I decided that I wanted to interview prolific and effective bloggers for the August edition of the SPAWN Market Update. These bloggers must also write about aspects of writing/authorship. I just spent an hour in research mode and came up with scant few who fit my criteria—they blog regularly, stick to issues of writing/publishing/book promotion and they offer information and resources their audience craves.
Maybe you can recommend some of your favorites. I’d appreciate that. Contact me with your recommendations here at this blog—leave a comment—or email me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.
In the meantime do you blog as a way to reach your audience? Some bloggers claim to have landed book deals because of their meaningful blogs. Others have been asked to submit articles or stories for publishing consideration. None of these things has happened to me, but that isn’t the reason why I write. These aren’t my goals for this blog. My aim is to communicate with other authors and writers—to share what I have learned over three decades of freelance writing and publishing.
If you are promoting a book and are considering or attempting to establish a blog, here are some tips that might help. If you can’t follow these guidelines, you might as well forget the blog.
1: Post regularly. Your audience needs to be able to count on you. This means every single day or, at least every few days—regularly.
2: Stay focused on your topic. Make sure that you are providing the information your audience wants in a way that makes it palatable. Stay on track when adding to your blog so that you are always addressing your target audience.
3: Use appropriate keywords often. If your audience is seeking information about gardening in the northwest, continually use words in your blog entries that your potential audience would use in an internet search.
4: Keep selling to a minimum. Yes, you can promote your own book and services, but the way to do that within the blog culture is to demonstrate your expertise, be helpful, give and share. Then let blog visitors know that they can get more help, advice, information or entertainment if they purchase your book, attend your workshop, visit your website—whatever.
Blogging is one tool to use in promoting your fiction or nonfiction book. Learn about others through my online book promotion course. All six of my online courses are discounted during the month of June. Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com or read my May 24, 2010 entry for more details. Check out my array of useful and entertaining books here: http://www.matilijapress.com