8 Ways to Build Your Author Platform

8 Proven Steps to Build Your Author Platform

Building an author platform is a must if you want your book to stand out from the millions of books published every year. In the United States alone, up to four million new titles are released annually.

There are countless authors competing for attention.

Imagine all of these authors—including you—standing shoulder to shoulder on a huge football field, with the book-buying public sitting in the stands.

Each author holds up his or her book and waves it about, hoping to attract attention.

If you happen to be standing on the edges of the field, right near the stands, some people may notice you and your book, and if they’re intrigued by your provocative title or colorful cover, they may purchase it.

If you’re just a little farther back, however, only a few sharp-eyed buyers will notice you.

The overwhelming majority of authors, unfortunately, are lost in the crowd.

But if you build a platform—something you can climb up and stand on—you and your book will be seen by all those folks in the stands.

What Is an Author Platform and Why Does It Matter?

In the publishing industry, such a platform is called an “author platform,” and sometimes a writer’s platform or writing platform. It is made of materials such as these, listed in no particular order:

Podcast interviews, television, and radio appearances
Your own web, TV, or radio show
Articles and quotes by or about you in newspapers and magazines, whether print or digital
Your speeches, seminars, book signings, and other public appearances
Websites—whether yours or others—that mention or feature you and/or your book
Comments you make on other websites to display your expertise and make people aware of you
Your blog, as well as mentions of you in other blogs
Personal pages, business pages, product pages, or other types of pages about you on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites, as well as pages, groups, and/or fan clubs for your books
Comments you make on social networking sites, especially those belonging to groups dealing with the topic of your book
Your YouTube videos
Press releases
Your ads, in all forms
Newsletters, whether physical or electronic
Other people or organizations who are interested in seeing your book succeed
And many, many more

Your author platform consists of all the things you do to make people aware of you and your book—provided, of course, that these ways are legal, ethical, and consistent with your image.

If you have enough money, you can hire a PR firm to build your platform for you by pitching you to television and radio shows, and podcasts; blogging and tweeting on your behalf; running commercials or ads; writing and distributing a newsletter; and so on.

If you don’t have these dollars to invest, you can do these things yourself.

There is no single element that will guarantee your platform stands tall. Neither is there a sure-fire package of items that will do this.

You will have to try different ways of reaching your audience and developing an author platform. Today, that means experimenting and then measuring what works—looking at your newsletter open rates, your social media analytics, and your website traffic. Over time, this helps you see where to focus your energy.

Let’s look at eight ways in which you can build an author platform. We’ll start with the easier items and move on to the ones that take longer to accomplish.

#1 – Start with Social Media: The Quickest Way to Build Visibility

Pages about you and/or your book on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Threads, and similar sites are easy to set up. They are often absolutely free. “Premium” memberships cost money, but you don’t need them to get started; a basic membership will do.

But don’t stop there. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok now have the power to launch books into the spotlight overnight. The BookTok community on TikTok has sent numerous titles racing up the bestseller lists. Short, authentic videos—whether tips, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or even heartfelt stories—often reach far more people than static posts.

Search for other authors and their books on these sites. When you find them, study their approaches, and borrow their best ideas when developing your own page(s).

Once you belong to one of these sites you can also set up a group, fan club, or something similar for your book.

For example, there are three English-language groups on LinkedIn supporting “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Created for those who have been influenced by Stephen R. Covey’s book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, these groups had 30,000 members as of September 2025.

There are other LinkedIn groups dedicated to discussing or based on specific books, including “Blue Ocean Strategy” which has two larger groups with 18,000 members between them, as well as several smaller groups.

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#2 – Use Comments and Groups to Grow Your Audience

Making comments on social networking sites that focus on the topic of your book is easy, once you join the site.

Suppose you’re a doctor writing a book about cancer. If you type the word “cancer” into the Search Groups box on LinkedIn, you’ll get numerous results, ranging from the “Surviving Breast Cancer” group to the “Prostate Cancer Solutions” group to the “American Cancer Society Supporter” group.

Each group has a number of discussions. You can join in by offering insightful comments that demonstrate your knowledge and give hints about your book.

Beware: heavy-handed promotion in discussion groups usually backfires. It’s best to be helpful and subtle.

#3 – Create an Author Website That Attracts Readers

Setting up a website and/or blog is relatively easy to do by yourself. You will, however, have to learn a little bit about website templates, hosting, and a few other matters.

Companies like GoDaddy will secure your domain name and host your website and/or blog. You can even get a simple website or blog template for free.

You can also use WordPress or Wix to set up a free website or blog.

It pays to study other authors and book websites/blogs to get an idea of the possibilities and what might work for you. For example, see the author platform-building websites of:

Ismael Beah’s A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Author W.E.B. Griffin’s numerous novels
Freakonomics, by Stephen Levitt and Stephen Dubner

These are not necessarily the best author websites ever created. But they do give you an idea of the type and variety of sites used to promote authors and/or specific books.

And when you set up your site, don’t forget about search engine optimization (SEO). Think about the questions your readers are typing into Google. Instead of “arthritis,” they may be searching “best supplements for arthritis pain relief.” If your website addresses those questions clearly, your site becomes a magnet for new readers.

