When writers are trying to build platform—in order to land a book deal—they often ask me questions like:
- How many Twitter followers do I need?
- How many Facebook likes should I have?
- How many website or blog visits are required?
- How many people need to be on my email newsletter list?
Every agent or publisher will throw out a different number to such questions, and usually that number is made up. What’s even more frustrating: building a platform only to land a book deal usually ends up short circuiting. (Here’s why.)
A smarter and more strategic author should evaluate their platform strength on three levels:
- ability to reach new readers,
- ability to engage existing readers, and
- ability to mobilize super fans.
Over at Writer Unboxed, I explain how to take a holistic view toward building your author platform.
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4 Comments on "Building a Strong Author Platform: It’s Not Just About the Numbers"
[…] https://www.janefriedman.com/building-a-strong-author-platform/ “A strategic author should evaluate their platform strength on three levels: […]
[…] Friedman reminds us that a strong author platform is about more than numbers, Kristen Lamb dissects what platform is and why do authors need it, and Jami Gold asks if your […]
Hi Jane, thank you for your dedication and for sharing your insights. Question. How many pages make for a good marketing plan?
It’s kind of like asking how long is a piece of string, because so much depends on context, but you can find good examples over here in some nonfiction book proposals: https://businessofwriting.org/supplemental-resources/