Sometimes people ask me, “Why does an author need a platform? I just want to write.”

Because the world has changed. It’s not enough to just write books, load them on Amazon, and hope that they’ll sell. A good cover and manuscript aren’t enough.

Click here to read the Productive Author Manifesto.

Productive authors value reader experience above all. When you engage your readers by entertaining them or helping them change their lives, you are doing work that matters. You’ll get there, but you must first lay the foundation of your author platform…

Here are 5 Steps to build your author platform:

1. Consistent 1,000+ Word Count
You must find the space in your life to create. That means finding a way to write every day and strive to reach 1,000+ words per day. You need a system to track your word count. I use a simple Google sheet so I can access it from anywhere.

The reason I stress word count is because your content forms the base of your platform. Without content, you will have a tough time building traffic or finding new readers.

2. Website
Authors MUST have their own website. There’s no excuse for not having one these days because there are plenty of free and low-cost options. If you’re looking for a beginner website, check out how to build a free website using WordPress.

Eventually, you will want to have your own hosted website. I recommend taking a Udemy course such as WordPress for Beginners. Keep in mind that your website doesn’t have to be perfect at first. It can be a page about you or simply a page that contains your blogs. Get it going and then refine it later.

3. Email sign up list
Next, you should set up an email list. You can use services such as Mailchimp or Aweber. Those are good email services for when you start out with a small list. Over time, you may choose to migrate to something more sophisticated such as Convertkit.

I cannot stress enough: it’s important to build an email list of readers for the long-term. An email list is essential not only for authors but for any type of business. The reason you need a service is because you are growth-oriented and you want to automate email sign ups.

You will want to nurture your email list by sending a newsletter about once a month. Always strive to offer value to your readers. You can call out blogs or articles you’ve written. Update them on projects underway. Avoid selling to them (other than your own books) until later, when you’ve built a good relationship and a solid list of over 1,000 people.

4. Create a free reader magnet
The best way to attract readers and get them to subscribe to your email list is to offer free resources. This should be different than any books that you have for sale.

What you can do is create your document in Scrivener, MS Word and save as a PDF. Sign up for a free Amazon Web Services (AWS) account and use that to host your document. When readers sign up for your list, create an auto-responder email that provides the link to your PDF.

Or, you could create a hidden page on your website that provides the link as a Google doc that they could view and download. There are many ways to set up delivery for your reader magnet. The point is to keep it simple for you and your readers.

Ideas for reader magnets: free chapters, character bio, behind the scenes, interview or Q&A, e-Book, short videos, and so on. A good tip is to look at more established authors to see what reader magnets they offer.

5. Books
Once you’ve set up the foundations, you are on “autopilot” to write more books, update your email list, and communicate consistently. Your reader list will grow over time.

After books come other income streams such as online courses, speaking, and consulting. It’s fun to consider the possibilities, but first, you must get the foundation right.

Want inspiration and tools to grow your business? Sign up for my email list and receive my Free ebook: The Productive Author Roadmap: How to Write More, Streamline Your Publishing, Simplify Your Marketing, and Adopt a Productive Author Mindset.