#4 – Twitter, Threads, and Beyond: Finding Your Platform Sweet Spot

Tweeting on X or similar platforms is another quick and easy way to develop your author platform.

Simply sign up for an account, then search for and study other users who are interested in the same subject as you, think about what will make you stand out, and begin tweeting.

Remember, however, that simply blasting out tweet after tweet is not the best idea. Emphasize quality instead of quantity, and before you tweet, ask yourself if it truly serves your purpose.

Today, many authors also experiment with Threads, Mastodon, or Bluesky. The key is not to be everywhere at once but to choose one or two places where your readers gather, and then show up there consistently.

#5 – Write Press Releases That Get Your Book Noticed

The last item in the fairly easy column is press releases.

You can write one or more press releases announcing your book or other newsworthy items. Perfect them, then release them, for a fee via services, such as CisionPRWeb and Send2Press.

You can also find sites that allow you to send out a limited number of press releases for free. There are also sites where, for a fee, you can set up a regular and targeted press-release campaign, if you have enough ongoing news to share. You can find these with a Google search.

#6 – Publish Articles to Build Credibility as an Author

Articles and quotes by or about you in newspapers and magazines, whether paper or virtual, are excellent ways to make the public aware of you.

By offering good reading and/or interesting information, you can entice potential readers to consider buying your book.

Writing these articles is the easy part; getting them published in respectable outlets is difficult.

Publication in a physical magazine or journal with a sizable circulation can be prestigious. Unfortunately, these magazines and journals are selective and work on a long timeline. This means you have to sell them on your article with a good pitch letter and approach them many months before you wish to see your article published. (The same rules often apply to the electronic editions of these magazines and journals.)

A faster approach to building your author platform via writing is to write articles for online magazines and journals that have smaller circulations. There’s no guarantee many people will see your articles on sites such as these, but it’s a start.

The more helpful and informative the articles you write are, the better the odds that someone will read one. If they like it, they may mention it in their blog or on their social networking site. Then the snowball starts rolling.

And don’t overlook partnerships. If your topic aligns with a nonprofit, a business, or another author’s work, collaborate. A joint webinar or guest post exposes you to a whole new group of potential readers.

#7 – Podcasts, TV, and Radio: Broadcasting Your Book to the World

It is possible to get yourself booked on podcasts, TV, and radio shows. I began doing so when promoting one of my books, Wake Up! You’re Alive, by putting together a standard PR kit and sending it off to radio show producers.

For relatively little expense, I booked myself on many local radio shows and a few small TV shows.

For another one of my books, the lead author was booked on a major national TV show by cold-calling the producer.

But don’t count on these things happening all the time.

Unless you know what you’re doing, have plenty of time for follow-up calls, and have a thick, rejection-proof skin, you’re probably better off hiring a firm to do the booking for you.

The fees these firms charge can range from the reasonable to the shocking: “HOW MUCH?!”

Some firms may only charge you per show booked, while most will ask you to sign up for campaign packages.

Podcasts in particular have become a powerful way to reach readers. Guesting on a show that speaks directly to your target audience can connect you with thousands of listeners in a single episode. And if you discover you enjoy the medium, you might later launch your own podcast, using it as an ongoing bridge between you and your audience.

#8 – Use Public Speaking to Grow Your Author Platform

Speeches can be a great way to build your author platform, although the process can be long and painstaking.

You can get started quickly by addressing church and community groups, senior citizens’ homes, and the like. These are good places to develop your speeches and perhaps be mentioned on the organization’s website or in their newsletter.

For larger organizations, unless you have a connection, you’ll have to prepare a speaker’s packet and approach them in the standard manner.

There Are Many Ways to Stand Above the Crowd

These are just a few ideas to help you get started in building your author platform.

There are many more, from creating and posting videos on YouTube, using Google ads or other web ads to draw more people to your website or blog, or even “hosting a hole” at the local golf course to get an article in the local newspaper.

Newsletters deserve special mention here. Unlike social media, where algorithms rule and can be cruel, you own your email list. A weekly or monthly update can turn casual readers into a loyal community eagerly awaiting your next work.

And whatever mix of tools you choose, think long-term. A strong platform doesn’t just help launch a book: it keeps your book alive. Authors like Mark Hyman and Deepak Chopra continue to sell books years after publication because their platforms keep evolving. Ongoing newsletters, podcasts, and videos ensure new readers keep discovering them.

Anything you can think of that draws attention to you will help you build your author platform, provided it is the right kind of attention.

Extra Tips:

You may be surprised to discover who will happily promote your book for you! Read our article on “Getting Free PR For Your Book.”

If you’re writing a health book, see “How to Build an Author Platform for Your Health Book.”

If You’d Like Help Writing Your Book…

Barry Fox explains how to begin a business memoir or autobiography

We’re Barry Fox and Nadine Taylor, professional ghostwriters and authors with a long list of satisfied clients and editors at major publishing houses.

You can learn about our ghostwriting work and credentials on our Home Page.

For more information, call us at 818-917-5362 or use our contact form to send us a message. We’d love to talk to you about your exciting idea for writing a book!

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