Guy Kawasaki suggests ten points for writers who want to build a platform. His list is a lot simpler and more straightforward than most such lists I’ve seen:
http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/02/guy-kawasakis-10-social-media-tips-for-authors045.html
I’ve got a long way to go with mine, both under this name and under Alice’s. Guess it’s time to start thinking about it. I kind of don’t like the curator model — at least not when it refers to only reposting other stuff without reaction, and as the main content. There are always interesting links, fun photos, and silly memes, but I can’t see making that the majority of posts.
Are any of you guys doing deliberate platform building? What aspects are you emphasizing? What about the mechanics?
I really struggle with marketing. I’m introverted, I don’t like to cause a fuss, don’t like to insert myself into anyone’s day… It’s HARD and totally against my nature.
Thank you for the link. It’s definitely something I need to work on. {{hugs}}
I agree it’s pretty much against my nature too. I can be chatty, but mostly I prefer to keep my mouth shut and observe. But I can also see that I have to expect to do at least something to sell my own writing. It’s reality. Which makes it like any other business skill that I have to acquire.
The trick, I think, is to find my own line through the morass. Some combination of places and things that will let me express myself without falling into the fake happy face (What Neil calls the “Would you like fries with that?” personality).
It’s hard to see what that might be. But.