Blogger: Kathleen Y’Barbo, Publicist
Location: The Woodlands, Texas PR Office
Weather: HOT!
Calling all bloggers! We who seek to publicize books love you! Those who write books should be busy making connecting with those who blog. Why? Let me count the ways:
1. Bloggers reach a diverse audience in a specific area. While some blogs are dedicated to writing, to reading, and to all sorts of things related to the business of publishing, other blogs are about raising kids, growing flowers, and making art, just to name a few. Consider your book’s topic. If it’s a novel, does the protagonist have a career that might lend itself to an area of blogging? If so, think about targeting bloggers in that area. Make a list of topics you cover in your nonfiction book and search out blogs that focus on those topics.
2. Blog tours are a simple way of stretching your publicity dollars. How does a blog tour work? There are as many variations as there are things to blog about. One simple form of a blog tour has the author emailing a press release with photo and interview to a pre-determined list of bloggers. Some schedule blog posts to appear all at once or sequentially over a week’s time while other types of tours are less concerned with when a post appears. Often participants will offer a free book for the blogger or as a give-away. Sometimes the author will agree to “appear” on the blog in the form of some sort of interview session or may “visit” the blog during the period the post is up so as to draw readers who might want to interact with their favorite author.
3. Blogging is a great way to create your own platform and thus broaden your publicity base. For example, Dawn Meehan began her writing career as a mom who blogged in Because I Said So about life with a mini-van full of kids. Her blogging led to guest spots on television and a significant book deal. Margaret McSweeney reaches many with her Pearl Girls blog. Sometimes authors or industry-types gather in groups to take turns blogging. Our own Books & Such blog is a grand example of this as is the Novel Matters blog and Novel Journey.
So, have I inspired you to pay more attention to what blogging and bloggers can do for your publicity? I hope so! Now, tell me how you have incorporated blogging into your publicity plan.
My blog is an extended resource to my WIP.
Readers interested in familial spiritual abuse and authoritarianism will find references and links liberally sprinkled throughout, and more in-depth Bible Study than what I can feature in my book.
It is interactive, which allows me to dialogue with potential readers and tailor my writing to popular topics.
I recently signed a contract with Heartsong Presents for a three book series. This week, a group of nine other writers, in various stages of their journey, and I started a blog geared toward readers: Inkspirationalmessages.com. Those of us who have websites and books, have our info listed. I’ve already got a fan! A lady found out about our blog, through fanfiction where one of our writers participates. The lady e-mailed to tell me she’d checked out my website, was intrigued by my book, and has marked her calendar for the release date. This is only the first week our blog has been up, so I’m very excited and encouraged by the results so far.
HI! Yeah, I can see how important blogging is. I’ve been involved in a blog tour before and found it pretty fun. Even had a fun contest as to how to give away a free book for the author.
I really enjoy having my characters host my blogs once in a while. It really helps bring the characters to life and expose my writing.
Thanks for this post. Have a great day.
I’ve linked with several authors to begin a blog geared for teaching creative writing to homeschool students. It includes lessons, some free critiques, and a contest.
I’m also about to begin a blog for a new women’s ministry to reach out to women across the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. We’ll be putting on a women’s conference in February and then extend our ministry from there.
Now you have my mind spinning about blogs unconnected to writing that I could consider approaching because they are related to the topic of my novel. Thanks!
I have a blog that receives a fair amount of traffic – between 1,200 – 1,400 hits per month. I blog about books and through my book giveaways, I’ve been able to increase my email database substantially.
As an aside, when I went to ACFW last year, two editors knew me…not from my published novels, but from my blog!
http://www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com
Another great example:
Danny Evans of http://www.DadGoneMad.com used his blog and the blogs of fellow bloggers to promote his upcoming book, signings, etc.
His book is a non fiction story about his struggle with depression, and it’s reaching an entire audience of people who might not otherwise have picked up a book on this topic, simply because they read him and know they already like the way he writes.
After reading your blogs about freebies and marketing using blogs, I have created a freebie on my blog. I publish on my blog a novella called, “The Journal of a Mad Woman.” Every Friday I post another chapter. According to my wordpress stats, I began with 18. Last weekend, I came in at 30 something. “The Journal of a Mad Woman,” is my way of marketing my writing so editors and agents can see my work without it ending up on a slush pile. I also do a guest blogger per week and use twitter to network. Two people who were my guest blogger of the week showcased my blog on their site.
This is definitely an area I’m interested in and have given some thought to. I’m well connected in one area of my WIP, but will need to expand / network in other areas – something that I’ve already started to do.
One question I have is how early to start actively blogging on the book topic? It’s one thing to generate buzz, but another to have maintain it for a period of time.
I’m planning on touching on the topic from several different directions, but not pin down the subject specifically. I’ve seen (as participant but not leader) several sites / discussion boards thrive for a time and then dwindle, and look forward to a blog format where there is discussion but not everyone retreating into their same carbon copy arguments on particular issues.
A lot to think through, and I want to avoid false starts and recreating it.
Now those of you who are veterans, don’t laugh at my feeble stats. I’m just beginning to build my platform. :o)
Thanks for the informative post. I’m in the process of putting together a blog. How often should I plan to post? I’ve heard once a week is the bare minimum.
:)Becky
As soon as I read this I said, “now why didn’t I think of that?” Excellent Kathleen. First I’m going to Tweet you and then I’m off to see how many nuns there are out there blogging who will host my novel “The Reluctant Novice” when it comes out! In the meantime, just as I made friends with Tweeters, I will make friends with bloggers and prepare the ground.
Don’t worry, I didn’t even have that when I first began… And it’s a slow, slow, slow process- but if you have writing in your blood, you’ll be out there churning stuff out in spite of the stats.
Sorry, I forgot to mention, this comment was meant for NIKI HAHN:
Don’t worry, I didn’t even have that when I first began… And it’s a slow, slow, slow process- but if you have writing in your blood, you’ll be out there churning stuff out in spite of the stats.
Blogging should be regular and the content fresh. Weekly is the minimum I would suggest. Even better if you can partner with others to provide new blog posts at a faster pace. The Books & Such blog has fresh content every weekday.
How soon is too soon to blog on a topic? I don’t there there’s a definite answer for that. Ideally, an author will become “known” for a topic of interest that follows through in books. I’m thinking of Dawn Meehan who began blogging about living with her large family and now writes humor about the same topic. So, I suggest you choose a topic with some measure of longevity and blog regularly on it. A tried-and-true way of relieving blogger’s boredom is to invite the occasional guest blogger to take a turn with a daily post. Don’t forget to spread the word on all the usual sites!
Thank you, Eva! Looking forward to tweeting with you. My stats have been improving. The slow progress is worth it especially since I’ve been encouraging people in my church congregation with my blogs. It’s all good. :o)
I’m new to all this too so thanks for the encouragement and information (by the way, Gig ’em Ms. Kathleen!)
The heroine of my 1st and as yet unpublished book is sitting in my lap. (Small Schnauzer named May.)
I’ve not thought about “blogging” until reading all this. Great info y’all – thanks!!! I know I need to get a website up too.
ACK!
But as the previous poster said – It’s all good! 🙂
I keep coming back to this blog in my “journey” to become a published author. During a search one day, I came across “Books & Such” and was impressed by the information on your website. Then, months later, when I started my “writing journey” blog, your agency’s blog came up again! But then, when I looked at your submission guidelines I thought, “How can I help market my book? I don’t know. I’m not a salesman.” But this entry really opened my eyes to a way an author can get her stuff out there. I’m not published but when God allows it to happen, I’ll be ready. Thank you!