Archive for author platform
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Diane
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As Noah St. John said in last week’s Great Author Promotions interview, what the mainstream publishers look for can be summed up in one word: platform.
Noah defines it as this mathematical equation: number of people you reach divided by time.
Publishers don’t care how you reach them–radio show, podcast, Twitter, email list.
In fact, they prefer you have a combination of all of the above.
The easiest place to start, however, is
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Diane
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Michael Hyatt wrote an interesting blog post about how we’re living in a transparent world where the truth will get out, one way or another.
This is especially true about your author platform. Hyatt points out all the ways a publisher can tell how many people visit your blog, or how many previous books you’ve sold. (By the way, the tool he mentioned, Compete.com, is something you can use to track your own progress. Especially if you take the “Develop Your Audience” class.)
One thing I’ll add that’s also part of this “New Era of Publishing”: we’re all so connected now. If I want to check out a person’s integrity, I have a whole network of people I can ask who probably have had dealings with the person or product. While I always give the benefit of the doubt to people, if several people say a company, person, or product did not live up to expectations, then I take note.
Hyatt gives excellent advice. Read it and take it to heart, and you’ll sleep well at night.
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Diane
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Time is at a premium for all of us.
That’s why I want you to listen to a different class this week other than my Publishing Coach Weekly teleseminar.
I am working on something exciting that will show you how to create a global audience for your message.
I’ll tell you about that soon enough, but in the meantime, I want you to take the Podcast Secrets Preview training on Thursday evening.
This 2-hour training is going to lay a foundation I want you to have for when I show you how to create a global audience.
It will give you some steps, upon which I’ll show you how to build an author platform, for being “well heard and well paid
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Diane
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Imagine yourself reaching 30,000 people every week with a short message that takes you half an hour to create.
Imagine people flocking to your website to sign up for your newsletter.
Imagine orders coming in for your book every day. (Or leads for your business, or sales, or …)
All because you learned how to do what may be the quickest way to establish an audience: start a podcast. (You’re probably familiar with what a podcast is by now, but in case you’re not, read my article, “What is a Podcast and Why Would an Author Want to Podcast?”)
A podcast is a great way for authors or aspiring authors to create that all-important
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Diane
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The first “Great Author Promotions” case study with Noah St. John was very candid! (This was a special edition of Publishing Coach Weekly teleseminars.)
Noah revealed his own journey as an author … which holds many surprises.
Did you know this successful author, who is represented by one of the top literary agents in the country, started with a self-published book held together with tape?
And that, only 3 years ago, he was $35,000 in debt and living in his parents’ basement?
How did he dig out of THAT place to get a six-figure publishing contact with a top publisher, and exposure on the alphabet soup list of top national media (NBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, etc.)?
Find out in this telling interview. You will be encouraged by Noah’s story.
More than that, you will come away with tips on how to build your platform (and the mathematical formula for what an author platform is), and what to do if you, like Noah, don’t LIKE marketing (he much prefers writing and teaching).
You will come away with New Era Publishing marketing techniques that will get your readers to actually consume your information (even if it’s NOT about money or success), how to contact media who are looking for what you have to offer, and more.
Listen to the replay and, please, DO the action steps, suggested! They’re very simple.
And if you have another question about how to promote a book/information product, ask it here.
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Diane
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Michael asked an excellent question:
“How would I be able to get the word out if I published a book? I currently have no “platform.’. I am not on tv/radio/public speaker . . . what are some of my options, or should I wait until I get a platform?”
I’m not sure if Michael already has a book written yet, but the time to think about “getting a platform” is before you even start writing.
And you don’t “get a platform,” you build one.
A “platform” is publishing and media industry speak for your following. So, what you need is to build a following. How?
A number of ways. First, you need to find the people who are already interested in your topic. Here are some suggestions:
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Diane
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One of the most common questions I get is, How do I create a platform for myself?
Well, I just came across a most exciting new resource to help you get exposure in, perhaps, The Washington Post or New York Times.
Could that help you in any way, do you think?
I’m talking about a service called Help a Reporter. Sign up with your email address and three times a day, Peter Shankman will send you a list of all kinds of things reporters are looking for. (Thank you, Peter Shankman–and Bonnie Dillabough,founder of the Yaktivate.com podcasting network, Cookie Cutter Group teacher and Internet marketer extraordinaire, for telling me about this!)
Here’s what Peter served up tonight, to give you a taste.
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Diane
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I was talking to an acquisitions editor the other day.
“What do you look for most in a publishable author?” I asked.
“Platform,” was his quick answer. “It’s all about platform.”
Platform is industry speak for an audience. People who are already in your “tribe.” People who are already following you.
That’s what publishers look for, first and foremost.
“Do you look for authors who have self-published and are already successful?” I asked.
“Usually those authors don’t need us,” he answered. “But if they are successful and they want us to publish them, we’d certainly consider it.”
So there you go. If you’re an aspiring author seeking a publisher, Read More→
