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Jared Dees

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Platform

Here is a collection of the strategies, tactics, tools, and templates I have found to be most helpful in building a platform as an author.

The purpose of your platform is to provide people with a path to become true fans. They will progress through four stages. They will 1. recognize your name/book/brand, 2. research you and your work, 3. read your books and emails or social media posts, and, finally, 4. read everything you create.

Here is how to build a platform to take someone from recognition to reading everything you write.

1. Recognize You

At this stage someone might say they heard you on a podcast, read about you on a blog, saw your name/book shared on social media, read an article by you, saw an ad for you/your book online, came across you while searching for something, or saw your book ranking highly on Amazon. 

Strategies to help you get recognized:

  • Situation-specific SEO
  • Super Simple Networking with Email
  • The $1.80 Strategy for Instagram
  • The Book Elevator Pitch

2. Research You

At this stage someone is motivated to search for you/your book on Google, Amazon, Goodreads, or their local bookstore. 

Strategies to help you get found online:

  • The Grunt Test

3. Read Your Writing

At this stage someone will read your book, read your emails, read your blog posts, read your social media posts, listen to your podcast, or watch your videos. 

Strategies to help you get readers:

  • The “Meet the Characters” Email Newsletter
  • The “Link Roundup” Email Newsletter

4. Read Everything

At this state someone becomes a “true fan” reading every book you write (in the genre they read) as well as every email you send, article you write, and every post, podcast, or video you publish. 

Strategies to help you inspire true fans:

  • Marketing = Mission

 

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Jared Dees is passionate about sharing practical resources to teach faith. He is best known for his website The Religion Teacher and is the author of many books including 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, Christ in the Classroom, and Beatitales: 80 Fables about the Beatitudes for Children. See all of Jared's Books →

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