Get Blogging
By Gregory A. Kompes
Web
logs, "blogs" for short, started out as online teenage diaries, a way
for kids to express their experiences and voices online. Over the last
ten years, these teenage rant pages have evolved. From the writer's
perspective, a blog is now a respected way to form a personal
connection between you and your readers. Writers with panache and
personality can quickly build a readership; and a large blog readership
will result in more sales of your books and services. Offered in a
variety of easy-to-use styles, blogs are a great way to build your
Writerpreneur brand.
How to get started. A basic blog is easy to create. Visit Wordpress.org,
download the free software, and upload that software to your domain
hosting service. The software comes with a basic template, but a little
searching on the Internet will reveal thousands of free templates. Just
upload the files to your host and change the design for your site. The
WordPress dashboard is where you'll find all the tools you need to
manage your posts, comments, pages, designs and widgets (add on tools
for fun and interactive blogs).
What to post. The main reason to
create a blog is to connect with and build your audience. Frequent
posts-one or more a week-will keep your readers coming back. An
ongoing, niche-topic commentary increases your credibility as an expert
in your niche. This will build your readership and result in more book
and service sales. Blogs are also the perfect place to announce events
like book signings, speaking engagements and new book and product
release information.
Benefits of blogging. Whether you write
fiction or nonfiction , copy or technical, your blog, if updated
regularly, is a source for current information and ideas. Regular
contact with your audience builds trust. Blogs aren't one sided; your
readers can also share their comments and opinions with you. This will
help you better understand your readers, which can make you a better
niche writer. Having a strong Web presence increases the likelihood
that new readers of your topic will quickly find you through search
engines, because most blog sites automatically handle all the Search
Engine Optimization of your posts. (If you don't know yet what that is,
trust me, it's a good thing.)
It's possible to earn income
directly from your blog, too. Beyond selling your own books and
services, many bloggers take advantage of ad placement, click
advertising, partnerships, and affiliate programs. Before you jump in,
make sure your blogging platform allows for what you need. And then why
not get blogging?
Gregory A. Kompes, The Writerpreneur, is an Internet self-promotion expert. Gregory is the author of the bestselling 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live and the Writer's eBook Series that includes Endorsement Quest, Should You Write an eBook, and Your Online Media Kit.
He is co-founder of the Patchwork Path anthology series, Presenters
& Programs, the Writer's Pen & Grill, and Laudably Tarnished: A
Poetry Workshop. Gregory is editor of The Fabulist Flash, an
informative newsletter for writers, and the award winning Eighteen
Questions, a Q&A series that collects and shares the experiences of
published authors.
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