You’ve published your first ebook (or you’re planning to), and you’ve decided to start a blog to help build awareness of yourself and your work. Great!
If you’re like a lot of writers, you’re blogging about…yourself. If you’re fascinating that might be okay, but let’s assume that tactic hasn’t won you a huge readership thus far (no idea why). You might try writing about other authors, maybe even interviewing them.
What’s the point in that, you ask? I’m feeling garrulous, so I’ll give you three:
1. The people you interview will help you promote your blog.
No, I don’t have a Magic Eight Ball that predicts all, but this happens a lot. You interview someone, and that person posts the link to FaceBook, Twitter, a personal blog, etc. The reason authors agree to do interviews in the first place is to help get the word out about their books, so naturally they want to help make people aware of your post. This is good for them and good for you, since you might acquire a couple of new readers of your own — especially if the people you interview write in the same genre as you do!
2. You may get extra search engine traffic down the road.
Months later, people are finding my blog via the search engines because they’re looking for information on Jason Letts, Nathan Lowell, and other indie authors I’ve interviewed. (And, to the lady who posted the comment last week, sorry but I don’t know when Book 3 in Jason’s series is coming out.)
While none of these folks were originally interested in me (depressing, yes), some might stick around and check out more pages of my site if they’re interested in the topic. (This is why it’s a good idea to have a quick “about” or “tagline” prominently on every page of your blog.) Who knows? Maybe some will even check out my books.
3. Interviews are free and easy content for you.
If you’ve set yourself a goal of doing a certain number of posts a week (it’s three for me), and you’ve been blogging a while, you might get to the point where you’re struggling to find time to maintain your blog and/or running out of ideas for posts.
With a simple email interview, you can send a few questions along, and let the guest author do all the writing for you! Unlike with a guest post, you have full control and can guide the interview to ensure the content is something you think your readers will appreciate. (If you browse through my interviews category, you’ll notice I don’t use generic questions for everyone–I pick something the author has success and/or experience with and make that the theme of the post.)
Note: Start out interviewing your peers; Stephen King doesn’t want to appear on your Blogspot blog for your three followers.
Okay, I’m done with my three reasons. Have I sold you yet? Or would you like to add another reason? Have your say below!
If you’re fascinating that might be okay
This is me. (j/k)
Seriously, though, this came at a good time, because I’m bogging down when it comes to what to write for my posts (I’ve committed to writing 2x a week). Altho I came up with the idea of interviewing indie authors, I wasn’t sure if it would fly. Now I’m going to give it a whirl, after I look thru your interview posts.
And why can’t I interview Stephen King? ::grumble:: 🙂
Great post. I’ve been trying out interviews on my blog lately. Though I have to admit, I’m guilty of using generic questions. I’m not ready to give up the questionnaire form, but it makes sense to add a personal touch to the interview. I’ll have to start doing that again.
Nancy, you can try to get Mr. King. 🙂
Reena, I’m impressed with that super organized form and everything you have for your interviews!
Were you the one who tweeted the link about stealing other people’s ideas? Cause that’s exactly what I did. I was interviewed for one site, and they had a form questionnaire. Wow! I bet life is real simple for those folks, the voices in my head said. So I stole their idea for my own.
I’ll be doing a post on you coming up … before end of May. What can I say? I’m a slow reader.
I started Encrypted last week, and I really love it Lindsay. You’re magic. 🙂 If it was a paperback, I’d probably have finished it already. Can’t lug my pc around everywhere though. I’ll have to get me one of those kindle things soon.
Reena, I’m sure I never published a tweet encouraging theft. Not me, no way. I’m wholesome and stuff. 😀
Mpax, aww, thanks! You are hardcore to read something novel-length on the computer. My eyes would be crossing. I like to assume a horizontal position for reading too. *g*
I’ve just started weekly interviews, and I really enjoy it. I mainly try to pick the kinds of questions which are interesting to readers and not just other writers.
I agree that it’s really important to not just do a form interview. You can start with some standard questions, maybe, but I like to then do follow ups so that each interview is actually an interview, and not just a plug and play press release.