Following is a guest post by Denise Wakeman, whose presentation about online marketing will be on Sunday, August 2. Denise will also be available to discuss your book marketing questions during a professional consultation at the Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. Sign up here.
Marketing Your Book with a Blog: 10 Tips to Attract more Buyers
©2009 Denise Wakeman, The Blog Squad
Books and blogs go together like peanut butter and jelly. It doesn't matter whether you use your blog to develop content for your book, or you create the blog for marketing the completed book.
Blooks (blog+book) work well together when you implement these important tactics.
1. Use a domain name for your blog that relates to your book title so becomes known and "findable." If your ideal domain is already taken, use a version of it such as "YourBookBlog.com," or "YourBookOnline.com." Forward or map that domain name to your blog so when people type in "YourBook.com" it goes to your blog site.
2. Continue the branding process for your book by creating a customized logo for the book and putting it in the header of your blog. The use of your customized branded header will mean your book gets instant recognition, and your blog will stand out from all the cookie-cutter look-alike blogs.
3. Participate in the blogosphere: Read and comment on other blogs in your field. This is a prime way to build readership of your blog. It is also a way of getting fresh content for both your blog and for your book. Check out other blogs in your niche: use www.technorati.com, www.alltop.com or www.blogs.com.
4. Submit your blog to the 200+ blog directories. You can do this manually (10-12 hours of time), or find a service that will do it for you.
5. Use your blog to collect names and email addresses of potential customers and clients. Make sure you have a subscription form on the upper corner of your blog, from a service like www.FeedBlitz.com or www.Feedburner.com. These services sends automatic email updates of your new blog posts to interested potential readers/customers.
6. Podcasting - create audio files by recording yourself reading chapters, interviewing other authors, editors or agents. Some people like to get their information auditorily and at their convenience by downloading mp3 files to their iPods. Use a free teleconferencing bridge line like http://www.freeconference.com to host a call. Record your call, upload the audio file and then post to your blog and iTunes. (As an added benefit, you can get these programs transcribed; then convert the word doc to a PDF file which you can either give away, or sell, in exchange for people's email address.) www.CastingWords.com is a fast, affordable transcription service.
7. Use a newsletter to email to your list, and give readers regular updates about your book, your interviews, and your blog posts. You have to encourage them to visit your blog or they will forget you. You also have to educate them about your blog, and teach them to comment on it. A newsletter is an additional way to do this and complements your blog.
8. Sponsor a virtual "blook" tour, and participate in your own, by getting into a network of bloggers who will support you and your book. Bloggers are known for their link love, and their propensity for sharing other people's information. When you do this for others, they reciprocate.
9. Run a contest from your blog, giving away something fun and coveted, like an iPod or copies of your book. While this may seem expensive, it is actually low-cost marketing, considering the number of new email addresses you will collect into your database.
10. Use video to promote your book. Video is all the rage and there's a reason why. It enables you to create a much closer connection with your reader. Create video trailers (like movie trailers), video interviews or share live events with your readers. You'll build a loyal fan base fast.
About the Author:
For more leading edge Internet Marketing tips go to www.biztipsblog.com. Have a blog? Get a complimentary audio program on How to Drive Quality Traffic to Your Blog. Denise Wakeman is an Online Marketing expert and founder of The Blog Squad with over 12 years experience marketing on the Web.
Denise,
Great article, blogging to promote my book is what first got me hooked on social media- and it is hands down the best way to promote a book. This is especially true for first time authors like myself. No better way to get free attention!
Great advice on subscribing to blog directories!
Adrian @adriandayton
http://adriandayton.com
Posted by: Adrian @adriandayton | April 27, 2009 at 07:40 AM
Great tips Denise on promoting your book using the blog. It great to know I could do this from the comfort of my home.
Thanks
Al
Posted by: Allen | May 17, 2009 at 07:47 AM