3 Reasons why Authors and Wannabe Authors Should Blog

1) Selling your book idea.
Publishers and agents love blogs and bloggers.

Why? They want authors with a “platform,” and your blog is part of your platform.

Platform? Well, ideally you’re supposed to be famous so people will buy your book. They don’t want people who want to write a book to become famous or well-known in their niche.

They know your blog will help get the word out about your book and convince people to buy it.

Publishers and agents can also get an idea of your writing style, and that you can write, by looking at your blog. Also, if you’ve been blogging a while, your commitment and demonstrated expertise of your topic is a plus too.

2) Writing your book
You can write bits of your book via your blog. Small bite sizes pieces are EASY to write, and you’ll get feedback from readers too, which can help you create a better book.
If you’re already blogging before you start thinking book, much of your book may already be written! Even if it’s only 5 or 10%, that’s a great head start.

3) Marketing your book
Yes, getting your book to sell is YOUR job, whether you self-publish or use a traditional publisher.
Blogging is a great way to sell books. People who read your blog are more likely to buy it!

I know, I said three, but this is important.
4) Don’t expect to make much money writing a book, but you may make a lot of money from follow on products, like audio CDs, videos, courses, and other information products, mentoring/coaching programs, speeches, etc.

Your blog is a platform to test ideas, help develop follow on products, and market them, all while still pushing your book!

Comments

[Sabrina]

Hi! I'm a young author, and I think your comments are a good idea! Sometimes, I write bits and pieces of a book before the main plot, or a section will just "come to me." I would like to get feedback on it, and to see how I could improve!(I would also like to edit other people's!) Well, nice blog!

[Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business]

Thanks Sabrina. I think if I had been blogging earlier, say in 99 or 00, I would have become an author much earlier. But instead I started blogging in late 04 and a year later had finished my first book.

[HP van Duuren]

Great article outlining excellent reasons to blog. I totally agree that blogging is useful to create a "Fanbase" or "Platform" as you call it.

Thanks for the great idea about creating a book from small bite sized pieces. I might consider to someday make a special book out of all my Syndicated "Happy Vibe" Columns.

Feel free to take a visit to my blog and place a comment with your link. I now do have a nice 'continuity' with daily International (worldwide) visitors.

Regards,
HPvD.

[Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business]

Thanks HP!
"Platform" -- that's the term I hear used most often by agents and publishers. Fanbase may be a better word, although I don't think "fan" when I think of people who read my blog or books!
Maybe "following" is a better term?

[Liara Covert]

Your point about aspiring authors is an excelent one. Anyone thinking about writing a book must also reflect on marketing and promotion. As you blog, you begin attracting an audience which could eventually become your book buying clients. Develop a following and selling your books becomes much easier. People tend to buy a book because of the author unless they hear about the reputation of the story first.

[Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business]

Thanks for your comment Liara.
In general, I buy the books of people I know.

I buy a lot of books of people I've never heard of too if the book looks interesting, but that's probably 25% of my purchases.

If I blogger I read writes a book, I'm pretty much guaranteed to buy it (unless they send me a freebie!)

[John from Paris]

Love the topic and don't want to sound cynical, but are you concerned someone might "borrow" some of your story for their book?

[Karen Bryan]

I think that all types of businesses should seriously consider blogging. I started a blog for my web based travel business in October 2006. I received an email from a student writing a dissertation about business blogs, did some research and then blasted off into the blogosphere. The blog has more than doubled visitors to my site and bookings. I think some small businesses may think blogging is irrelevant to them but they should look more closely. It;s not an easy thing to set up and maintain a blog but there has been no financial cost to me, just a lot of time and effort but it has paid dividends.

[Ted Demopoulos, Blogging for Business]

John,
I don't worry about people stealing. Hey, they can steal from book too!
Everything written is copyrighted by default, although admittedly enforcing a copyright violation in, for example, Hong Kong, would be difficult.