Q: Confess your blogger sins! Is there anything as a newbie blogger
that you’ve done, that as you gained more experience you were like —
oops?
Omg yes! I did so many things that I regret but if I didn't do those things I wouldn't have learned what I needed to. First off when I started as a newbie blogger my layout design was pretty atrocious, don't get me wrong I liked it in the beginning but then I realized it was too simple, too boring! Obviously that's hardly the worst mistake I've made whilst blogging. Foremost being the quality of my reviews! I thought you needed to only write a few sentences but have since learned the error of my ways! You need sustenance and emotion in reviews, enthusiasm! Without that and a decent length of text to fully give readers what they're looking for when purchasing or looking for new reading material you won't get very far. Also going into this I really had no idea what I was getting into, it's a lot of effort and the more you put into it the more you get out of it. Another thing was I didn't communicate or promote my blog in the right ways so I started off really slow with a following—like snail pace! I thought people would just follow me right away and that was not the reality of it so eventually I got smart and created accounts on multiple media sites thus increasing my following of my lovely readers! & That's only off the top of my head so I'll admit I've gained a lot of knowledge from my blogging sins! I feel much better after confessing them though :)
What are your blogging sins?
Omg yes! I did so many things that I regret but if I didn't do those things I wouldn't have learned what I needed to. First off when I started as a newbie blogger my layout design was pretty atrocious, don't get me wrong I liked it in the beginning but then I realized it was too simple, too boring! Obviously that's hardly the worst mistake I've made whilst blogging. Foremost being the quality of my reviews! I thought you needed to only write a few sentences but have since learned the error of my ways! You need sustenance and emotion in reviews, enthusiasm! Without that and a decent length of text to fully give readers what they're looking for when purchasing or looking for new reading material you won't get very far. Also going into this I really had no idea what I was getting into, it's a lot of effort and the more you put into it the more you get out of it. Another thing was I didn't communicate or promote my blog in the right ways so I started off really slow with a following—like snail pace! I thought people would just follow me right away and that was not the reality of it so eventually I got smart and created accounts on multiple media sites thus increasing my following of my lovely readers! & That's only off the top of my head so I'll admit I've gained a lot of knowledge from my blogging sins! I feel much better after confessing them though :)
What are your blogging sins?
Hi! got here by way of the FF hop. I'm a new book blogger and as I'm reading everyone's "oopsies", I'm realizing ooooh boy am I making mistakes. So ... I put up a review policy tonight. And I'll slowly but surely start to fix the rest! :D
ReplyDeleteNew follower! (tiffyfit.blogspot.com)
You make mistakes and learn from them :P
DeleteWelcome to blogging! It's a little difficult at first but it's so much fun!! You'll get the hang of it soon :)
Thanks for following, have a fantastic weekend!
-Seirra
Finding a review style that works takes awhile and I don't think people realize that. I'm with you on networking! Uh I'm so bad at it but I'm trying to work on it.
ReplyDeleteJessica @ Literary, etc
(old follower)
I'm still finding mine, and yeah I'm not that great at networking either but hopefully one day! Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!! :)
Delete-Seirra
Oh my gosh I forgot about my 2 sentence "reviews" in the beginning too :-)
ReplyDeleteTanya Patrice
Girlxoxo.com
I cringe thinking about them! But we all had to start somewhere :P
DeleteHave a great weekend!
-Seirra
Great FF! Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteMy FF
Jessica@ Lovin' Los Libros
(New Follower)
Thanks! :)
Delete-Seirra
It took me forever to figure out my review style. It also took me way to long to get on twitter. Thanks for stopping by my FF:)
ReplyDeleteNo problem! & Yeah Twitter really helps get word out, wish I knew that sooner! :P
Delete-Seirra
I think we all have layout issues and probably will never be satisfied with the one we have no matter how often we work on it lol
ReplyDeletegood answer.
old follower
http://itchingforbooks.blogspot.com/2013/03/feature-and-follow-37.html
That's so true! Thanks for checking out my FF :)
DeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
-Seirra
Thanks for stopping by my post! I like what you've got going on over here and am a new follower via GFC. A lot of the books you have listed as your favorites are ones I haven't heard of so I look forward finding some new reads and having some great discussions with you!
ReplyDeleteWicked, thanks! Hopefully you'll find some cool reads :) Thanks for following back and writing me. I always love to talk books so feel free to drop by whenever!
DeleteHave a fabulous weekend!!
-Seirra
I completely agree! But thankfully, the more you review the easier it becomes to write! But I definitely underestimated the workload as well when I started! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteJuli @ Universe in Words
Definitely! I've seen a lot of improvement in my writing ever since I've started reviewing and it's very helpful. Sometimes it feels more like a job but I really enjoy it regardless :)
Delete& No problem, thanks for writing back!
