Blogs & Books

This article was published with permission from Media Associates International (http://www.littworld.org/), and first appeared in Trainer Network newsletter. If you're a writer, read the whole thing. I'm sure it'll be a big help to you!

Interview: Why Bother to Blog?
Besides serving as personal online journals for public consumption, blogs (web logs) are helping writers worldwide expand and deepen relationships with their audiences, and market books. Authors Grace Gaston Dousel of the Philippines (http://trueloveweds.blogspot.com/) and Mary DeMuth of France (www.relevantblog.blogspot.com) share their insights on blogging with Editor Dawn Herzog Jewell.

Q: How did you get started with your blog?

Grace: I never knew much or cared about blogs because I'm not into technology. But soon after my book launch, my officemate set up a blog for me. He and his daughter (my "blogging guru") taught me how to use it and how powerful a tool it could be, especially in reaching today's youth and young professionals--the target audience of my book.

Mary: No publisher asked me to do this. I figured it was what I could do from overseas to help the sales of my books. Mostly, I am just building an audience base. Since I live in France and can't do a lot of hands-on marketing [in the U.S.], I blog.

A good way to get started for free is http://www.blogger.com/, the server I use. Within five minutes it will be set up, and they operate in different languages. It's very user friendly. I used a blogger template for my design and then altered it completely, copying over the html and adding different colors, pictures, etc. I knew nothing about how to do this; I learned a lot by experimentation.

Q: How do you encourage people to visit your blog?

Grace: At first, since nobody knew about it, I had to visit other blogs and "tag" them or leave a message on their "tagboard" or that space for short notes. I invited them to visit my blog.

I advertise my blog especially when I speak to youth groups or talk to anyone about my book. I also instruct my publisher and editor to mention the blog when they are promoting my book, or whenever they receive queries or feedback about it.

Mary: The key is to announce your blog to your email list and link to as many blogs as you can, requesting other blogs link to you. That helps with traffic. Occasionally, I'll send out a mass email to folks, letting them know about a particular entry. I also cross reference my blog and website in my monthly RelevantProse newsletter. In addition, I have links to my blog and website on my email signature line.

Q: What kind of material do you post on your blog?

Grace: I began by posting teasers about my book. (Other authors upload the first chapter of their book as a teaser.) I posted excerpts from the foreword, the introduction, and some poetry and other catchy portions of the book. I try to post entries every week.

Later I expanded to events--speaking engagements, the book launch--personal entries; including reflections on my wedding anniversary, a letter to my husband, a poem for my son's first birthday; and some family photos. Since my book is on love, relationships, marriage and sex, these postings still fit the blog theme.

Mary: I announce my books when they are released. I show my readers any new covers before they are released. I link to reviews once in a while. I spend about three hours a week on my blog, about half an hour a day. I don't do tons of maintenance, but I write and respond to comments.

Q: What kind of response have you received?

Grace: People abroad (friends, family and anyone with Internet access) learn about the book. They get interested and start inquiring how to obtain a copy. I've received feedback that copies have reached countries including India, Indonesia, the U.S. and Canada.

Several readers have logged onto my blog and left their feedback. I have also created an email account that's solely for book readers and is advertised on my blog. There I receive all sorts of emails, from thank yous to those seeking advice.

I've made friends through both the blog and the email. Some of my readers have shared deep issues and have asked me to pray for them. They feel more comfortable with this kind of communication because it's more impersonal and distant. This has opened a whole new ministry for me. I thank God for it.

Mary: I get about 5,000 hits a month. It's hard to put a finger on whether it's working or not, but I seem to get a lot of good feedback. I definitely feel it has deepened my relationship to readers.