So you’ve started to write your first book, or you’re thinking about getting started. (Go you!)
But at the back of your mind is a nagging doubt: Who is actually going to read my book? Will anyone be interested? Or am I going to put all of this effort in for very little results?
I get it. And that’s why a key part of the unbound writing process is to create a community of passionate prospective readers and clients through your writing right from the get go.
Recently one of the members of the Unbound Writing Mastermind asked how to start a blog to attract her audience. Starting a blog (or using your existing blog) can be a great way to connect with and grow your audience.
But how do you make sure that you do this in the most powerful way? And how do you get started and know what to write about?
There are some simple ways you can ensure that your blog has the BIGGEST impact when it comes to connecting with potential readers and clients. And here I’m sharing five of them with you.
1. Allow your inspiration to come to you
The great news is that you don’t have to sit down and try to figure out what to share about on your blog. Specific inspiration on what to write about is ALL around you. You just need to be open to noticing it.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration on what to write about in your book or your blog, you’re being sent guidance all the time.
If something is coming up for you, if someone has asked you a specific question, if you notice a particular theme coming up in client sessions or something that’s relevant to your book is happening in society, use that as inspiration for a blog.
This very blog you’re reading right now is a an example of this in action. A client asked me a question. I first answered that as a FB live in the Unbound Writing Mastermind group and then decided to use it as inspiration to write this. I didn’t have to think, ‘What shall I share about today?’ The answer was already there for me. And by serving the members of my Mastermind group, I’m also serving you too. (You’re welcome!)
So, take a moment to reflect on what’s been coming up for you and your clients recently. What specific question could you answer around this on your blog?
2. Write as if you’re sitting across the table from your soul-family reader/client
When you’re writing your blog, although your piece is going to be read by many people, it’s powerful to imagine that you’re actually writing to one person. And not just any person, but a magical member of your soul-family. Someone who’s just waiting to hear from you.
Whether you’re writing a book, a blog or some other kind of article, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have to change your natural voice, to be ‘professional’ and to write ‘properly’. But what that can do is detach you from your words and create distance between you and your reader.
I encourage you to write in the same way as you speak. Use the words and tone you naturally would. Share your personal experience. Let your reader behind the curtain, just as you would a good friend.
This is the kind of writing that creates connection and will make your reader want to come closer in some way.
3. Make an invitation
At the end of each blog, it’s important to make some kind of invitation. In marketing terms, this is called a ‘Call to action’ and it’s a way of asking your reader to make the next step.
If someone has read through to the end of your article, it’s a sign they’re interested in what you’re sharing, so rather than leaving them hanging why not give them a clear idea about what to do next?
This next step could be inviting them to pre-order your book, check out a free resource, buy a product or service or book a discovery call with you. Or it could be something as simple as inviting them to comment on your blog.
One of the most powerful invitations you can make is to give your reader a question at the end of your blog and ask them to answer it in the comments. This has three benefits:
a) Your reader is showing that they’re super-interested in what you’re sharing, so this will be a great subject to explore more in your book
b) You have the opportunity to respond to their comment and start a conversation with your reader. You may do this in the comments or connect in some other way (via a personal message or inviting them to have a chat with you to find out more about them).
c) Any responses you receive can be inspiration for your book and future blogs.
Part of the unbound writing approach is that it’s dynamic. You invite your readers and your community into the process and to engage with what you’re sharing, right from the early stages of writing your book. This creates a deeper sense of connection and gives you a ton of additional inspiration. #winwin
4. Reach a wider audience
If you’re going to the effort of writing a blog, it’s a good idea to think about how it can be seen by a wider audience. Rather than keeping it purely on your own website, you can pitch your idea to other publications (both online and offline).
Think about the kind of places your soul-family readers and clients are likely to be consuming content and check out the submission requirements for those platforms.
Often you’ll be able to share exactly the same article on another platform. Sometimes you may have to tweak your existing blog as other publications may only be open to original content. But this a great way of reaching more people.
When I was writing my second book, UNBOUND, and blogging around the themes that were coming up during that process, I shared a number of articles on WITCH magazine. This led to me doubling my email list and attracting new clients very quickly.
5. Leverage your magic!
Following on from the last point, rather than simply using your blog on your own website, you can use what you’ve written to share in different ways.
You may share the entire piece as a long post on Facebook or Instagram, you could adapt it to share as a shorter post or even take one key quote and share that.
You could use your blog as inspiration for a FB live, an Insta story, a webinar, a YouTube video or LinkedIn post.
You could share what you’ve been writing about with your email list.
Maybe your blog could be the basis for a free challenge or paid workshop?
If it calls, you could do ALL of the above!
There’s limitless potential here, so share in a way that feels good for you. Use the platforms and channels that you love using and have fun connecting with your audience.
Over to you! If you’re writing a book right now, or thinking about writing one, which of the five tips I’ve shared here are you inspired to use? Comment below and let me know.
Your next step: Ready to write the book your soul is calling you to write? Click here to get immediate access to my free Unbound Writing Masterclass.
