Use a Blog to Promote - What, Why and How

In the 21st century, it’s no longer optional to have a blog. All authors need to have a blog to promote their books. To get started, you can easily set up a blog on www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com, each of these services offer free blogs and you follow the directions on their sites to start blogging in minutes. Over time you can learn ways to fine tune your blog and to customize the layout or you can hire someone to set up a blog and to teach you the best ways to use that blog to promote.

What is a blog?

Originally a blog was simply a way to communicate with friends. However, blogs are a great way for authors to build a brand and establish a promotional platform for their books. You can use a blog to help potential readers get to know the author behind the book and to learn more about the books you write. Think of it as a cyber sales person who is representing you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What is your cyber salesman saying about you and your books?

How to use a blog?

A blog can include information about your writing, how you write, how you develop story ideas and why you’re qualified to write your books. Non fiction authors can use their blog to build their credibility with potential readers. Take the opportunity to show people that you have something and why you have the background and knowledge to help them. Fiction authors can share insider details about their books, the characters, the setting and many other parts of their books. You can also share writing and promotional tips with others.

Promote your blog.

Just starting a blog is not enough. Once you have a blog and once you start blogging on a regular basis (at least 2-3 short or long blog posts per week), you need to list your blog in blog directories. Two or the many directories include: www.blogcatalog.com and www.Technorati.com . Your blog address should be listed on your author business cards, linked to your website and listed in your email signature block. These are a bare minimum of the places where you should list your blog address. It is also very good to register your blog with www.feedblitz.com or www.feedburner.com and place a subscription block so that interested readers can subscribe to your blog. This means that they will be notified about each of your future blog posts. It’s a great way to stay in touch with interested readers.

This is only the beginning of your blogging journey, but it will get you started and will help you to start getting the word out to your potential readers. If you like the idea of having a blog, but you want to speak to someone about setting up a blog and teaching you how to use and promote it, feel free to contact me for details about my blog consulting service.

Nikki Leigh
Book Promo 101 - http://www.nikkileigh.com
Follow Me on Twitter - www.twitter.com/litekepr
Nikki Leigh Promotional Services Can Help YOU
www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm

Christee Gabour Atwood's Blog Tour Heads to Panama

This is post #100 for Muze's Musings !

Monday Nov 19 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks with Dee B J Owen. Click here for more information - http://marjo-mumswritings.blogspot.com. This blog visit takes us to Panama for the day.

A thought for the day from Christee – “Parents … because without them, chicken soup isn’t a cure for anything.”

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

NaNo - Day Seventeen

The month is passing and I missed a few days of NaNo. On Wednesday the weather was beautiful and it seemed like a great day to run errands. However, I spent too much time outside evidently. On Thursday morning I woke about 5 am with the worst migraine I'm had in over a year. Our weather changed radically overnight along with rain - that will set my sinuses off every time. The day was very unproductive - to say the least :) Friday I buckled down and got 10 articles done for a client so that I could get back to NaNo today. The result????

I reached 42,000. I enter my word counts each time I finish another section and 42,000 seemed like a great place to stop for tonight :) Hopefully I will reach 45,000 tomorrow - that could depend on how bad the Redskin - Cowboys game goes :) I'm off to update the books that are featured on my promotional blogs. If you would like to know more about the blogs, take a look at the info in the left margin of this blog - there are a bunch of promotional opportunities for authors :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

Maureen Fisher Visits Inspired Author

Friday Nov 16 on the blog tour trail – Maureen Fisher visits with me today on the Inspired Author Self Promotion web pages to tell us more about her books and ways that she promotes her books. Click here for more information -

http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/author-promotional-interviews

While you’re on the Inspired Author website, I invite you to take a look at the Self Promotion section. There are over 60 promotional articles and interviews that I want to share with you. The link is - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/node/12

Nikki Leigh
http://www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - http://www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -http://www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Nano Update

I lost a post or two, so I'll catch everyone up. NaNo is going great. My word count is just over 36,000. I took off today and ran errands and hung out with family for a little while. This seemed like a good errand day since this is the last day the temperature will be in the 60's and 70's. A storm and a cold front are on the way, so I'm hoping tomorrow will be a good writing day. This weekend I need to research and write 10 articles for a client and I got the print galleys for Book Promo 101 last night --- so I need to find time to work on all that stuff :) Thank goodness I'm ahead on NaNo :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

