A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: How Blog Posts Sell Books (Yes, Really)

 

It is Tuesday. 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. 

This week we answer the question, Do I really need to keep blogging?” My answer, almost always, is yes. Whether it’s maintaining your own blog, writing guest posts, or contributing to relevant websites, blog writing still matters. Not just for visibility—but for sales.

Here’s why:

1. Blog posts create discoverability

Think of each post as a breadcrumb in the vast forest of the internet. Someone Googles a topic—maybe something you've written about in your book—and lands on your blog post. That reader now knows your name, your tone, your expertise, and… that you’ve written a book. It’s not pushy. It’s presence.

2. Blogging builds trust and voice

Readers who come across your writing online get a preview of your voice and perspective. If they like your blog post, they’re already halfway convinced they’ll like your book. Blogging lets readers sample before they buy—and many do buy.

3. You never know who’s reading

One of our authors landed a podcast invitation because the host found their guest post on a niche blog. Another saw a spike in sales after a personal blog post about grief went mildly viral in a support community. You’re not just selling to your immediate audience—you’re putting your words into the world, where they can travel far.

4. Blog posts have a long tail

Social media posts are ephemeral. A blog post, however, can get traffic for months—or years. Especially when optimized for the kinds of questions people actually ask. A good evergreen blog post can quietly bring in new readers long after it’s published.

5. Blogging shows you're alive and engaged

To readers, to media, to booksellers. An up-to-date blog (or a fresh guest post elsewhere) shows that you’re active, engaged, and invested in your subject. That makes it easier for us, as your publisher, to pitch your book for events, articles, or interviews.

Pro tip for time-starved authors: You don’t need to blog every week. Even once a month—or guest posting once a quarter—can make a real difference. Repurpose content from your book, expand on reader questions, or respond to a timely topic in your field.

Bottom line: Blog posts don’t just fill space. They create connection—and connection leads to sales.

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 that you would like addressed, leave the question in the comment section. Chances are, in our 22 years of publishing first-time and experiences authors, we have had a conversation with one of our authors that we can share with you.

 See more Publisher Conversations with Authors HERE.

 Learn more about publishing from an acquisitions editor -- how to get your book proposal accepted, why proposals are turned down/accepted, and how to find the right publisher for your book. On special sale for $5 while inventory lasts at MSI Press webstore. Also available as an e-book and an audiobook.

To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount,

use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.

Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to buy for it?
(1) Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.
(2) Ask us for a review copy; we love to have our books reviewed.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES.

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter

(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)

Check out recent issues.

 

 

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Instagram. 

 

 

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?  
Check out information on how to submit a proposal. 

We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.

 

Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.

Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

 

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

 

   

MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.
Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.