Blogging Tips: On Good Content and Active Readerships

Come discuss with us!

So I posted five book reviewing tips for struggling reviewers a few weeks ago, and I received a response from a newbie blogger who asked a few blog-related questions, and I needed an entire post to answer. Thank you so much for your question!

1. How long does it take to get comments and readers?

This varies widely per blog. It depends on how early on you start interacting and getting yourself out there. During my first months of blogging, I only made a handful of bookish friends, almost no comments on my posts and only a couple of followers. It took months for me, personally, to get an active following. For some, this could only be weeks, and for others, even years.

2. Do people come back to your blog?

The sad truth is, not all readers will return to your blog. But there will always be a handful of active followers and friends who come back to see what new content^[1] you have!

[1] Quick tip: if you always have fresh, unique content, the more likely your followers will return for more. Make sure that your personality shines in every post. Another little tip is to make sure that your blog is readable–chose colors and fonts that won’t hurt the eyes.

3. How do I know if my reviews are good?

I don’t think there’s a scale defining whether or not your reviews are “good” or “bad,” but here’s a tip: read through your review again. Put yourself in the perspective of a review reader. Do you think you described all of the important aspects well? Did you get all your facts straight? If you did, you’re good to go!

Other tips:

1. You don’t always need to have a long, detailed review. You can play with various reviewing styles.
2. Break apart your paragraphs as not to intimidate readers.
3. No need to use huge SAT words–keep it simple and easy to understand.

4. How can I get people to see and know about my blog?

Every blogger has different styles of bringing in readers, but here are some that I think are the most effective:

– Look for bloggers with similar tastes as you. Leave thoughtful comments on posts that catch your interest, and if you want to, leave a link back to your blog. Maybe they’ll comment back, but don’t be disappointed if they don’t! At least now they’re aware that you exist and that you have a fabulous blog. Be bold, but don’t be preachy^[2]!

[2] Please don’t go around saying, “Follow me/comment back!” or anything like that. You’ll come off as demanding and unfriendly.

– Create a Twitter account. Believe me, I was hesitant to do so, but I’ve made a lot of bookish friends and gained followers through Twitter. I’ve even talked to a bunch of authors. Just remember: Be active, be respectful, and be natural. Follow some of your favorite bloggers and respond to tweets that interest you.

– Create unique content. You’ll find that some blogs like Paper Fury of Nose Graze have an active following, and that’s because they always come up with fresh, exciting new posts.

– Participate^[3] in readalongs, blog events and other shenanigans! Did you see that your favorite blog is hosting a readalong for a book you want to read? Join the fun! Discussions will lead to more exposure for you (and you’ll make new friends!).

[3] You can host some yourself, but I encourage you to wait until you have a strong following before you do.

So that’s it for today! Have any questions yourself? Feel free to ask–I don’t bite!

Did you find these tips helpful or not? Any tips of your own?

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About Aimee

Aimee loves being a little bookworm (okay–she doesn’t like being little). She also loves chocolates and sweets but is freaked out by the thought of possibly getting diabetes.

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