook this crucial point, as will some competitors who may have their own hidden agendas.

This leads us to another important discussion, but that’s a topic for another time. I fully acknowledge that there is a wealth of information to explore.

So, where should you begin? I recommend following my example. Start by going live, introducing yourself, sharing your experiences, and outlining your future aspirations. Then, keep progressing.

Before long, you may have a thriving YouTube channel, active Facebook groups, engaging podcast episodes, insightful website articles, a growing email list, membership communities, and online courses. I’ve established this for my other business and aim to implement it soon.

I hope you find value in this journey and enjoy the process.

Summary of Initial Thoughts

Establishing an author’s platform is essential for connecting with your audience and increasing your visibility in the literary world. This platform is valuable for engaging with your fans and fostering your popularity as a writer.

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