Platform Building Starts Yesterday

NOTE:  In January 2018, an updated and expanded edition of The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide was released, offering 65 book marketing ideas and new "Deep Dives" sections exploring social media strategy, how to work with beta readers, and how to earn free press coverage. 

To download the new Smashwords Book Marketing Guide for free, here are the coordinates:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iBooks
Kobo
Smashwords

The new 2018 edition of The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide is also available as a serialized podcast on the SMART AUTHOR podcast, starting with Episode 10.

Click here to access all SMART AUTHOR podcast episodes.






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The information that follows on this page is from the 2013 edition of the Smashwords Book Marketing Guide, which will remain here for historical purposes only.


If you’re waiting until your book is finished to start marketing, you’re already behind the curve.  As an author, you should devote a portion of every day to get your name out there and to build relationships with prospective readers, partners and friends.  This is “platform building.”  Your platform is simply your ability to reach readers, or reach people who can help you reach readers.  All the ideas in this Smashwords Book Marketing Guide will help you build your personal platform.  As an author, your readers will determine your success.  If you can build a passionate fan base, they will market your book for you.  If you don’t begin your platform building until after you release your book, you’ll face a more difficult challenge.  The earlier you start your platform-building (preferably the moment you start dreaming of writing your first book), the easier and more successful your marketing will be.  If you feel like you’re starting late, don’t fret.  We all start somewhere, and by reading this guide you’ll get a head start.