Posts tagged ‘blog’
Blog It Right
The idea of blogging seems quite simple. Create a free account, log in, and share your thoughts and know-how with a world of readers.
Well…kinda.
It all depends on whether you want your possible readers to stumble upon you, hopefully like what they see and return for a second reading. Or, you may want to create a blog that proactively reaches out to readers with its search-ability.
A successful blog will actively contribute to your efforts in building awareness around you and your writing. And there are some very tech-geek elements that simply DO make a difference in your blog’s success.
Here ya go:
Choosing Blog Software. Select from customizable blog solutions such as WordPress, Blogger, and Typepad. Create your site in line with your overall marketing or branding strategy. Keep it fairly simple to navigate and select your template based on user-friendly positioning of archives, comments, categories and page layout.
Host Your Blog Directly to Primary Domain. If you have a primary website, host your blog within that domain if possible. The addition of your blog to your website will attract links, publicity, and search rankings — not to mention trust in your brand. Simply stated: Why would you want to send your readers to various addresses for information pertaining to you and your writing? You need a one-stop, easy-to-remember address.
Track Your Visitor Count. Visitor tracking software tells you which posts are heavily read, which are not being viewed and how the search engines are delivering traffic. Add Feedburner to your blog and use the data to improve your blog based of visitor reactions.
Tag Your Posts. Add tag titles appropriate to the content in each of your blog posts. Cover a variety of angles or points-of-view in relation to your post in order to increase your blog’s search results.
Link Appropriately. Pretty self-explanatory. Your writing is your business. Do your research and comment and link to sites that may benefit the “standard of quality” you are aiming for with your blog. Linking drives traffic, but over-linking devalues your work.
Blogging is beneficial. It’s personal and adds the emotional element to your business. Do you have any tips you would like to share?
Branding Your Blog
Writers have something to say. And writing exercises the muscle that hones your craft. We tell you to write daily, write outside of your regular writing, embrace writing prompts; write, write, write.
In business (and your writing is your business), the goal is effective efficiency. So why not incorporate a blog into your extracurricular writing. A blog that brands your author identity, promotes your writing, develops an online presence and supplies an additional site for direct purchase of your book. Benefit your writing with writing.
Whether you are a current blogger or new to this interactive trend of information, this is a bandwagon that needs to coincide with your overall author brand. Author brand? Try embracing the concept of brand personality. To understand what brand personality is, envision your brand as a person. If your brand was a living, breathing person, what adjectives would you use to describe it? It would also have values, beliefs and interests. Combined, these are the attributes which will make your brand unique.
Keys to Turning Your Blog into a Successful Brand
- Determine Your Goals. Goals provide a focus, direction and a way to measure your success. Clearly define your goals so that you may actually measure your blog progress through posting a set number of articles per week, gaining a certain level of traffic each year, developing a strong network of links and reaching a specific ranking. Without the gray area, it’s easier to see if you’re hitting the mark.
- Discover what Your Readers Want and Need. How does your brand fit into the life of your readers? The best way to determine the wants and needs of your readers is to ask them. Encourage a reciprocating relationship of comments and feedback. Develop a direct connection between your blog and readers. Do some old fashioned research, whether it’s through polls, surveys or emails. Offer incentives such as a contest.
- Clearly Communicate Your Blog’s Personality. Develop a unique slogan and have a memorable blogging voice. This is a relationship between you and your readers, so you will need to be trustworthy and reliable. Your blog will be a source of information or of pleasure. If you are not consistent, your readers will not be either.
What is your blog about? What characteristics make your blog unique? How do you plan on taking your blog to the next level? Give some thought to the one thing that makes your blog unique — the one thing you can claim as yours. Here is where you should focus your energy.
Think of the blogs you repeatedly visit — you can probably find the same information on another site, yet you return. Most successful blogs share a common characteristic: Readers follow the Blogger, not the Blog. Create a personality within your blog and make your brand come alive. Once you establish a level of quality on your blog, keep writing and never look back.
Reader Meet Blogger
It’s nice to have an acquaintance — an understanding — of the people each of us interacts with. In our case, bloggers and readers. Our writing and feedback can reciprocate, directing us towards topics that benefit the workings of each of our crafts. And, in the process, we can come to appreciate any similarities and differences, likes and dislikes, and the odd quirks that add to our resumes of creativity.
