Writing, Self-Publishing, Book Marketing

What is SEO?
Short for Search Engine Optimization, SEO writing utilizes the keywords of your Internet articles and posts to locate your content when an individual searches on your subjects. For instance, when a person searches on “free self-publishing,” the Wordclay blog will be listed among the pages that may interest you. Similarly, when a person types “free author Web sites” into the Google field, AuthorTree will be listed as one of the sites you would want to visit.

The Next Step
Say you’ve published your book and perhaps you’ve even set up a free author Web site with AuthorTree. Now what?

In order to get as much Internet exposure as possible, you need relevant and insightful content that will not only reveal the virtues of your recent publication, but also optimize the odds that readers will stumble upon your title as they search on specific keywords and loyally read certain periodicals.

For example, your book may concern a particularly heated political issue, so your target audience may visit blogs and news feeds that examine these issues at length. Even if you’re not writing for CNN, you can still draft and submit relevant articles to other Internet corners that are related to your field of expertise. The more people read your insightful prose and hear the authority in your voice, the more they’ll trust your book is a good investment.

It doesn’t stop with articles either. There are plenty of Internet journals that allow writers to post or submit reviews. Topics of these articles are numerous, with subjects such as TV shows, movies, books, magazines, comics, art exhibits, music albums, cultural and sub-cultural events, as well as other forms of emerging multimedia platforms.

You may also want to submit more personal articles to various e-zines. If you’ve had a recent dating experience others might enjoy, check out Nerve, where you may consider submitting a piece of creative nonfiction. Or if you’re particularly interested in pop culture, maybe visit PopMatters and search out a place for your voice.

As you post these reviews and feature stories, your recognition should grow as your writing infiltrates the digital world. Essentially, revealing your opinion and your rigorous rationale can only help you optimize the keywords associated with your name. Additionally, as people are drawn to your interesting content and recognize you in various Internet corners and sites, your loyal readership and following should increase.

The Google World
If you’re confused or hesitant at this point, just consider the classic Google explanation. When you’re curious about a friend, or perhaps you’re going on a blind date and you just want a few details about the career of whomever you’re meeting, the first thing you might do is google their name. Up pops various publications, memberships to networks like Facebook and Myspace, maybe an event or two he or she hosted.

Like your Google search of others, readers and bloggers will search on your name, too. Every ounce of the content you set adrift in the digital sea can improve your chances of driving Internet traffic to your book. Your name will gain momentum and power as you’re placed on the World Wide Web.

For that matter, the more articles you have posted on the Web, the greater your chances of curious individuals finding (and reading) your prose. Just think – you yourself might have searched on “free publishing” or “free Web sites,” and – Boom! – here you are, reading this post,

Other Free Promotional Tips
If you’re looking for a few additional marketing techniques that could increase your SEO odds and get you noticed, consider these methods:

(1) Sign up for a free blog at WordPress.com and start engaging conversations with potential readers.

(2) Make a book trailer and upload you video to YouTube.com as well as AuthorTree.

(3) Join online writing communities such as WOW!, Wordsy and Storiesville and network with other emerging artists.  

If you practice other methods of SEO writing or online networking that have proven effective for your book, feel free to post your suggestions here. Or if you have questions regarding SEO terms and schemes, ask away. With more than three years of publishing experience and Internet marketing, I’m happy to throw in my two cents.

For now, however, this is Justin, blogcasting from Wordclay, signing off.