Customer Reviews

Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I liked this book. There certainly is lots of meat in it. And it is well organized and well written. It tells the reader how to be successful at self-promotion so one can become a recognized expert or noted authority. It is often said that if you want to become known as an expert or authority you need to write a book. But often times to get your first book published by a third-party publisher who will get your book distributed through the big book chains you need to get known as an expert or authority BEFORE your write your book. This book tells you most of what you should consider doing to get that publisher to sign you up.

The book is split into three parts. First we are told how to pick an expertise or what authority to become. Secondly, we are told about many of the marketing tools and techniques available to establish yourself as an expert or noted authority. And lastly, we are told how to pull all those marketing efforts together into a package (or platform) in order to self promote oneself. Basically the book falls together as follows:

Part I. WHAT EXPERTISE OR AUTHORITY?
>>Platform basics (chapters 1-3)
>>Niche development (chapters 4-6)
>>Audience identification (chapters 7-9)
>>The write attitude (chapters 10-12)
>>Mission acknowledgment (chapters 13-15)

Part II. MARKETING TOOLS & TECHNIQUES
>>Join in (chapter 16)
>>Connect with others (chapter 17)
>>Volunteer up (chapter 18)
>>Teach to learn (chapter 19)
>>Make an appearance (chapter 21)
>>Host something (chapter 22)
>>Get articles in print [& online] (chapter 23)
>>Offer a service (chapter 24)
>>*Establish an Amazon presence by reviewing books
>>*Write an ebook or ebooks
>>*Create a popular ezine

Part III. PULL IT ALL TOGETHER INTO A PLATFORM
>>Create a killer Web site (chapters 25, 29 & 34)
>>Definitely include a testimonials page on your Web site (chapter 32)
>>Work one or more blogs that promote your killer Web site (chapter 33)
>>*Social media marketing (chapter 28?)
>>*Get connected in the blogosphere (chapter 28?)
>>*Continue to promote using the marketing tools & techniques cited above

I would have liked the book more if the three points I star under Part II above had been included. If an author writes and sells ebooks that become popular, then that fact goes a long way in convincing a publisher to take you on. If you have a popular ezine (defined as one with a large mailing list), then that will go a long way in convincing a publisher to take you on. And if you establish an Amazon presence by reviewing books similar to your ebooks or the one you seek to have published, then you will be on the road to establishing yourself as an expert or authority. See "Sell Your Book on Amazon" (ISBN: 1432701967) regarding your Amazon presence.

I would have liked the book more if the three points I star in Part III above had been included or better explained. It's one thing to make blog posts. And it's another thing to get connected in the blogoshere. See "Pro Blogger" (ISBN: 9780470246672), and "Secrets of Successful Blogging System" (ISBN: 0978806018). And I didn't see any real coverage of Social Media Marketing. Definitely give "Social Media Marketing" (ISBN: 9780470344026) a look to get an action plan together.

This really is a gem of a self-promotion book. There is a ton of great content included. The tools and techniques are inexpensive or free if you ignore the time commitment. It does a better job of covering the material than a similar book entitled "The Author's Guide to Building an Online Platform" (ISBN: 1884956823), but it still falls short to garner a 5-star rating from me. 4 stars!

>>Sell Your Book on Amazon: The Book Marketing COACH Reveals Top-Secret "How-to" Tips Guaranteed to Increase Sales for Print-on-Demand and Self-Publishing Writers
>>ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
>>Secrets of Successful Blogging System
>>Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day
>>The Author's Guide to Building an Online Platform: Leveraging the Internet to Sell More Books

Writing is a hobby for me which I occasionally turn into a profession by getting articles accepted for publication. Last year I secured my first book contract and have a book coming out in May from Viking Press. It has been quite a learning process and I have had books to guide me all along the way-- from finding an agent to writing a book proposal, etc.

But the one aspect of book-writing I found challenging was the notion of a platform. It was one of the first questions my agent asked me and it has followed me throughout the process. I am by nature rather introverted and the notion of having to do all that networking and marketing was not too appealing. I was fortunate, though, because my article writing and my teaching and training programs (however unintentionally)served as a platform.

I discovered this book through a writer's blog- it was praised for the valuable new information it provided. I immediately found the book and literally read it in one day- constantly marking it with notes and sticky-tab reminders to return to certain sections, follow the instructions, etc.

In the field of books about writing, where many titles and topics stumble over one another offering the same tired advice, Ms. Katz's book is a bright new light providing new and valuable information. If you're a writer or thinking of becoming a writer, run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore, or click the order button here at Amazon and get it. Unless you're already a marketing whiz, this book will open up new avenues and strengthen what many consider the most important part of any book proposal- your platform and marketing plan.

Good luck to all wanna-be (and already are) writers out there-- success is possible and this book will greatly help.

Writing may be an art, but getting published is a business. This is the first book I've read where the author not only understands that, but also makes it easy for the reader to take action. Christina Katz defines a platform as "...all the ways you are visible and appealing to your future, potential, or actual readership." Substitute the word "clients" for "readership" and in this book you'll find everything business owners need to learn how to position and promote their companies or their first book. Plus, the info is presented logically, in easy-to-understand-and-implement chunks, without the hype that pads so many self-marketing books. There is an incredible amount of practical advice and real-world tips packed into 260 pages, along with encouraging statements to convince even the most self-promotion-phobic readers that, "Yes, I can!" I'm glad "Get Known before the Book Deal" came out in November because it's going to be a stocking stuffer for every writer and entrepreneur on my list!

