Marketing Tip

 9 Good Reasons to Start a Blog

by Diane Eble

Do you have a blog yet?

If not, you should start one—today! As soon as you finish reading this article!

Why?

Here are at least nine good reasons why every author should have a blog.

1. They are very easy to create, update, and maintain. If you can write an email, you can create and keep up with a blog. Plus, it costs nothing! You don't even necessarily need a web host (though it's best to have it hosted on your own domain), a designer (most blogging platforms have templates from which you can choose), or anything fancy. You can literally set one up in five minutes or less.

You can go to www.wordpress.com  and set one up there for free. If you already have a web site, see if you can install WordPress on your site. (If you have a C-panel where your domain is hosted, they often have something called Fantastico, which allows you to install a WordPress blog. For instance, with my web host, HostGator , it installs with very few, simple steps.)

Although I personally don't prefer blogger.com, that's another quick, easy, and free way to create a blog. You simply go to www.blogger.com , and follow their simple instructions on how to set one up.

2. The search engines will find you quickly. While it may take up to six months for the search engines to index your regular Web site (unless it's an XSite Pro site, in which case you have search engine optimization superior even to blogs, in my opinion), with a blog you get found and searched within 24 hours!

Plus, blogs tend to get you a higher listing in the search engines. Why? Because search engines love content, and blogs are almost always pure content. Search engines also like fresh material. All you need to keep the search engines regularly indexing your blog is to post at least one paragraph, three times a week. Surely you can do that, right?

3. Blogs enable other people to find you easily. Related to the point above, people searching on your topic will find you quicker through a blog.

Also, you can easily link to other blogs and Web sites that are related to your topic, and they to you. This will again help your search engine rank, it will drive traffic to your blog and/or Web site (mine doubles every month because of this), and allow you to begin to create a "presence" on the Internet.

4. Blogs allow you to interact with your readers. Blogs allow other people to interact with your ideas, because they allow people to leave comments.

You can ask people questions about what they are interested in knowing about your topic, which can help you create a better book or information product. You can test ideas. You can ask for feedback on an article, post, or topic. You can tell them about something you have available and give them a link to another page on your Web site.You can update your book's material via your blog, or answer questions from readers.

5. Blogging can get you into a regular writing routine. Hard to find time to write? Get into the habit of posting to your blog regularly, and you'll have established a routine for writing.  If you're strategic about it, you can even write your next (for first) book via your blog—and get feedback along the way to boot!

6. People can subscribe to your blog.  People can subscribe to be notified whenever you post to your blog, and receive notice via email or a feed to their own news groups. This can bypass email and spam filters and get your messages read.

7. Blogs help you cement your relationship with your audience.   Readers love to feel connected to their favorite authors. If they know about your blog, chances are they will read everything you post. Don't be afraid to share things about your personal life. Readers love it!

8. Blogs help you establish your platform and your credibility. By keeping up with your industry and becoming a filter for your audience, you can establish your expertise via your blog. Find other people who are interested in your industry or topic, connect them to each other, and get them talking, debating, and sharing. This is one of the quickest ways you can become a thought leader, which leads me into the next reason….

9. The media love blogs. Media often pay attention to blogs. They too are looking for fresh content, new ideas, strong voices. They may find you, but it's more effective if yousupplement your blogging with press releases and personal contacts with the media. Point them to your blog for more information, and let them be impressed enough to put you on their "contact these experts" list.

Your blog should really be the HUB of all you do as an author (which means, remember, "authority"). All roads--articles, Twitter tweets, Facebook stuff, YouTube videos--whatever you do to gain exposure--should point back to your blog.

So what are you waiting for? Start blogging now!

For more help on blogging:

On the January 14, 2010 Publishing Coach Weekly teleseminar, I interviewed Cathy Perkins, "the WordPress Wizard," about blogging questions. Listen to the replay below. She will also be starting her Wordpress Workshop on January 18. If you have been considering starting or revamping a blog, this is THE workshop for you! Details here.