“Building Platform” can feel like a dreaded, insurmountable task for writers (especially ones that tend towards introversion or hate social media) but it doesn’t have to be. The concept and process of building a platform is often misunderstood. (It’s not just social media statistics!) We’ve previously addressed the steps for building a platform, but this week, we’re breaking down how to shift your mindset regarding building your platform away from imagined benchmarks and uncomfortable exposure to finding genuine ways to form real connections with your audience centered on your story, expertise, and message.
Reading is essential to improving your writing skills, and reading like a writer means seeing past the glossy end-result into a book’s structure and the author’s choices about how the story is told. Learning to read like a writer doesn’t mean learning how to merely imitate but learning the craft by example. We’re excited to announce the launch of our Memoir Method Book Club! Your first session is free, so sign up to save your seat here.
What is platform?
It is not uncommon advice for writers, regardless of their publishing path, to focus on building platform. This can be intimidating, especially for writers who prefer to spend most of their creative energy in private, crafting messages in words. Writing is not usually a visible task, so stepping into visibility in order to share your writing can be overwhelming. However, it can also be fulfilling in a truly fundamental way that is deeply connected to your writing. If you can stop viewing platform building as a flaming hoop publishers force you to jump through and instead reframe it as something that genuinely supports both your writing career and your deeper drive to share your message, the process can both satisfying and even fun.
When we talk about platform, what we really mean is the connection between you—the author with a message—and the audience you want to reach. Too often, writers confuse platform with social media numbers, assuming they need hundreds of thousands of followers to be legitimate. There’s a pervasive myth that you need X followers because a consistent percentage of X will convert to book sales. But follower counts don’t guarantee book sales. Look at Justin Timberlake: despite having tens of millions of followers, his memoir didn’t convert at the expected rate because social media engagement doesn’t automatically translate into purchases. Platform is about building a meaningful connection with the readers who need your message.
Examples of Different Platform Strategies
At Page & Podium, we’ve seen authors succeed with very different platform strategies. Take Maggie, for example. Through her company Magnify, she helps people cut back on alcohol by shifting the focus from “what not to do” toward positive goals like fitness. Because her audience skews younger—primarily in their twenties and thirties—social media became her most effective platform. By leaning into Instagram and other channels, Maggie was able to connect authentically with her community and build visibility around her unique approach. She was also able to leverage her differentiator to stand out. A differentiator is the key element of your project that makes it clear what space it belongs in, but also how it’s different than the other voices already present in that space. Maggie has a quite different approach to traditional AA programs that emphasize absolute abstinence, where a growing number of young people are looking for middle ground and the experience of those who have found it.
Lisa Katona Smith also has a valuable differentiator in a similar space. Her wonderful book, Parallel Recovery, addresses the mental and emotional work families can and should do for themselves when someone they love struggles with substance abuse disorder. In a space that heavily focuses on recovery of the struggling person, Lisa’s book acknowledges how interconnected these struggles truly are.
Sarah’s path looked quite different. Her book on disability advocacy is a literary memoir, rich with symbolism and poetic language. Rather than centering her efforts on social media, Sarah focused on publishing shorter pieces in literary journals. This strategy not only helped her reach readers who value craft and artistry but also positioned her work in front of agents and publishers.
Then there’s Brian, a business coach whose hybrid memoir leans toward a traditional business book. His priority was building a regional following, so he concentrated on in-person strategies. Speaking at local events and conferences allowed him to sell books in bulk and connect directly with his target audience. He also made regular appearances at networking events, showing up with his book and sharing his expertise face-to-face. For Brian, authentic local engagement—not social media—was the key for building his platform.
First Tip: Own Your Unique Expertise
When it comes to building your author platform, the first mindset shift is to recognize that expertise isn’t only defined by letters after your name. We often associate authority with formal credentials (doctors, lawyers, academics), and while credentials for those roles is important, it’s only kind of expertise. While you might not feel like an “expert” in that traditional sense, if you’re writing a book that draws on your personal experience, you’re offering something no one else can replicate. Your lived perspective makes your work unique, and you can trust that there are those out there that would benefit from learning what you have, even if that process was informal and not through some official accreditation.
For example, one of our client wrote a compelling memoir about taking on caring for her parents and grandmother while also juggling her business and raising children. In writing her book, she worried that without medical credentials and professional experience in eldercare, no one would be interested in hearing her speak on the subject. But her story resonated precisely because it reflected the reality so many caregivers face—something no textbook can capture. Life experience is often the expertise people most need. As you shape your platform, remember that your story, your challenges, and your insights are invaluable. Share them with confidence, because they position you as the kind of expert readers are searching for.
Second Tip: Embrace Growth
The second mindset shift for building your platform is to embrace the awkward beginnings. Any new visibility strategy—whether it’s posting reels, writing blogs, recording videos, or even sharing photos—will feel clumsy at first. Your early attempts may lack polish, and you’ll likely look back wishing you had done things differently. That’s not failure; it’s simply the natural process of starting.
No one has ever been slick and perfect out of the gate. We’ve written about how perfectionism stands in the way of starting in terms of developing your writing craft, and it’s equally true when you step into visibility.
Every seasoned writer, speaker, and creator has a trail of imperfect firsts. The early episodes of Amanda’s video were far less refined than what you see today. When I took over the blog, some of my versions were awkward and long-winded. Everyone can improve with consistent effort. The key is to start, keep showing up, and allow yourself to grow (which also means allowing yourself to be imperfect.) Before long, you’ll laugh at those early attempts not with embarrassment, but with gratitude for the progress they represent.
Third Tip: Name and Face Your Fear
Fear thrives and grows in shadows. To make progress, we want to shine a light on it and give it a precise name.
When authors begin building their platforms, they may fear trolls, unwanted attention, or exposing too much of their private lives. While those concerns are valid, the deeper fear many discover is actually quieter: the worry that they’ll show up, put themselves out there, and no one will care. Naming that fear is powerful. Once you identify it, it often feels less overwhelming. After all, how bad would that be, really? (And would it feel worse in the end than never trying?) You can move forward with courage rather than avoidance.
Reflect on where your fear comes from. It may be from past experiences, old insecurities, or simply the vulnerability of visibility. You don’t need to eliminate fear before you begin; instead, you can work on resilience alongside your platform-building. Each step forward signals to your mind and body that it’s safe to be seen, and that growth is possible even in the presence of discomfort. Platform building has no shortcut. It takes time and diligence and sustained bravery. But when you make a plan and step into it, you’ll discover that the reality is rarely as frightening as the scenarios you imagine.
PS. Searching the internet for writing, publishing, and book marketing advice can be exhausting to say the least! If you’re ready for hands on, one-on-one support for your memoir, check out The Memoir Method. We’d love to welcome you into this nine-month group program specially designed for women writing their first memoirs. And don’t forget, if you’d like to chat with Amanda about the program (or any other services we offer), you can book a free consult any time!
