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5 Reasons Why Blogging is Joy – and a Must

. Blogging . “At the very least, new authors should be blogging” – that’s what publishers and agents expect.  Blogs are an essential tool of any writer.  Not only does it get you writing on a regular schedule, it lubricates your writer’s brain, eases that fear of putting yourself out there in the world.  . 1. Top Authors are Blogging Top author blogs include those of fantasy authors Neil Gaiman or J.A. Konrath, spirituals Paulo Coelho, Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra, and business authors Tim Ferriss and Malcolm Gladwell. They all have sold millions of copies, yet they still blog for fun and… Read more

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If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer this and more for only $179 for 3 months – or less than $2/day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,130 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? There is also the “SHARE” button for easy sharing at Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook etc. Thanks a lot for following: @111publishing http://www.111publishing.com http://www.e-Book-PR.com/ http://www.international-ebooks.com/ http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+   . Hyper Smash Tagged: Blog Directory, blog have lots of influence, blog posting, blog videos, Blogging, blogging creates trust, blogging is content writing, blogosphere, Blogs of famous writers

5 Reasons Why Blogging is Joy – and a Must

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Words-for-Blogging
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“At the very least, new authors should be blogging” – that’s what publishers and agents expect.  Blogs are an essential tool of any writer.  Not only does it get you writing on a regular schedule, it lubricates your writer’s brain, eases that fear of putting yourself out there in the world. 
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1. Top Authors are Blogging
Top author blogs include those of fantasy authors Neil Gaiman or J.A. Konrath, spirituals Paulo Coelho, Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra, and business authors Tim Ferriss and Malcolm Gladwell. They all have sold millions of copies, yet they still blog for fun and in order to sell their books, then we should definitely do the same!
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2. Blogging is Your Exercise in Writing
Every artist needs to practice, practice, practice… Musicians need to play hundreds – if not thousands – of pieces, before they can even think about playing in front of an audience. Same is true for any other kind of art, and also sport. Athletes who want to attend a competition, let alone the Olympics, need to exercise 40 to 80 hours a week (often beside their work or studies). Blogging is an authors “training”, actually an easy one, as the books content or experiences of their writing or new things they learned can go into their articles.

 

 

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3. A Blog is Not Only Pure Writing
New blog posts do not necessarily be a written articles, as explained in: Why Blogging Sells Your Book.

  • Photos, Videos, Podcasts,
  • Snippets from your book
  • Slide-Shares, Info-Graphics, Lists
  • Polls / Surveys
  • Re-blogging, Curating other blog articles
  • Guest posts
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4. Your Blog: A Marketing Essential
Your blog, along with a newsletter and website, are the best ways to build a list of online followers, you can introduce your work to an ever-widening circle of readers. Not only is blogging great for updating contacts about new events and what you are currently writing, but they are also perfect for helping your website rank higher.
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5. More Visitors With New Content
With constantly updated content, you will for sure receive more visitors to your blog than a website. These visitors can easily be lead to visit your actual website with a link at the top left “Visit my Author Site”. Blogging increases excitement about your forthcoming books, and enlists “raving fans” to help spread the word.

Last, but not least: Blogging is a huge part of what your posts and tweets on Social Media are. Your blog facilitates networking with your peers and readers, and makes you focus on your author brand and how you want your work to be known.

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How Smart Writers Write to Market their Books

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Content-Writing

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Social Media has become part of our culture, and it helps to connect with your readers. However when scrawling through tweets and other posts on Social Media sites one gets the impression that 90% of all posts by writers are “buy my book, buy my book, buy my book ….”  Few links are pointing to interesting, entertaining or helpful content – despite the fact that there are so many talented writers out there who could write great articles or show snippets of their books. This would make their Social Media presence more valuable and would connect readers with their writing craft.

Question: Whom Would you Believe More:

a) advertisements
b) newspaper / magazine articles
c) samples to try out a product

Most consumers / readers are not excited by pure advertising, they prefer authentic content and like to read writing samples.

