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SHOULD
AUTHORS HAVE A BLOG?
Judy Cullins©2005 All Rights Reserved.
Do you wonder if you should have a blog (web log) such
as we saw during the
presidential conventions and on individual sites? These bloggers
went to press
before the major media, which again proves the power of the
Internet. As
authors, you can get wide exposure by creating your own blog. You
have already
bypassed traditional publishing, you have opened your mind to
marketing your book
on the Internet, so now is the time to see if your book fits the
blog craze.
For me, who wants to share ongoing questions and answers in a more
interactive way other than my Q and A links, it is a perfect way to
stay in touch with
those who need help in their book journey.
What is Blogging?
Think of blogging as publishing. It’s a mini site in a way, where
your
visitors can come and interact with you, and get answers for their
questions. Even
if you don’t know anything about HTML or building a web site, you
can set up
your own blog under one hour.
What good is your book or business if no one knows about it?
Like me, you want more people to know you, your writing talent, and
find out
more about your topic. Some of you are experts in your topic, and
blogs are
another way to stay in touch with your targeted market. It’s free
advertising to
huge numbers online. Search engines’ spiders exploring for updated
content
will see yours. The World Wide Web will see you too.
Blogs help to promote yourself, your service or your book, let your
visitor
see your personal side, and get your unique message out in an
interactive
forum.
Fact: Buying email lists and putting ads out don’t do the job
well. People won’t open your email if they suspect an ad. And spam filters make
this game difficult.
More Benefits
-When you do what you do best, which is to write, you can promote
the best
way
-Unlike your ezine you send out, blogs bypass spam filters for
email.
-The RSS (real simple syndication) feeds are like a giant octopus
with long
tentacles that reach out to your targeted audience. Blogs have
unlimited reach
and you can create as many as you wish.
-Blogs attract not people looking for freebies so much, but your
ready
buyers-who want solutions for their problem.
-Search engines love blogs and RSS feeds
-Blogs connect like-minded, passionate people and form a loose
community
-Blogs give the author feedback that helps the promotion direction
What will your blog do for your visitors?
Like your web site, people will only read a blog they find
interesting,
entertaining, and useful. What benefit will your blog bring your
visitor? They
want content just like your ezine readers do. Decide what your topic
is. It
probably relates to the book you want people to read and buy.
Where to share your blog URL
Include your blog URL address in every signature file you send out
with each
email. Include it on your business cards, and include it in your web
bio you
use at the bottom of each article you write to send to opt-in ezines
and top
web sites.
How to Get Started
While this concept is new, and like me, you are a non-techie, do a
little
research on other web sites and how other people write their blogs
and the
comments visitors leave. One I recently visited looked good for me:
http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/
Helpful Sites:
FactoSystem Weblog (ASP based)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/facto/
InstaBlog
http://instablog.hit.bg/
OpenJournal
http://www.grohol.com/downloads/oj/
GeekLog - The Ultimate Weblog System
http://sourceforge.net/projects/geeklog
Blogger
http://www.blogger.com
Authors, small business people, and professionals who want little
work and a
lot of web traffic and sales will want to try out blogs.
===TELECLASS OPPORTUNITY===
Q & A Online Marketing Seminar for Business and Books
$25 on March 30 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET
Click www.bookcoaching.com/teleclasses.shtml
for more information and to
register.
Added Value: Early birds who register by March 12 will get new
special
report: "How Can I use Blogs to Increase my Contacts and
Sales?" (Value $10.95)
===COACH'S CORNER====
SPECIFIC INTENTIONS AND SPECIFIC ACTIONS BEAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
ANY DAY
By now, that weight loss resolution is dead. In fact, I gained four
pounds
AFTER the holidays. The best laid resolutions go by the way side. If
you want
people to read your unique ideas to help them to a better life, and
to make a
lifelong income from your book, you want to go straight to
INTENTION.
Write your intention down on a 3 by 5 card and post it near your
workstation.
"I intend to write one chapter, the book's introduction, or ask
a few readers
for testimonials." Name your finish date or dates. Just choose
something
small and specific to start. Apply this idea to marketing and
promotion too.
The specific actions? See the rest on Judy's Web site.
===WHY VISIT JUDY'S SITE?===
1. Remember to visit my brand new Book and Business Marketing Blog
for short
answers to common book writing, publishing, and marketing questions.
I will
answer at least one each week. View them at:
http://bookcoaching.com/blog/index.shtml.
2. Check out new posted articles each week to help you finish your
book or
business project. http://bookcoaching.com/freearticles.shtml
====ABOUT THE AUTHOR====
Judy Cullins, M.A., helps emerging and published authors get their
unique,
useful message out, become well known in their field, and make
consistent
monthly income higher than they imagine.
She is the author of 15 personal growth and health books and 10 book
writing
/ publishing / promotion books and special reports including
"Write Your
eBook or Other Short Book - Fast," "Ten Non-Techie Ways to
Market Your Book
Online," and "How to Create a Web Site with Marketing
Pizzazz." A book and Internet
marketing coach for 20 years, Judy presents over 70 book/marketing
seminars
and teleclasses a year. Fifty of her clients have published since
1999.
===============
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with
small
business people who want to make a difference in people's lives,
build their
credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income.
Author of 10
eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," "The Fast
and Cheap Way to Explode Your
Targeted Web Traffic," and "Create your Web Site With
Marketing Pizzazz," she
offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The BookCoach
Says...,"
"Business Tip of the Month," and blog Q & A at
http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml
and over 165 free articles. Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com
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