Helpful websites for blogging authors

Blogging is not only fun, but helps you to connect with your book readers and fellow writers. Take advantage of the helpful tips and websites I gathered (see below) and use them to improve your book marketing.  Every author should have a blog as a shopping window for the world.

Do this:

• Read lots of other blogs – and give positive comments     
• Write enthusiastically
• Conduct interviews
• Focus on your audience and the blog theme
• Link. Link. Link…
• Keep posts short if possible
• Use CAPTCHA to avoid spam

Don’t : Pitch sales or products

Where to blog

http://www.Blogger.com
http://www.LiveType.com
http://www.TypePad.com
http://www.WordPress.com
http://www.b2evolution.com

http://www.twitter.com (micro-blog) and
http://www.YouTube.com (video logging)

Blog Search Engines to submit blogs:

Submit only! your site’s highest quality and funniest posts to:

Digg  http://about.digg.com/about  
Reddit!  http://www.reddit.com/
Technorati  http:/www.technorati.com
BlogExplosion  http://www.blogexplosion.com
BlogCarnival  http://blogcarnival.com/bc/

You can also host your Blog directly on your primary web domain.
If you have a website, host your blog within that domain if possible. The addition of your blog to your website will attract links, publicity, and search rankings — not to mention trust in your brand.