(Banner design: Nina of Nina Reads; Feature image design: Sarah of Puss Reboots)
“If you build it, [they] will come.”
Remember that line from Field of Dreams? It can be applied to book blogging, as well. If you build a blog, readers will come.
I’ve only been blogging for about a year and a half, so I’m not claiming to be an expert, but I have a good group of people who are regulars here and whom I appreciate very much. My main goal in starting Between the Covers was not to gain a million followers or to make a million dollars. I started blogging about books because I love to read, and I wanted to share that love with others as well as have some kind of creative outlet for myself. I wanted to be a part of the book blogging community–it’s full of so many wonderful people and we share many of the same interests (even beyond books). So what does building a blog entail?
- Be a regular participant on your own blog (this is the obvious one).
- Visit other blogs and join the conversation there–comment and support.
- Do some social networking and join the conversations there, too–the three most common social networking sites that most book bloggers and readers seem to use are Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I know there are others, but I only want to speak from personal experience here, and those three sites seem to be where everyone gravitates.
- Be yourself.
I can’t stress that last one enough–be yourself. Be honest, use your own voice, and write what you know. Don’t be afraid to say you didn’t like a book, even if it seems like everyone else loved it. Don’t be afraid to say you didn’t understand a book, even if it seems like you’re the only one. It doesn’t matter what genre(s) you enjoy reading. It doesn’t matter if you write formal reviews, or if you just write your personal thoughts and feelings about the books you read. If you participate in blogging memes, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s great, too. There are readers for every kind of blog out there. Just be yourself.
If you do that and network with other bloggers through the places I mentioned above, readers will come naturally. We are very welcoming and supportive of one another in the blogging community. There are so many different voices and styles out there, and there are millions of people on the internet every day–if you build it, they will come. All you need to do is be yourself and be an active participant in the community. There can never be too many people talking about books.
There are lots of great bloggers out there writing about their experiences and the lessons they’ve learned, as well as what they hope the future of book blogging will be, so be sure to check out what everyone is saying today. Do you have questions for the experts? Don’t be afraid to blog about them and link up to today’s Armchair BEA topic post.
What is one thing you’ve learned about blogging that you’d like to share with others? Leave a comment with your tip(s)!
June 8, 2012 at 12:04 pm
I agree with you on one of these specifically BE YOURSELF!!!
June 8, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Thank you, Lisa!
June 8, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Great advice! I also think it’s important to have a good balance between reviews and other features, making sure reviews don’t get lost in lots of memes, author interviews etc.
June 8, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Excellent point if you want the reviews to be the focus of your blog.
June 8, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Great advice. As a matter of fact I completely changes blogging platforms because I wanted my replies to comments to be clear. I think it is so important to acknowledge the people who come by and take time to comment.
June 8, 2012 at 1:10 pm
I agree wholeheartedly. I am so appreciative of every single person who visits my blog and takes the time to read my words and comment on them. I love the diversity in the blogging community. The only way to let people know that you appreciate them visiting your blog–and that you’re listening to them, too–is to participate in your comment section.
Thank you for joining the discussion!
June 8, 2012 at 12:45 pm
Good points! I like #2, because even though it’s obvious, people don’t always realize it. You want comments? Go make some. Go make lots! And being yourself might be the hardest part, at least for me. Sometimes I’d like to be someone else, but that doesn’t work.
June 8, 2012 at 1:12 pm
It can be very hard–both in blogging and in life in general. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes by not being true to myself (I’m sure we all have at one time or another).
June 8, 2012 at 12:56 pm
I love all your points – but the first 3 seems a little at odds with the “If you build it, they will come.” Honestly. I think you have to build it well, and then promote/ market it – i.e. commenting etc as you mentioned … and then they will come – and hopefully come back aover and over again
June 8, 2012 at 1:05 pm
To me, the networking/marketing is all a part of building your blog. But yes, you have to maintain it once you’ve built it.
June 8, 2012 at 2:48 pm
yes, yes, and yes.
June 8, 2012 at 4:30 pm
June 8, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Each time I participate in one of these events I hear how important comments are, yet am dumbfounded my the number of people who admit that they don’t do this. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy aren’t we?
June 8, 2012 at 4:34 pm
That we are, sometimes.
I *try* to comment on three blogs a day. I have a reader full of great blogs, so I just comment as I go. There are days when I don’t really have anything to add to a discussion, and there are times when I’m busy doing other things, but I make an effort to show people I’m reading.
June 8, 2012 at 5:41 pm
I agree! Be yourself is the #1 goal.
June 8, 2012 at 7:25 pm
I’ve learned a lot from the various different blogs that I stalk but the one that always sticks with me is to be myself while having fun
I try to apply it daily!!
Awesome tips, and I agree with the comments and networking
I love interacting even if I’m shy at first
Here’s my Ask the Experts if you’d like to stalk!-> http://bookpics-reading2alba.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-ask-experts.html
June 11, 2012 at 11:30 am
Be yourself, no matter what. I agree wholeheartedly.
June 12, 2012 at 8:32 am
I agree Heather, The only way you’ll be noticed out here is if you are unique, and the only way to be unique is to be who you are, and write like yourself..
June 14, 2012 at 1:43 am
Sorry I didn’t stop by the other day. What a crazy week! You’re so right. There can never be too many people talking about books.
Great post, Heather. Be yourself is something I also stress, as you well know.