6/15/07

Blogging for Readers

When do you think it's important to establish a web presence? Before you ever have hope of being published, after acceptance of your manuscript, or when the book comes out?

Do you think a blog is sufficient for a web presence?
When do I think wanna-be writers should establish a web presence? YESTERDAY.

If your plan is to publish, start marketing yourself now. When I have an author tell me he/she has a blog that's getting 100+ hits every day (that's unique visitors, not page loads), and hosts a forum with over 100 members, and has a monthly newsletter that her loyal following subscribes to, I sit up and take notice.

Anyone who reads your blog (and returns to read again) is a potential book buyer. If they have a relationship with you--even a virtual one--they are more likely to buy your book. In fact, I was at the local LDS bookstore today and bought two books, neither of which I would have ever purchased had I not already read and liked the authors' blogs.

A blog is sufficient up until your book is accepted. At that point, you'll want to create an official author website.

4 comments:

Tristi Pinkston said...

I just posted a blog about that today, if you're interested.

http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/2007/06/should-you-have-website-or-blog.html

Paul W. West, Author said...

I have a blog site, but no one reads it. How do I attract an audience?

Anonymous said...

I've read your blog, Paul.

Paul W. West, Author said...

Well, okay. One person has read it. Thanks for being my faithful audience, LOL.