Standing On Your Soapbox – Finding Your Platform

If you have a blog in place, or if you are planning a blog, did you know you could stand on your own soapbox and tell the world about your passions? From this soapbox you can share your joys, sorrows, vent, instruct, teach, train, encourage, entrust, show, and flex your writing muscle. In other words, your blog can be your platform. Why have platforms? This is helpful if you ever want to consider publishing, as in publishing stuff you write, as in books, eBooks, etc. Your platform is an excellent place to help market your writings.

Let me be clear, you do not have to write with the intent of publishing any further than your own blog. Many prefer to write just for themselves and their readers, not caring if they ever have an opportunity in having their works published. However, you will hear of more bloggers opting to publish their posts into eBooks, even commercial publishers are approaching them offering book deals. You may decide that you enjoy writing so much; you want to put forth effort into writing a book.

Whether you think you may want your writings published beyond your blog right now, you should at least be open to the possibility for the future. One thing a commercial publisher looks for is whether a writer has a platform or not. If you have a blog in place and if your blog focuses on the book you’ve written, then you have the “platform” they are seeking.

If you are just starting your blog, think ahead to what you want your main point to be, your mission. It may be a blog detailing your day as a mom. It may be one where you write about the craft projects you do with your children. It may be one where you talk about your daily struggles with an illness or chronic condition. It may be one where you highlight your walk with the Lord. It may be one where you generalize your life and talk about it all, family, children, home projects, cooking, etc. Really, there is no set rules to coming up with a platform, except you need to question why you are starting your blog.

If you are starting a blog with the intent to earn an income with it, you really should think about your platform. If you wish to cover several different topics, like for example, family issues, cooking, and your walk with the Lord, then make sure your categories are well defined. Put all your “recipes” under your cooking category. Family issues under “family” category, and so on.
By doing this, if you wish ever to publish a book, when you approach a publisher or agent with your manuscript, you can honestly tell them you already have a platform (your blog). This will go a long ways in earning points with the potential agent or publisher. Be sure to make the most of your “platform,” set your blog up by creating email lists, to sign up or opt-in for your newsletter and RSS feeds. Having a nice sized list will also impress any future publishers. They will see you with great marketing potential if these things are already in place.

This post shared by Lori Ramsey, a contributor for Sisters In Bloom. You can find Lori’s work at her brand new site LA Ramsey where she writes about her novels and her faith.