Sunday, July 15, 2012

Say Anything {4} Blog Tips

So for this installment of Say Anything, I decided to share some of my top blogging tips that have helped me out the most since starting my new blog here at The Little Pink Book Boutique. I handle this blog completely different than my previous blog, and I believe that these things have made my life easier, and hopefully my blog more successful!

I hope to hear some of your top blogging tips in the comments below, as well!

Utilize the Schedule Feature for Posts

There were days where the last thing I wanted to or had time to do was get online and post something. Especially when I had no clue what to post. The best feature possible for those of us who like to procrastinate, or find their mind a big, blank mess when you really need to get something posted, is the schedule feature. I now have a good month of posts done in advance and scheduled, so nothing can get in the way of posts going up! And if there is big bookish news in the meantime, just post as needed! It's saves lots of time and worrying.

Every Blogger (and Blog) Is Different and Unique

The hardest part of starting a book blog, is seeing other blogs that are more established, have more followers, and get tons of ARCs. Really, it can be disconcerting if you allow it. So the key thing to remember is that your blog, just like you as a person, are unique and individual. You will not do things exactly like other bloggers. Your blog is going to be what you make of it. If you choose to keep it simple and stress-free, then you might not pay for a custom layout, and you might not request ARCs or galleys, and that's okay. Blogging is supposed to be fun, and it's so easy to start feeling like it's a part-time job. When it gets to that point, you have to stop and re-evaluate why you're blogging. If you take the fun out of it, you're going to burn yourself out. So take a step back, take a deep breath, and just have fun!

Utilize Twitter

I still do not use Twitter like some other bloggers do. I find it sometimes overwhelming and confusing, but a necessity nonetheless. Twitter is a great way to follow your favorite authors and interact with them. It's an ideal way to find out about great giveaways too, and get to know other bloggers. Twitter also suggests other people to follow, so it's easy to find new bloggers, blogs, and authors you may not have otherwise found.

Find A Few Blogs You Enjoy, And Really Visit and Get To Know the Blog and Blogger

The best thing you can do to find friends is to be a friend. You might follow 200 blogs, but find a few that you really like; whether it be because you share similar reading interests, or you really like their writing style or blog layout. Let them know you're a new blogger and really enjoy their site. Most are willing to befriend you, and even take you under their wing and offer guidance.

Do Unto Other Blogs and Bloggers as You Would Like Them to Do

It's the old adage, do unto others as you would have done unto you. Want followers? Follow others. Want comments? Comment on other blog posts you like! Be respectful, be courteous, and be yourself. Make a list of what you want your blog to be and how you want others to treat you, and do that yourself. Live up to your words!

The Library Is Your Friend

If I didn't have my local library, my blog would never be half of what it is. My library has a great, user-friendly website that easily allows me to request hardcover or e-books of released or soon-to-be released books. This will help you keep up-to-pace with other bloggers who receive advanced copies of the hottest new books, if you want to feature the newest books without having to buy each one. The only downfall I've stumbled upon, is that there are others out there waiting for the books too, so a lot of times I cannot renew a title that has just released; leaving me to adhere to the 2-week borrowing time frame. But it's an option I greatly take advantage of.

Pick A Meme or Two and Participate

Memes can be a great way to network your blog. You want to only pick a few to participate in, maybe up to two or three per week. Some great memes are Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish; Waiting on Wednesday hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine; and In My Mailbox hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. These blogs allow you to "link up" your post so others who participate can find and visit you. This is a great way to find new blogs as well, and the more you comment, the more comments you'll receive, and the more traffic you'll get to your blog.

The reason that it's best to limit the number of memes you post per week, is because you want to keep yourself in your blog. If you only participate in other blogger's posts, your readers won't get to know you, the person behind the blog. Balancing your memes with your own, personal posts will create a great experience for your readers.

Look for future posts with more great blogging tips.

Happy Reading,
Laura

No comments:

Post a Comment

Leave Me Some Love :))