Here’s what you need to know about me:
My name is Melissa — growing up, it was Lissa or Lis to those closest to me (nicknames derived from my grandmother). I was raised in Denver, Colo., but within the confinements of an Air Force Base, adding a small-town feel to my mountain-city upbringing. Yes, I am or was an Air Force Brat — though I never understood the saying. The West is a fundamental part of my identity. Secretly, I still believe it to be a universal truth that Mecca resides in the Rocky Mountains. I also have an unnatural liking to dry air and the smell of pine trees.
I have never not wanted to be a writer. For Christmas in the third grade, I asked Santa for a typewriter — one of those new ones that had a backspace key which would white out any mistakes. I would type letters, notes, stories — just type. I loved the look of my words in print. I still do. I’m in love with every aspect of the word business. I have a bachelor’s degree in marketing and have worked crafting words with concepts in the advertising world and now with the stories of other writers in the publishing arena.
I love my cowboy boots.
I’m a fan of Kentucky Derby type sunhats.
I like my eggs scrambled, my steak med-rare, and salsa makes everything taste better. I am, however, high maintenance in my coffee selection — double shot white chocolate mocha, please.
Along with writing, I paint and try my hand at guitar. I like festivals, camping and lake swimming. I wish Bingo was still in style. And I love to read.
I’m detailed in nature. My favorite colors are turquoise blue, emerald green and a faded sunflower yellow.
Oh, yeah … And I prefer bare feet.
I am pleased to meet you — to write with you. Join me in my exploration of writing ins and outs, dos and don’ts.
Share your own story. And after your introduction, let’s talk Writing Your Book and Blog Bio — and the Differences between them.
–Melissa
Your BFF: A Blog Is an Author’s Best Friend
Blogs are to writers as dogs are to man. What could be a more perfect best friend for a writer than a dynamic public notebook? No matter the status of your career as an author, starting and keeping a blog could be just the thing that will help you advance your career and excel in your unique writing craft. Here are a few reasons why:
Find and develop your voice. A blog can range from extremely formal, to completely personal. But one rule for all blogging applies: let your personality shine. Now, you shouldn’t let just anything fall of out your mouth – eh, mind – online. Just because you can say whatever you want doesn’t mean that you should. Just remember that anyone can read your blog, so think about your grandmother, neighbor and boss reading your work before posting it.
Keep a writing history. A blog captures your work over time and provides a handy catalog of your work for you to flip through whenever you want. Perhaps you touched on a subject that you want to dig into more deeply. You can review your writing and critique it, picking out the parts that you liked and making gagging noises in disgust at the parts you don’t. But don’t be too hard on yourself – by reviewing past work, you can often see how far you’ve come.
Write on a schedule. Blogging requires that you keep a schedule, whether it is daily or weekly. A schedule also means that some of the time you will not be able to wait to post your incredible blog, and other times when you will not want to write, you will not have time and you have nothing to write about. It’s a love/hate relationship, but it will make you a better writer.
Overcome fear of public scrutiny. Putting your work out there in front of others is scary. They will think things … about your work … about you! The more practice that you have putting your work out there, the more natural it will become. Truth is, if you aspire to be an author, you will be judged by others. That’s just part of it.
Receive feedback. One good thing about putting your work on display, is that you can improve your work from feedback that you receive. You should encourage your reader’s direct input. And you should look for indirect cues. For instance, if you get no comments, or minimal views on a particular post, and a lot of activity on another, you can use this indirect feedback to form a pattern of which kinds of posts and writing styles readers prefer. But, no matter what, always remain true to your voice, your heart and your writing goals. Don’t let negative feedback stop you from developing your writing craft and pursuing your dreams.
Develop a reader base. By starting a blog now, and being actively engaged in reading and participating in other blogs, forums and social networks, you are starting to build that all important author platform that will help you market your book in the future.
Escape from ongoing projects. When you are working on a piece that consumes most of your time and concentration, it is helpful to step away for a moment to write something unrelated for a while, in order to come back to your work with a fresh perspective. You’ll avoid burnout and maintain your flexible writing skills (and sanity).
Starting a blog is easy and many are free. The hard part is to stick with it for the long haul and continually churn out smart, engaging content. Are you up for the challenge? Have you already started a blog of your own? Share your successes, challenges, tips and a link to your blog in the comments.
Keep writing.
-Angie Kelly Pheifer
Staying Connected to Writers: Blerp, Twitter, Facebook & Other Social Networks
Because of their creative and overly romanticized pursuits, many now think that writers and authors lead solitary lives, disconnected from other writers, pecking away at their keyboards in some kind of tacit, no-holds-bar competition with each other, the phone off the hook, never once needing (or appealing) to others for a little inspiration.
