For those of you that aren’t authors I’m not talking about a stage. I mentioned to my husband one day that I was trying to build my author platform and he started laughing. He asked me where I was going to put it and what was I going to say when I got up on it. I then explained to him that a author platform is the advertising, blogging, etc. you do to get your book out there. He still thought it was funny. MEN!
When I first started publishing I wasn’t very computer savvy. Of course I knew about accounting programs and such but not the intricacies of publishing, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, and all that goes with it. Since then I’ve developed blogs on several sites and now I Tweet everyday. It’s funny how your life changes when you become a published author.
Here are the top ten places I’ve used to build my platform:
1: WordPress: I set up a blog and made it my very own author website. It’s so easy to do once you get into it and take the time to set it up.
2: Twitter: My Twitter account has garnered lots of interest in my writing and it’s attached to my blog so they go hand in hand.
3: LinkedIn: This site allows you to follow many people from various walks of life. My blog is attached to my LinkedIn account, so everything I blog it goes straight to this page.
4: Goodreads: For an author this is a very important aspect of building your platform. Here is where you meet established authors and Indie authors all on the same page. It’s also a good place to gather reviews.
5: Independent Author Network: This site is awesome and it’s so reasonable to set up. I have my own author page and you can put all of your sites on it. Also, other authors will tweet your page for you and they’ll tweet your tweets. It’s really helped my fan base and I really like how it works.
6: Smashwords: This is a place that I have my books for sale. They also put them through to Barnes & Noble, Sony, Apple, Kobo, Diesel and several others. You also get an author page and you can be an affiliate.
7: KindleBoards: This one takes a little more time and reading, but it can get some interest in your books.
8: AllRomanceEbooks.com: This is a great place to sell and advertise your books. It’s all about every genre of romance. It’s easy to set up and put your books on it.
9: CreateSpace: This is where I currently have my books for print. I also have a blog on this site.
10: Amazon: I have all my books on this site. You can set up a author page and link it to your blog and Twitter Account. On Amazon you can be in several countries.
Well, these are just a few of my spots that help me. I have many more, but I didn’t want to bore you too much 🙂
As always, Good writing and May God Bless You…
Stephanie Hurt - Romance Author 
Great info, thank you. 🙂
Great advice Stephanie.
Speaking of platform…here’s a joke I sent my literary agent last friday:
QUESTION
How many literary agents does it take to change a light bulb?
ANSWER(S)
Only one. The problem is, the publisher asks her to change it again. And again. And again…
It’s impossible to say. The whole industry is moving toward eBulbs now.
Without a platform you can’t reach the light bulb.
The agent doesn’t “change” it. She gently suggests revisions to the light bulb.
SO true. That’s exactly the way it goes. I enjoyed that…