What Can Nonfiction Authors Blog About?

4 ideas for blog
Nonfiction authors recognize the importance of blogging as part of their book marketing efforts but don’t know what to blog about. Here are a few ideas:
  1. Write a series of blog posts based on the chapters in your book. They can be direct excerpts from the book or additional information you gathered when writing your book that didn’t get included in the published manuscript.
  2. Contact people you could interview on the topic of your book. It can be a written interview that, with their permission, you could post as a blog.
  3. Compile a list of other blogs that write about similar topics and write a sentence or two about each one and why your readers should check those blogs out too.
  4. Share your favorite books in your niche written by other authors and why you recommend them.
Your blog posts don’t always have to be about you, your book, your business. Share information about other people, their books, and business. Your readers will appreciate your insights and keep coming back for more.

Meet Ryan S. Atkins, author of One Step Closer

This entry is part 3 of 11 in the series Meet the Author

One of my newsletter subscribers, Ryan, published his book, One Step Closer, in November 2020. He has an interesting story and shares a little bit about his book here.

What are your goals for 2021?

My goal is to sell 5000 copies of One Step Closer in the first year (November 2020 — November 2021).Ryan Atkins book cover

In order to accomplish this, I am reaching out to at least three potential partners each week. I am mainly focused on podcast interviews but also have incorporated guest blog posts and email collaborations.

As momentum for the book has continued to build, requests for interviews have begun coming in on their own. While I will prioritize those opportunities as they come in, I have a list of other partners to continue to reach out to whenever it slows down.

Where can readers find your book?

Download a free chapter and purchase the book here: www.readonestepcloser.com

My website featuring my Flat on My Back blog is focused on maintaining hope no matter our circumstances.

Social Media:

www.instagram.com/ryanSAtkins

www.twitter.com/ryanSAtkins

www.Facebook.com/flatonmyback1

What else would you like to share?

Publishing my first book was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Going into it, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and unsure if I would be able to pull it off. I wondered, “Will anyone read this? Will it all be a waste of time?”

Thankfully I came across some incredibly helpful resources to make the marketing aspect less scary. Blogs like www.ausoma.com and books like Your First 1000 Copies gave me the information and confidence I needed to bring this project to fruition.

If you are on the fence about publishing or hesitant to share your work with the world, I hope 2021 is a year you can look back on as one that saw your author journey come to life!

About RyanRyan Atkins

On November 20, 2009, 21-year old college student Ryan broke his neck and became paralyzed below his shoulders. He launched his website in 2013 to share rehab updates with family and friends. It soon expanded to his writing about faith, marriage, and the power of holding an eternal perspective. Learn more about Ryan here: https://www.ryansatkins.com/meet-ryan/

 

Meet Kristie Purner, Copywriter

This entry is part 6 of 11 in the series Book Industry Experts

Kristie Purner and I connected on LinkedIn several years ago. I’m pleased she agreed to provide an interview for this series.Kristie Purner headshot

• Tell us a little bit about your business.

I am a marketing strategist and copywriter for influencers, change-catalysts, culture-shifters, and lightworkers.  I help businesses to ignite their impact so they can share their messages on a global scale.

• How would you describe your ideal client?

My ideal clients are heart-centered business owners such as coaches, healers, authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs.

• How did things change for you in 2020 and how did you manage to weather through the year during the pandemic?

Since most of my clients run online businesses, I really didn’t have to shift my business or marketing to reach them.

I was fortunate to attract some transformational leaders ready to launch new books and coaching programs.  It felts amazing to shine the light on such luminary leaders.

• What is your favorite tip for using social media?

Give first always.  When you share real value and your heart it always comes back to you.  Also, expand your outreach.  Join new groups where your ideal client hangs out.

• What are your goals for 2021?

Provide visionary leaders a high-profile platform to share their wisdom, enhance their brand, and attract their ideal audience.

Share books and programs dedicated to spreading messages of hope, love, inspiration, and positivity.

Deliver the best empowering content and resources to support individuals around the world in living deeper, more authentic, and inspired lives.

• Where can authors find you?

Right now I have a thriving practice working by referral only.  So I don’t have a website, but you can connect with me on the social media links below.

www.linkedin.com/in/kristiepurner

https://www.facebook.com/kristie.purner/

• Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Kristie Purner is a top marketing strategist and copywriter with a long track record of helping coaches, authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs to launch, grow, and scale their businesses.  She is a bestseller author.  Her two books, “Ignite your Impact” and “I Love My Life: A  Mom’s Guide to Working from Home”.  She has appeared on television and radio worldwide.  Her business advice has been featured on CNN, NBC, ABC, Fox News, NPR Marketplace, Business Week, and others.

Meet Dale Griffiths Stamos, author of RenWomen

This entry is part 6 of 11 in the series Meet the Author

I worked with Dale a few years back helping to promote her book using social media. She has many creative endeavors and I know you’ll enjoy learning more about her in the interview below.Dale Griffiths Stamos headshot

  • Tell us a little bit about your book and business.

My book is RenWomen: What Modern Renaissance Women Have to Teach Us About Living Rich, Fulfilling Lives.  I co-authored it with my twin brother, Scott Griffiths, and it includes the stories of 16 extraordinary modern Renaissance women from multiple areas: business, the arts, social activism, science, and more.  It is a book that will inspire and motivate women (and men too!) to explore their fullest potential.