Today, however, that’s hardly the case. Social networks like Facebook, Myspace, WritingRoom, not to mention applications like Blerp.com, Twitter, even text messaging, now allow writers to interact and maintain contact with each other from around the world. What does this mean for writers? Well, for starters, you can count on more support from fellow creative individuals to help motivate you when finishing your manuscript. Plus, you can always jump online for a break and comment on an interesting discussion thread that may just awaken the creative beast slumbering inside you.
Even now, as you’re reading this blog, you’re participating in the great connection between writers around the world, clicking through the communities that may turn out to be your saving grace in moments of writer’s block or research in forums where you can ask about any number of current events and topics for your book.
Be sure to check out the reading communities as well, such as Shelfari, goodreads and LibraryThing, where you can manage your personal book catalog and engage readers in your target audience. Finding out what readers look for in books within your genre can be incredibly useful and help guide you as you finish writing your own, incorporating their suggestions and their expectations into your own poetry or prose.
The Point: Writers and authors aren’t the hermit crabs we might think they are. Stay connected to your network for inspiration or support, and stay energized about writing your collections and manuscripts every day!
Reminder: Post Feedback on Wordclay Titles by April 30th for a Chance to Win Free Books
Really, the blog challenge is that simple. It’s free to submit your review, and you have the potential to win a printed copy of your favorite Wordclay self-published book. Simply post a comment to this blog that details the author and title of your favorite Wordclay publication, along with a brief (100 words) explanation of why you made your choice.
Spare five minutes to write your blurb about a Wordclay book, and next month you could have a copy of a great title for free (standard shipping and handling is included), so don’t be shy. Post your review or thoughts on one of our titles before April 30th (deadline has been extended) for a chance to win a printed book that you’ll be proud to feature on your coffee table or bookshelf.
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CONTEST DETAILS
Start: March 20, 2009, 12:01 a.m. EST
Deadline: April 30, 2009, 11:59 p.m. EST
Prize: Single printed book copy of your selection
Submission: Post the full title, author name and your personalized blurb of the book you’re nominating for serious consideration by the judges. Blurbs should not contain special formatting and can be no longer than 100 words.
Contact Info: After submitting, send a copy of your submission as well as your full name, e-mail address and mailing address (no PO Boxes) via e-mail to blog@wordclay.com.
Notification: The winner will be notified via e-mail the week after the contest ends, at which point the book selection will be printed and mailed to you with standard shipping immediately.
Shipping: Winning book will be send using standard shipping methods, whose cost will be covered by Wordclay for the purposes of this contest.
Conditions: Nominations must have Wordclay as the publisher without exception. Authors cannot nominate their own books, and any individual suspected of favoritism beyond the content and quality of a book will be immediately disqualified. Only the first nomination per participant will be considered, and all other nominations will be dismissed. One person may nominate more than one book, but each nomination must be submitted as a separate blog comments and entry for consideration.
Contest Terms: Wordclay will judge the contest solely at our discretion, and we reserve the right to disqualify suspect entries at any time. Each entry will be judged fairly based on sound argumentation, testimonials, personal experience, truth of statement, writing quality and passion for the nomination in question.
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Seriously, there’s no risk, and five minutes of your time could win you a book to share with friends or read again and again over the years, so submit your nomination for a chance, let our authors know what you think and win a free book in the meantime.
Wordclay Blog Contest: Post Feedback for a Chance to Win a Free Book
This month’s blog challenge is simple, free and has the potential to win you a printed copy of your favorite Wordclay self-published book. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to post a comment to this blog that details the author and title of your favorite Wordclay publication, along with a brief (100 words) explanation of why you made your choice.
Entering is just that easy. Spare five minutes to write your blurb about a Wordclay book, and next month you could have a copy of a great title for free (standard shipping and handling is included), so don’t be shy. Post your review or thoughts on one of our titles before April 20th for a chance to win a printed book that you’ll be proud to feature on your coffee table or bookshelf.
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CONTEST DETAILS
Start: March 20, 2009, 12:01 a.m. EST
Deadline: April 20, 2009, 11:59 p.m. EST
Prize: Single printed book copy of your selection
Submission: Post the full title, author name and your personalized blurb of the book you’re nominating for serious consideration by the judges. Blurbs should not contain special formatting and can be no longer than 100 words.
Contact Info: After submitting, send a copy of your submission as well as your full name, e-mail address and mailing address (no PO Boxes) via email to blog@wordclay.com.
