{"id":29750,"date":"2015-04-21T05:30:48","date_gmt":"2015-04-21T10:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/?p=29750"},"modified":"2015-04-21T05:30:48","modified_gmt":"2015-04-21T10:30:48","slug":"why-you-dont-need-a-huge-platform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/why-you-dont-need-a-huge-platform\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Don\u2019t Need a Huge Platform to Get Published\u2014And What it Really Takes Instead"},"content":{"rendered":"

These days everyone knows that you need a platform to get published. But if you\u2019re like a lot of people I meet, you\u2019re overwhelmed, short on time, and not sure where to begin. It feels impossible. But what if I told you it\u2019s easier than you think?<\/p>\n\n

Part of our problem is that we blow things out of proportion. We think we need a massive celebrity-sized platform. I used to think that. Maybe you think that too.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the good news. It doesn\u2019t take huge platform\u2014just an engaged one. And that\u2019s within your reach.<\/p>\n

I speak from significant experience on this point. I have thirty years of experience in every facet of book publishing\u2014as a New York Times<\/em> bestselling author, an agent, and even the CEO and Chairman of Thomas Nelson, one of the largest book publishers in the world.<\/p>\n

The real issue isn\u2019t the quantity<\/em> of fans and followers. It\u2019s a question of quality<\/em>. How committed are they to your message? How eager are they for your next post?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re focused on building massive platform, you\u2019ll waste a lot of effort. To build a tribe that publishers will get excited about, it takes just a handful of characteristics you can cultivate to get your message the attention it deserves.<\/p>\n

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  1. Passion<\/strong>. This is an overused word for some, but it\u2019s critical. The level to which you care about your message is the level to which you\u2019ll persist in communicating it. It\u2019s impossible to sustain and grow reader engagement without passion. If you\u2019ve got that, you\u2019re already on your way.<\/li>\n
  2. Clarity<\/strong>. To keep readers engaged, you also need to stay on message. That means identifying the value you add to people\u2019s lives and working to deliver that value again and again.<\/li>\n
  3. Reader-focus<\/strong>. The way you ensure you\u2019re bringing the value your audience wants is to make your readers the focus. The more you address their needs, the more engagement and loyalty you\u2019ll create.<\/li>\n
  4. Consistency<\/strong>. Now that you\u2019ve matched your passion with clarity and reader-focus, you need to add regularity to the mix. Consistent quality consistently delivered brings readers back. The more regular you are, the more regular they become.<\/li>\n
  5. Support<\/strong>. Just like it takes passion to sustain your platform and build engagement, it also takes support. You need a community of likeminded people that can encourage, teach, and guide so you learn quickly and grow your engagement with as little wasted effort as possible. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you want to find a top-notch literary agent, avoid the slush pile at publishing houses, or create a massive launch for your self-published book, a highly engaged platform is the answer. And developing these five characteristics can make that a reality for you.<\/p>\n

    There are a lot of other potential questions about what it takes to succeed as an author in today\u2019s publishing world. Maybe you\u2019re wondering about \u2026<\/p>\n