By J. Alexander Greenwood

An author's website is more than just a digital business card. It is a platform to establish your brand, connect with your audience, and showcase your literary prowess. And what's one of the most effective ways to do all these things? Regularly updated, engaging blog content.

Stop groaning. It works, and it is an opportunity, not a chore!

There are several compelling reasons why your author website should feature an active blog. Here are just a few, accompanied by examples of the kind of content that can help to supercharge your site:

1. Build and Engage with Your Audience:

Your blog can be a vibrant forum for interacting with your readers. Regularly posting allows you to create a community around your work, where readers can comment, discuss, and engage. This sense of community encourages loyalty and creates a platform where readers feel heard and valued.

Best Content Example: Discussion Prompts

Post about themes or characters in your books and invite readers to share their interpretations or feelings. An open-ended question about a plot twist in your latest book can spur lively discussion and build a deeper connection with your readers. I recently did a post on my blog where I shared my “casting call” for actors to play my series’ characters if it were a TV show or movie. People loved it! I got tons of responses when I shared the post on social media, and it resulted in my highest amount of traffic on my author site all year.

2. Showcase Your Expertise and Range:

As an author, your blog is a space to demonstrate your writing skills, share your knowledge, and explore a wider range of topics. This can attract a broader audience and pique the interest of readers who may not have been initially drawn to your primary genre or subject matter.

Best Content Example: Themed Articles or Series

You might write a series on the historical research you conducted for your historical fiction novel or create articles discussing different writing techniques and styles. This content can appeal to other writers, history buffs, or readers interested in your writing process.

3. Improve Your Website’s SEO:

An active blog with regular new content can significantly improve your website's SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Fresh content signals to search engines that your website is active, which can help improve its rankings.

Best Content Example: Keyword-Rich, Relevant Posts

Create blog posts around topics relevant to your books that also incorporate common search keywords. If you've written a dystopian novel, you could blog about "The Top Ten Dystopian Novels of the 21st Century" or "The Evolution of Dystopian Literature".

4. Promote Your Work:

Your blog provides a perfect platform to promote new releases, share excerpts from your upcoming work, or announce events like book signings or speaking engagements. It's an easy way to keep your audience updated and excited about your work.

Best Content Example: Sneak Peeks and Behind-the-Scenes

Offering sneak peeks of upcoming books or behind-the-scenes glimpses into your writing process can create anticipation and maintain reader interest. Revealing the cover of your next book or sharing a character's backstory that doesn't make it into the actual book can be intriguing for your fans.

5. Expand Your Network:

A blog can also open opportunities to connect with other authors, industry professionals, and potential collaborators. Guest posts (like this one!), interviews, and collaborations can bring in new audiences and provide fresh content for your readers.

Have a podcast? Many podcast aggregators have embed features, so you can post an audio interview or YouTube video right on your blog.

Best Content Example: Author Interviews and Guest Posts

Hosting an interview with another author in your genre or allowing guest posts from other industry professionals can provide unique perspectives while expanding your network and audience.

Remember, maintaining an active blog on your author website is a powerful opportunity to enhance your brand, engage and grow your audience, and improve the discoverability of your work. Happy blogging!

* * * * * *

About Alex

J. Alexander Greenwood is an award-winning writer, public relations consultant, podcaster, speaker, and former journalist and broadcasting executive. He is best known as the author of the John Pilate Mysteries and host/producer of the Mysterious Goings On podcast and the PR After Hours podcast. Alex is also the author of the Amazon Top-Selling eBook/audiobook, The Podcast Option. You can read his blog at JAlexanderGreenwood.com.

Image Credits

Top photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on pexels.com