Why are authors trying to market their books only with a) when b) and c) are more authentic in the eyes of consumers – or at least a mixture of a, b and c?  I am not telling you a secret here: b and c are free … and sometimes authors can even make money with writing newspaper and magazine articles.
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It is Called CONTENT MARKETING
And it is nothing new, if you work in marketing. From Coca Cola to Volkswagen to IKEA, content marketing is getting more and more foot hold. Read an article “Why Content Marketing Works
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All these companies have to employ and pay a lot of money to “story tellers”. However, you as an author, you have done the “content” part already in writing your book, you just need to use your content and “market” it, in order to give your readers samples of your writing or make them curious about your new book. Study after study have shown that this marketing method can be hugely effective for turning your audience into paying customers. When it’s done well, a content marketing strategy entertains your readers and shows them how good you are at writing.

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Learn from these Writers
In previous blogs we explained how: “Smart Authors Get Paid for Marketing Their Books!” and “FREE, Brilliant Book Marketing to a Million Audience“.
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Write Something of Value for Readers
– which is “by chance” part of your book, such as travel tips to the location of your books plot, museums, festivals or public transportation that are mentioned in your book. You have to do your research anyway, why not use the material you gather and write several articles that you can offer – always mentioning your book.
.

Why Asking for (media) Book Reviews?
When you could get both: book promotion and at the same time (often) being paid? I know, it is a new concept to many writers, but when you think about it – it makes really sense: why use your time and effort to chase reviewers, when you can use your energy to leverage your books content and your research content – to create articles that you can pitch to both, print and online newspapers and magazines?” Read the examples of two writers who have just done that.
.

Perfect for Shy Writers
Content book marketing is also perfect for shy writers who might cringe at stepping outside their comfort zone. They can promote their books at the end of each article they write and even add links to their website or book sales page. Traditional media is more and more outsourcing, barely any full-time writing staff is left, which means they are open to pitches from freelance contributors.
.

Josh Pigford, a Social Media Marketing Guru Wrote Recently:
“The bottom line is that people trust editorial content more than they trust advertisements (only). Do the right mix. Whether your business is as big as Colgate or whether you are a one-person start up, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to utilize this simple fact in order to engage your audience and build your customer base.” And Joe Chernov brought it to the point: “Creating content that is so valuable that people would pay for it, yet you give it away for free, is a reliable way to earn the public’s trust.”
.

Do’s and Don’ts in Content Writing / Blogging

  • Headline attention – encourage readers to read the next line
  • Use keywords that resonate with your audience
  • Simple and direct works well
  • Exciting, interesting, controversial, sensational all work well
  • Numbers / lists / real data works well
  • Just don’t be boring

Writing content will not transform your book into an overnight success, but it is a wonderful option for a long-term strategy, to build an authors platform and it gives your readers a sample of your writing. In our online seminars (and also weekend seminars in Eastern Canada and in the New England States) we help you to get ideas how to use your books’ content to write, promote and how you can even make money with your articles.

 .

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Or visit http://www.international-ebooks.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

.

Hyper Smash

Pingate


Tagged: blog videos, Book Marketing, content marketing, great blog content, value for readers, web content writing, Writers on Social Media, writing markets, Writing skills

How Smart Writers Write to Market their Books

.
Content-Writing

.

Social Media has become part of our culture, and it helps to connect with your readers. However when scrawling through tweets and other posts on Social Media sites one gets the impression that 90% of all posts by writers are “buy my book, buy my book, buy my book ….”  Few links are pointing to interesting, entertaining or helpful content – despite the fact that there are so many talented writers out there who could write great articles or show snippets of their books. This would make their Social Media presence more valuable and would connect readers with their writing craft.

Question: Whom Would you Believe More:

a) advertisements
b) newspaper / magazine articles
c) samples to try out a product

Most consumers / readers are not excited by pure advertising, they prefer authentic content and like to read writing samples.

Why are authors trying to market their books only with a) when b) and c) are more authentic in the eyes of consumers – or at least a mixture of a, b and c?  I am not telling you a secret here: b and c are free … and sometimes authors can even make money with writing newspaper and magazine articles.
.

It is Called CONTENT MARKETING
And it is nothing new, if you work in marketing. From Coca Cola to Volkswagen to IKEA, content marketing is getting more and more foot hold. Read an article “Why Content Marketing Works
.
All these companies have to employ and pay a lot of money to “story tellers”. However, you as an author, you have done the “content” part already in writing your book, you just need to use your content and “market” it, in order to give your readers samples of your writing or make them curious about your new book. Study after study have shown that this marketing method can be hugely effective for turning your audience into paying customers. When it’s done well, a content marketing strategy entertains your readers and shows them how good you are at writing.

