BBAW: 10 Tips for Bloggers

Topic:  Share 3 things you are essential tried and true practices for every blogger and 1-3 new trends or tools you’ve adapted recently or would like to in the future.


Today is the end of the BBAW. It was so much fun. I met some new bloggers and learned a lot from their posts. So I decided to make my last post for the BBAW practical and easy by making a list of ten things of practical tips and tools for blogging. 


Tried and True Practices and Blogging Tools :

• Comment on other blogs ~ As I said before in my other post (How Do You Find Community), be reciprocal and leave a comment when you visit a blog. I read on some other blogs that comments should be thoughtful, meaningful and blah, blah, blah. But really just say, "hi, I am new to your blog and was lurking around and decided to comment" or whatever you feel like saying. I prefer a brief comment over no comment. And sometimes people just don't know what to say. If they say nothing, I don't know they exist and I can't reciprocate in commenting. 

• Be Consistent ~ Try to be consistent in all your blogging and posting. Blog as often as you can. And set a minimum and maximum number of posts you will do each week. And then let your readers know that's how often you will be posting. I for instance blog 3-5 days a week. Generally 3 if I'm not participating in a hop.

• Be Present ~ Even on the days you don't make a new post on your own blog. Use some of that time to visit other blogs instead. You may not have anything new for them to come back to and comment on but they will remember that even on your off days, you made the effort to come by their blog and visit; that's how you nurture relationships.

• Following and Gaining Followers ~ Don't feel obligated to follow blogs if you aren't truly interested in them. If you join a blog you likely won't go back to, all you really did was make your list longer in your feed or add  to the amount of email you'll get. Secondly, don't get swept into the hype of needing large amounts of followers. If you comment and participate, they will come. But don't feel like you aren't productive if you don't have a lot of followers. For instance, have you ever visited a blog that had over 1,000 followers but not a single person commented on any of their post that week or the week before? It's usually because the blog owner dropped the ball somewhere and didn't nurture the followers they received. When I say drop the ball, I mean they didn't reciprocate. They didn't follow the people that followed them. They didn't comment on other blogs, they didn't reply to comments on their own blog or they weren't consistent in posting. Now I have been to blogs with 50 or 60 followers and they have a healthy 10 comments or so on each posts. That's a healthy blog. The owner is nurturing her blog in some form or fashion and her followers are receptive of that attention or he/she has something really important to say in their posts. As I said before I'd take a quick comment over no comment at all. 

• Ask a question ~ If you want comments, ask a question at the end of each post. Some people don't comment because they don't know what to say because you said everything already, you didn't pose a question or you didn't challenge them to come up with something different than what you already stated. 

• Great tools to use ~  Twitter, Facebook, Hootsuite, Goodreads, Shelfari, Book Blogs, Google Reader and StumbleUpon. I use each of these. But I consistently use Facebook, Twitter, my Google Reader and StumbleUpon. Now I don't actually use the Twitter site often, I use Hootsuite instead. It allows me to access my Twitter account and view it in an easier format. It also lets me schedule my tweets weeks in advance. So if I know I'm running a giveaway for a week then I will schedule my tweets for that entire week in advance. How to: After I make my posts, I'll schedule my tweet to post every hour on the hour for the entire week (you can also schedule every fifteen minutes). It lets my Twitter feed look up to date and I can concentrate on just replying to tweets instead of plugging my links. I admit it takes a little time, about an hour to schedule all of them for the week. But once it's done I can concentrate on other things. StumbleUpon lets you find other interesting articles or blogs as well. It also allows you to upload your own post from your blog so others can "stumbleupon" them. I would like to utilize technorati and digg. I haven't gotten the hang of them yet, but I'm trying to use these more consistently. But I also know I can't spend all my time visiting social sites. So it hasn't been a priority yet.

• Give blog love ~ Whenever possible, spread the blog love around. Tell your followers about other great blogs you visit. This can come back to you in ten fold. Linking to another blog increases the chances of that blog returning the favor in the future. It also increases traffic to your blog. Also update your blog roll or blog feed. We like to see which blogs you like, but don't list blogs that haven't posted in 3 months or so.

