Do you need an author platform? Your burning platform Qs, answered 📱

Answering your questions about building a following

Building a platform is a huge source of anxiety for many aspiring authors. But how important is it really for unpublished writers to have a platform? And to what extent does an author’s platform — or lack thereof — influence publishers and agents?

Today, I’m answering these questions and more to help settle the issue once and for all — and hopefully put your mind at ease so you can decide whether and how to move forward building your own author platform. Here are the questions we’ll cover:

• How important is an author platform for traditional publishing?

• Do agents care about authors’ social media followings?

• How important is an author platform for self-publishing?

• Do you need an author website?

• Should authors be on TikTok?

• Can you build an author platform without giving writing advice?

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How important is an author platform for traditional publishing?

When I was in the industry, an author’s platform was certainly something that we considered, but it was not the single deciding factor for whether we would take on an author (for representation or publication) or not. At the end of the day, our decisions centered on the strength of the story itself. (Important note: I worked for literary agents and acquiring editors who specialized in fiction — see my notes on nonfiction below.)

If you’re unpublished, it’s never going to hurt if you have a significant following because, of course, that could help a publisher sell more of your books, which is the ultimate goal. That said, if you don’t have one, it’s not game-over by any means. A good agent who is truly committed to your story is likely going to want to represent you whether you have a hundred followers, a thousand followers, or one hundred thousand followers. You may have conversations with your literary agent and publishing team about bolstering your platform ahead of your book launch, but it’s not required that you have a huge, robust following at the querying stage.

The conversation is different if you are writing nonfiction. For nonfiction authors, platform becomes a bit more important because those books are often more specialized, and publishers want to leverage your authority and network in your niche. Think about it from a reader’s perspective: are you more likely to buy a business book from someone with a strong online presence and huge following in the business space, or someone whose name shows nothing in a Google search? In nonfiction, having a platform not only helps you sell more books, but grants you authority.

Do agents care about authors’ social media followings?