5 Types of Content Every Author Should Consider Creating

As an author, there’s a lot more work to be done than writing a book. Even for a full-time novelist, the novel-writing only makes up for about half the job.

For every chapter of fiction you, you’ll need to create something to market, too.

The benefits of creating this “supplemental content” for your author website are off the chart: expanding your platforming, improving your search engine visibility, and sharing what you know with the next wave of creatives.

If you’re ready to take the next step into content creation as an author, here are the five types of content every author should consider creating.

Blogs

While a blog is an obvious choice here, the value of one cannot be understated. You can do a LOT with a blog.

For one, blogs are the best way to give your website search engine visibility... if you make consistent posts. Also, the more quality authority content you release, the more Google and other engines will help readers find your site.

On top of that, if you grow a significant readership of people who respect you for your expertise and guidance, that readership will also be a catalyst of sales every time you have a new book release.

And, lastly, don’t forget that you can make money off your blog too! Monetizing a blog can be done with affiliate links and through other various channels. If that interests you, come back for a post on it in a couple of weeks/

Newsletters

Do you have a friend group, but then an inner friend group?

Your newsletter subscribers are like the inner friend group--they’re your best friends in your literary journey. People who take the time to subscribe to your newsletter are truly committed to following you and your successes. Don’t take that for granted.

To engage your subscribers, aim to send out at least one newsletter every month. Of course, you might not have anything majorly “newsworthy,” but just sharing life updates, writing updates, or even your favorite blogs of the month is a way to stay in touch with your subscribers.

There are no rules on what should go into a great newsletter, just share… you! Here’s an example of one I sent out in June.

Also, note that I recently wrote about the different values created by blogs and newsletters. Check out that post to learn which is better for you.

Social Posts

Authors must constantly engage, and there’s no easier way than taking advantage of social media. From TikTok to LinkedIn, each social platform offers something that could be useful for spreading the word about who you are, what you write, and why people should read it.

Of course, posting on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and other platforms might seem like a lot of work…

And that’s because it is!

Thankfully, there are social media management platforms that help ease the burden on you. My personal favorite is eClincher. Using it, you can draft a post and modify it for sharing on all social media platforms with one click. Convenient and easy

Video Content

Video content is a big leap for some, but you must understand just how important it is…

Video marketing content was the most popular content last year.

That means if you’re not making videos, you’re missing out on an audience. Thankfully, videos do not need to be long. In fact, the ideal video length is between one and two minutes and they’ll thrive on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and even your author website!

If you have a smartphone, you can start creating and sharing videos today.

Podcasts

Creating your own podcast might seem intimidating, but fear not: podcasts are incredibly easy to make.

All you need to make an incredible podcast is a low-cost microphone and some free editing software. Better yet, I’ve put together an entire ebook that explains the process and shares the insights that landed me a spot in the iTunes Top 50 podcasts.

Whether you’re interviewing literary superstars or sharing your own writing advice, podcasts are a phenomenal way to brand out into a new audience market while engaging your existing followers.

Now it’s your turn.

If you haven’t already been doing so, now’s a great time to start exploring this content creation. 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!