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Tag: Platform building

Author Miranda Sherman

Author and speaker Miranda Sherman says, “Writing a book is all fun and games but what you do after is key. Learn what’s important in marketing yourself and your book after it’s in print. Miranda Sherman is the author of two books, “The Mighty Fork; Healing Your Mind and Body with Food” (now in its 2nd edition) and “The Mighty Fork Student Workbook.”

Miranda is a popular speaker, teaches classes on an ongoing basis to audiences young and old, blogs, manages her website, and is constantly looking for new ways to get her message out that food can heal you. She’s currently working on her 3rd book about the importance of traditions.

When things don’t work exactly like we want after following an expert’s book marketing advice, we can easily become discouraged.
Don’t get me wrong, we need to listen to what they say and watch what they do. We need to read and grow and improve our social media skills. If we want to sell our books.
A lot of what they have to say is on target and has broad principles that can easily be applied to multiple brands. However, there are a couple of things I have heard and seen implied by marketing techniques that can lead to quick discouragement.

#1 “If you’re spending more than 30 minutes a day on social media you’re doing something wrong.”

I actually read this one somewhere, but it is not a true statement across the board. It depends on your goals. If you are simply using it as a tool to make announcements or already have a large platform (or an assistant) then, yes.
HOWEVER, if your goal is to build relationships, then I have another version of the story. It takes time. Either a tiny bit at a time over a longer period or more time in a shorter period. It all depends on where you are in your platform building.
This is a good reason to start building your platform early. You CAN spend just a little bit of time each day and make it happen. But if you wait…and need that platform “yesterday”…then I hate to tell you, it will take more time than 30 minutes a day. It does not happen overnight.
Bad news: It takes time to build a platform.
Good news: A little bit every day can work if you have time to spread out your platform building, and start before you need it to be in place.

#2 “It worked for me and if you follow this formula you will have success.”

This one is more implied by all the ads for methods and classes and seminars out there. After a while all the blogs about building a platform start sounding alike. Really. But one size does not fit all. If it did – EVERYONE would have a quickly built, huge online platform. Granted, one size will fit a lot of people, but if you’re the one it doesn’t fit, it can be discouraging!
There is so much more to building a platform than someone else’s technique. Yes, there are principles that work across the board that you should keep in mind, but you have to personalize it. Make it fit your audience, your message and your style.
Here is a formula for you:
Audience (know who they are and where they are) + message(content) +style (voice) + social media platforms (and there are tons!!!) + technique = building a platform
Each element has multiple variables. And there are certainly variables I haven’t mentioned! This creates multiple ways to build your online presence. See how un-one-size-fits-all it is?
Bad news: you have to figure your own way to some degree.
Good news: this means you don’t have to be discouraged when someone else’s way doesn’t work for you.
What does this mean for you and me? It’s kind of like writing. You have to learn how social media works before you can make your own rules. Find your own voice in the world of social media so you aren’t drowned out because you sound like everyone else. I hope that encourages you like it does me.
Have you ever been discouraged be a piece of platform building advice you heard then applied to only find it didn’t work for you?

Have you found a way to truly connect with your readers that gets around the above two myths? I would love to hear from you.

Years ago I taught my daughter, Patty, “Don’t take financial advice from poor people.”
The same holds true for building your platform. Be cautious when taking advice. Be extra cautious when paying for advice. There ARE legitimate places to spend money, but Bill Gates could go broke buying all the courses offered.
Photo courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee @ freedigitalphotos.net
We need to make sure the experts we’re following are the real deal.
Dynamic Duo Jeff Goins and Tim Grahl go together like peanut butter and jelly. But more helpful and not as calorie-laden.
Jeff’s an author and uber successful blogger with a following of 100,000. He’s about “writing, marketing, creative business ideas, and making a difference in the world.”
Tim’s the Founder of Out:think, and author of  Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book. The tagline at outthinkgroup reads, “We help authors build their platforms, connect with readers, and sell more books.”
My current budget for writing is $0, but I sign up for their free emails, books, courses, and webinars.
They whet my appetite for the awesome material they’re selling, but I still get a free mini-feast from their sampler platter. For example:
I’ve learned the #1 most effective book sales tool is (drum roll please)
Grow your email list.
(Mine’s jeaniej@cox.net if you feel a sudden irresistible compulsion to sign up.)
Tim Grahl gives this platform building advice:
  • Focus on the few things that work really well, instead of spreading yourself thin across a dozen platforms
  • Develop a system to figure out what is working and what isn’t, so you can keep doing the former and stop doing the latter
  • Connect with other authors and influencers who can help you quickly grow your platform
  • Create content that will attract new readers
Jeff and Tim both give away a good deal of free material. They’re worth checking out.
Now on to
Jeanie’s Super-Secret Newbie No-No’s
Photo courtesy of graur razvan ionut @ freedigitalphotos.net
To recap what we’ve learned so far:
Week 1- Exclamation marks scream, “Newbie!”
Week 2- Annihilate Adverbs.

This week- Eradicate empty words.Really justskip them. I’m very serious.

The exception is dialogue. Sometimes.

