Welcome back to my newest blog series…Book Blogging 101. I am no expert, these are simply things that I have discovered or learned from my book blogging journey. I hope that these tips and tricks I share can be helpful to you.
Tip #1: Be Active in the Community
Just as with many other aspects of life…you cannot expect to get a lot from others if you do not give them anything in return. Humans are inherintly greedy and selfish, survival of the fittest. The same goes for book blogging…well any type of blogging really. Be willing to follow other bloggers, like their posts, and comment on them as well. How can you expect other people to read your blog posts if you are not willing to read any of theirs? When wondering why your numbers are really low, take a moment and question how active you are on other blogs and within the community.
When you begin blogging…it is hard not to focus on the number of followers, likes, or comments you have. I know…after 4 months I still do it. You want to be the best, have tons of people following your blog and commenting on your posts. It is ok to want that, let’s be honest…we all do. The best piece of advice I have for anyone starting their book blog is to be active in the community. The more active you are, the more traffic you will see come to your site. Many bloggers follow you back if you follow them. The best bloggers like and comment on your posts when you like and comment on theirs.
Do not simply comment “Great post.” Read their blog post, maybe comment about something you could connect with. Did you read the book they discussed? Is it something you would like to read? My point here is…actually read their post. Don’t be a skimmer who likes everything and always comments “Great review!” Be a part of something more. Be an active member who supports other bloggers. This is not a competition to see who will become most well known. We blog about books because we love them. The community is the best part of being a book blogger. You meet so many amazing people from all walks of life, with vastly different stories.
I’ve met some amazing bloggers (not only book bloggers), authors, and other people along the way. I depend on these connections, especially since I beta read, proofread and edit books as well as review them. In the end, just take the time to help others the way you want them to help you. Be supportive and respectful and have a great time.
P.S. You are doing great! Book Blogging is supposed to be fun, try not to stress about numbers. Do it for you…nobody else.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this Book Blogging tip! Let me know what you think below. Was this helpful? Have you had someone who comments but does not seem to have read your post? Who are some of your favorite book bloggers? What has the book blogging community brought to you?