Day 3 of the Virtual Book Tour At The National Writing For Children Center

       This month, I’m hosting Day 3 of the Virtual Book Tours for all
       the children’s book authors/illustrators who are part of the
       October Showcase at the National Writing for Children Center.
       Today, I’m pleased to be hosting Day 3 of the tour for author
       Karen Cioffi. She has provided us with a great article about building a platform.

       
     Creating Visibility Before Getting Published:
       Build Your Platform
       By Karen Cioffi
      
       The road to publication can be long and winding … and filled
       with rejection. So what do you do while you’re submitting your
       manuscripts and waiting patiently? Okay, maybe not patiently,
       but waiting nonetheless.
      
       That’s easy. And, its very important. Create visibility. I don’t
       mean standing on the street corner singing at the top of your
       lungs. I mean creating an online presence that depicts who and
       what you are. In other words, you need to create your platform.
      
       There are a number of writers who are reluctant to begin
       promoting themselves because they haven’t landed a publisher
       yet. Or, they’re still learning the craft. This mentality won’t cut it
       today. You need to begin that visibility.
      
       The first step in your platform journey is to create a blog using
       a blog site such as Blogger, or a website. Either one is relatively
       simple to create, and can be free. Obviously, you will want to
       create your platform right from the beginning by posting to your
       blog with content that is in the genre you are writing.
      
       Important Tip: Make the name of your site something that will
       grow with you, and your name should be part of the site name.
      
       But wait a minute.  Let me backtrack. For those who aren’t sure
       what a platform is, it is a means to let readers know what your
       area of expertise is. Yes, I know, you might be shaking your head
       and thinking that you don’t have an area of expertise. But this is
       how you create it.
      
       The next step in your journey is to create your platform and
       online visibility. Learn your craft and as you’re learning, write
       about what you learn. In other words, if your book is about
       cooking, blog about cooking…you’ll be creating your area of
       expertise.
      
       Once you feel comfortable adding content to your blog, start
       writing articles and submitting them to article directories.  Again,
       keep them focused on the area of expertise you are trying to
       create. You may not get paid for them, but they will establish an
       online presence. And, if your articles are beneficial or interesting
       to others, it will bring traffic to your site.
      
       The publishing and marketing industry has changed. In today’s
       writing market publishing houses, big and small, expect you to:
      
       1.  Have an online presence (website or blog);
       2.  Have a platform;
       3.  Have a following;
       4.  Have the potential to increase that following;
       5.  Have a marketing strategy; and
       6.  Be able to sell your book.
      
       Selling books is now a joint effort between the publishing house
       and the author. And, if you’re venturing into the self-publishing
       arena, promoting yourself is even more important. So, don’t
       procrastinate.  Start creating your online presence and platform
       today.

      
      

 

 

 

 

 

      

       Follow all 7 authors on their 6-day Virtual Book Tours and
       leave comments and you could win the Giftbox Giveaway from
       the National Writing for Children Center.  Click here to keep
       following the tours: http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com/