Comments on: How Important Is an Author’s Platform? http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html CEO, Thomas Nelson Publishers Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:26:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mike Rapp http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-48104 Mike Rapp Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:52:34 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-48104 Very well said, Daniel! Very well said, Daniel!

]]> By: Mary DeMuth http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-48103 Mary DeMuth Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:50:09 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-48103 Great reminder about writing a book that resonates. The best, most successful books deal with a universal need. And they best sell by word of mouth. It's hard to orchestrate that, though. Which is why media is helpful. It elevates the possibility that a book will have more exposure, thus increasing word of mouth, IF IT IS A WORTHY BOOK. Great reminder about writing a book that resonates. The best, most successful books deal with a universal need. And they best sell by word of mouth. It's hard to orchestrate that, though. Which is why media is helpful. It elevates the possibility that a book will have more exposure, thus increasing word of mouth, IF IT IS A WORTHY BOOK.

]]> By: Cassandra Frear http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-48099 Cassandra Frear Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:19:35 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-48099 Very sensible thoughts here. Readers won't pay money to buy books that don't engage them. At least, they won't buy very many of them and they certainly won't recommend them to their friends. Books that are well crafted, that inspire and enrich, that fire the imagination will grow in their influence over time and continue to sell. It's not about the next dollar, after all. It's about vision and craft and excellence in both. I like this. I like it very much. Very sensible thoughts here. Readers won't pay money to buy books that don't engage them. At least, they won't buy very many of them and they certainly won't recommend them to their friends. Books that are well crafted, that inspire and enrich, that fire the imagination will grow in their influence over time and continue to sell.

It's not about the next dollar, after all. It's about vision and craft and excellence in both. I like this. I like it very much.

]]> By: Kelly Langston http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-47401 Kelly Langston Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:52:54 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-47401 Another thank you from me. Regarding the post, sometimes I get frustrated with all of the hype to establish a platform and "get my name out there." (This opinion comes from someone whose career is based on marketing!) But the truth is, I don't want readers to remember me...I'd rather leave them with a message that they can't get out of their heads. A message that, with God's help - will change their life for the better. I write to fill a need that I can personally connect with in some intense way: What is God taking me through, what am I learning and does anyone else deal with this need? If so, write! I still see so many needs that remain unfulfilled in terms of book topics. The topics are out there! My first publishing deal came from pouring out my heart and soul about my son's autism in blog posts. Parents connected with those posts because they were hurting like me, seaching for encouragement and answers that God was ready to provide. God opened the doors, I didn't, nor did a platform. And strangely, that's the only way I want it. Another thank you from me. Regarding the post, sometimes I get frustrated with all of the hype to establish a platform and "get my name out there." (This opinion comes from someone whose career is based on marketing!) But the truth is, I don't want readers to remember me…I'd rather leave them with a message that they can't get out of their heads. A message that, with God's help – will change their life for the better. I write to fill a need that I can personally connect with in some intense way: What is God taking me through, what am I learning and does anyone else deal with this need? If so, write! I still see so many needs that remain unfulfilled in terms of book topics. The topics are out there! My first publishing deal came from pouring out my heart and soul about my son's autism in blog posts. Parents connected with those posts because they were hurting like me, seaching for encouragement and answers that God was ready to provide. God opened the doors, I didn't, nor did a platform. And strangely, that's the only way I want it.

]]> By: @katdish http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-47389 @katdish Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:31:19 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-47389 Good advice. Write the best book you can. The writing must come first. Building a great platform won't give you much staying power if the writing is weak. The best case scenario (IMO) is to not go it alone. Find an advocate who believes in your work and is willing to help you with the aspects of this business that don't come naturally to you, but are almost second nature to them. My recent post <a href="http://katdish.blogspot.com/2010/02/fishing-for-answers-by-billy-coffey.html" target="_blank">Fishing for Answers (by Billy Coffey)</a> Good advice. Write the best book you can. The writing must come first. Building a great platform won't give you much staying power if the writing is weak. The best case scenario (IMO) is to not go it alone. Find an advocate who believes in your work and is willing to help you with the aspects of this business that don't come naturally to you, but are almost second nature to them.
My recent post Fishing for Answers (by Billy Coffey)

]]> By: Calin http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-47381 Calin Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:57:01 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-47381 First books coming to my mind is Good to Great or Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Not living in USA I am not 100% sure the authors did not have a strong platform as TV coverage, but I guessed Internet would have helped me to track back their platform if there was any. First books coming to my mind is Good to Great or Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Not living in USA I am not 100% sure the authors did not have a strong platform as TV coverage, but I guessed Internet would have helped me to track back their platform if there was any.

]]> By: @KarynBrownlee http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-47379 @KarynBrownlee Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:46:41 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-47379 Thanks for sharing your perspective. It is encouraging to little fish like me. Thanks for sharing your perspective. It is encouraging to little fish like me.

]]> By: Lindsey http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-47376 Lindsey Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:12:51 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-47376 This is reassuring - as an aspiring author it's sometimes daunting to feel that the platform trumps all (even good writing). Thank you! This is reassuring – as an aspiring author it's sometimes daunting to feel that the platform trumps all (even good writing). Thank you!

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-47368 uberVU - social comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:19:27 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-47368 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by makingstories: @MichaelHyatt Your piece http://tinyurl.com/crh6ae is refreshing-platform is way over-rated - blast it out to every publisher thnx.... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by makingstories: @MichaelHyatt Your piece http://tinyurl.com/crh6ae is refreshing-platform is way over-rated – blast it out to every publisher thnx….

]]> By: Rachel H. Evans http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html/comment-page-1#comment-41594 Rachel H. Evans Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:44:03 +0000 http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/03/how-important-is-an-author%e2%80%99s-media-platform.html#comment-41594 I'm with Rachelle on this, not only because she's my agent, but because I think she's right - it's not an either/or thing. Writers shouldn't get a pass from working on platform because they have a strong idea or show promising talent. Nor should folks with a platform get a pass from writing a good book because they are famous...although this has been known to happen from time to time. :-) Mike, I suspect that what you're getting at is Seth Godin's "purple cow" concept. You've got to have a strong strong idea. Then you've got to get the message out. <a href="http://www.sethgodin.com/purple/" target="_blank">http://www.sethgodin.com/purple/</a> The great thing about living in the Information Age is that the very best "purple cows" can break out of the pen and romp around - with or without an official platform! I'm with Rachelle on this, not only because she's my agent, but because I think she's right – it's not an either/or thing. Writers shouldn't get a pass from working on platform because they have a strong idea or show promising talent. Nor should folks with a platform get a pass from writing a good book because they are famous…although this has been known to happen from time to time. :-)

Mike, I suspect that what you're getting at is Seth Godin's "purple cow" concept. You've got to have a strong strong idea. Then you've got to get the message out. http://www.sethgodin.com/purple/

The great thing about living in the Information Age is that the very best "purple cows" can break out of the pen and romp around – with or without an official platform!

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