It’s no secret that authors need to have a social presence. You’ve probably heard people say you have to be on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc.

But today, I want to go a little “nontraditional” and share excellent advice:

Don’t sign up on platforms you don’t have the time or interest to update.

I listened to the Book Marketing Tips and Author Success podcast a few months ago, and the podcaster said, "Everything out there is your resume.” I couldn’t agree more.

So why is this important?

• Make a good first impression. We make snap judgments all the time, especially about online things. You want your content to accurately represent you so that when your ideal audience member finds you, they’re immediately drawn into your work. Don’t harm yourself by posting sub-par content or being present on platforms you won’t update weekly. 

• Play the long game. Building a platform and cultivating your community of readers is a long-term game you’ll need to do for the rest of your career. Don’t spread yourself thin and stress yourself out by trying to be on ALL the platforms. Pick 1, max 2, and focus on learning, adapting, and consistently showing up on those platforms.

• Pick a short-term and long-term platform. Pick a short-term platform and a long-term platform for maximum reach. Short-term platforms are social media platforms where content can reach a ton of people but also disappears in a day or two. Long-term content is blogging, podcasting, or YouTube. This content is harder to create, but it can last years. The best approach is often to make long-term content and repurpose it into several short-term content pieces.

How do you know what platform to choose? 

When choosing a platform, choose what you enjoy most and where your audience is. Your proficiency and content quality will improve the more you use it. Here are some suggestions:

• Instagram: Ideal if you enjoy photography and crafting brief funny captions.

• TikTok: Perfect for creating engaging videos, especially if aiming for a younger audience.

• Blogging, YouTube, or LinkedIn: Great choices for those who excel in long-form non-fiction content.

Pick a platform that resonates with your interests, content style, and audience, ensuring your efforts feel more like a passion project than a chore.

And that, my friend, will make all the difference in building your author platform.

What do you think? Leave a comment below!

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