Friday's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

EIGHT TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU ROCK YOUR BLOG

By: Molly Greene

When I started my journey into indie authorhood in early 2011, I set up a free blog (because I heard I was supposed to) and racked my brain about what to write that the world might be interested in reading (gah!). I agonized over my first few blog posts, but soon reasoned that since no one was reading them anyway, I may as well just let ‘er rip. That worked out well, because by the time I’d gained an audience I was over the fear of what to say, who was listening, and if they really cared. I’ve learned a lot along the way, including but not limited to the annoying fact that running a blog can take over your life if you allow it. Hopefully you can learn from my hard-won, uh, “wisdom.” Here are the core go-to components that help me wring the most from my investment of time and keep my blog on track: 

1. Make a plan. You may not begin with one. I didn’t. An avowed pantser, I jumped into the blogging stream and spent a few months negotiating the rapids. Eventually, I decided what my blog was about, figured out my readership, created an editorial calendar and established content, subjects, article categories, and my weekly post day. Now I have a tentative quarterly schedule. My suggestion is that you establish a range of subjects your blog will cover and post consistently (whether consistent for you is once a week or once a month). Creating a plan and a schedule will keep you sane.

2. Content is king.

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Read the full article HERE!

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If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again:

1. Are Your Scenes Causing an Effect? http://ow.ly/zx5Qf
2. Publishers' Acquisition Activity Picks Up http://ow.ly/zx64r
3. Book Signing Check-Lists | Indies Unlimited http://ow.ly/zx6fS
4. The Unsinkable Molly Greene With 8 Tips You Need! http://ow.ly/zx6Da
5. How to Create, Publish, and Market an Anthology (and why you’d want to) with J.M. Ney-Grimm | Lindsay Buroker http://ow.ly/zx6Ks
6. Martha Alderson aka Plot Whisperer: 17 Steps to Becoming an Effective Communicator with the Muse http://ow.ly/zx6NE
7. 7 Ways To Get The CEO Crazy For Social Media Marketing - Jeffbullas's Blog http://ow.ly/zx6Ru
8. Content - A Well-Balanced Content Menu for Your Blog [Infographic] : MarketingProfs Article http://ow.ly/zx6U1
9. 5 Ways Pinterest Can Help Your Blog http://ow.ly/zx75k
10. 3 Easy Steps to Update Blog Archives for Pinterest - I {Heart} Social Media http://ow.ly/zx78c
11. Ebook Subscription Services: Good for Authors? [Smart Set] | Jane Friedman http://ow.ly/zx7Mq
12. Daily Update: Influence of Kindle Unlimited on Amazon "Bestsellers" Grows - Publishers Lunch http://ow.ly/zx7QZ
13. 4 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Book Marketing Efforts | Jane Friedman http://ow.ly/zx82Q
14. The Kill Zone: How to save a bundle on editing costs – without sacrificing quality http://ow.ly/zx86u
15. Build a Story, but Leave the Door Open http://ow.ly/zx8gY
16. David Gaughran | Let's Get Digital http://ow.ly/zx8xm
17. Secondary Characters with Their Own Needs | Live Write Thrive http://ow.ly/zx8Ra
18. How to Add Meaningful Subplots to Your Novel | Live Write Thrive http://ow.ly/zx8X7
19. BookMarketingBuzzBlog: Come With Me Now,If You Want Your Book To Live http://ow.ly/zx93p
20. My 4 Rules for Enhanced Creativity . . . and nailing the word count – Kobo Writing Life http://ow.ly/zx97O
21. Writer Unboxed » News for the Newbies http://ow.ly/zx9ck
22. How to Get Started With Social Media Marketing | Social Media Examiner http://ow.ly/zx9fX
23. Three Ways to Outperform Your Online Competition : @ProBlogger http://ow.ly/zx9iB
24. How to Market Your Freelance Business Without Feeling Like an Impostor - Copyblogger http://ow.ly/zx9ln
25. Looking to build a platform on Twitter? @Ava_Jae shares her experience and a few tips: http://bit.ly/twp4h2
26. Does going on vacation make you more creative when you get back? | The Passive Voice | http://ow.ly/zx9CR
27. 7.5% of Book Buyers Are Buying Less From Amazon Due to Hachette Dispute - GalleyCat http://ow.ly/zx9SA
28. Four Reasons You Must Have Book Cover Blurbs! - Where Writers Win http://ow.ly/zxsJT
29. Is Your Book for Sale at Kindle Unlimited? - Where Writers Win http://ow.ly/zxsXE
30. Writer Platform: What About Wattpad? - Where Writers Win http://ow.ly/zxtjh
31. Author Co-Ops: What Are Your Options? - Where Writers Win http://ow.ly/zxtoT
32. Three Ways to Attract and Engage Your Readers - Where Writers Win http://ow.ly/zxtBI
33. Writing Active Settings, Part 2 — Guest: @MaryBuckham | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author http://ow.ly/zywnZ

Happy writing and running, Kathy