I wrote about why I think NOT blogging is stupid recently and I received quite a bit of feedback on this article: primarily that many authors just don’t see how blogging has anything at all to do with writing books.
I don’t normally write about ‘writing,’ for the main reason that I want to help people focus on the sales and marketing aspect of their platform. However, in this case, I want to focus on why I feel blogging makes us better writers.
WRITING
I have two websites: RachelintheOC.com is my author site, and BadRedheadMedia.com, which is my business site. I write posts for each site at minimum twice per week. I do this for a few reasons…
1) Topics. As a working author, social media and marketing consultant, and someone who’s always researching because I’m a nerd and that makes me happy, I’ve always got ten or twelve blog ideas in my pocket. Because I’m not the only working author out there, I write about topics that interest me but also my blog readers.
2) Habit/Discipline. As I mention above, when you do something regularly, you exercise certain muscles. Writing is no different. Most of us have a WIP but need an occasional break from it. Or perhaps your blog will become your book at some point.
Blogging is a wonderful way to write editorial content, express an opinion, try out a new genre, share an excerpt, find betareaders…honestly, why would you NOT want to blog!
3) Reader base. Many of my original readers came not only from social media but also from my blogs. Blogs give you an opportunity to add to your level of visibility and exposure, as well as interact with readers on a much deeper, more personal level.
TECH
Even if you know next to nothing about tech, you can set up a Blogger or Tumbler in a matter of minutes and start blogging. It may not be amazing, but who cares? Just get started.
Once you’re gotten used to the process, I recommend upgrading to WordPress.org (self-hosted) and do what I did: purchase WordPress for Dummies, decide even that is too difficult, and hire someone awesome to coach you and help you set it up (I recommend Bakerview Consulting’s Barb Drozdowich. She’s reasonably priced and knows more about WordPress – specifically optimization for authors — than anyone I know.)
YOUR VOICE
I believe blogging teaches authors how to write quickly, provide fresh, new content, and how to interact with fan/potential book buyers. Most importantly however, is that we develop our voice. There’s no way to discount the benefit that regular writing helps you create your style.
Many of the naysayers on social media, who tell me they ‘can’t possibly blog because of their writing schedule,’ tend to also complain that they’re selling few books.
I’m not saying you can correlate a blog with guaranteed sales. What I am saying is that being a blogging author teaches you time management, creates visibility opportunities for your work, and helps you to build another important plank – and potentially, sales channel – of your marketing platform.
What are your thoughts and experiences? Please share below!