Join Christee Gabour Atwood at Inspired Author

Thursday Nov 15 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks with me about her book and how she promotes. Click here for more information -
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/author-promotional-interviews

While you’re on the Inspired Author website, I invite you to take a look at the Self Promotion section. There are over 60 promotional articles and interviews that I want to share with you. The link is - http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/node/12
A thought for the day from Christee – “ They say, “Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.” I say, “Gimme a high C, Porky!”

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Christee Gabour Atwood Talks With Ginger Simpson

Join Christee on the blog trail on Wednesday Nov 14 –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks with humor and romance writer, Ginger Simpson. Click here for more information -

http://mizging.blogspot.com

Christee shares a thought for the day with you – “I haven’t laughed that hard since Geraldo had a chair on his nose.”

Nikki Leigh
http://www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - http://www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -http://www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Christee Gabour Atwood Talks With Elena Dorothy Bowman

Tuesday Nov 13 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks with Science Fiction author Elena Dorothy Bowman. Elena asks questions to learn more about Christee.

Click here for more information - http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/

A thought for the day from Christee – “This year when I am in traffic jams, instead of feeling stressed, I will pretend I'm in a parade and wave at everyone”.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

NaNo - Day Nine & Ten

How is everyone's weekend? Yesterday I had to work on freelance articles for a client, but I got back to the book today. 5800 words today and I'm just over 27,100 total. That's over halfway for NaNo :) Its no where close to half of the book - but its a nice start.

I learned a few years ago that its nice to set goals along the way to 50,000 and to buy a simple treat that I can have when I reach those goals. This year, I chose cherry limeade. Nothing fancy, but its cold and refreshing. So, I bought 3 half gallons - one to drink when I started NaNo, one to have when I get to the middle and one to drink when I hit 50,000. Tomorrow, I can open the 2nd half gallon. Its also really good mixed with passion fruit mixer and any of my flavored vodka or rum :)

I'm taking the rest of the evening off and putting my feet up. Might even read a few pages of someone else's book :) And, tomorrow is pro football day :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

NaNo - Day Seven and Eight

I'm so behind with my posts. Day Eight, I got about 3200 words on paper and today, I got about 2500. That puts me over 21,000 total. Not bad :) Problem is that I need to research and write 10 articles this weekend, so I'll research them tonight and tomorrow and then write them on Saturday. In between, I'll work on Book Promo 201.

Oh, I got some neat news --- Book Promo 101 was posted on Fictionwise on Monday and today it was #7 on the reference section. Sounds good :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

November 9th on the Blog Trail

Friday Nov 9 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks about her writing, her book and much more. Click here to read more - http://detailwithnikkileigh.blogspot.com/ She even tells my favorite rubber chicken story today – guess you’ll have to visit to find out more.

Darrell Bain is my guest today as he talks with us about his books and how he promotes - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/author-promotional-interviews

While you’re on the Inspired Author website, I invite you to take a look at the Self Promotion section. There are over 60 promotional articles and interviews that I want to share with you. The link is - http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/node/12

I have an article posted at Romance Sirens about the difference between romance and women’s fiction. If you would like to take a look, visit - http://www.romancesirens.com/main/2007/11/8/womens-fiction-vs-romance-by-nikki-leigh.html

A thought for the day from Christee – “This year I will stop thinking of that "fur" on my ceiling fan as an artistic statement”.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htmBook Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

November 7th of the Blog Trail

Wednesday Nov 7 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she shares the opening chapter of her book. Get a taste of how Christee approached her “mid life crisis”. Click here to read more -

http://www.startatbeginning.blogspot.com/

A thought for the day from Christee – “ It’s difficult, but not impossible, to kill a mosquito with a toilet brush.”

