Building your author platform can seem tricky and exhausting. You’re probably wondering how authors even find time to write while juggling websites, emails, and social media.
Relax, you’ve got this! I’m going to walk you through straightforward, manageable steps that’ll help you build a solid author platform without feeling overwhelmed.
Ready? We’ll cover everything from your website to emails, social media, and connecting authentically with your readers.
Key Takeaways
- Create a simple author website using user-friendly tools like Wix or Squarespace to showcase your work.
- Grow an email list by offering free, appealing content and send short, engaging newsletters regularly.
- Focus your efforts on one or two social media channels where your readers are most active.
- Clearly define your ideal readers, connect on relevant platforms, and engage authentically.
- Maintain consistent branding, personality, and voice across all your online platforms.
- Regularly share engaging, relevant, and useful content to keep readers interested.
- Actively engage readers through personal interaction, like replying to comments and hosting Q&As.
- Expand your audience by guest posting and appearing in interviews or podcasts within your genre.
- Collaborate with fellow writers through author groups, joint projects, and events to reach more readers.
- Track analytics (website visits, email open rates, social media engagement) regularly, adjusting your approach based on what resonates best.
Step 1: Create Your Author Website
First things first—if you’re serious about writing and publishing, you need an author website. Think of it like your digital home base, a place readers can visit to get to know you and your work.
The good news is, you don’t have to be super tech-savvy. Tools like easy-to-use website builders for authors like Wix or Squarespace make it simple to get started. They let you drag-and-drop your way to a professional website, no coding skills needed.
Make sure your site clearly showcases who you are, your published works, and how readers can reach you. Include an “About” page with a friendly bio, a list of your books or stories, and links where people can buy your writing.
Consider blogging on your website to share writing tips, behind-the-scenes details of your creative process, or how to get a book published without an agent. Doing this regularly gives people reasons to keep coming back.
Step 2: Build and Grow Your Email List
An email list is your best friend when it comes to selling more books and connecting with readers directly. Seriously, email might seem old-school, but it’s actually one of the most reliable ways to reach your audience. No pesky algorithm changes like on social media!
Kick off your list by offering something readers will love for free. Think exclusive content like bonus chapters, sneak previews, seasonal writing prompts, or special discounts as a thank-you for subscribing.
Make your emails relatable and fun—not salesy. Keep it conversational, short, and include questions or polls to keep readers engaged. For example, ask subscribers what they’d love to read next or what their favorite recent book is.
Be consistent but avoid spamming—emailing once or twice a month works great. Services like Mailchimp or ConvertKit make managing your list stress-free even if you’re starting from zero subscribers.
Step 3: Choose the Right Social Media Channels
Let’s be real—you can’t be everywhere on social media and still have time to actually write your books. Instead, pick one or two channels where your ideal readers hang out and put your energy there.
According to recent surveys, about 78% of authors use social media weekly to build their platforms, with Facebook (62%) and Instagram (51%) ranking as favorites. Younger platforms like Bluesky (29%) and TikTok (17%) are also gaining popularity among authors planning to increase their presence there soon.
If you’re into visual content and your books have beautiful covers or themes like romance or fantasy, try Instagram. Into witty posts, heated discussions, or sharing industry insights? Facebook groups might be right for you. Writing YA or interested in funny skits or quick book recs? TikTok (or #BookTok) could skyrocket your reach.
The key: learn your chosen platforms inside-out, post consistently, and experiment to see what clicks with your audience. Keep conversations casual—talk as if you’re chatting with friends, because, in a way, you are!
Step 4: Identify and Connect with Your Ideal Audience
Figuring out exactly who you’re writing for makes everything easier from marketing your book to connecting genuinely with readers.
Start by picturing who would most enjoy your work—are they teens, mystery enthusiasts, romance buffs, or maybe aspiring nonfiction lovers?
Create a reader persona: write down some details like age range, interests, favorite genres, and books similar to yours they might love.
Next, visit places where those readers hang out, like Goodreads groups, Facebook reading clubs, or Reddit community threads.
Participate there in a fun and friendly way—share insightful, helpful thoughts, comment on threads, and even recommend others’ work too (authentic connections go a long way!).
You can also use social media analytics tools (Facebook Insights, Instagram Analytics) to see who interacts with your content most, giving you clues about your core audience.
Knowing your ideal reader helps shape your marketing, email content, blog topics, and even your next books.
Step 5: Establish a Consistent Author Brand and Voice
Think of your author brand as the distinct personality that defines how readers and peers perceive you and your work.
Consistent branding helps readers remember and recognize you instantly, creating familiarity and building trust over time.
