Why Aren't You Blogging

Do you understand the potential benefits of blogging? If you aren’t blogging, then you probably don’t. Before you begin, it’s important to determine the time needed to maintain and promote your blog.

With a blog, you can communicate with your potential customers and keep them coming back to read interesting and motivational content. Each time they visit your blog, you have the chance to drive them to your website and to build interest in your books. Blogging will help keep your books in their mind.

Good content on your blog is an invaluable way to educate your customers. When you give them more information, you have the opportunity to prompt a purchase. Giving potential readers a chance to get to know you and feel comfortable about you and your books can promote their buying decisions.

Blogging Is Easier Than You Think

Something that may stop you from creating a blog is the idea that it’s expensive and difficult. There are many free blogging sites and numerous free ways to promote your blog. (There is a partial list of blogging sites on the next page.)The most popular blogging sites are user friendly. Once you register, the site content walks you through each step of the process. Some blogging sites offer a tour of the site and the features you can use to create an individualized blog.

Start Blogging About Your Books

When you’re ready to enter a new blog comment – log into your account, enter your thoughts, proofread and click to submit. Make sure the content is good and motivating, but actually getting your thoughts online is easy. When you compile your blog post, remember that potential readers are interested in your writing style along with your grammar and spelling skills.

If you’re very busy, it’s possible to hire a freelancer to handle the blog. The person would need to be able to convey the personality and content that you want your visitors to read. Even if someone else writes your content, it needs to reflect your personality and your books. As a writer, I would hesitate to do this, but it’s an option you could consider if necessary.

Remember – the content doesn’t have to be perfect and highly professional, but you need to avoid grammar and spelling mistakes. Keep it casual and conversational. The entries don’t need to be long and drawn out. They can be short and to the point. Or, they can be a short blurb and a link to one of your web pages or other information that would benefit your visitors.

Possible Blog Sites

These are some well known sites where you can establish your blog. There are many free options. The sites usually offer additional services for a charge, but you can get online and establish your blog for no charge.
http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogtopsites.com/http://www.bloggator.com/http://www.blogspot.com/http://www.diaryland.com/http://www.freeweblogs.org/http://www.incoblogs.com/http://www.livejournal.com/http://www.blogcatalog.com/ - All Sorts of Blog Resources

Blog Directories

Once your blog is established, you need to get the word out. You need to list the blog link on your website, your signature block, business cards and so forth. Each place that you list your website needs to list your blog.

There are also blog directories. People use these to find blogs that pertain to subjects they want to read about. Many blog directories are free. You should be listed in all of these. Make sure that you list your blog under the right categories.

Some of these include:http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Internet/On_the_Web/Weblogs/http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/World_Wide_Web/Webl...http://www.masternewmedia.org/rss/top55/ (Long list of directories.)

You’re well on your way to having an established blog that people surfing the internet can find and visit.

Additional Articles About Using Blogs to Promote

Author Promotion From Your Easy Chair - Is It Possible
http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/author-book-tours-from-your-easy-chair.html

Can You Blog to Sell Books
http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/can-you-blog-to-sell-books.html

Tips For Authors Who Blog
http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/tips-for-writers-who-blog.html

Communicate With Blog Readers
http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/communicate-with-blog-readers.html

Why Aren't You Blogging
http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-arent-you-blogging.html

Nikki Leigh
Author of Book Promo 101 - Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm