Digital platforming on social media can feel endless. If it’s not leading to book sales (and let’s be honest, it probably won’t) it can feel fruitless. But that doesn’t mean building your author platform online isn’t important.

Over time, all those individual connections you make add up to a following, and a following contributes to a readership. It can also be great for networking with publishing professionals who can help your career grow.

So, sorry, I can’t excuse you from online platforming. But I can help you stay sane while you do it. With a strategic foundation, a few great tools, and established boundaries, any author can build a platform without the overwhelm.

Here are a few steps you can take while you’re building your online audience that can save your sanity: