Inside: How to get a book deal as a blogger in 2023.
It was always been a dream of mine to write a book, and being a blogger helped turn that dream into a reality.
If being an author is something that you have always dreamed of, know that it is possible…
Because I did it – 3 different times!
By following the simple process below, you bring yourself closer to bagging a book deal than you could have ever dreamed.
If you have yet to start a blog, don’t stress. I walk you through the process of getting a book deal as a blogger, from starting your blog to signing that contract.
So wherever you are on this journey, you can start here.
Know that anything you desire is within your reach if you put your mind to it. Getting a book deal is no different. You can totally do this! There is no time to waste; let’s get started.
But first you should ask yourself why it is you want to write a book?
For me it was the benefit of holding something that felt more permanent than our digital footprint. Having a physical copy of all the hard work I put in online was really important to me.
What is your why?
How to Get a Book Deal In 6 Steps (for Bloggers)
Believe it or not, blogging is a wonderful way to give you a jump start on getting a book deal. This is because you will already have a built-in audience and reader base.
On top of that, you also already have experience writing which is always a plus. Chances are, your blog will be based on a niche, so you will have a unique voice that is geared toward a specific genre.
All of these things play a huge part in securing a book deal. So by having a blog, you are setting yourself up for success. If you are at the very beginning of this journey (yes, it is a journey), then you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
Don’t be! Starting is the hardest part, and you are already here.
I have so many tips for starting a successful blog; and a fun course that will walk you through the process here.
If you are nervous to start, know that you are not alone; many people are sitting in the same spot that you are, just waiting for the courage to start. Well, find it. Because what lies on the other side of fear? Life!
If you already have an established blog, skip to part two or three.
Step One: Start Building Your Audience
Perhaps the scariest step, but a necessary one. Starting to build your audience can actually be such an exciting experience! Sure, there is a learning curve (or three), but it’s nothing you can’t handle. What’s more, there’s so much information just waiting to be learned on the internet.
Building an audience that is engaged with you is the most important step you will take for your future publishing plans.
Any agent will ask you within the first 5 minutes what your personal/brand reach is and how you can show your expertise.
I think that once you take the leap in growing your base, you will find that it is much more doable than you thought.
I won’t go too into detail on how to start a blog in the article because I already have in other ones. Take a look at some of those to kickstart your path to getting a book deal as a blogger.
It’s important to have both short and long-term goals, so I think this is a great idea. In the short term, you start your blog and slowly build up your audience and readers. Then you can attempt to get your book deal in the long term! Don’t worry; when I say long-term, I mean in a year or two, not ten.
Step Two: Build Your Reach Across Platforms
The next thing you should do, as you are starting your blog, is to build your audience across different platforms. I am talking about Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and even Tiktok. The more people consistently view your content, the more likely you are to get a book deal.
This is because publishing companies want to make sure you are a solid investment. Chances are this is going to be your first book, and you may not have any degrees in English or writing in general. So outright, you may look at them as a shaky investment.
BUT when you show up with an entire audience potentially waiting for your book, they will know you are serious.
Step Three: Remain Consistent
When it comes to blogging, consistency is perhaps the most important thing that you can uphold. This is for so many reasons. First and foremost, Google. If you want to rank on Google, the search engine must first trust you and your content.
The only way to get it to trust you is by showing it that you post regularly and that you are posting good content.
The next reason why consistency is important is that this is the only way that you can build an audience. People are not going to stay interested in your content if they are only getting it every once in a while.
Sticking to a posting schedule, not only on your blog but on your social media platforms, is a way to ensure that you are building your views and your reader base every day.
How to Get a Book Deal – Step Four: Get an Agent
Now we get to the exciting part. After you have established your blog and your audience, you can start working towards your big exciting goal: getting a book deal. You may think that the next step would be to write a book, but that is not the case.
Most companies are going to want to help you decide what the book is about, so if you write anything at this point other than a proposal, it may just be your wasted time.
The actual next step is to get yourself an agent. This is super important because an agent is going to be able to connect you with companies and protect you from bad contracts.
Though I do want to point out the only downside to having an agent is they will take a cut of your earnings. But considering they’ll open doors for you that you could not open yourself, this investment is invaluable.
An agent on your side for landing a deal, knowing how to negotiate with the publishing houses and having your back is well worth it when you consider the outcome.
Step Five: Write a Proposal
While your agent is looking for interested companies, this is a great time for you to flush out your proposals. If you have no idea where to start on this, there are plenty of outlines on google. This is my favorite.
Your book should be about whatever you are most passionate about.
Something that you have a lot of knowledge in. I am sure if you have gotten this far, you already have an idea of what that might be.
How to Get a Book Deal – Step Six: Sign A Contract
You have reached your final step. Get that contract! Submit your proposal to the companies your agent helped you find, and when one comes back with a contract you like… take it.
Pop the best bottle of champagne you have because it’s time to celebrate! And then of course, get to work writing your amazing book.
Being a blogger is a way to separate yourself from the crowd a bit, showing your possible publisher that you are a solid investment. So I know if you want to get a book deal as a blogger, you can do it.
In the meantime, if you are interested in more tips on growing your blog, I have so much I can share with you. Blogging is one of my many passions, so I am more than happy to pass on what I know.
After all, having a successful and growing blog is a quick way to bag yourself that book deal, so why not make yours as successful as it can be?
