This week on the Books and Writers LinkedIn Forum, the discussion Is An Author’s Platform Now A Prerequisite? has stirred quite a bit of controversy. The author’s platform—a long-range career growth tool is a tool comprising of various of activities that you the author use to get readers to notice you and your work. These activities can be traditional, such as press releases, book signings, book tours and lectures, or, they can be more modern using social media. It’s everything you do to build your following.
Forum members vehemently shared their views on whether is it possible to achieve commercial success without an author’s platform. Prior to reading the comments, I would have said that yes, most definitely, authors need a platform. Many of the commentators agreed with me, but almost as many did not. The following is a summation of the discussion.
Pro-Platform Rationale
- Without an author’s platform you are at a great disadvantage, whether you are indie or traditionally published, unless you are a celebrity or a really great writer.
- Creating a platform before releasing a book helps to attract agents and publicists by proving to them that you have a following and are willing to do the work to make money for them.
- Even with an agent, there can be very little publicity or marketing, no instant success.
- With a solid platform, you do not need an agent, who can suck 15% or more from your book sales.
- A platform helps distinguish your books so they don’t get lost in a sea of invisibility.
- As a “nobody” you need to develop your audience. Use various platform tools to expose your style and expertise to potential fans/readers.
- Readers are savvy and know what they want to read. Use a platform to attract, engage, and keep them.
- Selling books is all about business. You have to let people know about you, your talent, and your book. This is what a platform will do for you.
- Since many publishing houses have fired their publicity people, authors now have the onus of marketing their books. The best way to do this is with a platform.
Anti-Platform Rationale
- If you are established and have published over xx novels, spending time writing is more important than developing a platform.
- If you have an agent, the platform may not be essential.
- If you have an agent, the marketing platform should be elective, not mandatory. Marketing is what you are paying them 15% or more to do.
- If the subject is instantly marketable, such as dealing with a particular disease, the author may not need to create a platform—the subject is the platform.
- Creating a platform before releasing a book is useless
- Pounding-the-flesh marketing and using social media are a waste of time; use Kindle Direct Publishing Select (KDPS) to promote your books. Amazon is its own platform.
- I am a writer. I want to write, not market my book.
So now you have read the pros and cons to having an author’s platform, what do you think? Will you be creating a platform? Will you be abandoning one? Please comment.
Additional reading
- Building a Platform vs. Promoting a Book
- Why a Writing Platform is a Must: 13 Ways to Build Yours
- The “New Author Platform” – What writers need to know
- Make A Killing On Kindle
- an epic tale of how it all happened by Amanda Hocking
