Freelance writers who have a strong writer platform generally have an easier time gaining new clients and customers than writers who haven’t taken the time to do this.
That’s because writers with strong platforms don’t have to search for new business all the time.
Instead, new business comes to them.
So what is a writer platform?
Many people think it’s just a website or blog, where a writer showcases his books, writing services, and other products.
But platform is much more than that.
If you think of your platform as a stage, it might be easier to understand why a website or blog is not your entire writer platform.
A real stage (where actors perform and show the world their talents and acting skill) is made up of many planks of wood.
Your platform should be made of many planks, too.
Here are some of the planks you can use to build your writer platform:
- 1. First, your website or blog, of course.
This is where you’ll put your photo, bio, samples of your work, and even a list of your writing services. - How to Blog
- 2. Blog Posts.
Individual blog posts are an important part of your platform when they showcase not only your writing skills but your expertise in certain areas. - Get Help with Your Blog
- 3. Guest Blogging.
If you write posts for other blogs that attract your target market, these posts will help build your platform as well as drive traffic to your website or blog. - About Guest Blogging
- 4. Speaking Engagements.
When you speak at events that cater to your target market, you become known as an expert in your field. - Speaking About Your Book
- 5. Publication credits.
When you write for magazines that are popular with your target market, these publication credits will go a long way in building your writer platform. - Write for Magazines
- 6. Media Releases.
When you do something newsworthy, get the word out about it with a media release. Regular releases are important planks in your platform. - How to Write a Media Release
- 7. A newsletter or other offering for your target market.
Again, your newsletter can help establish you as an expert in your field, so it’s another important plank in your platform. - Offer a Newsletter Subscription
- 8. A book that showcases your expertise.Write your “signature” book and it just might be the most important plank in your platform.
- Your signature Book Might Be a Middle Grade Novel
- 9. Comments in forums, blogs, and other sites (that cater to your target market), and posts to various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. But remember, you need to have something important to say in your comments, updates, and tweets if you want them to be useful planks in your platform.
- Improve Your Social Media
- 10. Your own information products – including e-courses, teleclasses, webinars, and other workshops.
- Join a Writing Community
These can go a long way in building platform while providing income, too.
It isn’t difficult to build a writer platform.
But, to construct a strong platform or stage for showcasing your talents and writing skills, you’ll need to include many different planks.
Try it!
Great Morning Nudge,
Each day I am encouraged to keep on writing. Building a platform is my #1 goal. I’ve learned so much about article marketing, blogging, getting published in my favorite magazine, affiliate marketing and more.
I’m working on improving each of these and speaking to groups to help others become all that they want to be. All that this club and it’s members have taught me will be passed on to others in turn.
Thanks.
Marlene A Hibbard
Suzanne,
Great review of what I need to be doing everyday to building my platform. I’ve printed it and tacked up next to my annual goals
Carol
Hey, Carol,
Good idea to keep your goals before you as you’re building your writer platform. Great recommendation for everyone!
Platform is so important. I am working on building mine as a writer for children who addresses real life topics that may be difficult for parents to discuss. Childhood cancer, death, bullying, etc are topics that parents would rather not discuss but that kids have a curiosity about especially if they see or hear about it. Creating a platform for a specific audience takes all of the steps outlined and belonging to a club like this really helps.
Hi, Terri,
I just love your book! And I’m so happy to see you taking steps to build a strong writer platform!
So much information, so little time.
Thank you, Suzanne, for daily reminders, shared information, coach services, useful tips, and resources to pick through and learn. Thanks to you my promise is fulfilled, my book is written, and my writing journey continues.
See you in print,
Linda Della Donna
Hey, Linda,
You’re moving ahead in your writing journey at great speed! Congratulations! Keep going!
This is so very timely Suzanne, my mentor has instructed me begin sending our local reporter a Press Release every week along with a photo..he talked about writing 400 words and then cutting down to 200 whilst still making sense. The more I write the better I’ll be.
Hi, Ernie,
Yes, regular media releases should be part of your overall marketing plan each week, so sounds like your mentor is right on targt with his instructions!
Best of luck,
Hi Suzanne:
Great post and one dear to my heart, as I’ve spent the past 2 years building my multi-faceted “author’s platform” and what a job that is!
It’s amazing how much time it takes, but it is indeed necessary in today’s world, as for the most part … the book-buying public spends much time online, and likes to know about the author whose work they are considering spending their hard-earned $$ on.
It’s important for us to be “out there” but to do it in a manner that produces results. Not the shotgun/scatter effect, but a concerted effort on a small number of platforms to see which ones work best with our intended audiences.
Hi, Doreen,
You’re one of the writers/authors who seems to “get it.” Just the fact that you left a comment here shows you’re making use of the information in the article to build another “plank” in your writer platform. It’s surprising how many people will read this post and then not comment. Go figure…
Thanks for dropping by!