Engage with your audience: your author platform
Through emails, social media, or face-to-face communication during events, it’s easier than ever before to interact with your audience. Let’s explore the essential components of your author platform.
For many authors, marketing is the scariest part of publishing, but for an authorpreneur, it’s one of the most important tasks of your career. Your book marketing starts with the creation of your brand, followed by implementing your branding across your author platform. But what exactly is your author platform?
Definition of an author platform
Your author platform includes all the touchpoints and interactions you employ to engage and connect with your audience. This includes your website, email marketing, social media, and public appearances.
Leveraging your author platform allows you to actively shape your image. You have full control over design, and more importantly, your content. This means you can present your messages exactly how you see fit. Through targeted communication and personal content, you can build your audience.
A well-maintained author platform also opens opportunities for further career prospects. To assess potential partnerships, bloggers, influencers, and sponsors review author platforms. Successful platforms generate extra income through affiliate marketing, collaborations, courses, workshops, or merchandise sales.
Although author platforms offer many benefits, they also pose some challenges. You need to think about time management, content creation, and reaching your target audience. But don't just try to sell stuff, rather try to connect with your audience.
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Components of your author platform
Use the communication methods that work best for your audience. Of course, your books are key to your business as they show off your talent. Because the market is competitive, readers will favor books they perceive as high-quality.
Author website
Your website serves as the central hub for your business. Provide easy access to your author’s biography, published books, additional products, and services, email subscription, contact details, and links to your social profiles. Also, give equal consideration to both the practicality and design aspects.
When you choose your domain name, consider your author’s name, tagline, or a relevant term from your niche that is unique to your brand. To create a unique domain name, add terms such as “Author,” “Book,” or “Stories” if your preferred name is unavailable.
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Email marketing
Your email marketing allows you to address your audience directly. Use email to give your subscribers updates on projects, sneak peeks at your writing process, and exclusive material.
Use an email marketing service (EMS) such as Mailchimp, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign, Constant Contact, or Kit (formerly ConvertKit). Emails from free services such as Gmail or Yahoo are unprofessional. Use a personalized address like newsletter@your-domain.com to send your emails. Not only does it look professional, but also enhances brand awareness.
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Social media marketing
Social media offers you the opportunity to gain new fans and followers. Coming up with a solid content strategy lets you share the right content with your audience and expand your brand’s reach. Don’t constantly promote your books. Use it to introduce your author persona and share your brand story.
To extend your network and reach, consider joining communities beyond Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), such as Goodreads and literary forums, for active engagement.
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Literary events
Book readings, fairs, and workshops are great ways to reach your audience. You can receive valuable feedback, answer questions, and meet reader needs through direct contact. It’s great to network with authors, bloggers, and experts from the publishing industry.
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Your content strategy
The biggest strength of your author platform is its flexibility. You can highlight your business goals and weave in personal interests that tie into your work. That way, you give people something real to connect with: a face, a voice, a personality. It should gently guide them toward your work without feeling forced or fake.
People connect more easily with faces than with logos or products. That’s why it helps to show up in your content now and then. A selfie with your latest book, a quick thank-you message after a book launch or event, or a review of a book you enjoyed, goes a long way.
The key, no matter what or how much you share, is consistent engagement. Answer comments, reply to messages, and show genuine interest in your audience. Over time, these interactions strengthen trust and loyalty. Readers feel seen, heard, and appreciated. And that connection can outlast any single book.
Author platform takeaways
Book marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. When you implement your brand on your author platform, you’ll attract more readers and get more exposure, all without pushing your books.
Your website acts as your central hub for your business, and through your emails, you can address your subscribers directly. But meeting people in person really connects you with readers and can make them fans for life.
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Are you ready to unlock your potential as an authorpreneur? Then sign up for Sascha K. Alexander's newsletter “Essentials for Authorpreneurs”, and get “Branding for Beginners: An Authorpreneur's Primer On Creating A Compelling Brand” for free.
