If you’re writing or releasing a nonfiction book, you’ve probably asked yourself this question:
Should I start a blog to market my book?
The honest answer is… maybe — but probably not in the way you think.
Blogging used to be one of the most powerful ways to build visibility online. Fifteen or twenty years ago, a blog alone could drive traffic, backlinks, and business.
That’s no longer the case.
Today, blog writing can still play a role in book marketing — but only when it’s done intentionally, strategically, and as part of a larger plan. Otherwise, it often becomes a time-consuming distraction that delivers little return.
In this post, we’ll break down:
- when blogging does make sense for authors
- when it doesn’t
- what actually works today
- how blog content fits into a smart book marketing strategy
Table of Contents
What Do We Mean by “Blog Writing”?
For this conversation, a blog is:
Any content you publish on your own website on a recurring basis.
That could be:
- long-form articles
- educational posts
- opinion pieces
- list posts
- SEO content
- thought leadership
A blog is owned media — meaning you control it, unlike social media platforms where algorithms decide who sees your content.
The Real Question Isn’t “Should You Blog?”
The real question is:
Is blogging the best use of your time right now?
Before starting a blog for book marketing, ask yourself three questions:
- Do you already blog?
- Do you enjoy writing blog posts?
- Is your blog already producing results (traffic, leads, engagement)?
If you answered yes to all three, blogging may be worth continuing.
If you answered no, then blogging should only be added if you’re willing to commit long-term and understand what it realistically delivers today.
Why Blogging Isn’t the Shortcut It Used to Be
One of the biggest misconceptions authors have is believing that “writing blog posts” automatically leads to traffic and book sales.
The data tells a different story.
A major study analyzing 912 million blog posts found that:
- 94% of blog posts receive zero external links
- Only 6% of content ever gets shared or linked to
- 1.3% of posts generate 75% of all social shares
In other words:
Most blog content goes unnoticed.
This doesn’t mean blogging is useless — it means casual blogging rarely works.
When Blog Writing Can Work for Authors
Blogging can be valuable when:
- You’re willing to write long-form, high-quality content
- You publish consistently
- You understand that results take time
- You’re using blog posts to support other goals (SEO, email growth, authority)
Research shows that:
- Long-form blog posts (1,000–2,000+ words) earn 77% more links
- List posts and resource-style content perform best
- Longer headlines (14–17 words) receive more social shares
- Infographics and structured posts attract more backlinks
This means blogging works best when it’s strategic, not casual.
Blogging Alone Won’t Sell Your Book
This is important to understand:
A blog is rarely the thing that sells your book.
What does sell books?
- email lists
- speaking opportunities
- podcast interviews
- media features
- authority and trust
- discoverability through search
Blog content supports these outcomes — but it shouldn’t replace them.
Why Email Often Matters More Than Blog Posts
If you had to choose just one content channel to support your book, email wins.
Here’s why:
- Email reaches your audience directly
- You own the relationship
- There’s no algorithm blocking visibility
- It builds long-term trust and loyalty
A blog post may or may not be read.
An email lands directly in your reader’s inbox.
That’s why blogs work best when they:
- drive traffic to an email opt-in
- support newsletter content
- establish authority that strengthens email trust
The Best Way Authors Should Use Blog Content Today
Instead of blogging “because you should,” use blogs intentionally:
Smart Ways to Use Blog Posts:
- SEO content answering reader questions
- Pillar content that supports your book topic
- Resources that podcasts and media can link to
- Evergreen articles that build authority over time
- Content that feeds email newsletters and social posts
What to Avoid:
- random opinion posts with no strategy
- short, generic articles
- inconsistent posting
- blogging without an email opt-in
Blogging Is One Piece of a Bigger System
Book marketing is not about doing everything.
It’s about doing the right things in the right order.
Blogging should support:
- discoverability
- authority
- email growth
- speaking and media opportunities
It should never feel like shouting into the void.
Tools We Recommend for Blog Writing
Kit (Email Integration)
If you’re blogging, you should be capturing emails. Kit helps you turn blog readers into subscribers and build long-term relationships.
Best for: email list growth and automation
Publisher Rocket (Topic & Keyword Research)
Publisher Rocket can help authors identify keywords and topics readers are actively searching for — especially helpful when blogs support SEO and Amazon visibility.
Best for: keyword research and topic validation
Author Launch Kit: Blogging With Purpose
This is where most authors struggle:
They don’t know what to write, why it matters, or how it fits into their marketing plan.
That’s why we built Author Launch Kit.
Author Launch Kit includes a Blog Post Writer Tool that helps authors create blog content strategically — not randomly. It helps you:
- generate blog ideas aligned with your book topic
- create SEO-friendly, reader-focused content
- connect blog posts to email opt-ins
- support authority and long-term discoverability
- repurpose content across platforms
Instead of guessing what to blog about, you create content that serves a purpose.
Try the Blog Post Writer inside Author Launch Kit here: https://authorlaunchkit.com/
So… Should You Blog to Market Your Book?
Here’s the honest takeaway:
- Blogging is not required to sell books
- Blogging works best as supporting content
- Email, visibility, and authority matter more
- Strategy beats consistency alone
If you enjoy blogging and are willing to do it well, it can be valuable.
If not, your time may be better spent elsewhere — and that’s okay.
The goal isn’t to blog more.
The goal is to help the right readers find your book.
Final Thoughts
Blog posts don’t magically create book sales.
But the right content, written with intention, can support your book for years — driving traffic, building trust, and opening doors.
When blogging is part of a larger system, it works.
When it’s random, it rarely does.
And that’s exactly why tools like Author Launch Kit exist — to help authors focus on what actually moves the needle.
Want Help Writing Blog Content That Supports Your Book?
If you want to create blog posts that actually support your book marketing goals, try the Blog Post Writer inside Author Launch Kit.
It’s built to help nonfiction authors write content with clarity, purpose, and results in mind.
The content in this article was created from two of our YouTube videos on the subject. You can check them out here:
- Should you start a blog to promote your book
- What’s Better for Book Marketing? Email newsletters vs author blogs
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through those links—at no additional cost to you. We only recommend tools we genuinely trust and believe will help authors market their books effectively.
