Have a website but don’t know what to write to get visitors to it?

It’s a very common problem that many authors ask in Facebook groups or forums. It can be tough to start and get good ideas. Not to mention it is more work and takes away time from writing a book.

Still, this writing is helping you with book marketing and is a way to get more exposure from social media and search traffic from Google. If you write good articles and they rank for related keywords, you might get free traffic not just from your link in the book but from these posts. Each post is an opportunity. Below you’ll find 7 ideas for what content to write and 9 places where you can promote them afterwards to get traffic to your website.

Content Ideas: 

1. Expand the world of your book/series

This is a great way to make your website more interesting and compelling to the reader. It doesn’t have to be constant blog posts but a few pages of additional content that explores your book’s ‘world’ can be very interesting. You don’t need to create the next Game of Thrones or Star Wars universe but something like DVD Extras used to be would be enough. If you’re writing Sci-fi, why not introduce some weird rules from your world that play a part in the story or fun misadventures they cause for characters, now that would be interesting for the reader.

It could even be few short stories posted, short little adventures or events that display the heroes character, context and history more. Maybe you have some ideas that didn’t make it in the book. Write and feature them. Who knows maybe loyal readers will love them and suggest some others that could grow into your next book.

2. Book reviews in your genre

Quite an obvious one but I’ve not seen most authors do it on their sites. Lots of book reviewers do it and people read them so why not bring an author’s perspective to it and have better, more interesting reviews? The good thing is, posts on your blog like this can start showing up on Google when people searching for original book as they look for it. Who knows, they might check out your post to see if the book is good. They might then stick with your website for longer and check out your free giveaway (if you have a free book as your lead magnet).

It’s possible you could become well known and trusted leader in your subgenre/genre and gain readers that way. Starting relationships with other book reviewers is also possible, which could lead them to review your books too.

3. Movie/TV Show reviews in a similar genre

Just like book reviews, think of what movies your target audience are watching and review them. If you’re also a fan of those movies that would be great, and would be a topic to have more conversations about. It could also rank on Google for anyone who is searching for information about that movie. TV shows are also great thing to comment on, esp. since they are multi-season ones and fans keep coming back for more. There is a lot of search traffic on Google for them and writing about these shows (the ones you like yourself) could bring lots of traffic to potential readers.

4. Culture and entertainment commentary

Commenting on world events and entertainment world can also work. It’s less related to the books than previous two but if you have witty, interesting remarks on some events in our culture and society, posting them on Twitter, Instagram or blogging about them can also be an avenue of getting attention. People who agree or disagree with your opinion will reply.

Note: I wouldn’t go being too argumentative with this one but having an opinion is normal and controversial opinion can generate a lot of attention.

5. Book recommendations rubrik

Similarly to reviews, you can recommend books you love in a monthly post or just having a section of blog where you recommend books as you read them. Not only they can eventually rank in Google but they might even bring some affiliate income from Amazon as you should have affiliate links to those books.

I do recommend only doing it for good books, not all books. The goal is to be respected and valued when it comes to this topic, not just make some affiliate dollars.

6. Behind the scenes stuff

A monthly post about how things are going with your writing and bit of personal life (like travel) can be an interesting addition to your marketing. It can be used as email newsletter content too (all these ideas can be!).

Write a post about this and email your subscribers the link to it. It’s a way to stay in touch with readers and ‘pull them’ in.

7. Podcast or Video version of these

All of these ideas can be done not just in writing but in audio or video formats. So you could start a podcast or video show on Youtube or Instagram TV or Facebook Watch.

Where to promote your website?

Here are some options where you can be active and promote your website and reach new possible readers.

Twitter Search – after you write an article, don’t just tweet it to your following. Go to Twitter Search and do a search for the book you wrote about, or whatever is that readers of your books could be talking about.

So, for example, if you wrote a thriller book review, search what hashtags like #thriller, #books, #crimereads, #amreading etc have and start conversations with people. Answer their tweets, agree or bring another perspective to them, basically, imagine it’s a book club, just virtual one. You can talk books and then if someone likes your thoughts, they might check out your profile and then visit your website or Amazon profile. The more conversations started, the more chances you get.

Facebook groups – find FB groups that are relevant to your readers and genre and be active member there. I don’t mean just drop links to your website or books, but be part of comunity by participating in discussions. It’s again a book club concept, just existing on Facebook.

Forums – these are older and rarer now but there are niche communities for readers to talk about books. Internet forums are awesome and can be a good way to build a brand. Same tactic applies – be a useful, valuable member of the community. Not saying you should do all forums, join and look around in few, pick the ones you like most and stick to them. Kboards.com is one such example (it also has Writer’s Cafe as a forum for authors). Do a Google search for ‘{your genre} forum’ and see what comes up.

Instagram Search – similarly to Twitter, hashtags is where you can see what people post about books, just images are the first thing there. Your goal is to be active in comments for your relevant hashtags. Maybe it’s #ya, #thriller, #scifi or #amreading, or #bookclub etc, there are plenty of hashtags so search them and comment on people’s posts (those that you find interesting). Some people will check out your profile and website link. Some will follow you and that’s how you put foundations for building a real following.

Comments on book reviewer/entertainment blogs – you can go to entertainment or book related blogs and comment on their articles. Some of them allow for linking your name to your website so if you leave smart, witty, and good comments people might check out your site because of it.

Pick 3 blogs you find best and interesting to you and readers and be active there. NOTE: book reviewer blogs also are a possibility and you can start a relationship that leads to future book reviews like this. Be a useful commentator and reviewer will notice you and appreciate valuable comments. That might lead them to check out your writing!

Writing for entertainment/book websites – you can also write articles for entertainment websites, or book-related sites etc. If your audience are young males, maybe it makes sense for you to write an article for a college humor site that accepts guest posts. They might want to have some professional authors on the roster (or at least for one post).

For websites that live off of advertising and sponsorships, great content is crucial as it bring traffic so they are need of good writers. See if you can create this win-win situation.

Genre specific website for fans from multiple authors – this is a harder endeavor but multiple authors in the same genre could collaborate and create a genre-specific website for readers only of that genre’s books. 4 authors, 1 article a month for each, and you have website that has new post every week.

Guestpost on other authors’ blogs – similar to previous ones, authors could just write posts for each other’s blogs. Whatever reader would be interested in. It’s a free way of cross-promotion and exposure and a win-win situation.

Have a Writer Mastermind for collaborations – ‘masterminds’ are small groups of people meeting in regular intervals to talk about topic of interest. It can be critique groups, writing groups, why not also use it for cross-promoting each other (if you’re in the same genre). Or just have a mini mastermind for collaboration in marketing each other, brainstorm ideas etc. Masterminds make writing career a bit less lonely too.

So as you see, there are plenty of options for content and marketing of your website. You just have to pick 3 from each and make them work – which means you’d bust your butt and put in the work, the hours in it.

Few hours a day between these and you’ll be way ahead of of half the indie authors in the world (because many are just waiting for things to happen for them instead of actively doing it). Just the fact that you’re talking to potential readers on Twitter or Instagram daily means you’re already ahead.

Do as much as you can to meet readers, because we live in amazing times where not only you can publish a book without gatekeepers, but you can talk with thousands of readers online without having to go out anywhere and stay cozy at your home with a coffee on your desk!