BLOG BLOG BLOG

The title is a direct quote from our Henderson Writer’s Group vice el-presidente Andres, who also runs our web site. He’s always encouraging members to submit articles and blog posts to keep the web site active, and with good reason. The web site is there for everyone. It’s a great place to keep up with the happenings within the group and also to glean info on the craft of writing.

TWO SIDES

I’ve heard it all. At every writer’s conference, there are those that preach blogging and social media as the be-all end-all of getting your name out to the world. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to let the world know you exist. It’s the most convenient marketing tool.

On the other hand, especially recently, there is the emerging crowd that believes social media and blogging is as useless as tits on a hog. They feel it’s a colossal waste of time and nobody pays attention to any of it. They never buy books based on either the social media sites or anything you write, let alone read what you say.

TIME CONSUMING

As with any marketing, blogging takes time. First, you DO have to pay to maintain a web site. What, $30 a year for a decent one, though there are the down-and-dirty cheap ones that you can get for free that have little functionality, or modest ones for $20 or maybe even less. Or, you can go much more if you hire someone to do it for you. I see those, and red lights flash in my mind.

I have very little HTML background and I almost forked out $200 to have someone do a web site for me, but I hedged on that, paid $29 and did it on my own. I may not have a super-duper totally spiffy site, but I don’t think I’ve done that bad. Sure, it could probably use some more functionality, but considering where I’m at, I’m not ready to fork out big bucks for something I don’t need. Neither do you.

Building the basic site, then writing something on it takes time. Maintaining it does also. Then, if you start getting traffic, keeping up with it does also.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

When your book comes out, your name is already out there. People know who you are. They know a bit about you. Your book isn’t dropping from a vacuum. You have a platform from which to yell, scream and tell everyone I have a book!

NOT FOR EVERYONE

Plenty of authors will tell you they don’t use any of this, and do just fine. Some popular authors have their media relations people do their web sites. The authors themselves barely visit their sites, if at all. I’ve noticed some author’s web spaces haven’t been updated in years. They’re static, yet they keep selling books. The site is like a place mat on the web.

Other authors are current, have active blogs and chat with their fans. They have contests, current events, tour dates. They post articles on the social media sites and their web page as well. I have a feeling their fans are more dedicated.

What kind of author are you going to be?

To re-quote: Blog blog blog.

Happy writing!