Darla G. Denton | Author Platform Coach

In our digital world, having a solid author platform is key—it’s a must-have for any writer’s success. Whether you’re about to drop your first book or you’re looking to grow your fanbase, checking out where your author platform stands is your starting point.

My Author Platform Assessment service will give your author platform a thorough check-up. I’ll spot what’s working and what could be better. You’ll get advice that’s made just for you, helping you shine online, connect with your fans, and build a rock-solid base for your book’s success.

I’ll walk with you through personalized coaching, giving you more than just an assessment. We’ll map out a plan that’s clear and focused.

It’s your chance to make your author platform a major asset in connecting with readers, getting seen more, and hitting your publishing goals. I’m here to support you each step of the way. Let’s make this happen!

What is Author Platform Assessment?

Author Platform Assessment is a thorough and detailed examination of your entire author platform, designed to give you a 360-degree view of your online presence and its effectiveness in reaching and engaging your target audience.

Why You Need One

This service is fundamental for authors who wish to understand the strengths and areas for improvement across their digital footprint—enabling strategic decisions that drive publishing success.

Scope of the Assessment

My Author Platform Assessment covers all critical aspects of your online author presence, including but not limited to:

• Social Media: I evaluate your use of platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, Pinterest and LinkedIn to determine how well you’re connecting with your audience, sharing content, and promoting your work.
• Website: Your author website is your online home. My assessment reviews its design, content, user experience, and SEO effectiveness to ensure it’s not just attractive but also functional and discoverable.
• Blog: For authors with blogs, I assess content relevance, engagement, posting frequency, and SEO optimization to enhance its role in building your platform.
• Book Marketing: I examine your book marketing strategies, including email marketing, newsletter content, subscriber engagement, networking events and online forum use, to optimize how you engage with your audience.

Author Platform Assessment Process

My Author Platform Assessment process involves:

1. Initial Consultation: A discussion to understand your goals, target audience, and any specific concerns you have with your current platform.
2. Comprehensive Review: An in-depth analysis of your social media, website, blog, and book marketing strategies based on best practices and industry standards.
3. Actionable Recommendations: Tailored advice on how to improve each aspect of your platform, prioritized by impact and feasibility, to help you make informed decisions moving forward.
4. Follow-Up Coaching: Personalized coaching sessions to guide you through implementing the recommendations and addressing any challenges along the way.

How It Helps Authors

The Author Platform Assessment is instrumental in helping authors identify the strong points of their current platform and uncover hidden opportunities for growth. By understanding what works, what doesn’t, and why, authors can make strategic enhancements to increase their visibility, engage more deeply with their audience, and ultimately, support their book sales and career growth. It’s not just about having an online presence; it’s about making sure that presence works as hard as you do.

6 Steps to a Stronger Author Platform

My Author Platform Assessment service is designed to be comprehensive yet straightforward, ensuring you gain valuable insights into your author platform without any hassle. Here’s how the process unfolds from start to finish:

Step 1: Initial Inquiry

Begin your journey to a more robust author platform by reaching out to me through my contact form, email, or phone. I’ll respond promptly to discuss your needs and how our Platform Assessment can help.

Step 2: Setting Up

Once you decide to proceed, I’ll send you a brief questionnaire to gather essential information about your author platform. This includes links to your social media profiles, website, blog, and any specific goals or concerns you have. I may also request access to analytics tools you’re using (like Google Analytics or social media insights) to better understand your current performance.

Step 3: Comprehensive Review

I dive into an in-depth analysis of your author platform, evaluating each component against industry best practices and your specific objectives. This step typically takes 4-6 weeks, depending on the complexity of your platform.

Step 4: Actionable Recommendations Report

Based on my findings, I compile a detailed Word document outlining the strengths of your platform, areas for improvement, and actionable recommendations tailored to your goals. This report is designed to be clear and practical, providing you with a roadmap for enhancing your platform.

Step 5: Consultation Call

After you’ve had a chance to review the report, I schedule a consultation call to discuss your findings and recommendations in depth. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions, clarify any points, and plan your next steps. I’m here to ensure you feel supported and confident in moving forward.

Step 6: Implementation and Support

With the assessment and recommendations in hand, you’re ready to start making improvements. I offer follow-up coaching sessions (if included in your package) to help guide you through implementing changes and to address any new challenges that arise.

Typical Timeline

The entire Author Platform Assessment process from initial inquiry to the consultation call is typically completed within 4-6 weeks. This timeline can vary based on the scope of your platform and my current workload.

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