The most important function of an author website is to serve as your platform; the place where people can find you, your books, and your writing; to serve as a conduit for fans to connect and engage with you and others; to be a powerful calling card that sets you apart from other authors.

~ Tom Morkes, TomMorkes.com

JOEL FRIEDLANDER

An effective author platform is built on the permission you receive from readers to interact with them on a specific topic. Through your interactions—articles, blogs, presentations, speaking engagements, and more—your platform will grow based on the authority, trust, and likability your audience sees in you.

The key things to consider when building an author platform are the persona you plan to inhabit; consistency of message, branding, and tone; and focusing your efforts on the places and methods of communication your specific readers prefer.

Joel Friedlander, TheBookDesigner.com

When creating an author platform, writers should consider the big picture or long-term view of their careers. Too many aspiring authors--or writers and bloggers--build a platform considering only the project at hand. They build a platform with blinders on to anything that they might produce later in their careers.

Instead, build a platform that serves you and all your projects now and in the future. Create a career plan that includes all the books or blogs you plan to write. Then build an author platform with this in mind.

With this type of approach, you won't need a new platform (or additional platform) for each project. Nor will you lose fans and followers when you release a new product or service (including a book) that isn't exactly in line with what you've published previously. Your audience will expect this from you and want it as much as what you've released previously.

Nina Amir, Inspiration to Creation Coach, 9x Amazon Bestseller of such books as How to Blog a Book, The Author Training Manual, and Authorpreneur, and professional blogger.

​Nina Amir, NinaAmir.com

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Nina Amir

Ninaamir.com

Kimbeley Grabas: 

It’s easy to overcomplicate things, but the most important aspect to building an author platform is understanding that it’s about engagement.

“Author Website” is just a word to describe all those creative and interesting things you do – combined together and building upon each other – to form a meaningful relationship with your community or “tribe.” It’s the bridge between the work you create, and the people who are meant to experience it.

Here is platform building boiled down to its most basic steps (but keep in mind that it’s not the “tools,” but the implementation that really matters):

1. Define and build your author brand. What makes you and your writing unique, and how will you translate your value to your audience?
2. Identify your target audience. Who is your ideal reader? What are their wants, desires, values and interests? Who are their influencers, and where do they spend their time online and off?
3. Find the intersection. Identify and research what your true target audience craves, recognize the unique and meaningful aspects of what you have to offer, and align the two to benefit your ideal reader in an exceptional way.
4. Set up your author website/blog. Your website is the epicentre from which you rule your author empire.
5. Build a responsive email list. Your list (and the relationship you build with your subscribers) is your largest marketing asset.
6. Get social on social media. Determine where your readers hang out online, and be there. Focus on the needs and interests of your target audience, and give them what they want.

Kimberley Grabas, YourWriterPlatform.com 

Joanna Penn

Think long-term when creating your author platform, because you will achieve what you focus on. Consider what you want to be known as in 5 years' time. I made the mistake of starting my first blog around my first non-fiction book, Career Change, but I outgrew it very quickly as I realized that I didn't want to be a speaker on that topic and I ran out of content for blogging on that theme. That's when I started TheCreativePenn.com, a site based more around my name and creativity in general, which means I can use it for multiple books or any creative project. I've never run out of content ideas in the last 7 years!

Also think about your audience, and if you have very distinct markets, consider starting another platform. I have JFPenn.com for my thriller fiction, and that helps me separate my two author brands. A fiction platform is more about the books as readers will find you on the online bookstores, whereas a non-fiction platform can be more integrated with blogging, podcasting and social media.

TheCreativePenn.com

Trena White

As soon as I mention the phrase “author platform,” most authors assume I mean social media. But platform is about much more than that, and there are authors with very strong platforms who never touch social media.

When you’re thinking about building your platform, it’s important to consider the many different elements of platform (for example: speaking engagements, workshops you offer, articles you write), and figure out which of them are most comfortable and natural for you to expand.

If you despise social media, spending time trying to build a following on Twitter is probably not a good use of your time. Think about your other options.

Trena White, PageTwoStrategies.com

I think the most important thing for an author to do is find their voice. Some people will tell you to blog or start an email list, and all those things are great, but I wouldn't start there.

Yes. Do those things. Blog. Capture emails. Do the social media dance. But be careful what kind of tribe you attract without having first found your voice. If you build an audience without knowing what you have to say, then you're no good to anyone.

So how do you find your voice? You practice. You share your work. You do all of the above. And slowly but surely, people—the right people—start to notice. Good luck.

Jeff Goins, Goinswriter.com

BRYAN HUTCHISON

The best advice I can give on creating an author platform is to network, network, network from the get-go. Most people know this, but they all too often get it wrong, thinking they need to network only with influencers in their field. Influencers are great, but you want to network with those who are in the trenches, just like you, trying to get noticed.

Network with as many of your peers as possible, consistently helping them in some way (sharing their work, perhaps) and before you know it you'll have connected with hundreds, eventually thousands, of people. When you do that and keep doing it, the influencers will not just notice you, they’ll start knocking on your door. I didn't initiate contact with Guy Kawasaki for an interview, after I started building my Positive Writer audience he contacted me. Network, Network, network - in the trenches, side by side. The #1 rule when connecting with your peers: Be generous, until it hurts and then be even more generous.

Bryan Hutchison, PositiveWriter.com