As I discussed in last week’s post, all authors need to write just as much marketable non-fiction as they write fiction. Creating content to engage your readers is the easiest way to grow your name and reputation as an author.
The number one form of content I mentioned was the blog post, and let’s begin by looking at the best ways to have the best author blog!
From the technical side of things, you need an author website capable of creating blogs (Wix and Bluehost are my personal recommendations), and once you’ve got a blog up and running, here are the best ways to make yours stand out.
Be consistent
Network television shows release in time slots. For example, your favorite show might be on every Tuesday at 8 PM (you’re not streaming in this hypothetical).
Why do networks schedule like this as opposed to just airing the show whenever they feel like it?
Consistency is value.
It’s a lot easier to build a following when your audience knows exactly when and where the blog posts are coming. For example, my blog releases every Wednesday morning at 9 AM.
And no, just releasing content at a consistent time doesn’t mean your readers will be sitting around and repeatedly clicking refresh as the seconds count down leading up to your release, but it will help them establish expectations of when they will have the chance to read your work.
Better yet, Google will like the consistency and be much more likely to help point readers to your site by boosting your page rank.
Be yourself
As a writer, people know the stories you tell. What they might not know, however, is more about you, the person who tells them.
Many of your readers will come to your site expecting to learn more about the person behind the book they admire, so give them what they want! Whether you’re writing about life or creating thought-leadership content, infuse the blogs with your personality. It will give the content more flavor and help ensure your readers want to come back for more.
Be helpful
The best blogs add some sort of value to the lives of their readers. Being helpful is the best way to make that happen.
Sure, you can tell all the cat stories you want, but it’s also occasionally nice to provide something that feels like a favor for your readers.
What does that look like?
It could come in several forms. Consider the following:
Recommending books that your readers might like while they wait on your next work (that also scores points with other authors!)
Giving writing tips for your readers who want to write
Sharing updates on your work in progress to create an “insider” feeling among readers
Anything else you can come up with that readers will appreciate.
The more of this content you can create, the more likely readers will be to buy your next book. You’re supporting them, so they’ll support you.
Be engaged
Gone are the days of old when writers hole-up and write, rarely to be seen by the public eye. Now, the easiest way to find readers is by engaging with them. Instead of simply creating books, all writers need to be their own marketing agents, too.
Yes, the large publishers have teams that help market your book, but that doesn’t mean you should stop engaging fans on your own. A large part of doing business is creating relationships with customers, and engaging is the easiest way to build those relationships. Even a simple tweet or like of a post is enough to mean a lot to your followers.
Start your blog today!
If you haven’t already been doing so, now’s a great time to get the ball rolling with your blog. I’ll be glad to help in any way I can. Just tweet me @realjessehaynes with any questions or comments.
Be sure to follow my blog and subscribe to my site. I’ll be taking in-depth dives into each of these five forms of content over the next couple of months.
Happy writing!