What Is an Author Platform?

Having some form of platform means being visible to your target audience as an expert, thought leader, professional, or influencer.

The concept of an author platform is difficult to explain; everyone seems to describe it differently. Writer and publishing expert Jane Friedman defines it as “an ability to sell books because of who you are or who you can reach.”

The idea of an author platform appeared in the pre-internet 1990s, at a time when nonfiction book proposals were being rejected by agents and publishers because they wanted authors who were in the public eye in some way — writers with credentials and authority.

Your platform — as an author or otherwise — grows out of your body of work. This includes books, articles, blog posts, speaking engagements, and more. Your visibility depends on the communities and professional associations you belong to, your online followers and website traffic, the size of your email newsletter list, etc., but especially how engaged you are with these groups.

An author’s platform is unique, so the process of building it will be different for each person. It’s led by your story/message, your strengths and…