-Seirra
I need to work on my blog promotion. I'm pretty satisfied right now with the number of followers I have compared to the length of time I've been blogging, but I need to step it up at some point.
ReplyDeleteNew Follower!
My F&FF Feature & Follow Friday (#2)
LisaILJ @ I’ll Tumble for YA
I don't think I've promoted as much as I should have either, I kind of had this mentality of thinking people will find my blog amazing and instantly follow me but as I'm sure you're aware it doesn't work like that! So I've been reaching out more and the results are a lot better, I love having readers respond and take the time to look at my reviews. But that's fantastic that you like where you're at reader wise but it doesn't hurt to use different media to attain a bigger following. It's just a lot of fun either way! Thanks for stopping by and good luck :)
DeleteHappy Friday!!
-Seirra
I understand what you are saying about reviews. I write what I thought about the book, some people may like it and others may not. But at least it is my opinion. :) I like your blog as well and am following you back. Thanks for stopping by mine ~ Fantasy Book Chick
ReplyDeleteThank you and no problem :)
DeleteHonesty is always the best policy!
-Seirra
Finding the right layout is tough. I am lucky I found mine. It was free at the time and now if you go to their website they don't even have free layouts anymore. So it was perfect for me!!
ReplyDeleteAngie
That's awesome though! Lucky indeed :) A really nice blogger offered to customize my layout for me and now I really like it. But before this it was plain and utterly boring. I'm grateful there are people who are willing to help out those who need it.
DeleteThanks for dropping by!
-Seirra
Thanks for stopping by and following! I've followed back via GFC. One day, when my blog grows up, it will have a little more....spoof to it. But for now, and given my lack of code writing skills, and my lack of web design knowledge, it'll do. Thanks for the sweet comments!
ReplyDeleteHolly @ Words Fueled by Love
Well I think it looks great, and no problem! I too wish I knew how to write codes so I could create a fantastic layout, along with photoshop skills :P If only! Thank you for following back - I really appreciate it :)
DeleteHave a good weekend!
-Seirra
I actually started reviewing before I started my blog so my reviews weren't too bad but I know what you mean about the layout! At first my blog was too busy but I recently changed it so that there's fewer gadgets and things and I love it so much more!
ReplyDeleteNew GFC follower
Thanks for stopping by!
I did too but I didn't take it very seriously so my reviews weren't that great :P
DeleteI try and keep things simple, I'm always editing stuff on my blog to make it more appealing and less of an eye sore haha. But for now I'm content with my blog the way it is :)
Thanks for returning the follow, you're awesome!!
-Seirra
Oh I don't promote nearly enough. I'm trying, but it's hard! I don't even know where to start half the time.
ReplyDeleteNew follower from FF :)
It can be difficult I think I get a lot of my followers through Feature and Follow Friday actually :P It's a great tool, plus Twitter. But it's time consuming and a lot of effort but always worth it :)
DeleteThanks for following, have a great weekend!!
-Seirra
It really does help! I love this blog hop - I discover a lot of wonderful blogs and really nice people!
ReplyDeleteThanks, and no problem :)
Have a fantastic weekend!!
-Seirra
It was hard for me at first to know what to write in my review, but I always made sure to have a couple of paragraphs, but I still try to write longer and more detailed reviews.
ReplyDeleteIt's challenging sometimes more so when you read a book that you don't know what to make of it. That happens occasionally but I almost always try to make my review 3-4 paragraphs in length :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog.
Have a lovely weekend!
-Seirra
New follower here through the blog hop :)
ReplyDeleteI agree as far as developing in reviewing style as you go - I'm still working on it as well, there's always room to improve and such things :)
The Fiction Conniption's FF
Yay, thanks! :)
Delete& Agreed improvement is always welcome!
Have a good weekend!!
-Seirra
New GFC follower! Thanks for stopping by my FFF
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know about you!
Thanks!! :)
DeleteHave a great weekend!
-Seirra
Thanks for stopping by my blog! New follower and I totally agree. My reviews still aren't that long but I try to fit as much as I can into them!
ReplyDeleteAs long as they have the details necessary to convey your opinion I think that's all that matters :) Unfortunately when I started reviewing my reviews weren't as good as they could have been in that way.
Delete& Not a problem :)
Thanks for following back. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
-Seirra
Great answer! I think we all did most of that! Thanks for stopping by an following me. I'm returning the favor :)
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteWe have all been there! Reviews are like flavors, everyone likes a different one and there is no 'wrong answer'.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and for the follow, I'm following back :) By the way, I like your design.
That's a good way of putting it, personally I love reading all types of reviews to get unique perspectives on books so I like to think other people do too :P
Delete& Thanks!!
-Seirra
new follower here!
ReplyDeleteMy F&F