Why "Platform" is the Most Important Word in the Publishing Industry Today

[@toddweber9079]

Thank you, Kelly for a very helpful video. It gave me solid ideas for the next steps I can take to build my online presence.

[@knliteraryarts]

Wonderful!

[@tonyadionne]

Top tier video, per usual 👍🏾. Your videos tend to make my wheels start turning in my brain, and then I start taking notes of things that I need to look into as I begin building my brand and finish writing my spiritual self -help guide/book.

[@knliteraryarts]

So glad it helped!

[@jackiebaxa]

Been following your channel rather diligently (almost obsessively!) these days. One of the things I'm finding confusing about platform building is for narrative memoir writing. I'm not a coach/therapist/teacher by profession, nor do I want to be. Not trying to build clientele or even sell the next 'masterclass' (so sick of that word). I do think my story, if told correctly, can bring value for others facing a similar challenge. So while I'm not daunted by the mechanics of platform building (designing a professional looking website, exploiting the various social media channels, and so on), I'm feeling a bit lost as to what I might structure as an offer (to capture email) or even ongoing content when the "product" I'm selling is the same story I'm writing about. Is this something you discuss as a client of KN literary arts? And/or... perhaps a video more narrowly tailored to this topic? 😉😂 Regardless, I'm getting SO MUCH out of your channel. Thank you, Kelly!

[@knliteraryarts]

We're so glad you're enjoying our videos! Thank you for your comment. It might be helpful for you to do a deep dive into the platforms of other narrative memoir writers for ideas. Depending on the theme of your memoir, you might offer a playlist, checklist, or other helpful resource for going through the same kind of thing that you went through. We have marketing experts that can help you figure out how to find and talk to your audience. Schedule a free call with us if you want to discuss what that would look like: knliterary.com/schedule/

[@jackiebaxa]

@@knliteraryarts You guys are awesome! I am definitely going to schedule a call. I'm just trying to get at least a few of my stray little ducklings in a row with the goal of making my initial conversation with you more productive. Thank you so much.

[@transformationlily]

This is great info! ❤

[@knliteraryarts]

Glad it was helpful!

[@fherenheights]

❤❤❤

[@ADemetrius]

Thank you for this very informative video🙏🏽♥️🕊️

[@knliteraryarts]

You are so welcome!

[@kristinaparker5597]

Great information, thank you! Do you have online marketing book recommendations for fiction?

[@knliteraryarts]

Unfortunately, we don't have a specific recommendation that we have tested. Many fiction authors gain traction by writing a series of books and providing the first book in series for free to get people to try it.

[@GorillasAndGardens]

My family and I have a family platform that we started this year. We’re still learning, together and through homeschooling, how to use social media and begin a blog for a possible future business for my children. We all have disabilities. I have begun to write stories and ideas for possible books. One nonfiction and one fiction. They revolve around our family’s experiences with being disabled. Do I need to create a new platform for my writing? Can I piggyback off the one we started? If I did the later, would using my family’s platform name confuse possible readers? I don’t want to have to change everything as time progresses.

[@knliteraryarts]

If your book topics and the topic of your family website are related, you could keep them together. It could work either way.

[@beckybanks9611]

Thank you for the great info! I’m wondering if the heavy lifting for marketing our own book is on us, why would we need a traditional publisher?

[@knliteraryarts]

Really great question. The main benefit is that the publisher takes on the financial risk in paying for editing, cover design, proofreading, and printing. With self-publishing, you have to pay for those costs yourself, up front. For a lot of authors self-publishing is now their #1 choice because it gives them complete control over the end product and they get to keep all of the profits.

[@jedwing]

Do you have any tips for a memoir writer like myself to build an email list? I don't have knowledge to offer people to get them to sign up. I have a small email list and okay Instagram and Facebook pages.

[@knliteraryarts]

Great question! There are some helpful lists of ideas online like this one: www.paulinewiles.com/articles/reader-magnet-ideas

[@jedwing]

@@knliteraryarts Thanks as always. You are a gem. When my book is published I'm gonna bake you a cake.

[@juliemayr8674]

That was my exact question! What do I have to offer for a memoir?? Will check those lists, thanks!