One of the things I learned a long time ago, when I was one of the first SEO people in Sydney in 2002, was that you need to get added absolutely everywhere if you want to succeed. For a writer, this means every relevant website, blog, bookshop, Facebook page, database, awards list, convention list and any other list you can think of.
With there being so much internet content now, and with so many apps out there replacing websites, this has changed, and we need to be listed on every relevant app.
However, as there are now so many places to be listed, you would never have time to write. And paying for someone to do that for you would cost more than any of the money you might get from your novels. So, listing yourself everywhere nowadays is just not viable anymore.
But listing your blog in a list of similar blogs on a site that ranks, is. Google algorithms favor not just being listed, but being listed in a targeted, controlled list that only focuses on the area you want to be part of. And so, recently I looked about for lists of feeds of science fiction news blogs, and found one suitable for my site.
Check out: Top 50 Science Fiction Blogs & Websites for Sci Fi Fans
This link, well where I am, comes up as number one in the organic results for a number of keyword phrases such as ‘science fiction news sites’ and ‘science fiction blogs’ Even if it was further down the page for you, that is a massive score on Google.
Some things about the list:
I love the fact I can click on each of the links and get the latest posts on that page. I can then decide if they’re relevant for me and, if they are, add them to my feed.
Actually, I added a few to the Science Fiction and Fantasy News app available on Google Play.
The list is regularly updated. I guess if they don’t receive that many posts from a site for awhile, it gets pulled down.
When you’re added you get a few friendly emails reminding you to make a blog post about your addition. As I’m very forgetful for something important like this, I am grateful for the emails.
You can also sign up and get updates of the feeds from the listed sites as part of an email.
And, of course, the list contains a lot of interesting sites that are worth checking out, unlike other sites that list places solely to get some kind of commission.
If you have a regular science fiction blog, and you talk about science fiction themes a lot (not just your own work) then you should submit your site for consideration.
And, if you just wish to promote your book, I recommend posting here:
It’s another site of mine. I plan to get back to updating it and making it more user friendly later this year.
Wishing you all the best in your writing.