Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday #7: Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish


After almost two years of blogging, these are some of the things I would recommend:


1- Dare to be daring - be creative and try new things on your blog. If you don't like it, just don't do it again.  If you like, maybe make it a regular feature on your blog.

2- Don’t focus on stats - instead focus on making people want to read your blog by making it the best you can.

3- Be honest - if you are reviewing a book, a movie, or anything else and you don't like it, say why.


4- By the same token, don’t fake a book review - people can tell if you didn’t really read it.

5- Read lots of blogs and learn from them - as they say "there's gold in them there hills."  There is nothing like seeing how other people do something successfully to get your own creativity going.  It is one of the reasons why author read the books other authors have written.

6- Comment on lots of other blogs and make new friends - this part is great.  Everyone likes comments, so do it often, but again, be honest.  After a while, other bloggers will get to know you and you will get to know them, and sometimes you can attend events and meet each other in person.

7- Learn a little HTML and CSS - I can't stress the importance of this enough.  Every time I use HTML or CSS, I save it somewhere, so I always have it handy.  It also helps when Blogger is being temperamental and simply will not do what you want it to do.

8- Remember every blog is a work in progress - I think most people who have been blogging a while will agree that their blog today is very different from the way it was in the beginning.  

9- Ask questions - there are lots of places to do this and lots of people willing to help.  Join something like Book Blog, Kidlitosphere or any of the countless other groups like these.

10- HAVE FUN!  You started your blog because you loved something and wanted to share it with the world.  

13 comments:

  1. Dare to be daring and be honest are the two best tips I have read today!

    (and it is definitely obvious when someone hasn't read a book they are reviewing!!)

    Jac @ For Love and Books

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    1. Thanks, Jac, Dare to be daring seems to appeal to others, too. But I think that it is an important things to do.

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  2. Awesome tips - especially #5 & 6 - and with reading lts of blogs - branch out from book blogs. They are plenty of people who love books that blog about other things, but might end up subscribing to your blog.

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    1. I know, Tanya, I love to read other blogs about different things, I even like one called Patriotic British Samplers as well as some Bento blogs.

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  3. Do people actually fake reviews? Really, what is the POINT of doing that? I love your tip, "Dare to be daring!". Such good advice! Great list!

    Check out my Top Ten!

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    1. Yes, Karis, people do do that, I suppose to look like they read a lot of books and to be able to post frequently. Glad you like Dare to be daring, too.

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  4. Thank you for a lot of good tips!! =)

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  5. Thanks, Mai. My tips were based on my experience.

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  6. Whoa, like others, I am blown away that people would actually try to write a review when they didn't even read it!! Do they just bluff through what they have read on other blogs? Or ????? Thanks for sharing your ideas. :)

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  7. Thank you so much for the great tips. I tend to obsess over stats. I need to stop that.
    Angela @ AJ Arndt Books Blog

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  8. Some really good advice here, and what a great idea for a post!

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  9. I need to print this out and tape it on the wall above my computer!

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  10. Great advice! I love that you included: Have fun! So true! Thanks for sharing. :)

    ~Jess

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