Post #8 – Women’s Memoirs, Book Business – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
Today for my post on Story Circle Network’s Telling HerStories blog, I tried to find the truth behind industry stories that blogging is dead. You can read my post by following this link to “Blogging is Dead…In Case You Hadn’t Heard.” My short answer? No, blogging is far from dead. But it is maturing. I closed that post by asking another question: So what’s going on? And what does it mean to authors blogging (or planning to blog) to boost interest in their books?
The answer: More than you might think.
First, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, blogging is work. And it’s a lot of hard work if you’re going to do a good job. Just as the old adage says everyone has a book in them, I suspect most bloggers only have one or two good posts “in” them. Everything else that comes forth after the spontaneous post(s) bursts into the ethersphere is the result of work. Any blogger who succeeds has probably taken the time to:
- Set a realistic blogging schedule for herself,
- Create a strategy for content development (e.g., lists, reviews, top-of-mind thinking, guest blogs, Q&As),
- Develop several media streams for content format (e.g., audio conversations, video, teleseminars, interviews),
- Build a social media network and list of followers, friends and subscribers, and
- Think about how the blog contributes to her business (e.g., advertising dollars, affiliate sales, product/service sales, book contracts)
That much effort is bound to kill off a good number of hobby bloggers that thought this would be soooo much fun. And that brings us to my second point. As bloggers depart the blogosphere, what we are left with is a much higher quality of commentary that elevates respect and acceptance of blog content in general. Fewer but better bloggers gives all of us greater credibility. And that’s something you can take to the bank.
Finally, the Internet being the dynamic environment that it is plays host to new products, tools and services that come along at a dizzying pace. But contrary to blogging’s doomsayers, technology is not a zero-sum game. The introduction of a new tactic (i.e., tool) does not demand the elimination of something else.
As a case in point, much of the belief that blogging is dead can be traced to the rise of Twitter–the microblogging tool that is, in fact, a real-time broadcasting platform for very short blasts of content. Some say that Twitter is killing blogging. The way I see it is that while many of the hobbyists and casual bloggers have left blogging for Twitter, it was really just a matter of time before they abandoned their blog anyway…and it will be just a few weeks or months more before they get bored with Twitter too. After all, you can only Tweet to a nameless horde that you’re getting up and having your morning coffee or are driving to the mall to meet Janet and Steve so many times before the thrill is gone.
In fact, Twitter is a fabulous tool. I have been using it for almost two years and I’m still coming up with new ideas for using it effectively. Hey, I remember when world-class Tweeter Robert Scobel only had a few thousand Tweets, and now he’s passed 22,000. Twitter and other social networking tools play an important part in my blogging strategy…and note that I wrote “my blogging strategy” not my social networking strategy.
Using my own blogging motivations as an example will perhaps make this more clear: I blog to share my thoughts on marketing and writing with published authors, aspiring writers, traditional marketers, Internet marketers and entrepreneurs. I’m delighted when my posts generate discussion that crystalizes concepts and moves understanding forward for all involved (poster, commenters, and readers). I get pleasure from the exercise. But I’ll be honest, I doubt that I’d blog just to see myself think. I am working to build exposure for Women’s Memoirs, as is my business partner Matilda Butler. So at the end of the day we want more readers, more prospective clients…more customers. I suspect that we’re not alone. I also believe that this is the primary reason for the decline in blogging. Those who thought writing a blog would be a great exercise but had no concept of how to grow a business through blogging and social networking probably represent the greatest number of dropouts.
How I make social networking support my blog will be a subject for my next Book Business post. I’ll only say in closing that currently my favorite tools are Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Linkedin and EzineArticles.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Your favorite tools are mine, too. Blogs are still useful as longer conversations and to provide more useful information. As well as to put a more personal (and/or business) presence out there.
I want to learn more about this.
Linda, there’s one more tool that I need to add–Aweber, the autoresponder tool that helps me to build a legal, non-spamming list of names from our Website.
Thanks for your comment.
Judy, thanks for commenting. It all comes down to this: The blog is your business’ home base. It’s as Linda says, the place to put out a more personal and/or business presence. The blog is also where you can build list. You can have friends and followers on the various social networking tools, and you can send them emails. What you don’t have is the opportunity to build a legitimate database of names.
What do I mean by this? Simply that through the use of opt-in forms you can invite a visitor to your site to sign up for newsletters, blogcast notifications, free downloads–all legitimate “giveaways” in exchange for the visitor’s name and email address. These names are part of your database. You have the right to email these people directly, and they have the right to unsubscribe at any time.
As a writer, you can start building a blog around your book topic early in your writing phase. You begin discussing your subject in such a way that increases interest. You find things to give away that help you build your list.
Do everything right, and by the time you are ready to look for a publisher, you can show that you have a strong list of subscribers. That means a lot to a publisher. And when your book comes out, you can email your list with all kinds of offers…autographed copies, discounts, special added gifts.
Your blog enables you to build a relationship with readers. The social networking tools let you go into “crowds” and introduce yourself to potential readers. You then build relationships and eventually invite them home to your blog.
I wish I knew the two of you when I was writing my book–it would have made my life a whole lot better. This is the best advice on marketing/blogging I’ve seen. Thank you both so much.
Karen
Thanks Karen, that’s very nice of you. I know you’re working on other projects so we’ll connect then. Something we’re planning to offer is a Book Marketing MasterMind group for authors who want coaching on marketing ideas as well as to share and bounce ideas off a like-minded group of authors. We’ll let you know when we’re ready to announce. By making it a group, participants get the benefit of many minds. It also enables us to keep prices down.
