It seems that everything happens online now, right! We live in a world where we are constantly connected and pushing deeper and deeper online. It used to be the norm that you would write a book, print your book out and mail it, yes I said mail it, to publishers across the world, hoping someone would pick it up. From there you would hope that a publisher would read it, and then pray they would sign it. After getting a book deal, you would get your photo in the newspaper, and your crisp fresh book would end up on bookshelves everywhere. Then traditional print advertising and marketing would kick in! Now, that’s not the case. Now social media, online marketing and BLOGGING are the way authors get themselves out there. So, even in that one sentence, I’ve already answered the question “does an author need a blog”? Yes! There are a million reasons why you do!
Times have COMPLETELY Changed
Back in the day, or so I’ve heard, it was hard to get a book published, and sell it. Now, it’s even harder. People don’t read newspapers, they don’t buy actual books. People are engrossed online and they spend most of their time reading ebooks. As much as book stores are still thriving, there are less and less of them, and each now offer more than books. People love the simplicity of downloading a book on their device, and flipping open the first page right away. Now, everyone can be a published author through self publishing and that makes the competition HIGH. You go onto Amazon, and already there are millions of books in what seems like thousands of genres. Since, times are changing, authors need to be online and blogging. This is just a step in the writing chain.
You Need To Market Yourself – ALL THE TIME!
I feel like in the 1900s writing a book was the hard part, from there you let the marketing team at your publisher do the work. I’m young, and probably naive in saying this, but that’s how I think of traditional book publishing! But now, publishing means marketing. Writing the book is the easy part! Now, you have to be unafraid to push your limits and go out and find your readers. You need to determine who your audience are, and not only write your book to them, but also blog to them. Writing, commenting, reaching out and being online and on social media, will help you market yourself and the book.
People Want to Know You – The Author!
You may think that you want to keep some sort of privacy in your life. But if you are really dedicated to selling something, we live in a world where personal touches are key. Across almost all businesses, it is becoming more and more normal to put a face to a name. People want people, especially when we live in the digital world. That is why branding your book, and branding yourself is important. Blogging as an author is one of the first steps to creating your brand!
Your Author Blog Gives You A Place To Share
As an author, you almost always write in a similar way. If you’ve spent years writing a trilogy, or even just one book, you are invested in your characters and in yourself. You know them, sometimes more than you know yourself. So, writing an author blog gives you the ability to change your voice, share your opinions and really reach out to your readers.
