Top 10 Tips For New Book Bloggers

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish and was created by The Perpetual Page Turner.

Y’all, this week’s topic is Top Ten Tips For New Book Bloggers, and straight up I am going to be 100% honest with you in these tips, because I don’t believe in playing around.

1. Personality is EVERYTHING. If you are generic and boring, if you feel bored reading your blog, so will everyone else. So please, insert your unique personality into your blog posts.

2. KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid! If your blog takes more than 2 minutes to load, I’m gonna bounce.

3. You May Like Your Music, But I Don’t. Seriously, I would much rather listen to my own music so as soon as I hear autoplay on your blog, I am out of there.

4. Talk To Others. I promise you I’m not as bitchy as I seem. Many other bloggers who are established, like myself, are willing to be friendly with you, but that’s hard if we don’t know you exist. So I’d say comment, get your name out there, engage with people on twitter. We don’t bite…hard.

5. We all treat our blogs and hobby differently. For some, like me, we put A LOT OF HARD WORK into our blogs. If you want to be at the same place as me or some of my friends, you earn it. Success doesn’t happen over night.

6. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, TURN OFF CAPTCHA. The reason no one comments on your blog? Because they don’t want to crack the goddamned Da Vinci Code every time they leave a comment.

7. Yo, be genuine.  Everyone sees your copy-paste comments.

8. DON’T PLAGIARIZE! Seriously, you are awesome on your own. There is no need to steal the work of others. And know this, you will get caught. It will come out and people don’t forget that. I sure as shit don’t forget who has plagiarized.

9. We can totally tell if you are in it for the ARCs. Look, blog because you love reading and are passionate about the written word, not to get free things. It’s obvious and trust me, we disdain that.

10. Do what makes YOU happy. Look, you don’t have to take my advice. You don’t have to listen to a word I said. If captcha and autoplay music make you happy, go for it, but don’t sit there wondering why no body checks your blog out. Do whatever your heart desires. There aren’t any blog police or anything.

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April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.
About April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

Comments

  1. Thinking Cat says

    I *love* your list! I had quite a few of the same thoughts on mine! I’m so glad I stopped by this week!

  2. THIS. “There aren’t any blog police or anything.” That is wonderful. LOVE it. Haha. And you know, everything else you wrote too. You crack me up!

  3. I didn’t even know autoplay music still existed until I started frequenting blogs. Whoever came up with the idea for it in the first place should be put into a metal box and shot into the sun. Nothing more awesome than trying to stealthily creep on book blogs at work and suddenly having somebody’s idea of awesome music blaring from my speakers.

    Thanks for the honesty, it’s appreciated. I skipped this TTT because I still consider myself a new blogger and not really in a place to be giving advice, but I am definitely reading all of these and taking note.

  4. Your blog is a great example of one that has a personality, and that definitely deserves the top spot on your list. Being genuine is another one that is so important. Thanks for sharing these great tips!

  5. OMG YES for number 3 and 6. I LOVE comment luv. I wish we could get it on blogger! It is by far the best comment system I’ve encountered so far.

  6. Yes to your point that personality is key! You’re loud and outspoken, but you’re right — you’re not a bitch. You’re nice. And all that comes through on your blog and is why we all read Good Books and Wine. You never bore me 🙂

  7. Yup, I absolutely agree with all of your points. ESPECIALLY #10, I mean, peeps can all dole out gobs of advice but in the end it’s all about reading and writing about what you want!

  8. How could I have forgotten captcha and music?!?!?! Also, a million widgets on the side. Simplicity is your friend!! Nice list 🙂

  9. Haha, I totally just turned captcha off. It was on because that’s what blogger wanted and I didn’t care. But someone commented on how much they hate it, so I got rid of it.

    If I get spammed a lot I’ll just turn on comment verification or something. Hasn’t been an issue so far.

    Wait. People plagiarize book reviews? Really? Why?!?

  10. Great tips. One reason I enjoy your blog is because of your unique voice. You have such a creative way of expressing your opinions about books. I like that.

    I’m so tired of captcha! I think that they don’t know how to turn it off or what captcha is when we all talk about it. I don’t fill it in. I’m out! No comment for you.

    I’m concerned for those who are in it for the ARCs. I didn’t even know what an ARC was for the longest time and there was no NetGalley when I started blogging.

  11. Thank you so much for the advice! It’s difficult to tell sometimes how well you are doing some of these tips though… Have you ever heard of any kind of buddy mentoring system where an experienced blogger will give feedback to newbies that sign up for it? That would be awesome

  12. Good list
    Better style
    Best attitude
    Loved the post….. 🙂

  13. Seriously, you’ve got personality all over the place. No one could doubt that you put your heart and soul and attitude into everything you post, and that is a tremendous asset.

  14. Awesome list! I could seriously put more personality into my posts, so you gave me something to work on. Personally, I don’t accept ARCs but I don’t mind if people are in it for the free books, why not – but it’s ridiculous that people get upset or feel hurt if they don’t get it … it’s just not that serious.

  15. Seriously, THIS is why I love your blog! I always feel that I have to curb my bluntness, so I LOVE that you’re not timid like I am to be blunt in your reviews, your comments, your posts, everything! Very cool I know that when I come here I’ll get told like it is and left to make my own judgment. Your advice today is seriously priceless and I genuinely hope that others out there take it. I know I am! 🙂

  16. OMG YES THE CAPTCHA!!

    I hate captchas so much.

    So.

