What can you do today to craft a powerful writer platform?

We’ve searched the internet for the most helpful post on how to take action today (not tomorrow) on building your writing platform and career. If you’d like to read the entire list please visit: 101 Quick Actions You Can Take today to Build the Writer Platform of Your Dreams by Kimberley Grabas (http://www.yourwriterplatform.com/actions-to-build-writer-platform/).

1. Define your ‘why’. Define your central philosophy. How do you want to be known, what makes you different and what is the message you feel you must share with the world?

2. Plan your destination. Knowing where you want to go is the first step in getting there. What are your goals? Who is your current, potential or future audience? What are your short term and long term plans?

3. Storytelling elicits engagement. Marketing is–at it’s core–about creating engagement, and we tend to engage the best through stories. Craft your story, and the message that describes your work and your author brand.

4. Research your target audience. Knowledge of your ideal reader should be detailed and thorough. What is their age, sex, income, education, passions, needs, routines, values, and goals? Where do they spend their time online and off? Who can help you access them?

5. Research your market, niche or genre. Study the competition. Search Google with keywords specific to your market or genre; who pops up? Search your favourite or popular authors in your genre; what are they doing–or not doing–that you can adapt to your writer platform strategy?

6. Setup your professional website. Invest in your own self-hosted website. Having a .blogspot, .WordPress, or .Typad in your domain name denotes amateur status and that is not how you want your work or your author brand to be perceived.

7. Tweak your tagline. Ensure that your tagline captures the essence of  your work and lets people know within seconds what you’re all about. Stumped? Try How to Create a Rock-Solid Tagline that Truly Works by Copyblogger.

8. Get business cards. This should be obvious, but many authors fail to get and share their business cards. Make sure to include your website, email, one or two social media sites you’re active on, and perhaps a professional headshot. Your business cards should reflect your brand image.

9. Build your list. Building an email list is arguably the most important element to building an engaged following and getting your message heard. Readers who allow you access to their inbox are a gift and should be treated like gold! Consider using a good email service like Aweber* to manage your subscribers.

10. Join Twitter. Learn tips, tricks and best practices for getting the most out of Twitter here:Twitter Marketing 101: for Writers.

[Photo: thechiefwilson, Flickr]