Blogging about Blogging

Is it really Friday already? Where did the week go?

Sadly this is the last day for Armchair BEA themed posts. I hope everyone had fun at BEA and those of us who weren’t able to attend BEA had fun with Armchair BEA.

This was my first year taking part in Armchair BEA and I have to say that I had an absolute blast. The organizers of it did a fantastic job with putting this together.

It was an awesome week, I had so much fun visiting new bloggers and their blogs. Thanks to those bloggers that stopped by my blog I truly appreciate it and looking forward to talking more with you.

Today is the day of the Book Blogger Convention, so in conjunction with that event Armchair BEA will also put the focus on the “blog” portion of “book blog.”

I have been sitting here for a little while now wondering what I was going to write about and it seemed like what I wanted to say has been said already. Its like 20+ bloggers all reading and reviewing the same book on the same day, it can get old really fast, right? So I figured I would use the suggested topics and write on them.

How do you utilize social networking in relation to your blog? What may be the pros and cons of doing so?

I never really used social networking to promote my blog before but since getting a new blog look recently I decided that I was going to link my twitter account to my blog. Since doing that I have noticed that I get a few more visitors to my blog then I might not have gotten before.

My next goal is to some how link my facebook to my blog. Does anyone know how to do that?

I guess with anything there is always pros and cons with things right? I guess you just have to be careful of what you say and put out there. You always have to remain polite and professional. Whatever you say online is out there and there is no way to get it back. Just remember what comes around goes around!

Share some of your favorite blogging technical tips.

This is so not the question for me because I am not technical at all. Whenever I do something to my blog I cringe because I am afraid with the click of wrong button my blog will be gone. Am I the only one like this?

Although I can say that when I blog I take advantage of scheduling posts. It can be either a IMM post, On my wishlist, Its Monday what are your reading, or any other related kind of posts. I also have some back up posts ready for a just in case kind of day.

Create a “rule list” of things you should and shouldn’t be doing on a book blog.

Our blogs are are own and we have no control over what other bloggers do on their blogs.

Personally for me I have some things that I won’t do on my blog ever.

~Posting reviews in advance of pub date. If I am told in advance not to post my review of a book before the pub date, I respect what the rep has told me and won’t do it. Yes I know that its good for the book and author but really for me if I go to someones blog and they are posting a book that isn’t out for months its ticks me off. I am the kind of person that if they like the book I want to get my hands on it now.
~Trashing a book/author. I have seen this done way to many times and I think its just terrible. If you don’t like the book there must be something good about it that you can highlight. I don’t think in my whole blogging time I have ever written a trashy review of a book and the same goes for an author.
~Don’t bite more then you can chew.This is something I learned the hard way when i was early in my blogging accepting more then I could ever possibly read in a year. Now I read what I want and I am more selective in books. Its okay when you get an email to say no to a book. No one will hate you if you do.

Things you should do:
~Watching what to say and put out there. Jest remember once its out there its out there and theres no way its going to come back.
~Be polite and professional. It only takes one person to screw it up for everyone is what I was always told. This is true, sadly your not only representing yourself but the whole book blogging community as well.
~Be yourself. Why be someone your not? Just be you and do what you want to do on your blog. Don’t change to please people.
~Time off.I do this constantly. When you find blogging is becoming a chore take a break because if you don’t you will find out that its not as fun as it was. I have now taken Sundays off from blogging and at times there won’t be a Sunday post and you know what I am fine with that.

What are your tips for balance life and blogging?

I am sure I am not alone in this when you try to balance a busy life with blogging. Its hard and I agree. I am constantly struggling with this. Thankfully I am lucky to be able to stay home so during the day I tend to get my blog posts up for the day and then I do the regular house hold stuff and at night I will do my other online stuff.

I think we just have to remember that its our blogs and we do it because we like it. Its not a full time job. So even if you only blog once a week that is fine don’t worry about it. No one is judging when and how often you blog.

What genre do you blog about and why?

I am all over the place in the genres I blog about because I love books and I love to read. I know some bloggers have a niche and I am all for that but I have always been the kind of reader that if the book sounds good I will read it no matter what it is.

I think you should read what you want and not let someone tell you otherwise.

How do you keep your blog fresh and interesting to your readers & yourself?

This is something I struggle with because there are so many bloggers out there doing so many things that just when you think you have a fantastic idea some has already thought about it and is doing it.

I know I try to mix up the blog and when I get a book to review I always ask if the author is available for a Q&A or guest post. I will also add some personal touches to post for example if I am reviewing a book and I have met the author I will throw in a pic I had taken or a little story.

There are quite a few book blogging events out there. Which are your favorites and why? How do they affect your blog directly?

One of my favorite book blogging events is Bloggiesta that Natasha from Maw Books host twice a year. Its a great way to get caught up on your blog and do the things you have been saying you want to do but never do.

Be sure to check out Armchair BEA to see what other bloggers thought about this topic.

What do you think?