Proposal Advice-Blogging

Janis Love · Sep 29, 2006

Hello Everyone --
I'm in the middle of writing the Marketing section of my proposal and want to include "blogging" as a means in which to market the book upon publication. My idea is that I would create a blog with excerpts from the book. The book is about professional African-Americans and geared not only to that market, but workplace diversity initiatives. The people featured in the book have tons of connections which will create multiple platforms. I found that there are many African-American blogging sites. I want to include stats about this in the proposal. Where would I find stats on this and how do I include this in the proposal? Our agent is older and doesn't even know about blogging. I have never blogged, so I'm at a loss too. Has anyone out there used this in their proposals?

Thanks,

Janis

Deleted member 42 · Sep 29, 2006

I would go to one of the blog search Web sites, possibly just Google's BLog search, but probably at least checking a few others, and counting the blogs categorized under the topics that you think fit. I'm going blank on the names of them, now, of course, but that are several sites that categorize blogs by topic.

I would link to an article on blog use for promotion and outreach, and possibly quote from it. Look for one of the many articles in Business Week, the Wall Sreet Journal, or similar "good" publications.

awatkins · Sep 29, 2006

You might also visit our Blogging Forum to post your questions. They could possibly give you some ideas.

L M Ashton · Oct 4, 2006

Google's Blog search doesn't include all blogs. It mostly seems to include blogs that are hosted on the major blogging sites only, which, of course, doesn't include people who host their blogs on their own domain. Last time I checked, there was no way to add your blog to their listing, but that was a few months ago, so it could have changed. Point being that that particular blog search is limited in which blogs it will find.

You could also run searches through sites like Technorati.

And I also suggest posting blogging questions in the blogging forum - it's more likely to get noticed by blogging geeks.

Or, um, you know, wannabe's.

Anthony Ravenscroft · Oct 5, 2006

It doesn't seem to me that an editor would be impressed with promises of a blogtastic future, especially one that's going to begin "upon publication." Cart before horse.

The widespread belief that "If you publish it, they will come" is almost always wrong. I doubt editors will accept "then a miracle happens" as part of a marketing plan.

What will you be selling aside from "I wrote a book" to the people who stop by your blog?

If you have more than that to sell, then what are you doing about it right now?

How long have you had a blog?

How many unique visitors do you get per day?

What topics are primarily addressed?

What are your perceived areas of authority?

When such questions can be answered & great & glowing detail, then blogging should be mentioned.

Talia · Oct 7, 2006

i agree with anthony

you need to state whether you have a web presence and the amount of traffic that it receives...

Proposal Advice-Blogging

Janis Love

Deleted member 42

awatkins

Not harboring illegal parrot

L M Ashton

crazy spec fic writer

Anthony Ravenscroft

Scribble, scribble, scribble

Talia

Contract Killer