A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Surfing the Blogosphere

 


 It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.

Today's topic is about a creative when to gain some oomph for your book from blogging if you do not have a blog. Blogging does indeed have certain advantages for book promotion, but not all authors are inclined toward blogging or have the time to do so. Still, the blogosphere can be kind to them.

First, let's look at what blogging offers:

  • It gets your head above the waves of millions of books out there and thousands more published daily. For non-fiction books on popular topics and especially for memoirs, this is pretty important.
  • If you are consistent -- you must be consistent -- and your blog catches on, you could become an influencer in your "field." Now, you are surfing those waves, and your chances of great book sales are improved because now many people know about it. (If you host a topic where other bloggers link to your topic one day a week, you will be surfing bigger waves.)

Second, how can you take advantage of the blogosphere without a blog?

  • There are reasons authors cannot maintain a blog: technical skill, time (you must be able to set aside a consistent time in order for the blog to catch on), writing skills (yeah, you're an author, but writing a book differs from writing a blog post), or even disinclination toward the social media format, but you can indeed surf on others' blogs.
  • Spend time each week (it does not have to be a lot) looking at blogs in your field. This has a number of advantages:
    • You will see what others are talking about and what they are doing.
    • You will get new ideas.
    • You will stay current in the field.
  • Leave a comment on each blog you visit that permits comments; when you do that, do not openly promote your book, but sign your name as author of X book.

The bottom line is that while leaving comments on others' blogs is not as strong a “notice me” as maintaining a blog of your own, which can even propel you to the status of influencer, enough (especially regular) comments do get you noticed. Over time, they can positively affect book sales because by surfing the blogosphere and leaving your small mark on it, you do get your head above the waves.

Lesson for today's Tuesday talk: Don't let lack of time for maintaining a blog keep you from reaping the rewards of life in the blogosphere. Surf the blogs and leave your mark via wise and intriguing comments.





Read more posts about publishing HERE.





The Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors who come through our doors but don't make the cut--yet. If you have a topic you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 18 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

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