So if your reading this post your either a book blogger or someone who enjoys reading others blogs. If your like me and own your own book blog you know blogging at times can be stressful. What to post, what books to review, wondering what you can post to spark your readers attention. I have had this blog open for over a year and while I have just recently hit 500 followers it has taken me sometime to reach that point. I work hard and do the best I can. Although sometimes I sit back and ponder while looking at my blog and I wonder I doing a good enough job? What could I be doing better? There a lot of big name book bloggers out there who have many, many followers and are amazing at what they do. They truly are! But I wonder is book blogging all about who has the bigger better blog? Or who got what ARC in there mailbox this week? Guess what popular author is coming to tour on "fill in blanks" blog today? The reason I started my blog a year ago was to share my love of reading and what book I choose to read with others - Not to fear I am not good enough, and maybe some may be part of my own insecurities but I know smaller book bloggers who has very little readers can say they do worry about these issues. It takes time to grow our fan base and readers but sometimes it is hard when a lot of the book blogger readers out there tend to navigate to the bigger better blogs...
I truly believe anyone who takes that step to make there own blog should be recognized. Don't get me wrong I love going to a lot of the big name book blogs too but they need to come to us as well and maybe they do, and that's great. (give yourself a pat on the back) Being a book blogger owner should not have to feel like a clique in High School. We as individual's and bloggers are all unique and special.
Also, I feel if someone e-mails, tweets, or sends your a message in someway about your blog (comments, question, whatever) write then back to them as soon as you can don't forget the e-mail or delete it. Growing up I was always taught to be kind to others and try to help someone else in need. It is not a good feeling when you e-mail a blog owner and he/she never writes back. Be kind to one another.
Let's continue to share our love for books and authors through our blogs and be nice to each other while doing so.
I would love to hear YOUR thoughts and feelings on this subject. Don't be shy. :)
I would love to hear YOUR thoughts and feelings on this subject. Don't be shy. :)
Thank you to anyone who read all of this post. :)
Posts
I couldn't agree more Becky! :) It shouldn't be a popularity contest and I adore people who have an established fan base but they still interact with their followers.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Vicky
Books, Biscuits, and Tea
Nice thoughts Becky. I blog for my love of reading and to share books with other..I never want my blog to get so big..that I do not have time to respond, or comment or visit the blogs that I love :) Keep blogging and being you!
ReplyDeleteI don't think you should worry about your follower #s. It doesn't mean you have less active readers. I think your blog is wonderful. I check it on my reader pretty often even if I don't comment on every post I read (which you should also keep in mind, most readers don't actually comment).
ReplyDeleteI think you're doing a fab. job and I wouldn't change a thing! Some ARE very competitive and think it's all about ARCs. Those are usually the ones who don't last very long in the blog world.
Anyways, just wanted to say you rock and you ARE special! :D
I think your right it shouldn't matter how many followers you have or not. I like reading the blogs that I follow. I don't leave a comment very often. But that doesn't mean that I didn't like their post. I am very shy and usually don't know what to say. I heard about people hiding behind their computer or whatever to say things they normally wouldn't say otherwise. But the computer doesn't help me any. I guess I had better work on this shy thing if I am going to be a blogger. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteStopping by for the book blogger love-a-thon! =)
ReplyDeleteEvery blogger deserves recognition because blogging is hard work! It can be especially hard when readers don't comment, because then you have no "proof" that your words aren't just floating in cyber-space. Well, unless you count your page views...but that's just not nearly as satisfying as a comment! lol
Here's a blogger appreciation hug! *hug*
I came to visit your blog through the Love A thon, and I'm so glad I did. I started blogging in August of this past year. I have so much fun on my blog, and I think that's what it's all about. Having fun. Doing what you enjoy. You love books and you enjoy sharing that love with others. I think that's awesome. I'm an author, so I don't blog book reviews, but I do movie reviews every Friday which is something I love. (Plus it gets me away from the computer!!) Nice to meet you! Jill
ReplyDeleteI like this post because I can share in the sentiment. Blogging isn't about stats and numbers for me - it's about sharing thoughts and my love of reading :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and all of these other commenters! It's not about the stats or the free books. It's about making friends and sharing your love of reading and blogging! I started my blog back in November, but also write for The Broke and The Bookish (one of the big blogs). I've been on both sides of blogging - the big blog, and the little blog side now. Honestly, I enjoy my little blog more. I have time to talk with my readers, and we have a nice community. Of course, I love getting new followers and readers. LOVE it. At the same time, though, I love where my blog is at. I've made some wonderful friends! Sometimes I wish my blog got a little more attention, but it comes with time. I love your blog, and plan to come back soon! I'm glad the Love-A-Thon introduced me to you and your blog. Keep up the good work. :)
ReplyDelete- Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl
I really like what you had to say! Blogging is a lot of hard work and it can be a bit discouraging when you come up with an idea, blog post, book review etc. and it doesn't quite get the attention that it would on a bigger blog. There are sometimes when I review a book, it gets 3 awesome comments and the same book on another blog gets way more. Sure it can be hard to want to continue on sometimes but at the end of the day, you really just have to remember you are blogging for YOU! Even if a post isn't crazy popular, there are still completely awesome people reading it and they do take the words you have to say into consideration. I totally agree though, it isn't a popularity contest. It should be lots of fun for everyone!
