Adding to its user-generated content, Amazon.com has launched a program to allow authors to blog on the Amazon.com site.

The Amazon Connect program, in beta for the past month, aims to increase the engagement between readers and authors, and between readers and Amazon.com. It provides authors with a channel to market new products to consumers who bought their books in the past, and gives them a reason to visit Amazon.com.

This is a very smart move by Amazon. By asking authors to blog, Amazon is encouraging a dialogue with customers without having to invest any extra effort themselves. Its the online equivalent of an author book signing, Andy Beal, president and CEO of search and blog marketing firm Fortune Interactive, told ClickZ News.

In the Amazon Connect FAQ, authors are urged to observe dinner party etiquette. Strive to participate in tasteful conversation with your readers using thoughtful, interesting and amusing dialogue while avoiding profanity, excessive negativity or insulting comments, it says.

Amazon is well known for being innovative and strong marketers, this latest move is just another example of how you can further interact with your client base and ensure stronger sales, read more courtesy of clickz.com