What a Writer Needs to Begin Building Your Author Platform

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson 

When I teach social networking, I encourage people to relax and not take on too much at once.

I want to begin by talking about the most common mistake I see in social networking: the approach. Because social media can reach millions, it’s way too easy to think of it as mass marketing. In reality it’s about one-on-one relationships.

That is the beauty and the dichotomy of the medium. It can be overwhelming—this building relationships with millions—especially when our goal is writing, not advertising. Now the good news: Social networking is not as difficult as it seems.

In many ways, it’s a return to small town thinking. In times past, people patronized merchants because the proprietors were their neighbors or friends. In this day and time, we also find neighbors and friends on Facebook, Twitter and in blogging communities. And those communities are where we need to concentrate our efforts.

It's vitally important to realize that, despite the bad rap it's gotten, social networking and writers are a natural match. Social networking is all about connecting with people through our words—not walking into a room full of strangers, standing on a platform and speaking. We can sit at our desks, write, and reach the entire world.

That said, it IS all about connecting with others. If you're NOT willing to be found by others, then the writing industry—as it stands today—is gonna be tough for you.

So how do you go about plotting your social media course? 

There are two things you need: 

  • You’ve got to know where you are.

  • You’ve got to know where you’re going.

You are Here

To evaluate where you are, you need to know your numbers. 

  • How many friends/followers do you have on Facebook?

  • How many followers do you have on Twitter?

  • What other social media networks are you a part of? Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. Add those numbers here.

You also need to know where you rank in search engines. 

  • Plug your name into Google and see where you are. Do you show up on the first page of a Google search?

  • Plug your name into other search engines (bing.com, ask.com, etc) and see where you show up there, too.

  • Now search your blog name, if it’s different from your name, and see where you show up.

  • Finally, search some of your blog topics. Don’t just search your blog post titles, but the actual topics. For instance, I wrote a post titled, 31 BIBLICAL AFFIRMATIONS FOR WRITERS TO BEGIN THE YEAR. When I search the topic BIBLICAL AFFIRMATIONS FOR WRITERS, the post comes up number one.

That’s ultimately what we’re shooting for, to be found by topic, not just by someone already knowing our name. 

First, we shoot for getting our names high in the search engine rankings. Then when we’re on the Internet map, we increase our visibility by getting known topically.

Plot Your Course

It’s hard to get somewhere unless we know where we’re going. One of the easiest ways to get somewhere is to follow someone. So for this part, you need to think about two or three people who are where you want to be in the social media universe. Don’t just choose random, well-known people. Put some thought in this and look at people who write things similar to you. You’re going to use their path to success to guide you, so choose well.

Check their Social Media Numbers

  • Do the same things with their names, as you did with yours.

  • Look at their Facebook friends/followers.

  • Check how many followers they have on Twitter.

  • Look at the other social media networks they’re a part of. To do this, visit their websites to see what networks they find important.

Check their Search Engine Ranking

  • Plug their names into Google and look at what you find.

  • Now do the same thing with other search engines and make note of where they rank.

By evaluating where you want to be and seeing where others are, you can chart a course.

Now it’s your turn. I’d love for you to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below.

Edie Melson is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through the lens of her camera. No matter whether she’s talking to writers, entrepreneurs, or readers, her first advice is always “Find your voice, live your story.” As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives. Connect with her on her website, through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Edie Melson