Coca-Cola Journey, asks a series of questions about each story.  Here are three of them:

  1. Does it pass the water cooler test?
  2. Does it surprise you?
  3. Does it have universal appeal?

.
Learn from these Writers
In previous blogs we explained how: “Smart Authors Get Paid for Marketing Their Books!” and “FREE, Brilliant Book Marketing to a Million Audience“.
.

Write Something of Value for Readers
– which is “by chance” part of your book, such as travel tips to the location of your books plot, museums, festivals or public transportation that are mentioned in your book. You have to do your research for your books anyway, why not use the material you gather and write several articles that you can offer – always mentioning your book. One more way of content writing: Try to write as many guest blogs as possible for top bloggers that are high on Google and Alexa rankings. It will give you and your books more exposure and new readers.
.

Why Asking for (media) Book Reviews?
When you could get both: book promotion and at the same time (often) being paid? I know, it is a new concept to many writers, but when you think about it – it makes really sense: why use your time and effort to chase reviewers, when you can use your energy to leverage your books content and your research content – to create articles that you can pitch to both, print and online newspapers and magazines?” Read the examples of two writers who have just done that.
.

Perfect for Shy Writers
Content book marketing is also perfect for shy writers who might cringe at stepping outside their comfort zone. They can promote their books at the end of each article they write and even add links to their website or book sales page. Use sentences from your articles to build interesting posts and tweets.
BTW: Traditional media is more and more outsourcing, barely any full-time writing staff is left, which means they are open to pitches from freelance contributors…
.

Josh Pigford, a Social Media Marketing Guru Wrote Recently:
“The bottom line is that people trust editorial content more than they trust advertisements (only). Do the right mix. Whether your business is as big as Colgate or whether you are a one-person start up, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to utilize this simple fact in order to engage your audience and build your customer base.” And Joe Chernov brought it to the point: “Creating content that is so valuable that people would pay for it, yet you give it away for free, is a reliable way to earn the public’s trust.”
.

Do’s and Don’ts in Content Writing / Blogging

  • Headline attention – encourage readers to read the next line
  • Use keywords that resonate with your audience
  • Simple and direct works well
  • Exciting, interesting, controversial, sensational all work well
  • Numbers / lists / real data works well
  • Just don’t be boring
  • Don’t forget to install an opt-in email list to be able to contact your fans!

Writing content will not transform your book into an overnight success, but it is a wonderful option for a long-term strategy, to build an authors platform and it gives your readers a sample of your writing. In our online seminars (and also weekend seminars in Eastern Canada and in the New England States) we help you to get ideas how to use your books’ content to write, promote and how you can even make money with your articles.

 .

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Or visit http://www.international-ebooks.com/book-promo to advertise your new book, specials or KDP Select Free Days.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are almost 900 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

.

Hyper Smash

Pingate


Tagged: blog videos, Book Marketing, content marketing, great blog content, value for readers, web content writing, Writers on Social Media, writing markets, Writing skills

11 Tips How to Create Web Content Without Writing

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Web Content

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I get this questions so often from new writers, book marketing clients or those who start a new blog or website for the first time: “What shall I write on my blog?” It surprises me always to hear this from authors, that have written 200 or 300-page manuscripts …

Creating Content Without Writing A Word?
Is that possible? Well, a couple of words, headlines or introductions should be always there, along with links to other websites, photographers or resources. All writing – and if it is only one single sentence should contain keywords for Search Engines to find and increase the ranking of your web presence.
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Great content doesn’t only come by way of articles, it can be:

  1. Photos
  2. Videos
  3. Podcast
  4. Re-blogging
  5. Slide-Shares
  6. Guest posts
  7. Infographics
  8. Lists
  9. Snippets from your book
  10. Polls / Surveys
  11. Research for your book

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Photos
Brainstorm what kind of photos you can shoot, that would be compelling to your readers and other prospects. These photos you take are not only useful for blogs and websites, but also for all your social media site, especially on Pinterest and Google+. Photos can certainly be free uploaded from a variety of photo sites, see a couple of URL’s on a former blog.

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Videos
Video engages your audience more than text because it includes sights and sound. Link to any
of the million videos on the internet or create your own.The content can range from quasi
power-point-presentation to an animation movie. It is a lot of fun, and if you are new to video
shooting and editing, get tips at 111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer.  Learn how to plan and
download free software, create and most important: market your video.

