| I once spoke with a woman who had written a | | | | speakers have their audiences, and bloggers have |
| Christian book and I asked her what plans she had to | | | | their readers. Each follower constitutes a plank in |
| promote it. She said, "I don't intend to promote it, | | | | your platform and they are the core buyers of your |
| that's the publisher's responsibility." | | | | book. If you have no platform it is much harder to |
| Wrong answer. | | | | get public visibility and get book sales rolling. |
| There used to be a time when publishers promoted | | | | Everyone hopes this core platform group will spread |
| books, now about all they do is issue catalogs and | | | | news of your book by word-of-mouth and that it |
| put them in the hands of overworked traveling | | | | becomes a bestseller through that means. |
| bookstore reps. Once upon a time publishers had big | | | | Word-of-mouth is the cheapest and most effective |
| publicity departments which set up author tours, | | | | book promotion method available. Authors and |
| book signings and radio and television interviews. That | | | | publishers love it when a book catches fire by that |
| day is largely gone. Sure, the big name authors can | | | | method, and when it does publishers become willing |
| get the celebrity treatment from publishers, but | | | | to spend money to fan the flames. |
| that's only after they have sold a million books and | | | | If you're thinking about writing a book, you need to |
| there is some evidence that they're going to sell a | | | | think about building your platform now. When you |
| few million more. | | | | present your book to a publisher, you need to tell |
| Some authors who are new to the publishing | | | | them how many people attend your church or your |
| business are under the impression that bookstores | | | | seminars, or who read your blog. Information like that |
| are in the business of promoting their inventory. | | | | helps them make the financial decision to publish your |
| That's not true either. You seldom see Christian | | | | book. A sizable platform means there is a |
| bookstores placing print ads in local newspapers or | | | | ready-made market for your book. |
| having TV spots highlighting the availability of | | | | In addition to having an initial platform, you need to |
| particular books. The Christian bookstore business is | | | | think about the other ways that you can promote |
| rather archaic because they sell on consignment, and | | | | your book. The most common ways are by holding |
| they are able to return unsold books to the publisher. | | | | book signings, seminars, news articles, and doing radio |
| They have little motivation to advertise your book. | | | | and television interviews. |
| So who has the responsibility for promoting the | | | | You may get some book promotion support from |
| Christian book you have written? You! Before you | | | | your publisher. However, in most cases it's going to |
| sign a contract with a publishing company, they're | | | | be your responsibility to promote your book yourself. |
| going to want to know if you have a platform. What | | | | You will have to pay for it out of your own pocket, |
| is the platform? It is a base of followers who are | | | | but it is an investment which could reap huge |
| likely to buy your book. Church pastors have the | | | | rewards. |
| people who attend their church as a platform, | | | | |