I've had a few authors ask me recently what the difference is between being a sponsor here on the LDS Publisher blog vs sponsoring on the LDS Fiction blog. Some wonder if they aren't hitting the same audience and wouldn't it be more advantageous to sponsor on one blog vs the other.
Here is a summary of both blogs, what they're for, and the exposure you can expect if you sponsor on one or the other, or both.
Focus/Purpose of Blogs:
The LDS Publisher blog (this one you're reading right now) helps authors in their journey toward publication. Writers ask questions and I answer them. Blog readers post comments about the questions and my answers, share experiences, offer advice, and sometimes argue with me in a polite and respectful way.
The LDS Fiction blog (click this link to see) promotes published LDS fiction. It helps readers of LDS fiction find new titles and hopefully, gives them an idea of what's good and what's not before they plunk down their money. We (there are two of us that work on the fiction blog) search the web and other resources to find newly released fiction written by LDS authors and create a post for each title. When time permits, we create posts for older LDS fiction titles—particularly if they are part of a series that has a new release or if they sponsor the blog.
Books that can Sponsor:
For both the LDS Publisher blog and the LDS Fiction blog, books must be written by LDS authors. Titles can be published by LDS publishers, national publishers, or self-published, but they need to be actual paper books, not e-books. Books must also be in print and available for purchase somewhere online (a bookstore or through your personal website or blog).
A particular title, one book, is featured as sponsor of the blogs, not an author's group of works.
The LDS Fiction blog only accepts fiction books for sponsorship. They can be new releases or older.
The LDS Publisher blog also accepts non-fiction books for sponsorship and prefers newer releases as a way to help the authors promote their new books.
Your book can sponsor both blogs, but the same book cannot be on both blogs at the same time.
Sponsor Promo:
Sponsors on the LDS Publisher blog get a shared bio page that features them as a writer, as well as the sponsoring book. They also get their book cover in the sidebar for the full month. Both bio page and sidebar images link to online stores where blog readers can purchase the book. They also have a link to the author's website or personal blog. The message to the reader is: I'm a writer, here I am, and this is one of my books, go buy it.
Sponsors on the LDS Fiction blog get a Prize Time post that features their book. They also get their book cover in the sidebar for the week. We will be changing the format of the Prize Time post starting next week to include a teaser about the book and a link to a full post on the blog. Both Prize Time post and sidebar images link to online stores where blog readers can purchase the book. They also have a link to the author's website or personal blog. The message to the reader is: This is a really cool book, go buy it.
Both blogs have openings for sponsors now.
Sponsor Duties:
For both blogs, the sponsor sends an e-mail stating interest in sponsoring, including the title of the book they want to feature, link to their website or blog, link to where the book can be purchased online, link or attached book cover image (300 px). For LDS Publisher blog sponsorship, I also need a link or attached author photo (300 px) and author bio.
When the contest is over, the author ships a copy of the book to the winner (US and Canada only).
Prize Eligibilty:
On the LDS Publisher blog, commenters are entered in a random drawing at the end of the month.
On the LDS Fiction blog, blog readers must comment on the Prize Time post. Currently commenters must be participants in the Summer Book Trek. After the Trek is over, any blog reader will be eligible for the prize.
Winners must have a ship-to address in the US or Canada, or be willing to pay shipping costs.
Readership:
The LDS Publisher blog is targeted to writers. The readership here is interested mostly in writing and publishing, although they also read books and support their fellow writers by purchasing books.
The LDS Fiction blog is targeted to readers. Blog readers are interested in finding new LDS titles that they can read and/or purchase. They rate the books and leave comments about books they've read.
There is some cross-over in blog readership, but it's not 100%. While many of the LDS Publisher blog readers are also interested in the LDS Fiction blog, as a way to stay current with who is publishing what, many of the LDS Fiction readers have no interest whatsoever in writing or publishing.
Traffic:
LDS Publisher blog Average Daily Unique Visitor: 70
LDS Publisher blog Average Daily Page Load: 103
LDS Publisher blog Recent Daily High for Unique Visitors: 104
LDS Publisher blog Recent Daily High Page Load: 156
LDS Fiction blog Average Daily Unique Visitor: 56
LDS Fiction blog Average Daily Page Load: 109
LDS Fiction blog Recent Daily High for Unique Visitors: 79
LDS Fiction blog Recent Daily High Page Load: 168
As you can see by the averages, the LDS Fiction blog visitor spends more time looking around.
While it took LDS Publisher quite some time to build up to these levels, the LDS Fiction blog zoomed up to these rates (and is climbing daily), thanks to the Summer Book Trek (which if you're not signed up to do, please go check it out. It really is easy and you can win a book).
Summary:
In my opinion, although sponsors get a full month on LDS Publisher vs a week on LDS Fiction, exposure levels to people who go out and actually buy the books is close to the same for both sites. It might actually be a little higher on the LDS Fiction site because you're also getting list and review links from Summer Book Trek participant blogs.
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