The Simplest Definition of Author Platform (Ever)

In April, I had the opportunity to attend The Business Behind The Book, a curated conference put on by Francine Parham, a women’s leadership and career advancement expert. Y’all — Francine brought it. I was among 40 expert speakers who offered advice on everything from writing to branding to AI. 

And I heard the best definition of an author platform ever from digital marketing expert Maisha Walker. (Check her out on Linked In.) She said, “Platform is the people who are warm to you.”

Meaning the people who know you. 

Who have signed up for your email list, who are your clients, your fans, and your friends. 

Does that include your followers on social media? Sure.

But it can also be a bigger tent — of past and present colleagues, of attendees at speaking engagements, of employees and management at companies you facilitate for, and the followers of people that will support you by sharing your message, your face, and maybe your book with their audiences when asked.

The point is that these readers are “warm” — meaning that you know them and they you.

That’s it. 

The simplest definition of an author platform I’ve ever heard.