Why Should You Blog?
Recently I posted a link to my blog on a LinkedIn group called Writers and Author’s Circle. It was the post about how to have a successful agent pitch session. I quickly received this comment: “This is not the place to self advertise your commercially- motivated blog. If you want to join a conversation you are very welcome but remove this spam; stuff like this is driving the proper members away.”
I just as quickly left this group (so the proper members wouldn’t be driven away) but the incident did get me thinking about this process. Is my blog commercially motivated? I will admit that I first started blogging years ago because all the marketing experts at the time were saying that an author HAD to have a blog. Without one, no one would ever know about your books and you would never have any sales.
Did it work? Does my blog give me greater visibility? I think so. Has it led to book sales? I highly doubt it. If that ever was a path to book sales, I don’t think it is now. Facebook and Twitter are much more efficient for that purpose. Besides, I believe I have a lot more writers than readers here, and other authors are not the best market for my novels.
Of course there ARE more commercial blogs. Fiction writers who blog about their characters every week, and nonfiction writers who blog about their topic of expertise probably do boost their sales. Bloggers that feature author interviews or sample chapters certainly aim to boost their guests’ sales. And there is still a strong belief among authors that going on a blog tour will generate book sales.
I launched this blog based on the idea that readers would want to know what’s involved in being a novelist, to see the writer’s life from the inside. Over time it has evolved into a place where I share what I’ve learned about this passion and this business called writing. I get to express my opinions, and other writers enter into dialog here. Sometimes I just report recent events that have affected my work. Sometimes I use this space to explore my own thoughts and attitudes. Ultimately I have to say that I find blogging very rewarding, but not financially so.
So why should an author blog? Maybe we should be asking why people read blogs. Probably not to find new books to read, but maybe to be entertained. Maybe to learn more about what it’s like to be a writer. Maybe to learn more about the writing business, or the writing process. And maybe just to get to know a writer better. If you want to fulfill any of those needs then you definitely should try posting something every few days. You might find it rewarding too, even if it’s not commercially motivated.
I just as quickly left this group (so the proper members wouldn’t be driven away) but the incident did get me thinking about this process. Is my blog commercially motivated? I will admit that I first started blogging years ago because all the marketing experts at the time were saying that an author HAD to have a blog. Without one, no one would ever know about your books and you would never have any sales.
Did it work? Does my blog give me greater visibility? I think so. Has it led to book sales? I highly doubt it. If that ever was a path to book sales, I don’t think it is now. Facebook and Twitter are much more efficient for that purpose. Besides, I believe I have a lot more writers than readers here, and other authors are not the best market for my novels.
Of course there ARE more commercial blogs. Fiction writers who blog about their characters every week, and nonfiction writers who blog about their topic of expertise probably do boost their sales. Bloggers that feature author interviews or sample chapters certainly aim to boost their guests’ sales. And there is still a strong belief among authors that going on a blog tour will generate book sales.
I launched this blog based on the idea that readers would want to know what’s involved in being a novelist, to see the writer’s life from the inside. Over time it has evolved into a place where I share what I’ve learned about this passion and this business called writing. I get to express my opinions, and other writers enter into dialog here. Sometimes I just report recent events that have affected my work. Sometimes I use this space to explore my own thoughts and attitudes. Ultimately I have to say that I find blogging very rewarding, but not financially so.
So why should an author blog? Maybe we should be asking why people read blogs. Probably not to find new books to read, but maybe to be entertained. Maybe to learn more about what it’s like to be a writer. Maybe to learn more about the writing business, or the writing process. And maybe just to get to know a writer better. If you want to fulfill any of those needs then you definitely should try posting something every few days. You might find it rewarding too, even if it’s not commercially motivated.
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