England is Flooding!
We get plenty of rain on a good day, but summer, so far, has been crazy. To say we’ve had a few inches is an understatement. On two occasions in July we’ve seen a months worth of rain fall in 24 hours.
Where I live is seeing some of the worst floods in the country. It’s really sad to see so many people affected. It got me thinking about things, and I’ve come up with a question:
Are you flooding your author platform?
It’s easy to do. You start with good intentions, but before you know it things are out of control. After all, it was only a few weeks go that England was on a hosepipe ban and people were fearing a drought.
We were wishing for rain, and boy did we get it!
How Can You Flood Your Author Platform
Simple…you do too much too soon. Rain is good, but when a month’s worth comes in 24 hours, the inevitable occurs. The same is true for your Author Platform.
You need to get word out and make people aware of who you are, but try too much, too soon, and bad things will follow.
- Google+
- Goodreads
- Online Forums
- Flickr
- Blogs
- Commenting
- Guest Blogging
You get the point, right? there’s a lot you can do. You hear great things about all of them. You read top tips and cheat sheets. Each platform can bring loads of new readers.
HOWEVER
You still have writing to do. And that list above, it only accounts for a certain part of your Author Platform. You also have analysing, interacting with your readers, emailing people, and planning for the future. You know…Book Number 2.
How to Prevent The Flood
This one goes out to all those who’ve read How To Build An Author House:
Everything Needs A Purpose
Every single form of communication can work. In the right circumstances, they all have benefits. The key to a successful Author Platform is to find the things that work for YOU . This takes discipline. This takes an open mind, but super clear direction.
If you try everything, one of two things will happen:
- You will die
- You will do lots of things badly
Neither outcome is good. Writing will forever remain the most important part of your Author House. After this, it’s the message you’re portraying. How you spread this message comes in 3rd. It’s not nearly as important as some people make out.
Did you know I have a Facebook Page dedicated to my writing? I’m inviting fellow writers & readers to LIKE my page and join the fun. If you do so in July you’ll be entered into a Free Prize Draw where one lucky winner will receive a $20 Amazon Voucher & a 1-Hour Consultancy Chat with ME!
It’s not about the prize, though, it’s about engagement. I’ll be using my Facebook Page to document my writing, showcase samples and designs, and create competitions and polls to get your feedback. Doesn’t that sound fun?
All you have to do is Press Like.
How Do You Foresee A Flood?
This can be tough to foresee. However, if you find yourself stressed and tired, this is clue number 1.
By all means try new platforms when you find them. Go in with a purpose, though, and set your standards high. I’m currently trying to make Facebook & Google+ work for me. I know they can bring good things, but If I can’t find a purpose, I’ll have to let them go.
Keeping them is pointless, otherwise.
A stubborn marketer is dangerous. Not all your ideas will work. Not everything in your Author Platform will blow the competition away. You have to choose the right tools and let the rest go.
This depends on you. You only have so much time to spare. Don’t try to do too much, otherwise your Author Platform could look like this:
Turndog Millionaire – @turndog_million