    Much.

  17. Ugh, the music thing is the worst! Especially if you’re at work and all of a sudden some pop song is unexpectedly blaring from your speakers.

  18. Haha I HATE captcha and music players too! SO MUCH.

  19. I agree with your list, CAPTCHA is very annoying, and actually prevents me from commenting on a lot of people’s blogs. Commenting on others’ blogs and responding to your own blogs comments are definitely a great way to meet new people and get noticed. The only thing I can’t stand is when people leave a comment, and it’s only a link to their blog.

  20. HAHAHAH “if captcha and autoplay make you happy, go for it.”

    I agree with all of it. Especially letting your personality shine. For serious, I like when a blogger has an established voice. I like when I can look at someone’s post and see what they write and know exactly whose blog post it is without even looking at the name (I never do this because when the heck would this happen, but I like knowing that there are bloggers out there whose personalities are THAT distinct. LIke yours. I’d know an April review anywhere.)

    And DAMN TO HELL those “nice review. COME CHECK OUT MY MOTHERFRIGGIN BLOG THERE IS COTTON CANDY AND TEDDY BEARS AND FREE CARS AND HERE’S A LINK TO EVERY SOCIAL MEDIA SITE THAT I POSSESSSSS PLEASE BE MY FRIEND AND LOVE ME!” commenters.

  21. I’m totally with you on the captcha and music. Those two things drive me crazy.

  22. God yes, I DESPISE Captcha. And autoplay music– I thought it went away when MySpace faded out, but I hate that it hasn’t!

  23. KISS – great advice for all aspects of life. Also I love how upfront you are about your advice then end with “do what makes you happy”, because otherwise what’s the point?

  24. Best list by far! 🙂

    I was one of those people who thought “Why don’t people turn off their CAPTCHA?” and then I realized that when blogger updated their features, they turned it back on without consulting me! Grrr… I was so ticked off. Not ticked enough to transfer over to WordPress. I’m not that mad yet. :p

  25. LOL love #6. Death to CAPTCHA I say. Great tips. I especially like that most blogs seem to agree on one thing, be yourself.

    JJ iReads
    Check out my Top Ten Picks This Week

  26. Thanks for the tips! As an English prof, I especially like the NO PLAGIARIZING one, hehe. 🙂

  27. I think this list perfectly captures what I LOVE about your blog! Not only do you have such a strong voice, but you’re absolutely hilarious! I love that you’re always honest & to the point. I always feel like I can trust your reviews. I also love that I can tell how passionate you are about books & your blog! So, basically I’m totally obsessed with you & your blog, just not in a creepy way 🙂

  28. Such a good list and I agree about the Captcha things. So annoying and they take forever!

  29. Excellent tips, April! Love what you said about Captcha, I totally agree.

  30. I love these tips! I have been blogging for about 9 months, and I still feel like such a noob. I love the one about personality. You have the most personality I have ever seen on a blog. Also, one of my biggest pet peeves is when it’s so OBVIOUS when people are just blogging for free books.

  31. Hahahahaha I love #4. “I promise you I’m not as bitchy as I seem.” Classic! 🙂

  32. Your blog has been HUGE in teaching me to use my own personality and not just write like a robot. I feel like my reviews have improved HUGELY since I learned that.

  33. I think your list is a great example of why your blog is one of my favourite book blogs out there. Awesome and honest advice that I will seriously be keeping in mind! 🙂

  34. XD I was clutching my stomach, laughing so hard April. I think it’s because I can imagine your exasperation and the corresponding expression as you’re writing/thinking this and it just made this so amusing.

    But, on the real, I think I agreed with nearly every point. In fact, I’m sure that every single one would’ve crossed my mind, because you’re right. Personality makes you special, simple is sometimes better, especially when you don’t know how to edit, music blasts my ears when I’m not paying attention, hermits are overrated, hardworking people are more respectable, Captcha boils my naturally calm demeanor, copy + paste is for losers, plagiarism is wrong yo, ARCs are for bloggers with supernatural control and self-respect, and happiness is a pursuit I can dig.

    LOVE this list ;D

  35. Number two gets me every time. If I have to wait for widgets and glitter shit I am OUT OF THERE.

  36. Bahaha, I love you for this post. But also, I had a ton of the same tips. “You may like music but I don’t”< Best thing ever.

  37. Great tips, thanks!

  38. #3….oh how I wish more people would listen (no pun intended) to that one.
    Let me be my own DJ, thank you very much.

  39. OH YOU MAKE ME LAUGH APRIL C!
    I love it.
    Also this list is the bombdiggity. Yes I said that word even though we’re way beyond the 90’s. Which were awesome by the way.

  40. Are there a lot of blogs out there with music on them? I’m now playing catch up (or, ketchup, that sounds funnier) and I noticed a few other TTT posts talked about music. I must be an awful blog-reader because none of the ones I subscribe to play music! Although, I’ve gotta admit I wouldn’t able to subscribe to one that had music on it in the first place.

    BAHAHAHA DA VINCI CODE. I just had to laugh out loud at this again.

  41. Wow! I have been reading quite a few of these lists because I am really trying to improve my blog and your tips for bloggers has been the best! Very frank, very useful. And I’m totally with you on the music autoplay. That especially bugs me when I open several blogs at once and I have to search for the offender. And heaven help me if it is more than one all garbled together- makes me CRAZY!

    Thanks so much! I’ll totally keep reading!

    …April @ smartgirlsread.blogspot.com