Consider things like your author photo, website design, social media profiles, chosen typography, and color schemes as part of your visual brand—simple and cohesive is better than complicated.
But your author voice matters even more—this means your personality shining through your writing and interactions online.
Decide if you’re going to be warm and humorous, professional and educational, quirky and creative, or something uniquely you.
Stay consistent in the way you chat with readers on social media, respond to emails, and even craft your book descriptions or blurbs.
This helps you stand out from thousands of other authors and keeps your readers coming back for more.
Step 6: Regularly Publish Quality Content
No surprise here, but consistently sharing quality content is essential if you’re building your platform.
Quality doesn’t mean perfect—think useful, relevant, engaging, and relatable.
Your content doesn’t need to be long — even short pieces, like a blog update about your latest project, tips on writing in present tense effectively, or a sneak peek at your work-in-progress can be super valuable for readers.
Try scheduling a regular blogging or social media posting schedule (once or twice a week is great), so readers anticipate and look forward to hearing from you.
Not sure what to post about? Mix it up with writing advice, creative processes, behind-the-scenes glimpses, personal stories, seasonal themes such as these winter writing prompts, or updates about releases.
The key is to build excitement and authentic connection, keeping readers interested and waiting for more.
Step 7: Engage Directly with Readers to Build Community
Engaging directly with your audience turns casual readers into loyal supporters and maybe even friends.
Make an effort to personally reply to comments on your social media, respond warmly to reader emails, and thank them genuinely for support and feedback.
Consider asking questions or running polls online to spark discussion—like asking about favorite scenes, characters they’d like to see more of, or topics they’d like you to tackle.
You might even host live Q&A videos on your Facebook or Instagram stories to give readers a chance to connect with you face-to-face.
Another effective trick? Recruit beta readers among your most loyal fans who can give feedback and feel actively part of your creative process.
Step 8: Expand Your Reach Through Guest Blogs and Interviews
Stepping outside your author website bubble expands your audience and helps potential readers discover your work.
Pitch guest articles and blog contributions to sites and influencers already popular within your genre or niche, providing clear, useful posts their audience will value.
Check out sites that accept guest posts regularly, make sure your piece roughly matches their existing style, and offer something uniquely helpful or interesting.
Also, don’t forget podcasts—there are plenty eager to interview authors in all genres, offering exposure to listeners who love books and storytelling.
A little preparation, like knowing the host’s style and past topics, goes a long way toward an enjoyable, genuine conversation that listeners will remember.
Step 9: Collaborate and Network Within Your Genre
Forming genuine connections with other writers and creators accelerates your platform growth.
Join online writing groups specific to your genre, such as Facebook author groups, Reddit forums, or genre Discord servers.
Collaborate with fellow authors by collaborating on short story anthologies, co-hosting giveaways, or sharing each other’s content—you’ll reach each other’s audiences, expanding both your platforms naturally.
Attending writing conferences, workshops, or genre-related events is also a great way to make friends in the industry and build mutually beneficial relationships.
Plus, author friends can offer incredible advice, support, and the occasional virtual shoulder to cry on during rough edits.
Step 10: Track Your Platform Growth and Adjust Your Strategy
You can’t improve what you don’t measure, right?
Regularly checking website traffic, email list growth, engagement numbers on social media, and, of course, book sales helps you understand what’s working and what’s not.
Use free tools like Google Analytics, social media platform insights, and email marketing analytics (ConvertKit or Mailchimp provide straightforward numbers).
If certain types of posts get more views or comments, create more of those—if others fall flat, try something new.
Pay close attention to the specific content that draws readers in—like helpful how-to articles on topics such as how to write a dystopian story effectively or behind-the-scenes insights—then do more of what resonates.
Keep tweaking and evolving based on real data, not just feelings (although those can help, too!).
FAQs
Offer readers attractive freebies like sample chapters or exclusive content in exchange for their email addresses. Ensure subscription prompts are clear and visible on your site, host giveaways, and provide consistent, quality emails to retain subscribers’ interest and trust.
Choose platforms where your audience actively participates. For instance, romance readers often use Instagram, while nonfiction followers commonly use LinkedIn or Twitter. Start with one or two channels to maintain focus and provide consistent engagement.
Publishing quality articles at least once a week helps keep your readers engaged and your site fresh. Maintain a manageable content schedule—regularity matters more than frequency. Set realistic goals that fit your schedule and capabilities.
Respond warmly to comments, questions, and emails personally and promptly. Create reader groups or forums for authentic discussions around your books. Occasional live Q&A sessions or livestreams encourage direct interaction, building stronger connections with your audience.
