Building Your Author Platform:
Newsletter First, Website Second
Last week, I talked about the two must-haves for building your author platform: a newsletter and a website. If you’ve got two books and plans for more, these are your starting blocks—newsletter first, website second.
What surprised me was the flurry of questions and comments I got after that message. So, I’ve decided to write a full blog post on HOW to get started with each of these platforms. Stay tuned for that!
In the meantime, let’s chat about the two big concerns that came up over and over: time and money.
SETTING UP A NEWSLETTER:
At its core, your newsletter’s job is simple: keep readers in the loop about your books. When you’re gearing up for a new release, here’s your game plan:
- Let subscribers know your book is coming soon. Ask for ARC readers or promo team members.
- Announce when preorders go live.
- Shout out about your launch—2 to 4 times over a month. Don’t be shy! One of these messages should ask readers to tell their friends about your book, and another message should ask readers to leave a review.
That’s it. Rinse and repeat for the next book. If you’ve got six or more books down the road, you can always expand your newsletter with extras, like sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes stories, or quirky updates about your life.
One of the most memorable newsletters I ever subscribed to came from an author with a mystery series. He owned a sailboat with red sails (just like his main character) and challenged readers to spot it. If someone saw the boat and reported the location, they got a signed copy of his latest book. It was brilliant—and unforgettable.
SETTING UP A WEBSITE:
Let’s be real: setting up a simple website will take time, but not as much as you think. All you need is a five-page website
(plus a page for each of your books). Chances are, you already have
everything you need—book blurbs, author bio, and a headshot. It’s just a
matter of formatting it for your website.
If you’ve ever formatted a Word
doc, you’re more than halfway there.
Here’s what your website needs to be a functional, professional placeholder:
- Homepage: Who you are and what you write.
- Book pages: One page per book with buy links.
- Newsletter signup page: Easy for visitors to join your email list.
- Promo team page: Where super-fans can sign up to help spread the word.
- Contact page: So people can reach you (or at least pretend they can).
That’s
it. No need to churn out “stupid, useless blog posts” (your words, not
mine!) unless you really want to. Down the road, when you have a stack
of books and more time, you might add fun extras, like posts about your
hobbies or what inspired your stories (hello, real dog rescue adventures).
FREE IS A GREAT PLACE TO START:
Here’s the good news: you can start a website and newsletter for FREE. Yes, really. Depending on your needs, the free options can last for years—or even forever.
I recommend two platforms:
- MailerLite: Simple, fast, and offers free newsletters and websites. Perfect for authors focused on promoting books.
- Systeme.io: A bit more complex, but packed with extra features, like selling your own courses or products. Great if you’re adding business elements to your platform. PERFECT for non-fiction authors.
If you’re just getting started, go with MailerLite. It’s easy, it works, and it won’t cost you a dime.
If you’re planning on a bigger picture, give Systeme.io a look.
That’s it for now! Remember, building your author platform doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. Start small, keep it simple, and let it grow with your books.
Got more questions? Keep ‘em coming—I love hearing from you!
PS talking about "stupid, useless blog posts" ... A few years ago I started noticing all the "funny" sayings that my friends would use. Being a research hound I started looking them up and posting them. I got a surprising response. To this day they are the most looked at posts on my website ... Here's two that are perennial favorites:
https://melanierockett.com/does-gird-your-loins-mean-what-you-think-it-means/
https://melanierockett.com/happier-than-a-pig-in-shit/
The purpose of this last bit? Don't be shy, just post it and see what happens.
