The Web-Savvy Writer

A reader recently wrote to me, concerned that my suggestion to recycle blog content would result in duplicate content penalties from search engines such as Google.

To clarify this myth and alleviate your concerns, read this excellent post by SEO (search enginge optimization) expert Jill Whalen: The Duplicate Content Penalty Myth.

In summary, don’t be afraid to syndicate your content and articles to selected sites. You’ll reach potential new readers who aren’t already part of your audience and get links back to your website. Google’s filtering mechanism should be able to determine the original source of the content (you) and even if the duplicate content appears in search results the link will take people back to your originating site.

Recently, reader Jane Beman asked my opinion about recycling blog posts. Actually, I think this is a great idea. It’s a big timesaver and also gets your message out to a wider audience.

I’ve taken material from my blog posts and reposted on my Amazon plog and on others’ blogs. I’ve also expanded blog posts into articles and created blog posts from sections of articles. Also consider converting blog posts into ezine tips and discussion group postings.

The only caveat is to be wary of recycling when someone expects original material (for example, you’re being paid to blog or write an article). Otherwise, get creative and start thinking of new ways to reposition your existing content.

Tags: online book promotion, book publicity, book publishing, self-publishing, blog content

Here are my 15 favorite ways to develop your author platform. Please use comments to add your own. And don’t forget to read my original post on author platforms below!

1. Get credentials related to your specialty
2. Join and participate in professional associations
3. Create a website that demonstrates your expertise
4. Publish a blog
5. Publish a podcast
6. Write and publish articles (online or in print publications)
7. Publish an ezine
8. Volunteer or do perform pro bono work
9. Serve on committees and panels
10. Teach — online and off
11. Get quoted in magazines and newspapers
12. Participate in social networks
13. Give speeches
14. Get on radio and TV
15. Create a PR campaign — both online and off

Do you recycle your blog content? If not, you should. Here are six ways to get more mileage out of your existing blog content:

• Republish your content in your ezine.
• Reformat your content as tips and offer them to related websites and ezines.
• Republish your content as a podcast.
• Add your content as tips on message boards or discussion groups.
• Rewrite your content as articles that you publish on your website, in targeted publications, or on article marketing sites.
• Rewrite your content as a book (think of the “blook” concept).

Any more ideas? Add your own as a comment attached to this blog post.

Tags: book promotion, online book promotion, book marketing, book publishing, self-publishing, blog content

Do you want to generate more sales and publicity for your book, but can’t afford to wait weeks or months for your efforts to pay off? I’ve created a series of tips just for you.

#1 Comment on High-Traffic Blogs

Find several high-traffic blogs that serve your target audience and add interesting and insightful comments to current postings. To generate results from this technique, you have to do more than say “nice post.” You need to offer some additional information of real value, provide your own meaningful insight into the topic, or provide an alternative view to generate some excitement.

You can state that you’re the author of a related book and include a link back to your site, but avoid direct promotion. In other words, don’t participate in comment spam. This will only damage your reputation, not enhance it. You want to use your comment to provide useful information and illustrate your background as an expert and author.

The right combination of blog, post, and comment will send a stream of interested traffic to your site.

Tags: book promotion, book sales

A reader recently asked me about the little icons under the Share and Enjoy heading on each blog post. They come from a WordPress plug-in called Sociable, which makes it easy for you to link any of your favorite postings on The-Web Savvy Writer blog to your favorite social bookmarking site, such as del.icio.us or Digg.

I recommend that you use a similar tool to make it easy for readers to do the same on your blog. Social bookmarking has a viral affect and a popular post that many people bookmark can draw more traffic to your site. My blog analytics already indicate a number of new site visitors who found out about my blog through a social bookmarking site.

Tags: online book promotion, book publicity, social bookmarking, blog marketing

Several readers have sent me email asking why I combined my ezine and blog and what benefits that provides. I recently read a great blog post on this topic: How and why to combine an e-newsletter and a blog. Take a look.

Tags: online book promotion, book promotion blog

Several people have asked me for tips on promoting fiction on the web. Here is the first tip in a series. Non-fiction authors: these tips can easily work for you as well. They just represent my favorite ways to promote fiction online.

Tip #1: Get Talking

Many fiction authors do readings, but reading an excerpt from your book to a small local audience is unlikely to lead to a large stream of sales. To have your spoken words attract a worldwide audience, you need to go online. You can record and post a basic excerpt on your website or blog (try Flash Audio Wizard, Audio Acrobat, or Gabcast) or or create a podiobook, a serialized audio book delivered via podcast (see Podiobooks for an example).

If you follow the serialized approach, it is up to you to determine how much to provide for free. Some authors podcast their entire novel with the goal of selling print books to new fans; others deliver only a few chapters and encourage sales to listeners eager to find out what happens next. Another option is to podcast a series of short stories for free that may help develop an audience for your novel.

The advantage of a podcast is that you can generate additional publicity by listing it in podcast directories such as Yahoo! Podcasts or iTunes and by encouraging subscribers. The advantage of an audio excerpt is that it’s faster and easier to create.

Tags: online book promotion, podcasting, podiobooks

If you’ve written a book, you should consider a virtual book tour, visiting websites and blogs that focus on a topic related to your book. For little to no cost, you can reach thousands of potential readers right from your own home. No travel, no lugging books around with you, and no dealing with the aggravations of low-attendance bookstore visits.

As part of my virtual book tour for The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion with a High-Tech Twist, I “visited” the blog of the National Association of Women Writers (NAWW) to offer my tips on creating a successful virtual book tour.  Take a look to get some great ideas on your own virtual book tour.

The print version of my latest book, The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion with a High-Tech Twist, will be available soon and to kick off the promotional campaign, I’m going to host a virtual book tour, visiting websites and blogs frequented by book authors. I’m planning some great giveaways, so stay tuned for more details on the exact schedule. And if you have a suggestion for a “tour stop” that I shouldn’t miss, let me know!

Tags: book promotion, self-publishing, book publishing, virtual book tour