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htmBook Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

NaNo - Day Six

I worked for a client today and got another repair on my laptop today. My brother, dad and I also went to dinner -- so all around, no writing, but I got other important stuff done. But, tomorrow I'm back to work on Amazon info. I think that I also got a few contributions lined up for the book :)

Nikki Leigh

NaNo - Day Five

The day went pretty well and the Amazon section of the book is shaping up :) Tomorrow I have another appointment to have some work done to my laptop and my monthly billing client needs bills sent, so Tuesday will have a few distractions. But, I topped 15,000 today - so its going well.

By the way, I also got word this morning that my Non Commercial Food Service book won a USA Best Book 2007 for the Business Reference category :) Always nice to hear about a contest win on a Monday morning :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com/book.htm

NaNo - Day Four

Today wasn't too bad. I slept late to get a little break and of course I had to watch a bit of football :)

I've done quite a bit of research the last couple of days and I'm reworking the info I found. But, I got about 2000 words on paper today and have a total of 13,127 for the month so far. At one point I thought I had lost 500 words, but I found the problem. I saved one version of a chapter and printed out another version of the chapter. So, I got the info untangled and I found the words :)

Tomorrow is Monday and we'll see how it goes :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

NaNo - Day Three

Today went pretty well. I finished the ten articles for my client and got a couple of things done around the house. By this evening I had 11,032 total words on paper and I got some great Amazon research done today. I was searching for some details I needed and once I stumbled on the info, I had to keep researching :) So, about 3,000 words of Amazon stuff is pieced together and I'll get to that soon.

Tomorrow I plan to get back to social networking. There are a few different ways I want to go with that information and a small bit of it is together, but plenty of info to add :) Its coming along very nice and I've already gotten a few contributions from authors that will be added to the book. How great is that :)

More tomorrow.....

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com

NaNo - Day Two

Well today wasn't as productive as yesterday, but I got my laptop fixed (YEAH :) and that means I could get the Readers Station newsletter posted online (http://www.readersstation.com/nov_2007.htm) and I got about 1000 words on paper too. In addition, I figured out a couple of things about where certain content should go and that is always helpful :) I forgot, I also finished writing 10 articles for a client and I'll proofread them tomorrow and then back to Book Promo 201 :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

NaNo Day One

What an incredibly productive day. I totally expect to get some cyber smacks over this, but I'm so thrilled with my work today that I just don't think I care :)

I got started a little late this morning, but I worked much of the day. Although I actually took an hour for lunch and took another break for about 2 hours this evening. But, when all the work for the day is tabulated -- I have 7125 words for day one. YEAHHHHH ! ! ! Sorry, just a little excited about that. My hands and fingers are hurting, but otherwise the day went good. Its also good that I made good headway today because the Dell technician is supposed to come to town to fix my laptop tomorrow -- YEAHHH ! ! ! I miss the flexibility of having my laptop working :)

I'm going to take a hot bath and soak my hands to prepare for tomorrow. Book Promo 201 is off to a great start and its sounding good so far :)

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm

Join Christee Atwood for Day Two of Her Blog Tour

Friday Nov 2 on the blog tour trail –

Christee Gabour Atwood continues her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis.

Visit today with Christee Gabour Atwood as she talks to us about the book cover for her book. Click here to read more - http://www.judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/

A thought for the day from Christee – “My pets are smarter than me. If not, they would be going to work everyday, balancing the checkbook on weekends, and cleaning out the litterbox, while I sat on the couch and scratched myself”.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com
"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)

Christee Gabour Atwood's November Blog Tour Begins

Thursday Nov 1 on the blog tour trail –

This is the first day for November author virtual book tours. Christee Gabour Atwood begins her tour today to promote her book – Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis. Today is the first day of National Novel Writing Month – otherwise known as NaNo. Christee is participating in NaNo again this year and she tells us about her NaNo experience at:

http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/current-events-and-your-book-promotion-0

While you’re on the Inspired Author website, I invite you to take a look at the Self Promotion section. There are over 60 promotional articles and interviews that I want to share with you. The link is - http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/node/12

A thought for the day from Christee – “If I laugh at myself first, then the rest of the world is laughing with me, not at me”.

Nikki Leigh
www.nikkileigh.com"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
Author Promotion - www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm
Book Promo 101 – Learn the Basics of Book Promotion
(E-book NOW AVAILABLE -www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html)