ReplyDeletep.s. Don't let it discourage you! Be proud of every post that you have and let that be enough to make you extra happy :D
-Katelyn
Hi Vicky,
ReplyDeleteThank you for understanding. Yes that is exactly what I mean. They do need to take the time to interact with their followers, and not just the ones they know personally.
- Beckie
Hi Kimberly - Thank you. Yes sharing our love for book is what this is all about and what book blogging is suppose to be about not who got what and how many followers who gained each week.
ReplyDelete- Beckie
Awww honey!!! I love this post, And I've got to tell you, I have over a thousand followers because I did blog giveaways and that's it. I don't have high traffic or readers on my page and I'm okay with it! As long as I have my few peeps who stop by when they get a chance I'm okay.
ReplyDeleteBut HONESTLY, I know what you mean. I spent so much time wondering why no one would read my page or anything and then I stopped caring altogether.
One of my fav bloggers has around 600 followers and at least 15 unique comments on EVERYTHING she posts. I'd prefer that over 34504039292939 followers and ARCs any day.
Sorry for the marathon comment, but I've got you on my radar now so I'll be coming to read your blog as often as I can :)
xo,
La Toya (La Toya, Literally.)
I am here as apart of the Love-A-Thon and I have to say I LOVE this post! It is so true in so many ways. I have only been blogging for 3 months so it's still sort of new to me. I haven't really ran into anyone who weren't "nice" or didn't reply back except for once. Great Post! It really shouldn't be a contest or anything because of course we all book blog because we love to read no matter how big or small our blogs are.
ReplyDelete(New Follower)
Kayla @ Simply Kayla's Book Reviews
Thanks Giselle. I love your blog too. I think we all have are own style and unique blogs that we all should be proud of whether we have 50 or 5000 followers. It is sad that the blogs who are just starting out try hard to make it and are shadowed by the larger blogs. I try to go around a couple times a week and look for ones they are in need of followers. :)
ReplyDelete- Beckie
Visiting for the Love-a-Thon and I really agree with this post! It's hard work to run a blog and it's very easy to feel overlooked. I love the design of your site :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I feel like blogging is a lot of hard work, I've only been around for right at 7 months now but I always try and put a ton of effort into getting my blog out there.
ReplyDeleteI think there comes a point where you got to step back and look at it from a professional standpoint, and figure out how you can network better and things of that nature.
But I agree that every bloggers deserves credit for the work they put into it.
Stopping by for thr LoveAThon.
ReplyDeleteI love your post. Bloggers like you really make a difference. The whole publishing and book industry is changing because of book bloggers and their dedication is amazing. Just as you mention always appreciating comments, emails or tweets, I know it's just as important for authors to make the same effort. Thank you and I love the look of your blog too!!!
Kimberley
That's awesome that you have 500 followers!! I hear ya, it can really be stressful but it's such a great community to be part of.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with this post. And I almost didn't post this because everyone else seems to agree whole-heartedly which makes me want to not post but, I could just be taking the wrong things from this post, but just know that I love this post and feel it was well written and all that!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I'm still a new blogger myself, only been around for five months so still getting the hang of everything! And while I don't have a vast majority of followers, just the fact that I have more than one boggles my mind. I am so appreciative of every single comment that I get. I usually do a little dance when I see the e-mail 'so and so posted on blag post'. No word of a lie, you can ask my housemates, haha.
But, I also know how much time blogging takes up. Not just commenting on the people who post on my blog, or those that reach out and e-mail me or speak to me on twitter, but actually going out and posting on someone else's blog. Don't get me wrong, I always do look at other peoples blogs and read their reviews and thoughts but replying can sometimes take longer then I have time for. And, this is coming from someone with a small blog!
