How writers and others can build a platform (part 6)

In previous posts in the series, I’ve suggested how to find your target audience, what kinds of content to use to attract them, and how to decide which media to use. Now let’s move on to the action phase.

 The next step is to create the incentive that you’ll use to get people to connect with you. As we discussed in previous posts, you can use text, podcasts, reports, e-bulletins, videos, etc. Here are some tips on that:

 Create a series. As with this series of posts, if people are interested in the first part, they’ll come back for subsequent instalments. That could be a series of articles, a series of videos, several related blog posts, etc. You can later gather them together and offer them as a free or paid-for report.

 Make it personal. This doesn’t mean you have to reveal all the details of your personal life, but be sure to emphasize the things you can offer that others can not, and let your readers or viewers see that they’re dealing with a real person.

 Use each message as a way to lead people to what else you offer, just as in these posts I have referred to my podcast, e-bulletin, and books.

 Encourage feedback. On your blog, allow comments, in your e-bulletin include an email address, on your online articles include links in your bio box, etc.

 Whichever medium you choose…do something different! Your message will be competing with many others (on YouTube, with millions) so if you want people to be interested, offer them something unique in terms of content, presentation, or both.

 Should you require people to register (that is, give you their name and email address) in order to get your free content? That’s what we’ll look at in the next post on this topic.

 (For information on how to use traditional and new media to market yourself and your work, see my books, “Your Writing Coach,” available in the US and UK, and “Marketing for Entrepreneurs”—UK only at this stage).