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The Book Coach Says - February 2005
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FEATURE ARTICLE:
"Should Authors Have a Blog?"
Judy Cullins c. 2005
Do you wonder if you should have a blog (web log) such as we saw during the presidential conventions and on individual sites? These bloggers went to press before the major media, which again proves the power of the Internet. As authors, you can get wide exposure by creating your own blog. You have already bypassed traditional publishing, you have opened your mind to marketing your book on the Internet, so now is the time to see if your book fits the blog craze.
For me, who wants to share ongoing questions and answers in a more interactive way other than my Q and A links, it is a perfect way to stay in touch with those who need help in their book journey.
What is Blogging?
Think of blogging as publishing. It’s a mini site in a way, where your visitors can come and interact with you, and get answers for their questions. Even if you don’t know anything about HTML or building a web site, you can set up your own blog under one hour.
What good is your book or business if no one knows about it?
Like me, you want more people to know you, your writing talent, and find out more about your topic. Some of you are experts in your topic, and blogs are another way to stay in touch with your targeted market. It’s free advertising to huge numbers online. Search engines’ spiders exploring for updated content will see yours. The World Wide Web will see you too.
Blogs help to promote yourself, your service or your book, let your visitor see your personal side, and get your unique message out in an interactive forum.
Fact: Buying email lists and putting ads out don’t do the job well. People won’t open your email if they suspect an ad. And spam filters make this game difficult.
What will your blog do for your visitors?
Like your web site, people will only read a blog they find interesting, entertaining, and useful. What benefit will your blog bring your visitor? They want content just like your ezine readers do. Decide what your topic is. It probably relates to the book you want people to read and buy.
Where to share your blog URL
Include your blog URL address in every signature file you send out with each email. Include it on your business cards, and include it in your web bio you use at the bottom of each article you write to send to opt-in ezines and top web sites.
How to Get Started
While this concept is new, and like me, you are a non-techie, do a little research on other web sites and how other people write their blogs and the comments visitors leave. One I recently visited looked good for me: http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/
Helpful Sites:
FactoSystem Weblog (ASP based)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/facto/
InstaBlog
http://instablog.hit.bg/
OpenJournal
http://www.grohol.com/downloads/oj/
GeekLog - The Ultimate Weblog System
http://sourceforge.net/projects/geeklog
Blogger
http://www.blogger.com
Authors, small business people, and professionals who want little work and a lot of web traffic and sales will want to try out blogs.
COACH'S CORNER:
Specific Intentions and Specific Actions Beat New Year's Resolutions Any Day
By now, that weight loss resolution is dead. In fact, I gained four pounds AFTER the holidays. The best laid resolutions go by the way side. If you want people to read your unique ideas to help them to a better life, and to make a lifelong income from your book, you want to go straight to INTENTION.
Write your intention down on a 3 by 5 card and post it near your workstation. "I intend to write one chapter, the book's introduction, or ask a few readers for testimonials." Name your finish date or dates. Just choose something small and specific to start. Apply this idea to marketing and promotion too.
The specific actions? Every day write 3-5 things you will finish on your book or marketing projects. (I'm now rewriting my 4 top selling books-Write your eBook of Other Book Fast, Ten Non-Techie Ways to Market your Book Online, The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Your Targeted Web Traffic, and How to Write your Web Site for Top Sales.) Today, I wrote, 1) "Finish Ch. 10 of Non Techie Book 2) Write my Blog Introduction and 3) Write the "Coach's Corner" for February's ezine. In two hours, two of these High Level Activities (HLA) are done. Get the idea? These are not "someday" actions, but written in your daily to do pages of your organizer.
Specific Intention and Specific Actions Beat New Year's Resolutions any day. What will you do for your book or business project today?
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