In a recent post here on Self Published Author, I talked about five features of a terrific and effective author website, and today I’m going to go deeper into one of those features: author blogs. Websites with blogs get 55% more traffic than websites without. And you can’t sell more books without more traffic. It’s hard to argue with that number and the logic that follows it, but while that statistic might convince your brain it’s time to start blogging, it’s also important that you also believe with your heart that the connection you can make to your readers is worthwhile.
Reading is very personal. Genre preferences and the types of books we seek out to fulfill needs or answer questions in our lives say a lot about us as individuals. The days of the elusive, mysterious author are over. When 4,500 books are being published every day, personalization becomes a cornerstone of your author marketing if your goal is to sell more books. But I realize it’s easier said than done!
Blogging is a great way to connect with current fans, and it’s also a great way to put a piece of yourself out there to draw in new fans and buyers. Whether you’ve been blogging for years or you’re just beginning to consider the possibilities a blog may open up for you, a little inspiration can get your creative juices flowing.
So here are five fun, unique ideas for posts that you can add into your rotation!
Recommend Books in Your Genre
Fans of your genre are fans for a reason. And there’s something really special about an author who is willing to share the love and show that it’s about the readers! Remember that clever author marketing means you’re not always blatantly trying to sell more books. Anything you can do that draws attention to you and your brand while also putting your readers first is a slam-dunk. Do a “what I’m reading now” or “my bookstore wish list” post. Maybe even post a screenshot of from GoodReads (which will remind your readers that you’re active there!). And once you do one post in this category, it leaves the door open for you to do another in the coming months.
Use Humor and Shared Connections
Are there are some clichés or stereotypes associated with your genre or topic? Put it all out there and have some fun with it. Address the clichés and stereotypes and talk about how they are true and/or don’t tell the whole story. Throw in a few funny memes and you’ll have something your fans can relate to and will appreciate.
Discuss Future Plans
Almost all readers can appreciate a prolific author. Some get downright nervous about investing time and energy into a single title if the author doesn’t have any other books published yet. So share your plans for future titles and let readers know what you’re working on. If you need some motivation, remember that there’s no better way to sell more books than to write and release more books. Sharing sneak peeks like cover mockups are also smart author marketing tactics that you can play up not just on your blog but across social media as well!
Be a Book-Centric Thought Leader
Readers that follow and read author blogs are usually super readers and quite bookish. So they’ll definitely appreciate anything book-centric you have to share. Effective author marketing also establishes you as a thought leader, even if it’s for pure enjoyment and entertainment. If they trust you to be a good resource, they’ll keep coming back for more. Think book-related gift ideas, fabulous vacation destinations for literature lovers, even recipes inspired by famous storylines or characters. Get creative!
Inspirational and Insider Info
As I said previously, author marketing is going to get more personal as the competition gets fiercer. And what’s more personal than your experience as an author? Let your readers in on what inspires you to write, your inspiration for specific characters, your inspiration for writing that how-to book. This is also a great opportunity to remind them that THEY inspire you. So let them get involved in something fun like naming a character in an upcoming book, or choosing the name of the small town the story takes place in.
Your fans and followers are gifts — they love you and want you to do well. Your blog is a fabulous way to nurture your relationship with them. And because they’d love to tell their friends and acquaintances about you, your blog is also a tried and true way to feed them information they can pass along to others. Make sure your share buttons are in working order so that all they have to do is click on a social icon to post to their own social media accounts or to click on the envelope to email a post to a friend.
Happy Writing!
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Penny C. Sansevieri, Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a bestselling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU. She was named one of the top influencers of 2019 by New York Metropolitan Magazine.
Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Amazon Optimization programs as well as Social Media/Internet book marketing campaigns. She is the author of 18 books, including How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon: 2021 Amazon Ads Powerhouse Edition, Revise and Re-Release Your Book, 5-Minute Book Marketing, and Red Hot Internet Publicity, which has been called the "leading guide to everything Internet." Her next book, From Book to Bestseller, is due out in Spring 2021.
AME has had dozens of books on top bestseller lists, including those of The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal.
To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, visit www.amarketingexpert.com.
