Beyond Social Media: Building an Unshakeable Author Platform You Actually Own
Picture this: You wake up one morning, grab your phone, and discover you can't access your social media account. The platform where you've spent years building connections with readers, sharing your writing journey, and promoting your books is suddenly unavailable. Scary thought, right?
With recent platform changes and increasing uncertainty in the social media landscape, many authors are feeling anxious about their online presence. And you know what? That's completely understandable. But here's the good news – you have options, and they're simpler than you might think.
Let's talk about building something that's truly yours, something that can't be taken away by algorithm changes or platform shutdowns. Don't worry – we'll keep it simple and budget-friendly.
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Act
You've probably noticed the changes happening across social media. Between TikTok's uncertain future, Meta's constant algorithm shifts and questionable practices, and the overall feeling of building on "rented" space, it's getting harder to reliably connect with readers.
But rather than seeing this as a crisis, let's view it as an opportunity to create something more stable.
Here's a surprising fact: Email newsletters typically see engagement rates of 20-30%, while social media posts often reach less than 5% of your followers. That means the readers who choose to connect with you through email are far more likely to see and engage with your content. Isn't that refreshing to hear?
Your Home Base: Simpler Than You Think
I am a big advocate for authors having a website. It’s your home on the internet, it’s a centralized place for all of your content and information, and most importantly - you own it.
But if a website isn’t in the budget for you right now or you aren’t able to get one started right away, you can begin with something free and user-friendly: Substack. It gives you:
A simple website
A newsletter platform
A way to blog
A space to connect with readers
The best part? You can set it up in an afternoon, and it won't cost you a dime to start.
Psst! If you want to learn more about building your platform, setting up your website and more, join us inside The Author Circle!
Creating Your Reader Connection Strategy
This is where the magic happens, and it's easier than you might expect. Start with something you're already good at – telling stories. Your readers want to know about:
Your writing journey
Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your process
Exclusive previews of your work
Your thoughts on books and writing
The key is to be yourself and share in a way that feels natural to you. No need for complicated marketing strategies or sales tactics.
To attract subscribers, offer something special – we call this a reader magnet. For fiction authors, this might be a free short story or a prequel chapter. For non-fiction authors, it could be a helpful checklist or guide related to your topic. The goal is to give readers a taste of your work while building a direct connection.
Nurturing Your Community
Think of your newsletter as a comfortable space where you can chat with readers who truly want to hear from you. No algorithms to fight, no pressure to post daily. Just authentic connections with people who love your work.
Some simple ideas for your newsletter:
Share snippets of your current work-in-progress
Ask readers for their opinions on character names or plot points
Give them early access to book covers or chapter titles
Share your favorite reading recommendations
If you aren’t sure where to start with setting up your newsletter or what to write about, check out the Newsletter Starter Kit for Authors and our new 52 Newsletter Templates for Authors (available February 3, 2025!).
Your 30-Day Getting Started Plan
Every author's journey is different. Some of you might already have a website, while others are starting fresh. Let's look at a flexible plan that works for wherever you are in your author journey:
Week 1: Choose and Set Up Your Home Base
Already have a website? Set up your newsletter provider (MailerLite and MailChimp offer free plans - I use a service called Flodesk that I highly recommend)
Starting fresh? Create your Substack account or simple website
Take an hour to write your "About" page and welcome message
Add an email signup form to your existing website if you have one (I teach you how to do this in the Newsletter Starter Kit)
Week 2: Create Your Welcome Experience
Write a warm welcome email for new subscribers (I share a complete welcome sequence in the Newsletter Starter Kit)
Create a simple reader magnet (that short story or useful guide you've been thinking about)
Set up a way to deliver your reader magnet (through your newsletter provider or Substack)
Add your signup form to your website's most visited pages (if you have a website)
Week 3: Plan Your Content
Choose how often you'll send your newsletter (monthly is a great start!)
Write down 3-4 topic ideas that excite you
Create a simple content calendar for your first month
Draft your first newsletter
Week 4: Launch and Connect
Send your first newsletter
Tell your existing readers about your newsletter (whether through your website, social media, or book backmatter)
Add your newsletter signup link to your email signature
Celebrate! You've created a direct line to your readers
Remember: You don't need to have everything perfect before you begin. Start with what you have, where you are. The most important thing is to create that direct connection with your readers – the rest can be refined over time.
Think of this plan as a menu rather than a strict recipe. Choose the steps that make sense for your situation and adjust the timeline to fit your schedule. The goal is progress, not perfection.
And if you need help getting started with your newsletter, I’ve got you covered! Check out our Newsletter Starter Kit for Authors - it’s my step-by-step guide that removes all the guesswork.