  • Why did you write your book?

My twin brother had co-authored a book about modern Renaissance men and we both realized that it was important women got recognized as being Renaissance people as well!

  • How did you publish your book? Traditional publisher, hybrid publisher, self-published?

We self-published the book.

  • How did things change for you as an author in 2020 and how did you manage to weather through the year during the pandemic?

The book was published in 2016 and I spent most of 2017 and some of 2018 marketing the book in the form of book events, signings, and invited presentations and panels. (So I’m grateful I was able to do all that live before this crazy 2020!)  In 2017, I also returned to my other creative endeavors (in my own Renaissance-style) and continued to work on my short film projects. (In all I have written and produced or co-produced six short narrative films, three of which I directed.) These films went to multiple film festivals in 2017-2019, many of which I attended.  So the biggest adjustment in 2020 was that after February, the film festivals I was accepted into all went virtual!  Which will continue into at least part of 2021.  But one advantage to being a writer is that I continue to write new work, quarantined or not!

  • What is your favorite book marketing tip?

If you are self-published OR traditionally published, take marketing into your own hands! Get out there and do signings and book events, and everything else you can think of to get word out about your book. (I actually also did videos about the women in the book, along with a whole podcast series.)

  • What are your goals for 2021?

The new work I have been focusing on in 2020 are feature-length screenplays and a full-length play.  So my goal for 2021 is to get that work out there. (Which can include readings and raising funds for production or finding interested producers.)

  • Where can readers find your book?

https://www.amazon.com/RenWomen-Modern-Renaissance-Living-Fulfilling

http://www.renwomen.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RenWomen

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/renwomen

  • Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Just that in today’s world, having a flexible, multi-dimensional approach to life is not just aspirational, but essential!

Bio

Dale Griffiths Stamos is the co-author of the nonfiction book: RenWomen: What Modern Renaissance Women Have to Teach Us About Living Rich, Fulfilling Lives.  Dale is also an award-winning screenwriter and playwright. She has written and produced or co-produced six short films which have been official selections at multiple film festivals, garnering two audience and two jury awards, as well as three Awards of Excellence from Best Shorts Competition and the Bill Paxton Award from the Ojai Film Festival.  She has penned two feature-length screenplays:  One White Crow and Blue Jay Singing in the Dead of Night which have been named as finalists or semi-finalists in a number of screenwriting competitions including the New York City International Screenplay Awards, StoryPros International Screenplay Contest, Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival, Creative World Awards and Script Summit. Dale’s short and full-length plays have been produced around the country. She is the recipient of the Heideman Award from Actors Theatre of Louisville, and is a top-ten winner, twice, in the Writers Digest Stage Play Competition.

Diane Helbig, Host of Accelerate Your Business Growth Podcast [Interview]

This entry is part 4 of 13 in the series Podcaster Interviews

This is the first in a series of interviews I’m doing this year of business podcasters and I hope to post at least one a month. If you’d like to be a guest on a business podcast, learn what these business podcasters are looking for in an ideal guest. First up is Diane Helbig, host of the Accelerate Your Business Growth podcast.

Diane HelbigTell us about your podcast

Accelerate Your Business Growth podcast

Featured on Inc.com’s list of 100 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter, Better, and Wiser, MSNBC’s Your Business, and on the Fit Small Business list of best small business podcasts, this show is designed to help small business owners, salespeople, and aspiring entrepreneurs with the various aspects of business success. We have a great lineup of guests and topics scheduled. We’ll be talking about everything from sales to employee issues; from technology to social media; from work-life balance to exploring uncharted territory. My goal is to help you remove challenges so that you can realize your own success with your business.

Why did you start this podcast?

I started this podcast because I wanted to get as much business information, tips, insights, and ideas into the hands of small business owners as possible. I understood that podcasting provided a great platform for reaching a wide audience.

How long have you been podcasting?

I’ve been podcasting for 10 years.

What do you look for in a guest?

My ideal guest is someone with expertise in an area of business. They want to share that expertise with others and are able to participate in a conversation. They do not talk about themselves, their journey, their business, or their book. The sole focus is on their knowledge and they understand the format is conversational and are comfortable speaking about what they know.

How can listeners find you?

Listeners can subscribe to the podcast at www.blogtalkradio.com/dhelbig or on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/accelerate-your-business-growth/id385108650

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I am grateful for the many companies and publicists who send me their clients. I’m also grateful for the people who are experts in their field and give of their time and talent to help my listeners succeed.

About Diane Helbig

Diane Helbig is an international business and leadership change agent, author, award-winning speaker, and podcast host. As president of Seize This Day, Diane helps businesses and organizations operate more constructively and profitably. Diane is passionate about guiding business professionals through the challenges of planning and growing a business.

From strategic planning to sales training to communication, Diane provides expertise based on over 20 years of business leadership and sales experience. Diane’s no nonsense, straightforward approach cuts through the noise and allows clients and training participants opportunities to realistically and enthusiastically implement the plans they devise.

Diane is the author of Lemonade Stand Selling and Expert Insights, and the upcoming book Succeed Without ‘Selling’. She is the founder of the Business Opportunity Network, a business development program where business therapy meets growth.

Diane has been presenting and teaching for over 10 years. She is considered an expert on the subjects of sales, leadership, social media, customer service, and is often contacted to provide her expertise.