Copyright 2006 GrammarGods.com

If you write it, they will come, or so the prevailing wisdom used to go. If you had an idea for a great non-fiction book, you may have been able to get a decent deal from a publishing company who would pay you to write it. But the window on those types of deals has been closing pretty rapidly for the past few years, as publishers struggle with diminishing bottom lines and the ever-elusive hit book. For every Harry Potter or Da Vinci Code, there are hundreds of books that don't crack the 3,000 mark in sales.

So what's an aspiring writer to do, especially when he or she has a bona fide idea and plenty of writing experience to back it up? Build a platform.

At first blush, it might sound like something out of Robinson Crusoe or Kon Tiki, but in this day and age, platforms release books, not the idea, and not the author. Unless of course you are already established in your field, and by that I mean very established, as in a recognizable name for most people in the world, we can all use some help in building the perfect platform upon which to launch our publishing careers.

Take deep breath and exhale. Now you're ready to jump in.

The first step is a web site. I know that some of you will not believe that you need one. Your idea is better than all the other ideas, you've gotten speeches all over the world, and your mom thinks it's the best idea since, well, apple pie. But that won't get it done. Not only is the web an absolute must for new authors, it's one of the fastest and cheapest ways to communicate with your (soon-to-be growing) fan base. Go to Go Daddy to register a domain name, whether it's your own name, the title of your book, or the trademarked name you've given to your teaching system. For a mere $8.95 per year, you can get a domain name.

By adding a hosting and web site plan, you'll be able to build a site from pre-existing templates, for the non-web savvy among you. And once that's finished, you'll want to submit your spankin' new web site to the major search engines using their Traffic Blazer.

Your next step in building a platform needs to be a way to communicate with people who want to hear from you. Sending regular emails about your bookstore appearances and signings, your public speeches and classes can only be sent, under the new CANN-SPAM law, to people who have opted into your email list. Otherwise, even if you didn't mean to be, you're a spammer, and are liable for arrest and fines. Having a great emailing program helps, as we believe Aweber is the best. With practically no web experience, you can develop a double-opt in system where your visitors can join your email list and then confirm in a second step, helping you comply with the laws. With pre-made templates, Aweber can also help you create email newsletters and email campaigns, if you want to self-publish. They offer free support, as well as web and video tutorials, so there's no excuse not to get started immediately.

Next on your list of things to do is to establish yourself as an expert. If you've already begun making public speeches or publishing articles, that's wonderful, but if not, these two steps are crucial ones in developing the kind of base an editor will want to see before pulling the trigger on your book deal. Creating "content," or usable information for your readers, will help.

Can you write an article or two for your web site? Then offer these to free content databases on the web? While you may miss out on a paycheck or two, you'll be well on your way to having your name spread all over the web, and not by you. In order to build their own sites, people need content all the time, and would probably have well-written articles by the likes of you, Mr. or Ms. Expert.

If you need some help in selling yourself or your ideas, and most writers do, try Instant Sales Letters, by Write Express. This software has tons of templates that are easily customizable for your purpose. For the shy among us, this is the perfect opportunity to sell yourself while not feeling yucky about it. These sales letters are guaranteed to bring in more customers for you and your products, so why not check it out? Your dignity remains intact, and your expert status only grows with each sale.

Lastly, your platform needs a blog. For those of you who don't know what a blog is, it's short for web log, or a kind of diary on the web, that can be updated daily, hourly, or whenever the spirit moves you. Visitors can leave comments on your entries, or join in "the conversation," as it's known. Blogs can also help to establish an expert status, since you are the one handing out advice to people who drop by to ask questions or read your entries. Blogs are tracked by their own search engines and web sites, and if they are updated regularly, as in more than once per week, get the word out about your writing. We love Movable Type's Type Pad, which integrates with your web site seamlessly. Blow off steam, encourage people to take part, and you're already well on your way to building that platform that will help sell your books and related products to the masses!

For more stories like this, visit http://www.GrammarGods.com


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About the Author

Alyson Mead is founder of http://www.GrammarGods.com. She is an award-winning writer who began her career as a book editor in New York, working for companies such as Scholastic, Macmillan, McGraw-Hill, Glencoe, Steck-Vaughn, Silver Burdett & Ginn, Prentice-Hall and others. In her eighteen-year career, she has published hundreds of freelance articles for companies such as Salon, AOL, MSN-NBC, New York Daily News, In These Times and many more.