Trend for 2010: Blogging to sell your book

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While some published (and not yet published) authors have been using blogs for some time to promote their work, and even create books based upon their blogs’ content, the UK-based Writing Magazine has decided that one of next year’s top five trends will be the use of blogging to promote a best-selling book.

For example, Kate Hardy is the author of over 25 Mills & Boon novels, and she updates her blog several time a week.

“Blogging means that readers get a glimpse into the ideas behind my work — whether it’s an awards do, a research trip or random musing. It also updates my website frequently to bring readers back; I use it to interact with my readers and my publishers can use it on their website as a publicity tool.”

Award-winning writer Patrick Ness, on the other hand, isn’t so public about his blog. Not only does he not like to call it a blog — “I like my diary (I hesitate to call it blogging, which to my mind always implies ‘sloppily written’) because it feels like it’s a secret way to talk to fans.”

He doesn’t actively publicise the site, and he believes that improves interaction with his fans:

“They really feel like it’s personal… like you’re having a real exchange outside of any need to get someone to buy something, or pay to see me at an event or similar.”

Blogging won’t automatically convert visitors into loyal readers and fans, nor will it guarantee a book deal, but it is being promoted as a useful tool for self-promotion and personal interaction.

Author: Andy Merrett

Andy Merrett is a London-based full-time blogger writing for several Shiny Media technology blogs and various other projects. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Comments

  1. Baz says

    Creating a blog to sell your book can be a very effective means of getting the word out about your book. If it’s a work of fiction, that might be tougher’ still it’s possible.

    But with nonfiction books -especially business books- it’s a slam dunk. I’ve done this twice in years past with marked success.

  2. Baz says

    One more thing to add to my earlier comment:

    The blog should an extension of the central idea behind the book. For instance when I created the Becoming Irresistible blog, it was based on the same idea a my book by the same name. Similarly, ProCaseStudies was created around the same central idea as my eBook, Why Asking For Referrals Is A Complete Waste of Time. (Both works are sold from my BlogAsReligion site.)

    Any self-publishing author should consider this as part of their book marketing plan. Creating a following of zealous ‘evangelists’ ready to spread the word about your book is a worthy goal.

  3. Lawrence J Danks says

    Andy,

    Thanks for the advice on blogging and the encouragement to use it. My most recent post, following a sample from Chapter 1 of my book “Your Unfinished Life: The Classic and Timeless Guide to Finding Happiness and Success Through Kindness”, is
    “Writing A Book” :
    http://www.yourunfinishedlife.blogspot.com/2009/07/writing-and-selling-book.html
    It’s going to be followed shortly by “Selling A Book”. I hope it may be helpful to you and your readers and encouraging to all current and aspiring writers.
    Cordially,
    Larry Danks