Do I Really Need To Blog? Part 2 by Tyora Moody

As writers, can't we just write? In short, the answer is, "no." There are all kinds of demands on a writer's time, including maintaining a continuous social presence. One way to do that is by creating a blog. Today, Tyora shares how to do that. Enjoy! ~ Angie

To start blogging, you want to choose where you want your blog hosted. Some popular places are:

• blogger.com (free)
• wordpress.com (free)
• wordpress.org (self-hosted, pay for domain name and  hosting)
• typepad.com (pay)

After you set-up your blog, the next challenge comes in terms on how to bring traffic to your blog. Don’t expect people to flock to your blog overnight. You will need to dedicate time if you are serious about using this as a platform. Here are a few tips:

1. Be consistent. Do keep in mind that if you decide to blog, plan to post content regularly at least 2-4 times a week. People will visit your blog if they find you are posting quality information on a consistent basis.
2. Post to Twitter, Facebook and other social networks.  If you use the self-hosted WordPress, you can install plugins that push out links to your blog posts as soon as they are published. You may want to consider signing up for a tool like Hootsuite.com to schedule posts. Include social media icons on your blog that allow readers/visitors to easily share your blog posts on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, etc.
3. Guest blog on high-traffic blogs in your area of interest.  Be on the lookout for opportunities or query blog owners to ask if they would be interested in posting guest bloggers.  Be sure to include your website in a brief bio so people can find out more information about you and your book.
4. Try article marketing. Re-purpose some of your blog posts into articles and submit them to popular directories like EzineArticles.com.
5. Remember email is still a major form of online communication for most adults. You can use email marketing services like Mailchimp.com or Feedblitz.com to offer subscriptions to your blog’s RSS Feed.

This blog post was excerpted from 5 Social Media Platforms Authors Should Explore. You are welcome to download a FREE copy from DIYwithTy.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tyora Moody is an author and entrepreneur. Her debut novel, When Rain Falls, was released March 2012. The second book in the Victory Gospel Series, When Memories Fade, will be released in March 2013. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Visit the author online at TyoraMoody.com.

Do I Really Need to Blog, Part 1 by Tyora Moody

Today's topic, "Do I Really Need to Blog," contains so much good info that I'll be sharing part one this today and the second part on Tuesday. Get your notebook and pen! ~ Angie

Have you experienced the excitement of launching a blog? Maybe you were pretty consistent and found writing the blog posts to be fun.  Then, a few weeks go by and then a few months, and you aren’t thinking about blogging. Life just took over.  Like writing a book, blogging does take discipline. It’s within the discipline of blogging, you not only grow as a writer, but you are developing your author platform.

Do I really need to blog? Let’s think about this question this way. When you examine most author websites, they have pages for their books, a bio, events calendar, etc.  The pages are pretty static until the author or their webmaster adds new content. In that sense, the website can be kind of boring to a reader who’s already visited several times. A blog is the one main areas of a website that can change or be updated with consistency.

As you blog each week, you are creating an opportunity to connect, update and share with your readers or potential readers. If you have a certain niche or topic that you write about in your books, a blog offers a great way to attract an audience. Many authors will use blogs to help other writers by posting about their personal publishing journey or writing tips.

If writing daily or several times a week for a blog doesn’t appeal to you, consider video blogging. Videos are really easy to create these days via a webcam or your smartphone camera. Another alternative is to start a blog with a group of writers or authors. Each contributing writer can be assigned one day a week (or month) to add a blog post. Some existing group-authored blogs may offer guest blog opportunities like Seriously Write.

This blog post was excerpted from 5 Social Media Platforms Authors Should Explore. You are welcome to download a FREE copy from DIYwithTy.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tyora Moody is an author and entrepreneur. Her debut novel, When Rain Falls, was released March 2012. The second book in the Victory Gospel Series, When Memories Fade, will be released in March 2013. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Visit the author online at TyoraMoody.com.

Building a Readership with Social Media by Tyora Moody

Today I've asked my fellow Carolinian, Tyora Moody, to share with us about social networking for writers. And I'm thrilled to report that she will posting her series with us today, Thursday and the following Tuesday. She's got years of experience with blogging and social media, so I'm sure you'll find lots of new info. Thanks so much, Ty! ~ Angie

I've been working with authors for over twelve years. It's amazing to me how many authors seek me for design and marketing services right before or after their book has been released. The days of getting by without an online presence have clearly been over for several years now. Whether you are a traditionally published or self-published author, daydreaming about your bestseller is not an option. As soon as you have a release date, it’s time to get down to the business of book promotion. This could mean starting six to nine months out preparing and generating buzz.

Now I don't know too many authors who have a tremendous amount of free time to devote to marketing. Most still work nine to five jobs, raise families and are involved in community activities. Even if there is an opportunity to write full-time, many authors supplement their income by providing services like editing, teaching or speaking. Time management is essential.

Many authors are often confused about how social media plays a role in their book promotion. With over 900 million users, I think it is safe to say most authors know about and have Facebook profiles and/or fan pages. But it is relatively easy to waste time on Facebook (or any social media) OR take what I call the “car salesman” approach of marketing your book (alienating people).

The importance of utilizing social media is to build relationships. Before my debut novel, When Rain Falls, was published March 2012, I had spent years as a book reviewer and a blogger. Those relationships I built over the years via social media with other reviewers and bloggers proved to be a great benefit to me when it came time to seeking influencers for my book. So, as you figure out what social network to join or which one to spend your time as a part of your book marketing plan, keep in mind the main goal is to build relationships.

In the next few blog posts, I will introduce or remind you about social media platforms you should consider for your book marketing efforts. I will also share tips on how to not only build relationships, but how to engage potential readers and spread your platform message.

This blog post was excerpted from 5 Social Media Platforms Authors Should Explore. You are welcome to download a FREE copy from DIYwithTy.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tyora Moody is an author and entrepreneur. Her debut novel, When Rain Falls, was released March 2012. The second book in the Victory Gospel Series, When Memories Fade, will be released in March 2013. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Visit the author online at TyoraMoody.com.