If I had it to do over again, my business structure would be much simpler. I would buy my name as my domain for branding purposes. I would build a blog as my main website and then put each of my books in separate subdomains as individual sales pages.

Then I would create pages on my blog for each of my products to cross link them. After that, I would simply focus on writing my blog, building my following, and building my blog into an authority site.

You're probably wondering why I'm telling you this. I doubt you care how I build my business. However, if you're a writer looking to make more money from your writing, there really is a simple formula for doing it, the one I just told you about.

Every writer needs a blog, and here are seven reasons why:

1. Blogging scripts help you build a website without knowing a lot about HTML or SEO.

Most hosting services offer something called Fantastico now. What Fantastico does is allow you to install scripts without having to know HTML. One of the scripts you may install is Wordpress. If you want to build a blog, then Wordpress is the best platform for you to build your blog because it's flexible, ranks well in the search engines, and contains plenty of plugins to help you do things automatically.

2. A blog allows you to connect with your readers.

Blogging has caught on across the internet. In fact, blogging is so popular that it has replaced the news sites as a way to get news. A blog is a great way to connect with those who are interested in the topic you write about.

3. Blogs make it easy for you to build a following.

Writing is probably one of the easiest ways to build a following of readers. This is very important especially in terms of your income. If you have a loyal following of readers, every time you come out with a new book or piece of writing, you already have a market lined up.

The easiest way to build a following is by allowing your readers to subscribe to your blog through both RSS and email. Then your readers may choose how they read your content.

4. With the right blog platform you will automate many of your marketing tasks.

I use Wordpress, and the reason is that it offers so many different types of plugins, as well as allowing me to future post. Future post is where you write when you want to and then tell Wordpress when to post.

Wordpress also offers plugins to create sitemaps for the search engines, post your entries on the social networks, and allow your readers to bookmark your posts building valuable backlinks. Automating as many marketing tasks as possible saves time and allows you to focus on writing.

5. You have the option of writing about a specific topic or writing about your work.

According to best selling author Patrice Ann Rutledge, as a writer, you have a choice about what type of site you create. If you write non fiction like I do, you want to write about a specific topic. If you write fiction, then you'll want to focus more on yourself. Few other professions allow you this choice.

6. It allows you to improve your writing.

By blogging regularly, you are writing more. The more you write, the better you will get at your craft. Writing is not really an art form. It is something you will get better at if you practice it regularly. Blogging is an easy way to do this.

7. You don't have to be an extrovert to write a blog.

I believe that many writers are introverts, that they hate marketing, and they really don't want to be bothered with others. Maybe that's the reasons writers make so little money.

The beauty of a blog though is that no one ever has to know what you look like, how old you are, or anything else. If you write a good blog, you will connect with your readers and sell your writing. Isn't that what it's really all about?