Engaging With An Online Platform for Writers
by Mary Kole | Former literary agent, now a freelance editor, writing teacher, and IP/story developer for major publishers and creators.
Engaging with an online platform for writers is key if you want to do book marketing that showcases you and your published work. As a creative writer, you want to get your work out there. But what are the best practices for tackling this task? In this article, I’ll cover the basics of creating your own author platform or online presence, and discuss everything from selecting the right domain name and setting up hosting for your website to getting yourself out there on social media for writers. You might not be too excited to engage with an online platform for writers, but you shouldn’t ignore these book promotion strategies, either. After all, a book is a product, like any other, and it’s up to you to drive book sales, especially at the beginning, when you aren’t yet well known.
Online Platform for Writers: Securing Your Domain Name
The first step in participating in an online platform for writers is to get yourself online with a website. You do this by securing a domain name and web hosting. Consider using a domain name that reflects who you are as a writer, such as your own name or a pen name that readers will associate with you. Once you have settled on a domain name, it's time to choose a web hosting provider and register your domain name with them. Be sure to research different hosting providers so that you can find one with good customer service and reliable uptime.
Hint: If you are just starting out, most providers offer basic packages that come with all the features you need at an affordable price. Try GoDaddy, Wix, Squarespace, or NameCheap to get started.
Some of these hosting providers and domain name registrars will have built-in website design capabilities. This is where having some design skills will come in handy—but don't worry if you don't have any coding experience. A lot of my websites are built and hosted using Squarespace, which has a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) site design interface, and a favorite online platform for writers for me and my team.
After choosing the template for your site, spend some time customizing it so that it reflects who you are as a writer and showcases your work in the best possible light. It's also important to include pages such as: About Me (including your author biography, Contact Me, and Books (if applicable at this time, depending on whether you’re self-published or traditionally published yet or not, though you’ll probably want to have one of these eventually).
You can also consider starting a blog, which has been part of an online platform for writers on and off for years, where you can share useful insights about writing and post samples of your work for others to read. A blog is good for SEO (search engine optimization) and can be a good part of your online platform for writers strategy. The downside is that blogs are time-consuming to update, and you don’t want to start one and neglect it. A dated or dead online presence for writers is worse than no online presence at all.
Online Platform for Writers: Marketing Yourself and Networking
Now that you have created your website, it’s time to expand that online platform for writers by marketing yourself and starting to network. Social media is one of the biggest tools at your disposal in terms of an online platform for writers.
Create accounts on various platforms such as Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. so that readers can follow along with what you're up to. Additionally, engage with other writers in forums or chats related to writing—this helps establish relationships in the publishing industry and may even lead to collaborations down the road.
If all of these online platform for writers options make your head spin, it’s better to commit to one or two avenues that interest you, rather than trying everything and getting overwhelmed or giving up. Readers will know that your heart’s not in it, and this vibe can do more harm than good.
Building an online platform for yourself as a creative writer doesn't have to be complicated or expensive—you just need dedication and creativity. Start by registering a domain name and setting up hosting for your website; then move onto creating content such as blogs or articles that showcase samples of your creative writing work; lastly market yourself via social media to reach potential readers or collaborators.
With these steps in mind, anyone can establish their online platform for writers, even if book marketing has never come naturally to you.
For those eagle-eyed readers who are wondering just what kind of editor or publishing professional would have an article with the clunky phrasing of “online platform for writers” over and over on their website, I applaud you for noticing that this reads awkwardly. Please note that I picked this keyword phrase on purpose, as part of my SEO (search engine optimization) strategy. If you’re curious about writer marketing techniques, check out Good Story Marketing.
Customized Book Marketing Solutions
Marketing services for writers are essential if you’re looking to reach audiences and stand out on shelves. Whether you’re looking to build your platform ahead of publication or already have a book out, we can help with marketing strategy and even do the heavy lifting. Reach more readers, build an audience, and increase your visibility. Good Story Marketing plans and services can help you achieve your goals and tell your story to the world!