Friday, September 16, 2011

BBAW Day 5: Blogging



Three tried and true practices essential for every blogger? Hmmm! These are three four I firmly believe in...

1. Stay true to yourself. You know how your mom would always say, "Just be yourself." Well, the same holds true in blogging. Yes, you want to please your readers, but just like in real life, you can't (and shouldn't) change the way you are completely just to please someone else. If you start doing everything on your blog for everyone else and the way they think it should be, instead of doing things the way you want...well, that my friends is going to lead you down the path to blogger burn-out...and it's ugly, very ugly!

2. No judgement. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." If some of your regulars stop dropping by or some of the blogs that you follow stop posting consistently, don't judge. If you visit a blog and you don't like something about it. Perhaps the background is too dark or the font is wanky...or whatever other thing that might annoy you. Don't judge. Take a moment and think how you would feel if someone was grumbling about your posting inconsistency, or your excessive meme participation, or your sidebars being cluttered, and then swallow your judgement and move on. Kindness and acceptance will get you a long way in blogging.

3. Have fun! Remember why you started book blogging in the first place. It was fun! Remember that you're not being paid and no one can fire you so if you #@%& up, own it and move on. When it stops being fun, you're headed down that ugly road again...you know the one. 

4. I'm adding a #4 because I think this is important too. Reciprocate. If you notice someone commenting frequently on your blog, head on over and comment on their blog. Build a relationship with those who take the time to visit. And when someone follows, again...reciprocate. I know it can get overwhelming, but the people who went out of their way to follow already have something in common with you because they liked your blog enough to follow. See, the relationship has already started! I have been remiss with this of late because I went on vacation for two weeks in August and I just can't seem to catch up. Bear with me, folks! I will get back to my old reciprocating self. =O)

I'm not sure if these are trends and tools, but I sure would like to adopt/implement them in the near future, and they are...

1. Write the review immediately after finishing the book. No more procrastinating. Now granted, I know sometimes there are constraints to doing this, like being at work or finishing a book while in bed (I'm not going to get out of the bed and write a review. LOL), but I'm talking about not waiting a week after finishing the book to write the review, not because I have so many other reviews to write, but because I'm too damn lazy to sit down and do it (incidentally, I don't do this with review books, just my own...which is probably a good thing). Any pointers?

2. Reading faster. Actually, this should read 'stop wasting time so I can read faster'. Any tips in this department? Yeah, I figured it was a lost cause. *sigh*

10 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

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  1. Read faster! LOL! I would like that too.

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  2. Be yourself, don't Stress about others, comment, reply connect, keep connecting - It's what makes BBAW great, all those seemingly disparate connections coming together as one.

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  3. I couldn't agree more!

    My favorites are be true to yourself and RECIPROCATE! (what a novel concept but it amazing how many don't)...

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  4. I think your advice is right on. I do think that the best blogs are the ones that have a unique viewpoint and reflects the blogger's personality and they don't try to be anything other than who they are.

    And I SHOULD review my books sooner than I do. It is major problem for me and I need to work on it! Thanks for the inspiration to start doing it.

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  5. Personality is something I look for in the bloggers I read. I like to know something about the blogger whether it's through their voice on the blog or the personal information they reveal!

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  6. Linda-yeah, it would be nice, wouldn't it?!

    Thanks, Juju!

    parrish lantern-yes, all true!

    Caren-Yes, it is! Reciprocation is the key, I think.

    Jenners-I agree! And your welcome...now, if I could only take my own advice in the review dept.!

    Trisha-Me too, Trisha! Some personal stuff makes it easier to get to know our fellow bloggers.

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  7. I should go and comment on the blogs of the people that follow me. Good idea.

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  8. Great advice kiddo! Though I'm horrible about following everyone who follows me.....I need to get better at that.

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  9. Good tips! I wish I could read faster., but it's not going to happen. I'm thinking I may just have to quite my job. Can you tell that's a bit of wishful thinking?

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