5 steps to grow your platform
If the idea of ”building your fan base” or “growing your audience” overwhelms you, you are certainly not alone. Building an online platform isn’t a one-click task, but there are ways to maneuver down the often confusing road to successfully building your online reach.
The 5 main stages of the journey to grow your platform (according to Michael Hyatt) are: Definition, Activation, Attraction, Monetization and Optimization. If you are tired of feeling like you are not writing to anyone and posting so that no one but you can see it, read on. I have adapted its 5 stages and action steps to better serve partner published and self-published authors.
one. Definition: gain clarity
As you work to find your voice and create a brand for yourself, you are considering the unique message that God has given you to share. How will it affect the people who receive it? Determine exactly what your message will be.
Action steps:
- Survey your readers
- Write a core value proposition
- Create a brand slogan
- Develop your brand components (logo, photos, etc.)
two. Activation: create content
Be it a blog, vlog, podcast or website, you are launching your home base that will be the source of your main content. You’re starting to work on gaining your first few followers and learning how to serve them through great content consistently.
Action steps:
- Establish your base of operations
- Select your main content categories
- Determine your voice
- Commit to a posting schedule
3. Attraction: attracting customers
Your content is being created and published, but now you want to share it with as many people as you can. This is done by developing your social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.), building an email list, and trying to increase your home base traffic.
Action steps:
- Install an email collection form
- Create an attractive email incentive
- Choose a main social media channel
- Develop a social media strategy
Four. Monetization: generate cash
Once you have a solidified list of subscribers and followers, you want to serve them even better by increasing your income through online income. Time to explore affiliate links, sell ads, and create original products (think e-books, webinars, workbooks, conferences, etc.).
Action steps:
- Understand your relationship with money
- Consider ad revenue
- Maximize Affiliate Opportunities
- Develop your own products
5. Optimization: building a business
Finally freed from the demands of a daily job, you can work to maximize your impact and optimize your results. By building infrastructure, developing workflows, and hiring a team, you can learn how to train others to spread the message that started this entire process.
Action steps:
- Learn to delegate
- Establish a hiring process
- Identify and define key workflows
- Pay attention to the numbers
So don’t be overwhelmed! Follow these 5 steps at your own pace and get rewarded!