• Participate in hops, memes and giveaways ~ I find that I have garnered most of my followers through events like the (Armchair BEA), hops (such as the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop) and my own personal giveaways and other blog giveaways. I don't usually gain many followers through memes when I have participated. But some say it works for them. Some good memes would be In My Mailbox Monday, Feature and Follow and Waiting on Wednesday. I normally stick to hops and giveaways. You can find giveaways and hops by visiting other blogs by looking in their sidebar for buttons and announcements. Go to some of the blogs in their blog roll and see what's going on there. You have to search out other blogs to get info.

• Be you ~ Be yourself. Don't try to imitate another blogger. Just let people know the authentic you and if they like that person they'll stick around. But if you try to copy other bloggers in design, concept, etc, eventually you will burn out. It's always easier and better to be you even on a bad day, then it is to be someone else on a good day.

• Guest posting/ blogging: Try asking other bloggers if you can guest post on their blog and vice versa. It's a great way to gain new followers, get a new perspective on your blog for a change and it's nice way to get a break from posting even if only for a day.

• Bonus Tip: * Balance* ~ When it comes to blogging there is no such thing as balance for me. It's all about prioritizing. To say balance would mean making all things equal or giving each thing equal time. And that doesn't work for me because that's not how I live. I have a list of what's important and what goes at the top of my list. Blogging is not at the top of my list. At the top of my list is God, my family and my writing career. So I make decisions based on that and I fit blogging in where it needs to go. If I can't do something related to blogging, I just don't do it. I've found if you take a break and let your followers know your going on hiatus, they'll respect that and most will jump right back in where you left off once you return. So don't stress about it. And don't forget to enjoy yourself. Blogging should be fun.

Do you have any practical advice, tools or tips to share for blogging?

Lena Sledge's BBAW Red Carpet Interview

It's Day 2 of the BBAW. The topic for today is: Shining the light on your fellow book bloggers. 

So what that means is each participant in the BBAW, was chosen to swap interviews with another book blogger. I was given the lovely Kay from Dead Book Darling. She has a book blog that features news, reviews and other literary tidbits. And her blog made the list of the Cision Top 10 Teen Literature Blogs. How spectacular.

Well, of course I can't follow the rules. That would be no fun.  I  mean it's Book Blogger Appreciation Week. So what better way to show your appreciation than an award ceremony. And what do they do at award ceremonies? They ask questions on the red carpet. So we are here on Lena Sledge's Red Carpet Interviews. First let me show you the dress I'm wearing cause it's slamming and smoking hot! 

These are the shoes I have on under the dress, minus the hairy legs.

So now we have the scene set, so without further ado, I give you Kay from Dead Book Darling. (insert applause here and whistling) Roll out the red carpet!

 You write non-fiction as your day job. Do you think you will ever write a book? If so, what subject would you write about?

If I ever write a book, I can pretty much guarantee it will be non-fiction and probably related to some sort large socio-scientific issue. I know that that phrase sounds terribly posh, but what I am actually talking about is our society's relationship with science. It's what I studied, it's my day job, and it is what I get stupidly passionate about. The thing is, writing a book is really hard work. While novelists have all sorts of plot problems and character problems, non-fiction writers have all that AND the daunting research requirement. Still, I think I may one day turn my dissertation (which has been described to me as Cod by Mark Kurlansky but with wolves) into a book.

What is your favorite genre to read? Who is your favorite author in that genre?

I really do have a soft spot for science fiction and urban fantasy. They are two genres that I just love on principle, so even the bad authors aren't so terrible! They are my literary equivalent of the Star Trek franchise: fantastic 20% of the time, and the remaining 80% is great even when it is terrible. That said, I haven't read too much Sci Fi - it is still rather new to me! But I adore Ann Aguirre (seriously, I have a real girl crush on her). And for urban fantasy... I'd say that Jaye Wells epitomises everything that is great about the genre. She is funny, smart, and occasionally polemic. 

And what genres would you like to read but just haven't gotten around to yet?

I keep saying I will read more romance and crime... and then I never get round to it. Same goes for the numerous literary fiction novels I have on my shelves!

Someone is new blogging and has come to you for advice, what 3 things would you tell them NOT to do as a blogger? And 3 Things they SHOULD do as a blogger?

Don'ts:

• Do not start blogging for ARCS and free books. You know that heavy feeling of obligation and guilt you get whenever a friend gives you a book to read? That is what getting books from publishers is like. Not to mention the fact that most bibliophiles already have TBR stacks that can kill people. Should they really be added to?

