There are some amazing Facebook pages with funny, serious, powerful and moving content. When I find a great one I always want to go check out their blog or website, but all too often I discover that Facebook is their platform. There is no blog, no website, no book, no Kindle, nothing, zip, nada.
If you goal is to have a hobby then I guess that works for a while. But what if, by some stroke of history repeating itself, Facebook becomes the next MySpace? What happens if you have all your eggs in one basket that you don’t own?
If you are building a brand, you need your own website. If you are creating an author or business platform, you need to own your own piece of property in cyberspace. Having your business presence solely on the borrowed property of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Periscope, Instagram, Pinterest or whatever social media platform you occupy is like setting up shop on a beach towel at the beach. The tides change, the weather varies, the sands shift, and at any moment you could be told to cease and desist doing business on public or private property.
All social media platforms should be avenues that you use to lead consumers to your website or blog. Social media sites are borrowed space, not even rented space with a lease guaranteeing your rights to do business on the plot of cyberspace you pitch your tent. Your website is what belongs to you. You own the URL.
Here are six tips for building your website platform:
- Design – Make your website appealing with your your logo, font, colors, white space, layout and theme. To learn more about the visual cues read Kissmetrics Color Psychology, How Typoography Affects Conversions, and Simplify Your Website with the Kiss Rule.
- Content – Content is king. If there is nothing to read, people will leave. I am one of those readers who will read a cereal box to have something to read, but I will quickly leave a website with no engaging content. Your content should quickly answer the question, “What is in it for me?”
- Mobile Friendly – It is a mobile world and countless websites have not become mobile friendly. Mobile users have surpassed desktop readers. According to the latest data (July 2015) mobile usage is now 51% compared to desktop usage at 42%. Go mobile or get left in the digital dust as this trend continues to grow.
- Easy Navigation – No one wants to get lost in a website with no easy way back to where they started. Make it easy to navigate your site with navigation bars and/or uncluttered navigation buttons.
- Call to Action – Give your visitors a simple call to action to either sign up for your newsletter or your website.
- Credibility – Make it easy for your visitor to know more about you. Tell them why you are a legitimate resource, give them social proof, and be transparent. Read The Dirty Secrety Behind “About” Pages at Lucky Break Consulting for a great road map to building your page.
You can find a great deal of information on building your author platform in How to Self-Publish: A Guide for Author-Preneurs. Selah Press also have platform building packages.