Notification: The winner will be notified via e-mail the week after the contest ends, at which point the book selection will be printed and mailed with standard shipping immediately.
Shipping: Winning book will be send using standard shipping methods, whose cost will be covered by Wordclay for the purposes of this contest.
Conditions: Nominations must have Wordclay as the publisher without exception. Authors cannot nominate their own books, and any individual suspected of favoritism beyond the content and quality of a book will be immediate disqualified. Only the first nomination per participant will be considered, and all other nominations will be dismissed.
Contest Terms: Wordclay will judge the contest solely at our discretion, and we reserve the right to disqualify suspect entries at any time. Each entry will be judged fairly based on sound argumentation, testimonials, personal experience, truth of statement, writing quality and passion for the nomination in question.
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Seriously, there’s no risk, and five minutes of your time could win you a book to share with friends or read again and again over the years, submit your nomination for a chance let our authors know what you think and win a free book in the meantime.
Author Giveaways and Contests: How to Host Contests for Book Promotion
If you’re a published or self-published author, you already know the importance of promoting your book online, creating a buzz around your new title and recruiting new readers on a daily basis. What might elude you are the common methods of achieving those goals. Luckily, the Wordclay team has provided some handy author giveaway tips and contest basics, which you can easily implement in order to reach thousands of potential book buyers.
Tip #1: Consider launching your own Web site or blog. Posting regularly on topics of interest and generating useful content or free previews of your book will help to solidify your credibility in the eyes of readers. You can use your site to establish a strong Internet presence, loaded with valuable keywords which could lead Internet surfers to your page. Remember that securing a memorable, unique domain name will help readers find you again whenever they have time.
Tip #2: Offer a limited-time book giveaway. You could offer a free e-book download whenever a person registers with your mailing list and verifies their e-mail address. Any portion of your book can be given-away for free and serve as an enticement to readers, from your book’s first chapter to a complete printed copy to a PDF. You’ll not only establish immediate trust between author and audience, but you’re also supplying interesting and useful content to the world.
Tip #3: Host a review contest. Invite readers to buy your book, read your work and submit a review to win cash prizes, not unlike Bryan Hutchingson for his book One Boy’s Struggle: A Memoir. And if you don’t have the means to offer cash prizes, a copy of your book in exchange for a brief testimonial or even an e-book to winners of a random drawing just might be enough to earn you a following of devoted fans.
However you decide to market your book online, don’t be afraid to get creative with your promotions by launching contests as well as giveaways, but no matter what, you always want to offer a practical, useful incentive to your Internet visitors to keep them interested.
Self Publishing Blog 2.0: We’re Back & Better than Ever…
Loyal subscribers and readers, as you may have noticed, our self-publishing blog dropped off the radar for a week or so during our redesign, but we’re here to announce the launch of our newly designed writing blog: freeselfpublishingblog.com.
Of course, our bloggers will continue to post the latest publishing news as well as information that may be of interest to authors and emerging writers within the publishing industry, but we also wanted to update you on our newest development.
In addition to the weekly writing tips and prompts (located on the sidebar), we’re now implementing a creative (and hopefully quite fun) weekly assignment, at which time writers and authors will be challenged to head out into the world and perform a mission.
For example, one mission for authors may be to submit a photograph of their book in a tree. One picture would then be selected and posted on the blog along with your book information and a link to order it (or to your Web site or blog). Don’t worry, it’s all good, clean fun, and you may just get a snazzy book plug out of the brief adventure.
Should you yourself have an idea for the blog or a suggestion for a future post you would like to read, feel free to leave a friendly comment below that details your proposal, and I’m sure our bloggers will be happy to implement or write on your topic of interest.
Thanks for bearing with us during this development, and we hope you’ll submit your challenges (as well as ideas for future challenges) to our bloggers in the near future!
This is Justin, blogcasting from Wordclay, signing out.
How to Optimize Your Links to Sell Your Book
When it comes to the Internet, authors have a wonderful opportunity to promote their books. Yet, it also presents colossal challenges: to be discovered by readers, and to hold their attention for more than three seconds.
It’s critical that you keep your online book promotion, such as a blog post, easy to find and user-friendly. That includes linking correctly to your book(s). A failed, ineffectual or absent link can cancel the effort of actually posting a blog post, article or comment about it. And, most Internet surfers will not put in the effort to “correct” a failed link because, if you didn’t put in the effort, why should they?
A good link does two things: 1) it directs the reader exactly where they need to go, (more…)
