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?
When I first began posting reviews of books on here, I didn't include links to buy the books, add to Goodreads, info about the author, and ways to contact the author. I don't know why I didn't think to incorporate all of that into my reviews in the very beginning because now I realize it's easier for readers to click on the links to find out more about the book and the author or even buy the book. I know I've read a review of a book, then clicked on the link provided in the blog and bought the book in a hot second!
I need to work on reviewing books as soon as I've read them. That way, the experience I had while reading the book is fresh in my mind! I thought that reading several books then writing the reviews would be a good idea to get my reviews out faster, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I've learned that isn't the best way for me to go, and now writing reviews has become easier than it was before. :D
I'm dying to hear your blogger sins, lol! What are yours? :D
Hi Jennifer, my first review was titled, "Why I absolutely love Poison Princess by Kresley Cole." It wasn't even a review! And I didn't leave a Goodreads link either. New GFC follower here. This is my FF.
ReplyDeletep.s. you asked how to leave a link in the comment section, here's the HTML code I use.
Your Text Here.
So put your link between the " " and put the text like FF or Jennifer@donniedarkogirl between the >Your Text Here<
I've been blogging for a little over a year, and I still think reviews are difficult to write sometimes. Don't be hard on yourself. :)
DeleteI am forever grateful to you for answering my question! I've been wanting to ask it for soooo long, lol, and I just decided to go ahead and do it tonight. So thank you!! :D
I'm a new follower to your blog and left you a comment. :)
I know very little about blogging, so it was cool being able to share a tip. I sitll don't know how to use gifs. I'm afraid if I learn, it will be like my Pinterest mistake...I had to quit four days in because all I wanted to do was look at my pretty wall! As for the author question about posting their picture and bio on your blog, I think that's a nice touch. But Samantha offered a great idea to have all that info in one handy place. I'll have to think about doing that.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, I think we all need to work on reviewing as soon as we read them I usually rate them and come back unless I love love them then I do the review in the next day or 2 but I also only post 3 and up stars on my blog I do rate under that in goodreads but after feeling so bad about not giving a great review I stopped. Thanks for rounding my numbers!!!! Have fun hopping returned the follow GFC
ReplyDeleteKrista@KristaReads
My FF
Hi Krista! Thanks for following! I've seen a lot of bloggers only post reviews that they've rated 3 and up, and I agree with it. I think I've only posted one review where I rated it two stars, but I won't do it again. I did write that while I may not have liked it, someone else might, but it still doesn't feel right to do that.
DeleteSorry, I put the code and it made a link! Try this how-to page, http://www.ehow.com/how_8372091_post-links-blogger-comments.html
ReplyDeleteYep, ehow and I are going to become good friends. :D
DeleteHaha, don't feel bad, Jennifer! I made the SAME mistake as an author when I started requesting reviews from bloggers - I was very diligent about following their review request requirements to the letter, but then once they accepted, it took me a while to realize that every blogger was taking the time to gather all that book/author info for their post off random places on the internet - and meanwhile I had it all handy right here!!! Once that clicked, I put everything a blogger might need on one page on my website (www.samanthadurante.com/info-for-bloggers/) and now I send them that link whenever I know they're doing a post on me or Stitch to save everyone a little time! Haha, it's funny these obvious little things that we don't realize under after the fact! I felt like such a noob, lol.[-=
ReplyDeleteHey Samantha! You helped me think of something else I wanted to add. Do authors mind if a blogger posts the author's photo and biography from a website like Goodreads underneath the review? Or should the blogger always ask the author first? Most of the time, I ask first, and I always link the information back to the site I got it from, which is usually Goodreads.
DeleteThat's really cool of you to send the blogger the links! I would like to give a shout out to Angela Wallace, who gave me links to all of her stuff. :) I never mind gathering the info myself, though. I feel like it's the least I can do! :)
Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm honored! :D
Thanks for sharing! I definitely had the same problem with starting out my blog by reviewing books I hadn't read in a good while. Now, as soon as I finish a book if I'm close to my computer (and not out and about!) I will immediately sit down to post my review.
