There’s so much more to writing a book than writing the book. If you want your name to be recognizable and your books to be familiar to avid readers, you must be at the top of your marketing game. Launching an author’s blog is one way to start building your writer’s brand. In fact, there are several reasons why it makes sense to blog if you’re an author.
You might think, “How can I find time to blog when I barely have time to write my books?” Like most writers, it’s probably not actual lack of time you’re dealing with, but lack of organization, discipline, motivation and using time wisely. The great thing about blogging is that you can do it on a trial basis. If you decide it’s not for you, you can simply delete it and move on. If, on the other hand, blogging is a good fit, you might discover that it’s also a valuable tool for marketing your books.
The benefits of an author’s blog
If you’re just not seeing a connection between becoming an author and starting an author’s blog, consider the potential benefits shown in the following list:
- As mentioned earlier, an author’s blog can help you establish your brand, or “public image.”
- Blogging provides a creative outlet where you can engage in multiple types of writing, which might, in turn, spark ideas and help you improve your writing skills for your novels.
- Readers love to feel connected to their favorite authors and will often seek them out on social media or try to find other things they’ve written; an author’s blog is a great way to develop a loyal following and attract new readers, as well.
- If you already have an author’s website or a site that is solely devoted to advertising one or more of your books, you can use a blog as a means of increasing and driving traffic to that site.
- If you enable comments on your author’s blog, it becomes a way for you to engage with readers and to test ideas for storylines, plot development, book titles, and more.
If you’re considering starting an author’s blog but just aren’t sure what direction to take it, you can find some great ideas for posts in this article.
Always keep your blog updated
It might be better to delete your author’s blog than to let it become stagnant. If the most recent post showing is older than a month or two, it’s defeating the purpose. Fresh, updated content is the key to success. Starting an author’s blog is a great way to boost creativity, connect with readers and market your books.
Some people hire professional copywriters to create content and manage their blogs. Copywriters know how to optimize SEO using keywords, hyperlinks, keyword placement and other tools, which helps extend your reach and boost visibility online. You might even use a combination of personal writing and copywriter-created posts on your author’s blog. Think of it as a blank canvas. You’re the painter. What will you create?