• Don't start a blog if you don't like to write. Seriously, it's a bad idea. Writing is hard, hard work - even for those of us who love it.

• Don't start blogging for the "fame". People can tell straight off the bat, and it usually ends up with them being ignored!

Dos:

• Make lots and lots and lots of back-up posts. At some point in your blog-life you will suffer from blogger's block, so it is important to have some back-ups when that happens!

• Take part in memes. Things like "Waiting on Wednesday", "The Sunday Salon", and "In My Mailbox" are great fun - and they'll bring people to your blog!

• Take it seriously and don't post crap. Oh, and spell check while you're at it! I am always amazed by how well people react to my reviews and posts - it makes me want to make sure I am doing a good job. When an author responds to your review of their book, you're going to want to be certain that you've used the right "your/you're"!

A follower has informed you they have never read a book aside from school books, what book do you recommend they read first?

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Full Stop.

What five blogs would you recommend to a new blogger and why?

Oh, GOD. I hate this question, because it is so hard to choose! Let's see... Jenny at Wondrous Reads is one of the most professional-yet-personal bloggers around. Read her! Aja writes the most amusing-yet-insightful book reviews on her livejournal - I wish I had one third of her insight. Kay at The Infinite Shelf is also a blogger I think all newbies should follow. Her website and content is super user-friendly and she seems to cut straight to the heart of a book whenever she reviews it. Kristi at The Story Siren is a good person to model yourself after for her time-management skills alone. Seriously, I don't know when that woman eats. Oh, and everyone out there should read Dear Author.Jane's reviews epitomise brilliant blogging. 

*We will have a brief intermission here, because I need a cocktail and the lovely Kay probably needs a break from all of my rambling. Have some won't you?*

And we're back! Live at Lena Sledge's Red Carpet Interviews... (Okay, okay. This program has been previously recorded)


Kay, lets say, an author/friend contacted you for a review and you agreed to review but strongly disliked it once you finished, would you still post the review? Why or why not? 

I am a very strong believer in the importance of negative reviews. So... yes. I would review it. I've done it before and I will do it again. It is really important to understand why someone doesn't like something - and that is a quality only achieved through negative reviews. Often times, I have read and adored negative reviews for books I've loved. Because every book has its faults and understanding, accepting, and even loving those faults is a part of the reading experience.

Imagine the world has changed and you are no longer allowed to write in any fashion? What would you do instead? Aside from traveling because I already know you like to travel. :-)

What a great question! Gosh...I would have to do some sort of work with animals. I do volunteer work at animal shelters, but I would love to make it into a full-time job. There are a lot of animals in serious need out there - and there are far too many humans who aren't willing to help them. I don't want to be one of them!

What book made the biggest impression on you as a reader? And why?

I'm going to say it again: Harry Potter. I am from the HP generation. The generation ruled by J.K. Rowling and her magical world of Muggles and Wizards and Dark Lords. The books consumed my tween-teenage years and I honestly don't know who I'd have grown up to be without them!

Some book reviewers get paid for their reviews. What do you think about being compensated monetarily? Do you think paid reviews are just as credible as non-paid reviews?

It really does depend on who pays for the review. If you are being paid to review a book by the author or publisher, well, it is highly unlikely that I am going to take your review seriously. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that I won't. But if the money is coming from a publication, then of course that's fine! In fact, Kirkus, if you're reading this, I would be over the moon to be paid by you. *puppy eyes* *drafts CV*

Tell me five things your followers don't already know about you?

1. I have an undergraduate degree in physics and, yes, have been known to entertain at parties with the long, fascinating history of particle physics.
2. I am not actually English... but I drink a lot of tea, so really, I think I should be given a passport based just on that.
3. I'm bilingual verging on trilingual (English, Spanish and French).
4. I can sing pretty much every musical written by Steven Sondheim, from start to finish.
5. I am active in a lot of fandoms. I often want to recommend certain fanfics on Dead Book Darling, but I always manage to restrain myself!

Well that's it folks for the Lena Sledge Red Carpet Interviews, join me in giving the lovely Kay of Dead Book Darling a round of applause. We wish her much success in her blogging journey and we hope to see her again real soon. Don't forget to go check out her blog and read the interview she did about me. Yes, me, Lena Sledge. Can you believe it. I'm so excited. Also, if you have time go check out some of the other blogger interviews for BBAW. 

Well, now it time to take off this dress and return to my normal attire.

Blessings!