ReplyDeleteNew GFC Follower
My FF
Jessica@Lovin' Los Libros
Jessica, thanks for following!! :D I've definitely gotta start reviewing books as soon as I finish them. When I'm done reading for the night, I update my progress on Goodreads and add a note or two about how I felt while reading. That's been helping me out a lot lately. :) I'm going to your blog now and will be following you, too. :D
DeleteHi Jessica! I am now finally following your blog too! I sometimes forget to put Goodreads links even now, but I know it looks better and is easier for my followers . .I still have so much to learn :-( . .
ReplyDeleteI don't know how to do 'my FF' thing!!!
Kirsty @ All in One Place xxx
Don't worry, I may remember now to put Goodreads links, but I still have a lot to learn, too. Do you mean you aren't sure how to put your FF link in the comments? I didn't, either, if that's what you mean. Read the top comments on this post--Robyn so graciously left a link to eHow that explains how to do it. :) I'm heading to your blog now. :)
DeleteI agree with your FF :D hahah Read more books,love haha
ReplyDeleteNew GFC follower and Network
http://lite-rate-ture.blogspot.com/2013/03/feature-and-follow-friday.html#links
Heck yeah read more books! lol Thanks for following! I love meeting new people. :D I'm a new follower of yours and I also left a comment. :)
DeleteHi Jennifer! New GFC follower here via the FF. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm learning to find images from goodreads and how to link directly back to that. I prefer that than my earliest reviews which had the amazon.com link and the "click to look inside!" swoosh on the top, which is unnecessary IMO. I think my biggest mistake and one I just KEEP ON MAKING is requesting way too much from Netgalley. lol my list is a little long atm. I better get back to reading!
Looking forward to reading your reviews and chatting with you!
Tiffany @ A_TiffyFit's Reading Corner
Hi Tiffany, I want to apologize for taking too long to respond to you! I had a crazy week, but that isn't any excuse.
DeleteI'm a new follower of yours, too. :) I think the "click to look inside" is unnecessary, too; I definitely agree with you. :) I haven't requested from Netgalley yet - what's it like? I've requested many read to review books from a few Goodreads groups, so I've been busy reading and reviewing those. One day if I slow down with my requesting there, I'd like to explore Netgalley. I hear a lot of bloggers go there.
I'm looking forward to talking with you, too! :D Thanks so much for following!
Hi Jennifer :) thanks so much for stopping by my blog earlier and chatting with me a bit. I am following you back via GFC and RSS.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little tricky in the beginning, but really, most of the bloggers (actually, I think ALL) I have met are so helpful in every way.
Have a nice week!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews.
I'm sorry to be getting back with you so late, Lexxie. The week just flew by and got away from me. I didn't even post things when I should have because things were so hectic. I hope next week calms down, lol.
DeleteI agree - every blogger I've met and begun talking to have all been so helpful and friendly. This meme has been a great way to help me break the ice since I'm a bit of a lurker. I've become a lot more active in commenting on posts and talking to fellow bloggers on Twitter. There's so many book lovers out there - I love it!!
Thanks for stopping by and following me. :D
Hi, Jennifer. Thanks for stopping my my blog. I'm following you already via GFC. I recently started writing reviews for every book I read. I prefer writing immediately after reading when the everything is still fresh in my head.
ReplyDeleteThanks again! Happy Reading! :)
Kaykay @ The Creative Forum
Hey again! I'm so sorry it's taken me a week to get back with you. I really try my best to respond right away; this week just got away from me.
DeleteI'm starting to write some thoughts about my books when I update my status on Goodreads, and it's been helping me a lot when I'm ready to write the review. I've definitely begun writing right after I finish reading, or else I struggle to write the best review I can, which is the goal. :) Thanks for stopping by! :D