A Blog Post on the Subject of Blog Posting
It occurred to me this morning that I have not discussed blogging on this blog. And isn’t it a subject that warrants attention since I’ve been blogging for the past several months now?
The other reason I want to talk about blogging is because I have exciting news. Last week JaneFriedman.com published a blog post that I wrote. If you’re not familiar with Jane’s website, you must head over there soon. She’s an industry expert who provides writers with a vast amount of information concerning the business of writing through her blog and newsletters, and she’s also an instructor and consultant. I am so honored that she published my article, “11 Signs You’re Ready to Self-Publish,” and I invite you to check it out! Click Here to Read.
SHOULD YOU START A BLOG?
Providing the public with free quality content is a proven way to grow a following, but it also requires a substantial amount of time, effort, and creativity. Before you jump in, you’ll need to ask yourself several questions.
1) First, do you like to write articles, and will you be able to maintain a schedule in which you can consistently post? If you decide to start a blog, you’re going to have to post on a regular basis. So, do you like to write article-style pieces? Do you feel you have a lot to say and that you can do so in a timely manner (because as an indie author, you have many other things to do besides write a blog). Be honest with yourself because if the answer is no but you go ahead anyway, it will quickly begin to feel like a burden you have to deal with—and that’s not what you want in a blog!
2) Second, what topic will the blog center around? Ultimately, you want to gain a readership that will be interested in reading your blog and your book as well. So the topic should relate in some way to the genre of your novel or the subject of your nonfiction book. For nonfiction writers, the blog will address whatever subject your book addresses. For fiction writers, the subject may not be as straightforward. For example, my novel is a thriller, but my blog is about self-publishing. This is not what the experts would call an ideal match, but there are some things I can do to make it more “thriller” appropriate down the road, such as review books in my genre and post blogs that address writing a thriller. My goal is to continue blogging about self-publishing, because I’m going through those steps right now, and then segue into other writing and publishing topics as I move forward.
Keep in mind that not every blog post has to be an informational, or how-to, article. You can post an interview with an expert in the industry (including other writers), book reviews, short stories or essays, or even a letter to your subscribers.
3) Third, how often will you post? You may decide you want to weekly, biweekly, monthly, or even daily. If you don’t want to post consistently because you don’t want the responsibility of keeping up with a schedule, one option is to simply post a few articles you’ve written on one of your website pages. That way, your subscribers will not expect a post to come out regularly. You can also tell them in a few lines at the top of this page that you will upload a new article on occasion.
4) Fourth, will you offer other bloggers the opportunity to guest post? You don’t have to do all of the writing yourself. You can have other writers/authors share their knowledge about specific topics as well. Doing so will benefit you and the guest blogger as well as your readers. You’ll get free material for your blog, the guest writer will get exposure to your subscribers, and your readers will receive quality information on a topic you may know nothing about. That’s a win-win-win!
Something you should know about blogging and search engines is that Google, the largest search engine on the planet, will not recognize your blog unless you post high-quality content that is substantial in length. You can’t produce quick 500-word posts and expect to turn up at the top of the search lists. Your posts need to be longer in order for Google to take notice and start recommending them. And even if you consistently write longer, high-quality posts, it will take some time before Google trusts you enough to recommend your work. I’m starting to see some traffic on my website that’s coming from searches, but not an overwhelming amount, and I’ve been at this since October (six months), which really isn’t that long.
If you enjoy writing articles and sharing your knowledge, and you can do so regularly without growing stressed by the responsibility, blogging may be for you. If you’re not sure, or you have further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
Next week I’m putting together some mini book reviews of the self-publishing titles and craft books I love and rely on for answers and inspiration.
Please join me on Goodreads
Instagram or Facebook: Author Kim Catanzarite
Twitter: @kimcanrite
Kim Catanzarite is a writer, editor, and instructor for Writer’s Digest University. She has worked as a developmental and copy editor since 1994. Her thriller, They Will Be Coming for Us, will publish June 1, 2021. Click here for special offers.
