Tags
Author Blog Challenge, authors, autoresponders, blog challenge, call to action, resource box, would-be authors
Always include a CALL to ACTION at the end of your blog posts!
Soooo many blog owners, newbies and seasoned bloggers alike, miss this 
crucial step. At the end of every post, include a resource box. This is a brief bio and should always be accompanied by a means of contacting you: a link to your website, a link to a free download, your e-mail address, and/or your phone number. It is located at the very end of each post (or article, in the case of article marketing).
Never underestimate the power of a creative resource box. Though it may be brief, a well-written resource box will deliver a higher click-through rate on your links. Be fun and creative as you encourage your readers to take advantage of a special offer you make available exclusively to them.
Five Hints for Creating an Effective Resource Box
1. Include a call to action. It is essential that at the end of every post you give your readers instructions about what you want them to do next. Visit your Web site? Attend a reading? Download a special report on your site? Your readers need guidance, so guide them. This is particularly true if your goal is to use your blog to sell more books.
2. Use active, urgent language. Use words that clearly tell your readers what you 
want them to do. Include action words like call, buy, register, subscribe, and donate. Additionally, create a sense of urgency by adding an expiration date or a specific time frame for which your offer is good, using phrases like:
- Offer expires June 1
- 20% discount for those who register by July 31
- Available for a short time only
- Order now to receive your free gift
3. Increase the likeliness that your reader will click on your link. Use a phrase like this between the article and your resource box:
“For more information on [____topic of article____], make sure to follow the link in the resource box below.”
4. Use discretion about how much info you request from you reader. If you use a form that requires your readers to provide personal information about themselves, collect only the necessary data. Don’t make them jump through hoops or provide you everything but the kitchen sink to activate the free download.
5. Follow up on the readers’ follow-through. Are you prepared to take your own next action when your reader responds to your call to action? The best plan may be to create an autoresponder drip campaign that periodically touches the reader via e-mail.
I dare you to heed OUR call to action, below!
Laura & Marcie
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The Author Blog Challenge is hosted by Laura Orsini and her alter ego, Marcie Brock, of the Marcie Brock – Book Marketing Maven blog. REGISTER for the Challenge today. Also, please visit Marcie’s blog for loads of great info about low- to no-cost methods of marketing for self-publishing authors.
NO EXCUSES 3-Week Author Blog Challenge 
My call to action is “Buy my books!” It’s already in the sidebar, though I do need to put in an “about the author” page and possibly contact the author. Problem is I can’t figure out how to change the order in which the links to pages appear at the top.
You have a beautiful blog, Sue Ann. You can order the pages in the page section – there’s a place on the right-hand column that lets you enter a number to indicate the order of the pages. Best of luck with your book sales!
Laura (aka Marcie Brock)
Excellent advice. I know I forget that call to action from time to time.
Glad it was helpful, Sara!
Great advice. Thanks!
Thanks for reading, Estelle.