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Podcast
Become your own radio / TV station and post your creations on your blog. You can create what
is essentially a radio program that you can promote through iTunes or your blog. What pod
casting is, how it works, and how you can create pod casts, is shown an intro video:

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Re-blogging
Re-blogging http://en.support.wordpress.com/reblogs/ is considered legitimate
sharing when the original source is obvious and available, linking to the original source,
comparable to sharing on Facebook, where it includes the link and where only a small portion
is shown. Readers can then follow the link to read the full article on the original post. WordPress’
re-blogging also includes an excerpt of the blog post, a link to the original blog post, and it
encourages you to add your own comments or an introduction before the re-blogged post. Alice
Elliott explains in her excellent blog post step for step how it works and shows all the details via
computer screen shots.

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Slide-Shares
Slideshare.net is a site where you can host your presentations and share them with others. Your
presentations can be linked to the site itself or embedded in a web page. Use this link to your
slide show to embed it into your website, blog and all social media sites your are on. You can
also synchronize an MP3 audio file (podcast) with the slide set to create a slide cast – a more
powerful way of distributing presentations/tutorials. Slideshare is also a fantastic resource site of
presentations. See some samples from Slideshare.net website to get inspirations.
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Guest posts
Invite other writers to post on your blog. Let them add their bio and a short description and link
to their book’s sales page. And post often about this guest blog. A review for this writer’s book would also be a nice gesture. Your friendly guest blogger might even bring you some new readers. But at a later time write for them as well – it’s a two-way lane.
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Infographics
These visual stories became highly popular – the bloggers answer to cartoons in magazines
and books. Five years ago, barely anyone knew what the heck an infographic was. Search the
Internet for infographics that are free (copy and paste their code) or if you are fit with InDesign or
Photoshop and have time at your hand, you can create them yourself. Ordering them from a
designer might be a bit more than you want to spend. How to create infographics is explained here:
http://www.quicksprout.com/2013/07/25/how-to-create-a-popular-infographic/
http://readwrite.com/2013/06/10/5-tools-for-creating-your-own-infographics#awesm=~ogTr9VVEBhg3hJ

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Lists
are a very easy and friendly way to read a blog post as long as the list is not too long and is
structured correctly. Create fantastic headlines with lists: “The five best …”, “The secret of the
most successful …”, “Seven ways of telling ….”.  You get the point?

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Snippets from your book
Use these short articles as a teaser for your book, always add your books blurb and a short bio.
And certainly add the cover image of your book, and links to all online sales pages where
readers can get it.
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Polls
Get to now your audience. Why not give your readers an opportunity to get involved and give you feedback on existing books or planned product feature releases, such as book covers to choose from, or the types of content they’d like to see on your page. Use apps from Polldaddy (a WordPress subsidiary) to start polls / surveys.”How to Supercharge Your Social Media Presence with Online Surveys” is an informative guide.

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Use the research for your book
You gathered a lot of material, newspaper clips, websites, you might have been even travelling
to places. Use every bit of information you have for blog posts – and at the same time write articles, using this very material to feed your stories. Check out this blog post I wrote about Content Marketing for Writers: How Smart Authors Get Paid for Marketing their Books.

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Don’t forget:
Your blog is the basis for your Social Media partizipation, the “bread and butter” and your
inventory. Use it! When it comes to updating your blog, the more frequently you do so the better.
To reduce the likelihood that you let weeks slip by without a blog update, set a schedule for
updating your blog, committing yourself to doing so every Monday and Thursday, for instance.
Read other related blogs, comments on posts, forums or ebooks. This is how the best ideas
come to my mind. And writing down your own experiences and answers you found when
looking for solutions.
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Some useful tips about blogging and the do’s and don’ts

http://www.trafficgenerationcafe.com/write-great-blog-post/
http://bloggingwithamy.com/15-basic-blogging-dos-and-donts/
http://www.probloggingsuccess.com/capturing-readers-interest/

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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/ Once you are on this website, click on Seminar to register.

Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are 880+ of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

http://on.fb.me/TvqDaK

http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

.

.

Hyper Smash

Pingate


Tagged: blog photos, blog videos, book marketing clients, Content Without Writing A Word, great blog content, Online Surveys, Polldaddy, Snippets from your book