As you write your blogged book, or as you try to drive traffic to your blog so you land a book deal (and can book your blog), the Internet provides you with many effective promotion tools. Here are four tried and true methods for achieving your promotion goals with online activity—activity most bloggers can do pretty easily if they put their minds to it since they like to write and hang out in cyberspace.
1. Start and maintain a blog.
Google loves fresh content, which is why blogs serve as the best tool for increasing online visibility. The more visible you, your book, your website, and your blog become, the more traffic (readers) your blog will attract. This means more buyers for your book now or when it is released. To create a successful blog, write about something you feel passionate about and do so often and consistently. That’s all it really takes. Of course, a topic other people have an interest in is an essential element of a successful blog as well.
2. Contribute material to e-zine article directories.
Recycle parts of your blogged book manuscript or blog posts into short articles you can post in e-zine article directories, such as Ezinearticles.com. Each time you do so you are asked to offer a resource box with a short bio and a link back to your website, book, blog, or subscription form. These articles are picked up by other bloggers, newsletter editors, e-zine editors, etc., and each time your resource box is featured. This means their readers get access to the links you have provided and may click through to find out more about you, purchase your book, or subscribe to your blog or newsletter. You can even use e-zine article distribution services, such as www.submityourarticle.com, and get your article distributed to hundreds of e-zine directories at once, making it available to thousands, if not millions, of new readers and possible fans.
3. Comment on other blogs.
Take the time to find bloggers who write about topics similar to those you write about. When they have something good to say or you can add something to what they have written, leave a comment on their blog. Each time you do so, you leave behind a link to yourself, your website, or your blog. If people who read your comment find what you have written interesting, they will click on the link to find out more about you. They may then decide to become regular blog readers or subscribers, book buyers, newsletter subscribers, or general fans.
4. Involve yourself in social networks.
Come out from behind your “computer” long enough to show your face on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin. If you can post status updates, share interesting links (and your blog posts), and offer great free information, you will quickly become a favorite in these social networks. Why bother? Because your followers, tweeple and connections will later buy your books, read and subscribe to your blog posts and newsletters, and basically become your fan base. That’s what every aspiring author or author wants and needs. Don’t forget to get involved in groups in these communities. By asking and answering questions, you get yourself known and develop more friends and followers. You also leave behind links to yourself, your website, your blog, your book, etc.
Sandra Beckwith says
This is excellen advice! Blogged books are also perfect for virtual book tours. I offer a complimentary report on how to do it yourself at http://buildbookbuzz.com/virtual-book-tour-basics/. If you’ve got a new book, you’ll find it helpful.
Sandra Beckwith
http://buildbookbuzz.com
Nina says
Sandra,
Virtual book tours are great promotional tools, and I plan to do one when How to Blog a Book comes out in print. They can cost a fair amount of money, so a DIY tool is wonderful. I’m going to go get my copy of your report right now! Hope you’ll stop by again.
Deane Barganier says
Fantastic page and simple to fully understand description. How can I go about getting permission to publish part of the post in my upcoming e-newsletter?
Nina says
Fletcher,
Sorry…no answer for you on this question. I suggest you find a very knowledgeable formatter, techy type. Then come back and tell me what you discovered, please! Good luck.
Nina says
Deane,
If you want to publish something in your e-newsletter, please send me an email at nina(at)ninaamir.com. Thanks so much!
Nina