Most new writers don’t realize that editors keep Godzilla on retainer. When a submission arrives with words like
                                    “just”
                                         “really”
                                                “very”
they text him. Godzilla arrives, eradicates your manuscript with a blazing blast of fire, and collects his fee.
Play it safe and pull out the empty words yourself.

Read Grammar Nazi David Williamson’s great post on the subject to protect your work…and possibly Tokyo.
Like Mothra says, “Only you can prevent foreign fires.”

Last weekend I hosted a workshop at Bible Truth Ministries church. I shared tips about getting into print from a new writer’s perspective. My writing journey began 13 months ago, and so far I’ve sold stories for three books, two for Chicken Soup for the Soul, plus a Bethany House compilation.
If I can do it, so can you.
Since we all need to move forward, my Current Lofty Goal (AKA something I need to do, but put off)
Make my website “prettier.”
How about you? What are you working toward? I’d love to hear.
My daughter recently asked, “So Mom, do you have tons of blog followers now?”

Hmm. If she defines “tons” as some, then yes. Whoo hoo! I have tons of followers.

The pressure to hook readers can be intense for new writers like me. I’m tempted to grab people on the street, drag them into a dark alley, and force them to sign up for my blog and newsletter.
“C’mon, it’s free. And I give gifts. What are you afraid of? Just sign up. DO IT.”

Since the police won’t let me use that technique anymore, it’s back to work. I need to

  • Be diligent in writing
  • Submit my work
  • Stay active with the social media sites I use now.

So what’s the problem? When presented with new technology my fight or flight response kicks in. Learn how to create a podcast? Aaagh! Run! Escape to the safety of the refrigerator!

Picture courtesy of iosphere @freedigitalphotos.net
Does anybody else push dreaded tasks to the back-burner?
Hmm, I can’t do that now because it’s time to
           Make a Starbucks run
                       Wash the car
                                   Check on the sleeping children AGAIN
                                                                       Cut the grass…with scissors.

My current lofty goals:

1) Stop chasing my tail like a Yorkie on crack and take advantage of free resources like YouTube. Sometimes their videos give clearer instructions than a company’s tutorials.
2) Better utilize my current social media sites, like posting interesting and relevant content to my Facebook author’s page.
Jeanie’s tutorial, “What to post on a professional page.”
A) A video of a two-headed lamb. Interesting, but not relevant. Leave it.

B) A video of a two-headed lamb writing poetry. Interesting and relevant. Post it.

In my last blog I promised to share

Jeanie’s Super-Secret Newbie No-No’s

Those are things that cause editors to shred your writing, drive to your home, and sprinkle the pages like confetti over your head. Which is inconvenient for them, and wastes a lot of gas. In the interest of conserving natural resources we learned:
Exclamation marks scream, “Newbie!”
Today’s secret is
Adverbs are our adversaries.
Using them tripped me up badly, royally, horribly, and exceedingly.
Our critique group leader read my first submission, stifled the urge to roll her eyes,  and told me to search out every word ending in “ly.” A peck of them peppered the pages.
Here’s the fix: Use strong verbs
Example using Dreaded Adverb:John walked slowLY behind.
Better: John lagged behind.
Best: Leave John at home. He needs us to make a Starbuck’s run for him.
Platform building also includes face to face human interaction, which I love. So on June 28th I’ll be at Bible Truth Ministries church sharing my experiences with others who want to start their own writing journeys. You’re welcome to join us.
Starting in May you’ll find exciting changes here on the Wordsowers blog.
I don’t want to give it all away, but here’s a quick overview:
  • 1st Monday of the month. David Williamson, Grammar Nazi, helps hone your writing skills.
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month: Kat Crawford, Super Resource Woman.
  • 2nd Wednesday of the month: Angela D. Meyer, Technical aspects and more.
  • Thursdays: Fun flex day. Check in for our surprise guest and topic.
  • 4th Friday of the month: Jeanie Jacobson (me). Encouragement and humor on platform building.
I’ll share the fun stuff from a rookie perspective. (You’ll still learn about technical aspects through Angela and others.)
Friday’s will be our kick back time. We can laugh together over my goof-ups, and help you avoid the same pitfalls.
Plus I’ll share super-secret tips so you won’t be spotted as a new writer. (Ok, they’re not super-secret. But doesn’t it sound more fun that way?)

In most TV shows the rookie stands out. Whether it’s a detective or medical series, we spot the newbie right away.

When I first joined a critique group I thought my book was ready to go. Bzzzt. Wrong. It was worse than Sister Mary Catherine hip-hopping at a rave.

Learn from my mistakes so you don’t make the same ones. We’ll erase the giant overhead “ROOKIE!” finger earmarking you. You’ll feel more confident going into critique groups and meeting editors.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles@freedigitalphotos.net

For example, I learned this the hard way:
Watch out for it! Top of the list! The exclamation mark!

  • Exclamation marks scream, “Newbie!”
Editors can spot a new writer at a thousand yards by the number of exclamation marks in the submission. Find the exclamation marks and eradicate them.
Next week’s super-secret insider reveal: Adverbs. Beware! Oops. Exclamation mark.