To be honest, I don’t know Dillon Burroughs personally. He heard about the series I’m posting from his publicist and kindly offered to participate. Immediately, I appreciated his willingness to share his experience and insight. A quick perusal of his website reveals an impressive resume. Also, in this interview Dillon offers an additional perspective on using Facebook which I think you will find helpful.
1. How long have you been blogging and why did you start?
Four years. I’ve been horrible about starting a blog on a topic or book and then ending it to start a new one. However, blogs are not a diary for me. They serve a specific purpose and I kill them off as soon as that purpose is completed.
2. How do blogging and/or blog tours fit into your overall marketing plan?
Blogs currently play a secondary role. Speaking and direct, face to face contact is still the most effective form of communication, but online communications are right in there at number two for getting the word out.
3. What are three (or less) keys to your success in promoting your books through blogging?
1. Personal: I switched to Facebook almost exclusively at one point because I knew every note would be seen and likely read by the 350 people on my list. It’s only 350 people, but they are people who know me and will spread the word to others.
2. Accurate: Accuracy still counts. If I misquote a person, link, or key fact, there could be big problems…like people not being able to find my book.
4. Why do you focus on Facebook and how effective it is in meeting your goals?
Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising. I work on building friends, not sales. Then I post the latest info just for my friends (359 as of today) who pass along via facebook and word of mouth what they think is worth sharing. This results in reaching thousands of people every time I send a note about a radio interview I’ve done or a newspaper that has featured my book. Word gets around without me even leaving the office.
The other factors are that I am trying to focus on a younger audience, most of whom are on facebook, and the fact that facebook is simple to use. Myspace and blogs are great, but at one point I have five different blogs to keep up. Now I have facebook and I copy and past blogs occasionally to my account at myspace. This has been the best combination to date on keeping it simple and spreading the news to the most people in my target audience.
5. What do you think are the Big Mistakes writers make when blogging for promotion?
They write for people who will never read their blogs. Blogs are most effective for people already connected with you, not strangers. They’ll just look at your bio or watch a video clip for ten seconds and decide based on that.
Dead blogs are also bad. I had to put a note on my Amazon blog telling people I had quit using it, so my friends wouldn’t ask when I was going to update it. If your blog hasn’t been updated at least within the past two weeks, shut it down or update it. Blogs work because they are personal and instant.
6. What does a blog tour accomplish, if anything? What data or analysis has led you to believe that?
I’ve never done a blog tour. Again, I blog to get the word out to my existing contacts so my friends will tell others.
7. What should be the goals of a blog tour and how do you track whether or not a blog tour is successful?
Exposure and book sales. If these cannot be measured based on a blog tour, why do it?
8. Any other additional thoughts on blogging and blog tours?
Blogging is great, but you have to be aware that what you write is there for good. Don’t make comments about your boss or mother-in-law unless you can handle seeing it ten years from now.
Thanks for sharing with us, Dillon.
Please be sure to check out Dillon’s website, as well as his work at the Ankerberg Theological Research Institute.
To read the other interviews in this series, click here.
You can read the summary posts and discussion of what I’ve learned through these interviews over on my personal blog, click here.
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Chris Tackett
Very interesting that you [Dillon] have chosen such a focused approach. I’m probably your polar opposite, but I’m intrigued by your discipline and clear purpose.
LL – You both definitely have different approaches to blogging and social media!
DEAD BLOGS are not all bad! Check out my dedicated site, for all the abandoned blogs that you can handle, documented using wry humour blended seamlessly with sincere sentiment. We are the self proclaimed ‘Official home of the certified dead blog’:
“BLOGS THAT DIED TOO YOUNG”
http://ontheblogheap.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the feedback, fellow bloggers. Myspace and Facebook are great, but take constant attention to use effectively. Check out my latest myspace efforts where I take a “band approach” at http://www.myspace.com/readdb or look me up on facebook to check out my latest efforts there. I’m especially interested in whether a “writer’s” Page on Facebook will pay off in building a better audience.
Then there’s my website, http://www.readdb.com. Thanks!