Thank you so much to the lovely Princessica of Books (edit: and Twins Turn Pages, just this morning, sorry it’s a scheduled post XD) for nominating me! I am so behind on all my book tags, I will try and slowly get through them soon!
Here are the rules:
- Select 15 other blogs you want to give the award to.
- Write a post to show off your award! Give a brief story of how your blog got started, and give a piece or two of advice to new bloggers.
- Provide a link to the original post on Edge of Night. That way, anyone can find the original guidelines and post if needed, and we can keep it from mutating and becoming confusing!
I have been a long time lurker of the blogging world. Since 2009, in fact! I had a blogspot account in those days, but I was very poor at maintaining it. That blogging stint lasted a total of 1 month, and I had 7 blog posts to show for it. Then I decided blogging wasn’t for me and was content to watch from the sidelines and just read reviews sporadically until June this year. As my real life schedule freed up, I found I had a lot of time to read books and wanted a place to document and motivate myself to conquer the TBR pile. Now that I’ve started interacting with the community, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop any time soon!
Here are my tips, but I am also a newbie at this, so take my words with a few tonnes of salt!
Be yourself & Find Your Voice are the most often quoted comments in Book Blogging Tips 101. There’s a good reason for that: the internet is filled to the brim with book blogs. Not only on WordPress, but also Tumblr, Instagram, Blogspot, Youtube, basically every corner you turn there’s a site dedicated to books. What makes your review stand out from the other thousands about the latest dystopian hit/terminal illness bestseller? The beautiful you! That is why it’s imperative you find your style and be truthful to your readers. It won’t happen overnight (and definitely hasn’t happened to me yet haha), but after writing a dozen reviews you’ll find your x-factor!
Everyone on the blogging verse love seeing comments on their posts (or maybe it’s just me and I’m an attention whore? IDK). The fastest way to engage your readers and find an audience is to get out there and start commenting. FACT: I had zero viewers on my blog for two weeks until I started putting myself out there.
Those meme posts like Top Ten Tuesdays and all their links? Click on them + comment! Those twitter friends of yours? Find their blog + comment! Those Goodreads reviewers whose words you admire so much? Hunt them down + comment! Those lovely commenters in your latest blog posts? Thank them + find their corner on the blogosphere + comment!
However, try make meaningful conversation. A comment that just says ‘Great review! Check out my blog here ____’, while nice – doesn’t leave up much room for talk.
You’re not going to amass 1000 followers overnight. All the publishers are not going to cram your mail box filled with ARCs on your first week. You won’t get 100 comments per post during your first weeks blogging. It’s all absolutely OK and expected! Most of the big blogs have been around for years! You can’t control followers and the activity on your blog, but trust me, your blog will grow as long as you put in time and effort in it. And even if it doesn’t (it will!), you still got to read all of those wonderful books along the way.
- CW at Read, Think, Ponder: She writes the most amazingly in depth reviews analysing things from a social and psychological lens. I am always in awe. Quite clearly the smartest person I’ve met in my first month blogging.
- The Bookworm Blogg: My fellow enabler.
- Kristy of Tea, Book and Me: My first follower, you didn’t know that, did you hehe.
- Brett at Brett Michael Orr: The nicest blogger to grace the face of Australia.
- Jesse at Books at Dawn: Who seems to have the same book tastes as I do and I approve.
- Summer at Xingsings: Summer is so lovable and popular around these parts, she’s probably already been nominated for this, but I will add my vote to the hat!
- Thuong Le at I Read Therefore I Am: Have you seen this blog? So elegant, and her reviews are so eloquent.
- And everyone else reading this!
Read at Midnight 
Nice tips, Aentee!!! All definitely soooo true ❤
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Thank you, though you don’t need any tips your own blog is wonderful :3
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*blushes* Awww, thank you so much, Aentee! *hugs and kisses*
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You’re definitely more dedicated than I am, hence why your blog is so much better than mine. I don’t know how you find all your free time 😛 so jelly 😛 Hey, I have no idea that I am your first follower 😀 It’s good to know that.
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It helps that I know longer have to do chemistry homework *flaunts* hehe. Yes, you will always be my number one special follower and blogging friend due to that fact ❤ ❤
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Lucky you 😛 I have 5 subjects I have to juggle and Year 12 is so hectic 😦
Aww, thank you so much Aentee! ♥.♥ You are always so sweet! 😀
I definitely look forward to continue our blogging friendship for a long time. ^-^
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I am glad I did my Year 12 in NZ instead of Australia, you guys have it tough here. Good luck for it, University will be amazing!
❤
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Congratulations! I’ve also tried blogging in blogspot too but failed utterly.Those are really great tips. 🙂
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I like blogspot for one thing: Google Followers. But WordPress is just so much more functional and the themes are way sleeker!
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Yes I agree and I’m having amazing experience in wordpress 🙂
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What the freak!!! You have an awesome blog! How the hell do you do those artistic pictures you post within your blog?
Ugh I am having the hardest time in figuring WordPress out. But kudos to you! Awesome post 🙂
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Thank you Winnie, it takes a while to figure out but just let me know if I can help at all 😀 I was so lost when I first started.
I make my graphics on Photoshop, using design elements I either purchased royalty for on Creative Market and Etsy, or used for free with credit from Freepik. If you draw I guess you can scan the pictures in and upload them?
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Oh okay you’re on the artistic side. I am unlucky for not being good with any of that. Ha. Anyway, love the feel of your whole blog I swear! One of my faves 😉
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It’s book reviewing. You only need to be into reading and writing down your thoughts. The rest is superfluous haha. I just enjoy making graphics that’s all.
Aw thanks so much! I’m glad you think so ❤
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I’m honored that you tagged me! Your blog is so much more prettier then mine, I’m jealous!
Those are some fantastic tips that I will definitely use to keep myself motivated 😀
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You are most deserving, can’t wait to see your post on it ❤
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I couldn’t agree more with your advice! Blogging is all about having fun, being creative, and interacting with others. And I really loved how your blurbed each blogger; it was so sweet of you! Congratulations on the award and thank you for the nomination! ^.^
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You totally deserve all blogging nominations! It’s do easy to get caught up in stats but yeah always good to pull back and remember we all blog cos we love reading 🙂
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I think your advice is great! Finding your voice is extremely important so I definitely agree with you on that. And YES on patience! Some days I wish that I could skip the work and just get bigger but I know that’s just me getting inpatient so it’s important to keep that in mind.
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Sometimes I’m still like ‘WHERE ARE MY FOLLOWERS?’ Danaerys style haha. But then I read a book and it’s all ok again XD
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Hgnhhhhh Aentee, thank you for the tag and your super kind and lovely words about me and my blog. ;____; It put a big smile on my face and was a great buffer to Mondayitis!! Thank you!! ❤
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You totally deserve a way larger audience, your reviews are the best ❤ Hope you have a great week 🙂
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