Quick Start Guideauthorplatform

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Kelly’s Quick-Start Guide to Building an Author Platform

Hi Writer Friend!

This PDF focuses on the very basics of getting your Author Platform off the ground. Print it off, post it near your computer, and start checking off the items like a to-do list. Before you know it, your Author Platform will be underway!

PS: Remember, you are not behind. You are just getting started.

Enjoy the journey!

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Step #1:Create a basic websiteIt doesn’t have to be fancy. You just need a location where people can find you—and subscribe to your email list—on the web. Make sure you have an email capture form at the very top of your homepage, or as a pop-up.

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Step #2: Create a useful, compelling free gift.Choose content people would pay you for—something juicy and useful. Best if you’re actually excited to share it. Possibilities include: A download meditation, a PDF worksheet, a short eBook, a useful reference list, a 30-minute video class, or anything your potential readers want and need. Offer this gift in exchange for subscribing to your list.

Step #3: Announce your free gift on social media.

Even if you only have a handful of friends and followers, it’s a start. Tell them about your juicy, useful free guide or meditation, and give them the URL where they can receive it in exchange for joining your mailing list. Now you’ll have your starter email list!

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Step #4: Communicate lovingly to your email list!

The easiest way to do this is to send them a newsletter at a consistent interval. Once a month is a good place to start, but once a week should be your ultimate goal. Think of it as writing love notes to your future readers. What do you want them to know? How do you want them to feel?

Step #5: Create professional social media accounts.While your friends and family will be your “starter” platform, the goal is to eventually grow beyond them. So keep your “personal” accounts personal, and start Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts specifically to communicate with readers and clients. Facebook Hint: On Facebook, you’ll want to “Create a Page” as a Public Figure.

Step #6: Have fun creating relevant content.I say “have fun” because if you don’t enjoy the process, you simply won’t do it! Love to write? Start a blog on your website. Enjoy being on camera? Start shooting videos of yourself for YouTube and Facebook Live. If you like creating pretty things, use Canva to design inspirational quote memes. Set aside time each week to create, and think of it as your “creative outlet”—rather than “platform building drudgery.” (Try reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron for creative inspiration.)

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Step #7: Share your content consistenly on social media Use an automatic posting application like Hootsuite to cross-post your content on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and LinkedIn. You can start by sharing something once a week. In the longer term, you’ll want to share a little something every day, and something of more substance 1-2x per week. Facebook Hint: Consider setting aside a small budget ($20 per week to begin with) to start advertising your posts on Facebook.

Step #8: Do all of the above, only more so.As you get more and more comfortable with these steps, you’ll find them less and less difficult and time consuming. As your content gains traction, the energy of your fans and followers starts to feed your efforts—and your spirit! You begin to want to devote your “creative time” to generating useful content because you see that it’s helping people. So the next step is to do all of the above, only more frequently. Start posting three times a week. Go live on Facebook at the same time every Tuesday. Send out a new podcast episode every Sunday. Whatever it is that you love to do, do it—only more often, and with more love. The secret truth is that author platforms are built out of love. Think of platform-building as effortful fun; the kind you’ll look back on with pride and a sense of purpose.

Need help doing all of the above? We offer Platform coaching and implementation

at knliterary.com. Schedule a free, no-obligation call

to find out more! knliterary.com