The market for professional authors has always had a little bit of a 'voodoo' aspect to it. It's clear that writing skill is critical for an aspiring author, but it's also self-evident that writing skill itself is not sufficient.

Talk to most experts and they'll talk all about this notion of 'Platform.' It's a buzz word, to be sure, but it's such a consistent part of the writing community that I secretly wanted to believe it really worked.

Christina's book is the first one I've read that really convinced me what a platform really is. It's also the first book I've read that helped me really get a grasp on some of the things that I've been struggling to do.

Although the book is targeted towards new authors (primarily those who have not yet sold their first book) I found it helpful in my own situation. (I've had a dozen technical books published, but I've still failed to establish a meaningful platform.)

Thanks for the help!

Though I've published a few books, Get Known Before the Book Deal has stuff both the novice and the seasoned can use to their respective advantage. The material on building an author platform to sell yourself is great refresher for me; her advice on blogs and and Internet promotion is invaluable. Plus it's easy to read, nothing hidden or complex. Sound advice, well told.

Christina Katz has delivered an easy to read and informative guide to getting known before you sell a book. This book will help new (and experienced) writers prepare for the post-book deal shock of promotion and sales. Writing a book nowadays isn't just about hiding away to create beautiful prose; it's about selling. Authors will give themselves an extra dose of marketing and sales power when they read and apply Katz's book before and after they sell their next book.

I highly recommend.

I've been freelancing for 35+ years and have published books with three major houses, and there was still a tremendous amount of material in this book that I'd never thought of and am now putting to use. Coming up with a handle is one I'm still working on.

GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL explains in detail how to create a platform for launching a book. The material is clear and comprehensive: assumes you know nothing and that you want to know everything. Also, it didn't make me feel bad about what I didn't already know. I highly recommend it.

When you first start out as a writer, one of the first things you may ask yourself is this: How do people find out that I exist? Or, in other words, How do I get known?
Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz answers that question. She gives you sound advice and practical steps toward making yourself known to the world around you, starting with right where you are.
In Christina's chatty and humorous style, she takes you step by step into the platform building process, which simply puts you more and more into the public eye.
She starts you off by asking you what your area of expertise might be in helping you to find your niche and your audience and motivates you with helpful visuals of where your book may end up on the bookstore shelves.
She encourages writers to join professional organizations, teach their expertise, host events in their area of expertise, and be ready to share what they know with their audience by getting out there and getting professionally involved in their community and beyond.
Christina promotes the development of getting your writing in print through freelancing and offering a service focused on your niche.
My favorite part of this book was the final section on growing your platform which includes deciding on your author name, your author identity, and your tag, which explains what you're about, and your bio.
She also covers the online dimension of a writer's platform, including building a website and an email signature, and she offers her perspective on blogging.
Christina has a way of building your confidence and motivating you to use the tools she provides to begin building your platform and growing your audience. When you follow through on her advice, you'll be well on your way to Getting Known.
This review was written by Dawn Herring, JournalWriter Freelance [...]

This is a wonderful book for the beginning or experienced writer looking to build a platform based on their expertise. It's no longer enough to be a good writer and tell a great story; truth is, you need to be able to market yourself, too. Though I wish it weren't true, it's a fact of publishing life these days. And while marketing myself is not something I enjoy doing, I wish this book had been around a few years ago. Whether you are a newbie or a pro without an online platform, there's something in this book you can use.

Constructing an author's platform--that metaphorical performance stage that raises a writer's head above the crowd--can take more time than building a house, according to Christina Katz, author of GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL. I consider Katz a friend, and she was kind enough to quote me in one of the book's epigraphs. Now that I've confessed my bias, I suggest writers heed her advice and get busy building their brands a full year before they expect to rely on the results of their labor. Even an individual who has already written an unpublished book should stop, go back, and work on a platform in order to show prospective publishers a large potential readership.

"Platform" is a word most people, including writers to whom words are currency, consider as imprecise as "system" or "process." Conversely, editors, agents, and successful authors who use the word "platform" as shorthand for a writer's marketability are sure of what the jargon means and what is expected from book authors, especially those who write nonfiction.

Katz's book is no glib response to a hopeful writer's inquiry. With enthusiasm and clarity, she teaches the readers of her book how to establish a professional reputation as a writer, gradually and systematically. She covers miles of territory with unflagging optimism and common sense. Among her wide-ranging recommendations are two that will come as no surprise to anyone who has learned the hard way:

1. Hire a professional photographer to capture a series of flattering portraits, so you'll have a high-quality headshot available in multiple formats on demand. You'll need it.

2. Ditch the bad attitude. As Katz puts it, "You are 100 percent responsible for the success of your writing career." Whining is a waste of energy, she insists, and it makes other people uncomfortable.

With GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL, Katz, who is otherwise known as the Writer Mama, has demonstrated her expertise in platform development. She doesn't doubt for a single moment that other writers can also take charge of becoming known as authorities on their topics. Nonfiction writers and novelists (as well as their agents, editors, and publicists) can be grateful that Katz has shared the sum of her experience.