One of the most common questions I get is: should I do a blog.

The answer for over 10 years: yes, Yes, YES!

Author smarts start with creating a blog located on your author website. It is delivered on a consistent basis and becomes a magnet for followers and potential followers. Pick a day–I would skip Sundays–and claim it as your day to publish a new blog. Ideally, you deliver it weekly, rain-shine-snow-sleet-even on Holidays.

Every Tuesday, 52 Tuesdays a year, my blog pops. I let my followers know that’s it’s up with a special email to them. On Saturdays, I identify the top 10 Twitter Tweets, add a short note, and ta-dah, it’s pushed out via email–52 weeks a year. Once you get into “the groove”, it becomes easier … and faster to create.

Blogging isn’t going away. It’s tweaking your thoughts, getting more refined and polished as you do, and connecting with your fans. Not doing one, is an author mistake-a big one. 

Your blog can be long or short—some are full-blown articles; others tidbits. Let yours vary. Probe other blogs that cover your topics—study them. Does the blog owner quote other blogs, articles, authors, experts, link to other blogs, allow for comments or have guest bloggers? What kind of images are included?

For authors, becoming a fan of another’s blog, may just open up a new world to you. Making comments creates name recognition (your name is part of your brand—never forget that); and if the blog owner likes what you say, you just may be invited to do a guest blog or two, or three. Your wise words now reach many who you might never have touched. It’s the way of the viral world and using the Town Hall of social media marketing.

Your blogs add content to your website and add to the trust factor between you and your readers. A good thing, indeed.

Just do it, you just might love it!

Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and author of 37 multi-award books. Judith has earned over 40 national book awards for her titles. She’s guided over 1,000 authors in creating their books, earned in excess of $3,000,000 in speaking fees based on her books and gathered over $2,000,000 in onsite book sales at her speaking gigs. Her book, How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech flips a difficult topic into a simple and easily comprehensible plan. If you want to get into speaking, this is the guide that will be the game-changer to success. And, if you want to know more about Judith’s life, her book of “hope” is When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present. You can get it HERE. 

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