Thanks, Kendra, for another post filled with information and inspiration. I continue to bow to you and Matilda for how canny and hard-working you both are.
I feel your analysis is on-track in terms of the way Americans fall in love with a trend and then drop it for whatever next new thing crosses our paths.
There is such a range of blogs and reasons to blog. That’s what my top piece of advice is to anyone starting a blog. Know why you are doing it and what you want out of it. Define a mission. This could be connecting with friends and family, or it could be an integrated strategy to grow your business.
I suppose my blog (Riehl Life: Village Wisdom for the 21st Century) is something in-between these two. My mission is to “Create connections through the arts and across cultures.” That’s given my a wide field to play in. I play in different part of that field as my interest shifts as does my life.
A more consistent and strategic approach with regular schedules of posting would be much smarter. Somehow I’ve never managed that much discipline. But, I have been able to sustain the blog over three years.
I do see how my energy flags at times. It is hard work, even if your major wish is to create and share quality content. I notice with the social networking platforms like Facebook and Twitter that fulfills some of my wish to connect and dialogue with others. And to mention lots of smaller, passing perceptions and experiences.
Thanks for writing and keep us informed on the far side of blogging (that is, the upper end). Blogging well is a craft and hard work. May the Blogoshere quality continue to refine intself as blogs are self-selected out.
Janet Riehl
Neglect is one factor that gives blogging the appearance of dying. You mentioned people who started blogging thinking it would be fun, then went on to something else. There are thousands of blogs out there that haven’t had a new post in years. It’s frustrating to follow a link and find a dead blog at the end. If I could make the rules, my rule would be: no post in six months, your blog disappears from the web-waves. If you’re going to blog, fine. If you’re going on to something else, fine, but clean up your garbage before you leave.
Thanks, Janet. Because it’s possible that the Google police won’t like me using the same post twice, I’ve responded to your excellent points over on the Story Circle Network’s Telling HerStories blog. I’ll use this comment to direct you to : http://storycircle.typepad.com/scn/2009/08/blogging-is-deadin-case-you-hadnt-heard.html#comments
In addition, I’ll give the link to my personal blog written and dedicated to my mother (as explained in the SCN-site comment) http://palatepleasers.blogspot.com .
Sharon,
Thanks for your comments. And if you see my comment back to Janet, posted over on the Story Circle Network blog (see comment above for link) I’m among the guilty. My only defense is that recipes are more evergreen than some topics. Still, I agree with you. In fact, I was surprised one day when I went to check on Palate Pleasers to see that it was still there. I know storage is getting cheaper all the time, but I have to wonder if eventually repositories of all these dead blogs won’t have to impose some limits.
Kendra you succinctly described the roles and interface of blogging and social media – I love you! Not to be too exuberant, but I’m getting inebriated with the wonderful and rich material I’m finding on anything relating to SCN, including posts on fb. Perhaps because I’m a budding [oh to be budding at age 63! is that not a hoot! a crone that buds - yet it is so, and so many in my generation are freeing up and expressing in whole new ways than they ever expected - long digression, continuing now:] writer, I’m just soaking in the information, the knowledge and experience shared, even a sense of bonding. The bonding could be false, but if it is, it’s a great facsimile! When researchers finally studied women’s responses to stress, they were surprised to learn we don’t deal with stress as men do. When women come together, they get stress release – because the hormone oxytocin is released. Whatever the reason, I’m loving it. All this and business advice too! What’s not to like! Even my dear husband will be happy: it’s free!
So much information, Mary! You’re fairly brimming with enthusiasm and energy, and frankly, I can’t think of better medicine for staying young. Besides, what’s 63 but a number?
I don’t believe you’ve stumbled upon a facsimile in either Story Circle Network or Women’s Memoirs. You will find some excellent content (free and otherwise). And sometime down the road I hope we’ll see you in one of our online writing classes. In the meantime, enjoy the material, and the best of luck with your budding writing career.
Mary, one thought. Since you’re busy discovering writing and memoir content, I have something for you that you might not have found yet. Have you been to our Women’s Memoirs Channel on YouTube? Well we have our first video posted. It’s the first of seven short videos in which we are sharing our Memoir Writing Secrets. So go to http://youtube.com/womensmemoirs to subscribe to our channel, then watch the video. And when the next one is posted (in about a week) you’ll be notified automatically. Oh, and it’s free.
Hi Kendra,
Great post. Just began my blog a short time ago at http://www.peggybechko.blogspot.com. I, too, use twitter, but often refer folks back to my blog for the longer posts. I have a lot more organizing and learning to do, but I’m enjoying posting to that blog and evolving what it is. Mostly it’s a glimpse into a writer’s life, what happening, and offering tips to writers of all abilities at all stages of their careers. I’m just about to tackle Aweber and begin building a list. You offer lots of good advice.
Right on, Peggy, that’s exactly what you want to do with Twitter…use it to get the word out and invite readers BACK to your blog. And you’re about to make the next smart move…using Aweber. We use Aweber here on Women’s Memoirs. It allows us to build a legal list of fans, friends and subscribers as everyone opts in of their own will, and they can always unsubscribe. That’s the law. Aweber is a terrific product with a fabulous customer support department.
In fact, scroll up the page a bit and look in the middle column. You’ll find a link to subscribe to Aweber. You’ll get it at the same low price…and we make a little bit for providing the link. We’re affiliates for Aweber.
And here’s another idea…join up and then become an affiliate yourself. Hope you’ll sign up for our free Women’s Memoirs Blogcast, Peggy, which, by the way, is managed through Aweber.