The techniques are the same whether you are a Steemit blogger, run a website, or write books.
Steemit gives new writers an edge above other platforms for getting their work noticed. Posting your article here will place it in the feeds of your followers, in the New feed briefly, and in the Hot or Trending pages when it's doing well. The tags you use help readers search for content they are interested in, and you can promote your post by sharing the link in SteemChat or relevant Discord chat rooms.
But what if you don't have many followers? You must build a presence and gain a follower base to grow. And you must commit to networking every day.
Perhaps as important as your writing, networking can be intimidating. You have to expose yourself to strangers, worry if your comment is meaningful, and do a lot of self promotion- which many people are naturally uncomfortable with.
Networking and promotion is the same if you are a Steemit user, run your own blog, or write books- it is vital, you have to do it, and the methods are similar.
If you build it, they will come is the most destructive and dishonest phrase to believe if you want to be a successful writer. Nothing great has ever been built in a day. If you want to be successful you must work at it every day. If you are dedicated, consistent, and write original content you will grow.
Promoting and Networking Before You Publish
It sounds silly- you don't have anything published; nothing to show the audience. But getting your writing noticed before anyone can even read it is not only possible, it's a killer business move!
Leaving little snippets on social media sites like Twitter or Facebook will get people's interest piqued. A simple little post like "working on a revealing article that'll show you how to cut your living costs by 45%. # moremoney4play Stay tuned!" or "who hasn't had writers block? I just learned a sweet technique to overcome it- I'm writing a post to show you how!" will plant a little seed and arouse interest.
If you are writing a book, do the same on your social media hangouts, "Just finished writing the kidnapping scene Chapter 3- my heart is still hammering my chest!" Or you can post snippets of interesting sentences to capture attention.
Create interest and stimulate an emotional response before you publish.
Register and be active in chat rooms, forums and groups (online and offline) where your audience hangs out. Note that you are a writer in your signature or "about me" area, and include links to already published pieces. But don't just talk about your work! If all you do is self promote you will not find an audience willing to bother checking out your stuff! Make yourself useful- provide advice, read their stuff, help people with problems, be witty or informative or interesting. Talk! Make relationships wherever you go, and always remember that you are only as good as your worst comment. Do not be offensive or mean and stay out of needless arguments.
After You Publish
When your article or book is published, announce it to the world. Everywhere you can. Ask your family and friends to share to their followers.
Post the link in your signature or about me page on all the social media accounts, forums, and chat rooms you belong to.
Be excited! It's contagious!
Keep doing the things you were doing before it was published, the wording will just be changed.
Give out free copies if it's a book, and ask for reviews.
Find new avenues where your writing offers something someone needs and introduce yourself with, and offer a non pushy "I see you have problems with "X". I used to until I found a cool way to overcome. I wrote this "title" to help others. Check it out!
Find websites that cover related topics. Pitch the bloggers with an article idea and allow them to use your article in exchange for a byline. This is where you introduce yourself to their audience by telling them who you are, where they can find you on the web, and link them to your blog or book sales page. Keep your byline short- you don't need more than two sentences at most as you want the readers to click to your actual work. It's like free advertising!
Today's Challenge
Identify what you are doing to promote your writing, and determine how you can step it up a notch to boost your readership. Decide on an additional strategy and do a little networking to familiarize yourself. Make a plan- some people like to tackle all their networking and promotions one day each week and use an automated service to publish throughout the week, and others like to do a little every day manually. Determine which will work best for you and make the time to carry through!
Images via Giphy and Creative Commons
Be a Better Writer in Just One Month! Join the 31 Day Writing Challenge to transform your writing!
Day 1 The Truth About Making Time For Writing
Day 2 How to Incorporate Ideas From Life in Your Writing
Day 3 Master the Art of Captivating Your Readers
Day 4 Banishing Distractions
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I appreciate your support :)
If you find this article after day 7, please consider upvoting a recent article.
@arbitrarykitten If you get enough Followers you can become a FAT CAT !!!
When I'm asked what animal I'd be, my answer is "a retired old lady's housecat." I don't think anything could be more pampered than that!
This LEO knows what you mean....
You've been talking to my cats again, haven't you?
Cats who like feathers conspire together ;)
great advice! I liked what you said about promoting before you've finished writing. Being consistently active on chatrooms is something I'll need to work on for sure. Thanks for sharing!
I'm happy it's helpful!
You're right. One has to promote its products but that can be very intimidating because there was a time i joined instagram to promote my products the comments i got nearly broke me down
Oh no! What happened?
this pos has really made to start asking questions if i am doin enough.
If you are questioning, perhaps you do need to do more :)
I've heard of steemit chat...I understand it's been changed.
is it set up for steemconnect yet? (I never leave steemit without it)
That I do not know
Wonderfull post with great tools to help writters thank you :)
So happy you enjoyed it :)
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Sweet, thanks!
I really still have a lot to learn from you dear. Lovely 😀😁
Hey hun! Good to see you :)
I have been a little shy about going out of steemit on other platforms to shout out about my steemit posts.... ok, I hear you and will include this as part of reaching out....😊
Treat Steemit as any other blog and showcase your work everywhere :)
That gif of Kermit. I might as well be looking in a mirror.
Lol!
These days, it’s not enough to be a good writer online. You have to be a smart marketer, your own content factory, your own publicist. If you can do it all, you are golden. If you cannot, you are screwed
This is true. Today's writer must wear different hats...
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I already do this, but... you've given me some great ideas on how I could be doing it better!
Great to hear!
I’m a bit late to the party, I just noticed, lol.
Still, I wanted to let you know that you’re sharing very good tips, in a very motivating way. :0)
When I started reading, I misunderstood: I thought you meant that you had to ‘sell yourself’ when you mentioned networking. I was already looking for the words to counter that, and say that the best way to build connections is by being yourself, and not an advertising campaign.
But then you mentioned using those ‘snippets’ to trigger people’s curiousity, and I knew I was wrong.
That’s actually an excellent tactic.
I’ve been in marketing for years, but somehow it never occured to me to use those same techniques here on SteemIt.
Due to circumstances, I haven’t been around for 3 weeks. These last two weeks, I’ve been beating myself up because I did not expect it would be so difficult to pick up where I left off. Dozens of ideas, but I can’t get a single one worked out. I felt guilty towards my followers.
Now I’ve read your post, I wonder why I didn’t think of writing short ‘teasers’ - for some reason I was so focused on having to write full-length aricles... lol
So, thanks for the tip. It always surprises me how I keep missing he simple solutions, hahaha.
I’m definitely going to remember this one. ... or so I hope ;0D
Btw, I’m going to need to look up what that ‘31 day total writing transformation’ is all about. Sounds intruiging...