How to Build Your Blog and Find Your Community by Sarah Ruut

Lately, the importance of fiction writers having a blog for their platform seems to be up in the air. Whether you've been blogging for a while or just beginning, Sarah Ruut has some great tips for the process. -- Sandy

Sarah: Do you have a blog? Have you been told you ought to start one? Maybe you have one, but you’re not sure what to do with it.

Blogs offer a tremendous opportunity to connect on a more personal level with readers as well as other authors. Other social media options are helpful, too, but you have no control over your space there. On your own blog, you control the landscape, and better yet, your community can be notified each time you post, rather than only when the stars align properly. (No one knows what works with those mysterious algorithms!)

If you feel overwhelmed or aren’t sure where to start, be encouraged. You’re not alone. One of the great things about blogs is that you can learn and change things as you go. So just do it! Here are a few tips and suggestions to get you going.

A Few Things to Know About Blogging

Be Passionate

If you’re not excited about what you’re doing, your readers won’t be either. Enthusiasm is contagious. Share yours!

Be Yourself

It’s tempting to imitate another successful blogger or writer, but don’t do it. God gave you your own personality, skills and passions. Allow those differences to set you apart as a unique voice.

It’s Not About You
I know. I just said you should be yourself and share your passions. Keep in mind, though, that ultimately it’s not about you. Determine your audience and their needs and desires, and then seek to serve them.

Interact
Blogging is community building. Your goal is to find people who want to read what you write, but those readers want to know they matter. If they take the time to comment, responding gives you the opportunity to build relationships that will hopefully last.

Don’t Be Afraid to Search

Whatever platform you choose (WordPress, Blogger, etc.), if you need to change or fix something, chances are good that directions have been posted online. Don’t be afraid to search or to find others who can answer your questions.

A Few Things to Include in a Blog Post

Photos

Photos and graphics help break up long passages of text, making the post more visually appealing. They can also be pinned to Pinterest or add images to a Facebook post or link, which helps draw interest back to your post.

Call to Action
When a reader has read your post, what do you want them to do next? Comment? Answer a question? Follow your blog? Share the post with a friend? There are many options here, but don’t be afraid to ask for the response you want.

Share Options
Make it easy for your readers to share the post, whether by email or social media. Many readers will not take the time to share if they don’t see a quick and easy way to do so. If you want them to share (which you do!), make it simple for them to do it.

A Few Tips for Blogging Success

Pick a schedule and stick to it.
Whether you post once a week or once a day is not as critical as that you do so consistently. Determine what works and stick with it, so your readers know when to expect you. When you know what is coming, you can plan ahead (and schedule posts ahead), which takes a large burden from your shoulders.

It’s not about you.
Yes, this one is worth repeating. Some bloggers only ever post about their own books. While your community will want to know about your book, they’ll want more from you than just that. Whatever focus you choose for your blog, serve the needs and desires of your community. Don’t just advertise your own writing, or your blog will become merely a commercial.

Reach out to others.
One of the most wonderful outcomes of blogging is the opportunity to build relationships with your community. Readers, writers, other bloggers – there are amazing people online who interact within this community. Don’t be afraid to join in. Blogging isn’t meant to be done alone.

Be patient.
The web is a huge world, and it takes time for your community to grow, for your space to feel settled, for your site to look like you dream. You don’t have to do everything at once.

What is your greatest blogging challenge? Share in the comments. And if you know someone who might benefit from this post, take a moment to share it with them, too!

~~~~~

Sarah Ruut is an avid reader who loves sharing about books and their authors on her blog, Fiction, Faith, and Fun. You’ll find devotionals as well as reviews of Christian fiction, interviews with amazing authors, giveaways and more at http://sarahruut.com/. You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Goodreads.

Approaching People With Care Series: Part II

 Your Community

Approaching People with Care: Part II

Net's Notations Tuesdays

People are often surprised when they find out what I do, and that’s probably because I don’t usually tell them.

My husband dropped off our youngest at a birthday party recently to hear these words, “I didn’t know your wife was an author. I went to her site and I’m thinking of getting her book.” Aww… I’ve seen this dear fellow mother three days a week for a year. Okay, you could chalk it up to my being an introvert, but it’s also easy not to mention what you do when no one asks.

Then, there are the times I’ve asked others what they do and they’ll tell me, but assume I’m a SAHM (thanks Meredith Efken for the acronym. It stands for Stay At Home Mom). And that’s partly true. So, if they do ever ask, I’ll tell them. Otherwise, let the conversation be about them. That’s cool.

When you interact with local people, what do you talk about? I’m not saying we can’t or shouldn’t mention our careers. Please do. And don’t be ashamed! For a long time, it was difficult for me to say I was a writer. And then when I published some things, it was challenging to “admit” I was an author. People give you strange reactions, am I right? You know it. But when you’re living out your calling, it’s important to do so unashamed. Shame, even when it's a lie, will only hold you back.

So, to return to my point, we’re talking about approaching people with care this month. And last week we discussed caring for editors and agents, remember they’re people too. Our interactions aren’t one-sided, and based in selfish motives. You’ll stand out if you genuinely care for others. Same’s true of conversations within your community. When we serve others, putting others first, we glorify God. So, our writing glorifies God. And our conversation and caring glorify God. That will help people find Him, want Him, seek Him, and perhaps peek at your writing too. See, a win-win-win-win. ;)

It’s all in the approach.