What’s a blog?
The word “blog” was derived (by lazy folks) from the term “web log.” It is a web page or site that’s part online journal and part forum. In most cases blog entries are short and may include photos or links. Sometimes blog authors allow readers to post their reactions to the author’s entries. Other readers then add their comments, creating an ongoing dialogue, like an online forum.
A true blog features permalinks, a date and time for each entry, and has several entries displayed per page in reverse chronological order. Permalinks are individual post urls (web addresses). These urls let other bloggers link to a specific entry in your blog. Ideally, a blog offers an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed that allows readers to subscribe to the blog and know whenever you post an update.
Some blogs are an integrated part of the author’s website, but most are hosted on public social-networking sites, such as Blogger, MySpace and LiveJournal
Why have an author blog?
Today’s authors must be the promoters of their own work. Unfortunately, many authors are inherently timid and reclusive, which makes self-promotion difficult. The art of blogging is a great way to “get out there,” even if you hate public speaking. After all, blogging allows time for formulating thought, and editing what you say before going public, unlike those personal appearances.
Aside from the obvious possibility of generating book sales, blogging offers the author a way to engage readers in a direct, informal, no-pressure way. A blog can make an author appear more “alive” and approachable to readers. While a website promoting your books is an essential marketing tool, a blog gives you a personal voice, an interactive stage that can help build author name recognition and reader interest.
What works best?
Keep your entries professional, but personal. This is done by speaking to readers directly. Tell them a story, after all that’s what authors do. Use an authoritative yet conversational and informal voice.
Try to update often. Shorter, more frequent entries are preferable to longer, infrequent ones.
Share a bit of yourself. Readers love to see glimpses of the “real you,” whether it is your research for a new book, your nervous anticipation of those first book reviews, or a rant about an article you saw in the morning newspaper.
Post photos. Readers enjoy being a virtual part of your book signing tour, convention panel or workshop. You may discover those readers in your “live” audience the next time you appear in a town near them.
Make it useful. Offer helpful tips and links for other writers/readers. If you have read a good book, or seen a good film share a review. If your blog becomes an information resource, other bloggers and website owners will want to link to it.
Use significant keywords in your blog entries. This is a good way to boost your blog’s chances of showing up near the top of search engine results.
Stick to it. Once you start a blog, make a commitment to keep it going. An abandoned blog won’t give your readers a favorable impression.
Consider sharing blog duty with another author in your genre. Since blogging does require a time commitment, inviting guest bloggers or conducting blog interviews, can take the pressure off. Plus, multiple voices can make your blog more interesting.
Use a soft sell. Don’t fill your blog with content originally created for marketing, PR or advertising. If your sole purpose is selling your book, use your website, not a blog. Readers can smell a blatant sales pitch a mile away and they don’t appreciate it.
Go ahead. Give it a try/
Ultimately, a blog can be a highly effective and low-cost, soft sell marketing tool for sharing your books and encouraging a loyal readership through interaction. All that’s required to be a successful author blogger is a bit of planning, commitment and something to say.
There’s no guarantee that your author blog will sell more books. But even if it doesn’t, your writing skills are bound to improve.
