You have probably heard the term “blogging,” but may not know exactly what it means. According to Webster, a blog (or weblog) is an online personal journal. However, that definition has changed and grown since it was originally conceived almost 20 years ago. Wikipedia has the more updated definition as a method of tracking and commenting on events, articles, graphics, and even videos.

So as an author, why should you have a blog? After all, it is free promotion. Why shouldn’t you? In this article, we will track arguments for and against blogging.

The Cons

Argument #1: The technology is too complicated.

True, technology, the internet, and computing in general can be complicated. There are blogs that feature scripts, programming, and many other mind-boggling tech features that can be hard to grasp. It can be overwhelming, especially at first. If you are not internet savvy at all, it may seem nearly impossible to set up a blog. However, there are pre-created blog templates available for you to use. Most of them are free and you simply plug in your title, content, and click, “Publish.” Blogger.com, Wordpress.com, and Typepad.com are three of the blogging industry leaders for templates.

Argument #2: I don’t want to share my private thoughts with the world.

Originally, blogging was created as a way for journalists to track their daily thoughts as they were on assignment. It was an easy way for them to stay in touch with the outside world and generate a following of readers. It was very personal. Today, however, you can choose what you want to say on your blog. You can be as open or closed as you like. Many people enjoy reading blogs of authors because they can get a personal sense of connection with the author. Think of some famous authors you enjoy and visit their websites. Read their blogs. Are they interesting? Do they engage you as a reader to grab the next book the author has published? By becoming more “real” to the reading public, you are in a sense creating a fan base of people who are interested in the real you, as well as your next title.

Argument #3: Publishing material on the web will make me more vulnerable to criticism.

If you are a writer, you should be used to taking criticism. More than the average person, you realize you cannot please every reader out there. If your goal in writing is to please others, you will end up frustrated. Yes, something you write will probably tick someone else off. You can set your blog’s comments section to approve comments before you allow them to be made public, so you can avert some of the criticism. Don’t let criticism keep you from writing a blog. In fact, you can use it to inspire you to write stronger pieces.

Argument #4: I can’t keep up with the maintenance a blog requires.

Creating and maintaining a blog can be very time consuming. There is maintenance for the site itself (adding widgets, buttons, etc.), the initial design, and backing up of the content. If you are extremely busy, but feel a blog would be a good promotional tool for your writing, you may want to hire a virtual assistant to set up, maintain, and post the blog content for you. As with anything, the sacrifice is either with time or money. There is time to learn how to create and design the blog, time invested in learning how to maintain it, and the actual maintenance itself. It is relatively easy to set up a blog, but much harder to maintain it.

Do you wish you had a three-step plan for marketing your book? Can it really be that easy? The answer is: Yes! The truth is, most of us make marketing our books much too difficult. We complicate the process when it is really as simple as one, two, three. Here are the three essential steps to marketing your book – your three-step marketing plan.

Step 1: Create your logo or brand. A logo or brand is an emblem or symbol, something that represents your book. It is how consumers or clients will recognize you. For example, Nike is recognized by the swoosh, Coca-Cola by the red can with white writing, Target by the big red symbol. We as consumers recognize these well-known brands because they have established themselves with a particular emblem or symbol. As a self-published author, you should put this brand on everything from your book cover(s) to your website.

Step 2: Create your website and your online presence. A website is a must for every author. It is your home on the web and where most everyone will find you. It advertises your book and other services you provide. It also should include a Media Room for members of the media to easily download articles, press releases, press kits and information about you and your book(s). You also need an online presence. You want to show up all over the Internet. This leads us to step three.

Step 3: Network, network, network! Join social networking sites, create a blog and post articles to it, article market – get information about your book out there. But don’t just limit the networking to the internet. The great thing about our world today is we have the power to connect our online and offline worlds. So, connect online then take your connections offline. Go to networking events, attend conferences, network both online and off and watch your sphere of influence grow and your book’s sales explode.

Marketing truly can be done in three easy steps. Wherever you are in your book’s marketing plan, take the necessary steps to market it effectively. Start where you are and work your way forward.

You can promote your book through the media when times are tough, when times are good, or at any time at all. It doesn’t matter a bit. The techniques below will work anywhere, anytime. Don’t worry about journalists learning the plan. They know the rules too, and will be happy to play along. Always remember, journalists are your friends. They are just like pets. If you are nice to them feed them the right food, and ensure that they have what they need, they will repay you with loyalty, returning to you over and over again.
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1. Learn about the international media. Read websites, journals and listen to web radio. Show that you know something about a media outlet when you talk to them.

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The value of press coverage to an author cannot be over emphasised.  The more times you and your book are featured in the media the better the profile of you and your book. And the better the profile, the better the sales.
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Press releases are vital tools in the PR armoury of all book marketers. Here are ten ways that you could end up firing blanks. Uses this list to avoid the common errors that will ensure your release gets shredded.
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