The best-selling authors you admire didn’t just write a book.

They did this one thing—and at times, it took them years.

They built an audience first.

Ryan Holiday.

James Clear.

Dr. Andrew Huberman. (His book isn’t even out yet, and it’s already a bestseller.)

Before their books took off, they had something most authors assume the book itself will create—an audience already paying attention.

A book alone doesn’t make you an authority.

I know this because I wrote and published one—

And it didn’t give me the immediate audience I thought it would.

That’s okay. I had a different plan in motion.

It’s not just about the book.

It’s about the platform you build around your expertise.

The mistake most authors make?

They publish first… and hope people will care.

I made this mistake too.

But here’s the good news and why I love this work.

You can build an audience while writing.

I started sharing my book project publicly on Instagram, and my original audience formed around my Refutees Brand.

You can even build after your book launches.

I launched my podcast inside my van, sharing stories of resilience.

That expanded my reach beyond the book.

But expectations need to meet reality.

Here’s where I realized the real power of having a book—it’s a tool.

And how you use it makes the difference.

If you launch without an audience, sales will be slower.

If you build while you write, momentum builds before launch.

If you wait until after, you’re playing catch-up.

So what exactly is their audience paying attention to?

Their media.

The articles they write.

Their social media presence.

Their videos, interviews, and podcasts.

The authors you admire have spent years building an online presence across multiple channels.

They go where their audience is—TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.
And they pump out media.

Because they know their readers consume content differently.

Some watch.

Some read.

Some listen.

So they (or their team) make sure their content is everywhere it needs to be.

They also have newsletters they are dedicated to.

It’s not just social media anymore.

It’s interest media.

Science. Philosophy. Business. Wellness.

If you’re serious about building an audience, having one or two channels to start is the bare minimum.

Focus on that.

Build.

Stay consistent.

#risingauthors