How writers and others can build a platform (part 8 - the last, for now)

In this final (at least for now) segment on building your platform, let’s look at how you can make people aware of what you’re offering them. It’s one thing to make a video or write a special report, but it’s another to actually get people to watch or read it. Here are six ways to get the word out:

 Write articles for distribution services like ezinearticles.com. They don’t charge you for uploading your articles, and in your bio box you can include a link to a blog, a website, a podcast or the other location where people who are interested can find what you’re offering. Naturally the articles should relate closely to the thing you’re offering.

 Create “trailers” to put up on YouTube. Be sure that the key words you put with the video are precise so that people who are searching for videos on your topic will find them.

 Let bloggers who are in your field but not directly competitive in terms of what you offer know about it. I know from the experience of writing a blog post every day that bloggers are happy to get material they can use.

 Consider the use of low-cost online ads on sites and blogs that are closely related to your topic. These can cost as little as a few dollars or pounds and while the readership typically is low, they will have a high degree of interest in your arena.

 Cross-promote. If you have a blog, be sure people who visit it can sign up for your e-bulletin, if you have one. If you send out a free report, include your website and blog addresses in big print and in several locations. Use the auto-signature feature on your email to include links to your blog or website.

 Consider using ads in offline media. Again, ideally this would be in a specialist publication that targets exactly the group you want to reach. These don’t have to be huge ads—in fact, start by testing whether classified ads work for you, and then try small display ads. Haggle—very few people pay the amounts on a magazine’s official rate cards.

 I hope this series has been helpful. If you have other ideas or are willing to share your experiences in building a platform, please get in touch at jurgenwolff(at)gmail.com. And keep reading this blog because I’ll be adding new ideas and strategies from time to time. You can also get more ideas from my book, “Your Writing Coach” published by Nicholas Brealey and available from Amazon and other online and offline retailers and if you’d like me to guide you through to your writing goal over the course of 60 days, see my new Breakthrough Strategy coaching program at www.jurgenwolff.com.