wordpress-seo
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action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /srv/users/sandra/apps/sandra/public/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114Your book\u2019s success or failure can hinge on your\u00a0personal community or network.<\/p>\n
Whether you call the people you’re connected to\u00a0your tribe, fans, followers, or community, you want to be linked to people who will want your book or can help you tell the right people about it.<\/p>\n
In the publishing world, that\u2019s known as a platform<\/a>.<\/p>\n One of the best ways to build a community that will become interested in your book is to create a group for your book\u2019s topic on an appropriate social network. What you don\u2019t<\/em> want to do is try to build that community on your book\u2019s website.<\/p>\n I’ve worked\u00a0with a few\u00a0authors who asked their webmasters to incorporate forums into their fledgling websites. Each had hoped to create ongoing\u00a0discussions around topics related to their books. Because these authors didn’t have\u00a0large platforms in place already, getting people to register for their forums and participate was next to impossible. (Should their webmasters have foreseen\u00a0this and informed them? I think so. Do you?)<\/p>\n I wished these authors\u00a0received\u00a0the advice I\u2019m giving you: Create your community where people are already gathered.<\/em><\/p>\n Fish where the fish are. Create a group on an established network such as Facebook, LinkedIn, or\u00a0Goodreads.<\/p>\n Here are a few things to keep in mind as you consider the possibilities:<\/p>\n If you aren\u2019t familiar with groups, join a few first. <\/strong><\/p>\n Monitor the flow. Determine what you do and don\u2019t like about each group. Get a sense of the structure and rules that might work for your group. To find groups to join:<\/p>\n Pick the right topic so you attract the right audience.<\/strong><\/p>\n Don’t shoot the messenger here, but honestly, too many authors spend too much time communing with other authors instead of with their book\u2019s target audience. If your book\u2019s audience is authors, that\u2019s fine. If it isn\u2019t, make sure you\u2019re focused on a topic that\u2019s central to your book. Then reach out to people who are interested in that topic.<\/p>\n <\/a>Set rules and enforce them.<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m a member of several LinkedIn groups with rules that vary. What\u2019s acceptable in one group isn\u2019t acceptable in another. Some appear to be completely un-moderated \u2013 those are the groups where spammers start discussions that are just product advertisements. On the other hand, when the rules are so strict that they inhibit conversation and learning, I usually leave the group. Find a balance that’s a good fit for you and your members.<\/p>\n Make sure you have the time to moderate your group and participate in it.<\/strong><\/p>\n I watched a Facebook group dissolve because a personal crisis kept the founder from blocking spam and keeping conversations on track and relevant. It does take time to police your group. You want to make sure people treat each other with respect\u00a0(this can be a challenge, unfortunately). Depending on your goals, you might also want to monitor it for spamming and blatantly commercial messages.<\/p>\n Some group managers set their systems up so that they approve every discussion comment before it goes live. Do you have time for that, or do you need something that\u2019s a little less hands on? Figure out what suits your needs as well as the group\u2019s.<\/p>\n Starting, growing, and managing a group is an excellent way to find and connect with others who are as passionate about your topic as you are. It\u2019s not an option for every author, of course, but it\u2019s something to consider If you\u2019re in this for the long haul.<\/p>\n What groups do you belong to? What do you like about them?<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Where do people gather already?<\/h3>\n
Start slowly<\/h3>\n
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Does it make sense for you?<\/h3>\n