So, in that sense, I understand that it could be extremely difficult for those people with bigger blogs to find the time to comment or speak to each and every one of their followers. I doubt this means that they don't appreciate them though!
But I'm also not sure I've really seen any big blogs, not massively big! I like to follow the smaller blogs, boost their count and bring a smile to their faces simply because they're NOT being recognised as much.
So, yeah, I agree and disagree. I just think that blogging is a brilliant experience and that we little blogs (and we do) should help each other out so much by trying to get the word out to others! :D
Sorry for the rambling post and such, or if I don't make any sense! Haha.
Oh, and I'm here from the love-a-thon and love you blog so much, it's so pretty! :D
Faye
Hopping through for the Love-A-Thon, thanks for visiting my blog! I really love this post, though I'm not sure it's really something I can 'agree' or 'disagree' on, simply because I feel like it's something that just...is.
ReplyDeleteAll bloggers, whether it's book blogging or otherwise, get that weird feeling regarding the number of Followers and feeling like that odd-blog-out. We blog because we have things to say, and when it feels like nobody's hearing, it can be extremely frustrating -- especially when we see all these other blogs that get tons of comments, tweet each other all the time, room at BEA, etc. It definitely can feel like a clique, and that those who aren't in it are just left out.
But at the same time, I've never run into a blogger who wasn't completely friendly and open to me in all my commenting/blogging - even if they're the "big name" blogs. Every person I know has done well responding or tweeting back to me (sometimes it takes a little longer, but they're all busy and I like to give some allowance), and I appreciate the effort that goes into it. Generally I think the bigger blogs just have a lot of activity going on at all times, and it's a lot to handle ASAP.
That said, we all know the effort that goes into maintaining a quality blog, how much time and dedication it takes to have a meaningful corner of the web. I don't think it's about who has the most follower, gets the best ARCs the soonest, who has the most reviews or publishers as their friends, things like that - it can seem it, but we have to remember that comparing never leads to good things. Trust in your product, trust in your blogging rhythm and abilities and everything will work out fine. As long as everyone appreciates what's being put out there, no matter the capacity or time, then it all works out in the end.
Ashley @ Ashley Loves Books
I love this post! I just started book blogging a few weeks ago and at first was feeling a bit overwhelmed. I worried about a lot. Then I started scouting the web for other book bloggers and read some of their stories and realized that we all start off the same way, from the beginning. I only hope that 500 people will follow me one day, but you're doing an amazing job! :)
ReplyDeleteWow!!! I have gotten such a wonderful responds from this post. I am so thankful for each and everyone of you who read what I had to say and understood what I was feeling. I was somewhat afraid to hit the "publish" my post button once I was done writing it last night because I was not sure what other would think of what I was feeling. It is hard to pour your feeling online and wondering if you did the right think but I know now I have a lot of wonderful friends who are by my side and feel what I feel at times. For that I want to think each of you who wrote back to me and I hope all of you check back here and see this post. :) *hugs all around.*
ReplyDeleteI have read all of the comments here and I would reply back to each of your but I am dealing with a lot of nerve pain right now so I am trying to rest up.
Love and hugs,
Beckie
Great post!I can totally relate! I just blog to share my love of reading, but at times it can be hard not to get caught up in numbers and popularity. Happy Love-A-Thon!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Beckie! I love your blog and I personally gravitate to the smaller blogs because you get more personal attention there! The big blogs tend not to reply and more often than not won't follow back on FB or Twitter or Google +, which really makes you feel like an idiot for following them! It kind of makes them seem like they think they're better than the smaller people! I say do what makes YOU happy and to hell with the big bloggers! They should remember that their followers are the ones that got them those numbers, and if they don't treat them like they matter, there's always an unfollow option:D
ReplyDeletejwitt33 at live dot com
Hi Beckie!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through the love-athon, and I'm so glad I did. I love what you're doing here. Your blog looks fantastic and I can't wait to see what recommendations I get from you for reading in the future. Thanks so much for what you do!
I agree with you on all accounts. I started Book Sake to have one place to put all of my reviews. While it's nice to know I have such and such number of followers, I often have to remind myself why I am running the blog...because I love to read and I love to talk about books. I'm not getting paid, so I'm gonna make sure it's all enjoyable!!
ReplyDelete- Jessica @ Book Sake
Thanks for your thoughts, Becky! I think we all need to take a step back sometimes and realize that we are all special in our way. :)
ReplyDelete