All authors need a website, and blogging can be a powerful tool for authors to develop a following, build their expert status, and promote their books. I recommend that most authors create a combined website/blog on a single site.
On this page you'll find resources help you create your author blog or website, develop compelling content, promote your site and track your success.
How-To Guides, Classes and Articles
Articles about Author Blogs and Websites
BlogAid - Classes and instruction guides for creating websites on WordPress.org, by MaAnna Stephenson. Highly recommended.
TypePad for Dummies by Melanie Nelson and Shannon Lowe
SEO Fast Start - This free ebook by Dan Thies tells you everything you need to know about search engine optimization.
Free Podcasts
Planning for a Successful Blog and Setting It Up
Creating Compelling Blog Content
Promoting Your Blog and Profiting From It
Domain Names
Download a free tutorial on how to purchase domains on GoDaddy.
Blogging Platforms
WordPress.org is the most powerful platform but also has the highest learning curve. Note that WordPress.com is a different platform and it's not recommended.
TypePad is a good compromise between ease of use and features. This site is built in Typepad.
Blogger is the easiest to set up but has some limitations.
Free Tutorials
How to Back Up Your WordPress Site, by MaAnna Stephenson
Which is Right for You: WordPress or Blogger?, by MaAnna Stephenson
How to Install the Social Follow Button, by MaAnna Stephenson
Moving from Blogger or Blogspot to Typepad
Moving from WordPress.com or WordPress.org to TypePad
Opt-in Mailing List/Autoresponder Providers
Aweber (Download Aweber's Getting Started Guide)
Keyword Research
Google Free Keyword Tool
Wordtracker Free Keyword Suggestion Tool
Wordtracker Keyword Tool, free seven-day trial
Free trial includes seven introductory videos and Keyword Basics e-book.
50 Kick-Ass Keyword Strategies, ebook by Aaron Wall
RSS Feeds
Sharing Icons
Add to Any (not recommended for TypePad)
Statistics Counters
Affiliate Marketing Information
How to Write a Product Review by Lynn Terry
Articles about FTC guidelines by Lynn Terry
Blogs About Blogging and Online Marketing
Confessions of a Six Figure Blogger
About the Experts Dana Lynn Smith is a book marketing coach with 15 years of publishing experience. She specializes in developing book marketing plans for nonfiction books and helping authors learn how to promote their books online. Get free book marketing tips on her Savvy Book Marketer blog and check out her other Savvy Book Marketing Guides.
MaAnna Stephenson is a geek who can still speak in plain English and mashes up her background in both the techie and artsy worlds to teach non-geeks, small businesses, solopreneurs, authors, artists, and other creative folks the ways of WordPress.
Chat with MaAnna on Facebook | Google+ | LinkedIn
Disclaimer: Some product links on this website are affiliate links, meaning that Texana Publishing Consultants, LLC, receives a commission on sales sold as a result of clicking on the link. For the benefit of my readers, I list numerous resources on this site, regardless of any affiliate relationship. While I wish that I could personally test every product or service listed here, that’s just not feasible if I'm going to share a wide variety of resources. It's up to the reader to determine if a particular product or service is a good fit for them, and a listing on this website does not necessarily imply an endorsement.
