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11.04.2010

Book Blogging 101 - Networking Tips & Tricks


Spawned from the Big Sis, Little Blog program, Book Blogging 101 was born. Do you have a question? Leave it in the Google form below.

Q: What are some tips for blogger networking that you can recommend?

Tip #1

Always direct back to your blog.

I know that blogger has a profile page. I know your URL might be on that profile page, but consider your connection lazy. Make it as easy as possible for them to find your blog. Leave the link in comments...always.

Links are fun and easy. Sign your name with a link back.



Just don't SPAM. Don't just leave a comment to leave a link. Those are annoying and impresonal.

Tip #2

Your Name + Your Blog's Name

Associate your blog name with your name. You are not just Amanda anymore, you are Amanda of Book Happiness. There might be ten other Amanda's book blogging out there, but only one Amanda from Book Happiness. You want to distinguish yourself from the other Amandas.

Tip #3

Leave meaningful comments

Try not to just generic a comment out. Bloggers want to know you took the time to read their review or post not just comment to force a reply or a visit.
I get these generic comments on meme posts like Waiting on Wednesday. "Hey great choice. Check mine out."

There is nothing wrong with quick comments, at least you took the time and commented. But, really they can be considered SPAM by some. If you want to stand out in the mind of the blogger, strike a note of originality more than the other comments, draw an experience from their review, or bring up something in the post that was meaningful to you.

Tip #4

Join groups

There are subgroups within bloggers, groups on Goodreads, book clubs and critique groups. The girls I've met from blogwithbite.com are some of my best blogger friends and from there we've networked with other bloggers, readers and authors.

Tip #5

Social Network

Get on twitter and start following your favorite bloggers. When you see a fun tweet from them, or something you can respond to, send them a tweet. The great thing about twitter is that it interacts instead of just another number on their GFC count.

Get on facebook. Send out friend requests. Say "Hi this is Amanda from Book Happiness". This once again is an interaction instead of a faceless GFC follow.

Join a forum for readers. There are many out there, research the best one that will fit you, your preferred books, etc. Join up start posting in the forums and interacting.






Ask your BB101 Questions here...

19 comments:

Jennifer said...

I'm so glad you added the html for link backs with signatures. I've been afraid to try it because I don't want to post a bunch of nonsense in my comment.

Jennifer (An Abundance of Books)

(I had to try it out) :)

Anonymous said...

I was always wondering how to get a link on your name..you know me your html challenged blog friend...:D

ps- love the braids....

Ginger @ GReads! said...

I really, truly despise people who leave me generic comments. It's like they just hit copy & paste & went down the list of bloggers. What is the point of that? It's annoying & RUDE!

And since you suggested it... Ginger @ GReads!

ParaJunkee said...

@Jennifer - yeah --- see it is so easy.

@Tina - Give it a try, it is just a basic equation. Real easy when you break it down.

Thanks! Feeling festive. LOL

ParaJunkee said...

@Ginger - I can understand your frustrations. Most do it because they really don't know better, or really can't think of anything pertinent to say. I don't think they are just copy and pasting or spamming. Most of them any way. There are some though that take it to the extreme. I know a certain commenter went to like every book blog and copied the same comment in each persons comment section. It was everywhere. That is basically just Spam and should be ignored and deleted.

Katie (Bookishly Yours) said...

I really dislike those generic comments. What are you supposed to write back with? I comments that add something. Maybe even start a conversation about the book.

Anonymous said...

I try to keep up with networking but there are so many places. It's hard to keep up with it all sometimes.


Stephanie G
Paranormal Haven

Alison Can Read said...

Where, aside from Goodreads, can you find groups to join?
Alison Can Read

Alisha said...

@Alison: Shelfari and LibraryThing are GoodReads-esque...though GR is imo the best at groups. There's also <a href="http://bookblogs.ning.com/>Book Blogs Ning</a> is really good.

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Great tips! :)

I love GoodReads, though I must admit I'm not an active member of any groups. Maybe I should rectify that!

Nikki-ann @ Notes of Life

ParaJunkee said...

@katie - I try to also, but sometimes you just can't think of a thing to say. LOL - can't be tremendously intelligent and witty all the time. Usually then I just don't comment! ;)

@Steph - I feel ya. It gets overwhelming especially the bigger your blog gets. I do try and stop in and say "hello" but you can't maintain blogger omnipotence all the time. If I offend people I'm sorry, if I haven't visited in awhile or mistake you for someone else it happens.

@Allison - try the Ning Book blogs site, they have groups you can join. There are forums for particular books, or genres. Groups just among bloggers, like the blogwithbite.com site. Find blogs that are like yours - same genres, style, etc. and find out their fav hang-outs. There are so many out there!

@Alisha - thanks for helping out! Oh... you forgot that last " around your URL which is why that link didn't work. Those are important. Don't forget the "" peeps.

@Nikki - thanks! Maintaining and active online life can take a lot of time and resources. Find one group you love instead of ten groups you are so-so about. Or you can do like I did in college - sign up for 30 hours and drop 15 as you find the classes you like and hate ;)

Kat said...

Thanks so much for the tips! I'm a new blogger still trying to get used to everything and honestly I haven't had time for a lot of follow recruiting-- still just trying to keep up with my content. I have a Goodreads account I mostly just manage my TBRs on, but now I'll make sure to join a few groups and check out the community.

Sniffly Kitty said...

@Nikki It's pretty hard to stay active in a lot of the GR groups it seems. The groups are somewhat isolated from all the rest of the stuff I use GR for (somewhat of a design issue). Also, it's hard to find ones that are active enough that it matters to stay active in them....

BTW, thanks for the name suggestion. Brilliant I say. I've gotten lazy lately with thinking about HTML for the name sig link thing to not have occurred to me~~

Sniffly Kitty

Unknown said...

Thank you sooooooo much. I just started my blog- there is sooo much that goes into creating a successful blog. Posts like these are very helpful (especially for bloggers/people like me who just discovering all the amazing ways to expand their blogging experience). Also, thanks for the html link
Caroline (Bon Bons and Reveries)

Environmental Monitoring said...

good information,thank you

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting this. It has been really beneficial reading this. And the rest of the Book Blogging 101. Can't wait to read more of this helpful posts.

Maria Behar said...

Hi, PJ!! I've been a follower for a short time, and this is my first comment here.

"Blogging 101" is such a terrific idea! Sure, there are books on blogging, but it's nice to hear from a fellow blogger with more experience! You've been there, done that, so you know what potholes to avoid falling into as you navigate the bloggyverse.

Alisha: As far as sites for book bloggers go, I agree with your recommendation of bookblogs.ning.com. They have great groups and social networking! Goodreads and Shelfari are good, too, but Book Blogs is specifically for those of us who are not only hopelessly addicted to books, but also love to blog about them!

PJ, keep these wonderful tips coming!! We greatly appreciate them!! : )

Maria Behar said...

This is such GREAT information to have! I'm a fairly new follower, and I really appreciate getting tips from a fellow blogger with more experience!

I'm just starting to read the posts in this section, and I'm enjoying them tremendously!

Keep the good stuff coming, PJ!! :)

Maria Behar said...

Oops! I posted pretty much the same thing twice...I failed to notice the little sign that reads "Your comment will be visible after approvel." (Din't scroll down that far...) Just delete these last two comments, and post the first one. (Must be past my bedtime...lol.)

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