Making Connections discussion
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Looks great so far. For followers, perhaps add more links to your author social sites, so they can follow your reviews better. Host a book review for your site, explaining that you are new and want to feature this or that book, and list your reviews/offers to review on your social sites? That's where I'm at, and the response has been good.
Took a peek, nothing glaring about it. Although I wished when I first go in, that it would automatically show (full size) the latest review/post (especially since there is only one up there currently)It's nice, very clean and uncluttered (I'm more of a clutter freak on the blog and in real life)... I'd say it just needs more posts, and maybe (once you get more content) more 'categories' or whatever your blog host program thingy offers to 'group' your posts. It's a moot point currently, it's more of a future recommendation. Feel welcome to join our Making Connections blog tours to get your blogging feet wet, if you like.
OH! And... I'd recommend more ways to follow (instead of just by email.) I use BlogLovin', Networked Blogs, Linky, and Google Friend Connect (although I hear this might not last?)I also recommend, as a long-term goal, to make a 'button' for your blog. It's just a little picture that you can offer for others that follow you to post it (with an attached link) on their blog to promote yours as well.
Also, I would recommend having something to help 'define' your ratings. It doesn't have to be long, just a simple 1=hated it, 2=take it or leave it, 3=OK, 4=Really Enjoyed it, 5=YESYESYES!
(The above is an example only)
As Alana stated, I think it might be better if a post actually opened up when one clicks the first link. At least until you have more reviews posted and have viewers who get used to your site. You want to be as user friendly as possible.I like your rating system. The video is a nice touch.
But I did not see a way to leave a comment.
You can decide post to post if you want comments or not, but in most cases it is best to allow readers the option.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer.H.M - what do you mean the author social sites? You mean a direct link to their facebook and twitter etc?
Thanks for the feedback - that will be my next step.
Alana - I have spent a lot of time looking through other people's blogs (random strangers lol) for ideas and things like that. I find some of them so over whelming and cluttered and I am such a clean freak that I wanted something different, easy and clean. I think I may have actually gone a bit over board and now it's TOO clean and clutter free LOL - I am second guessing my template now.
Do you know of any sites that have nice templates? I have Googled many and looked but didn't find what i liked.
I know what you mean though and part of me wants the same thing but at the same time I don't want a single page filled with reviews.
The review is simply the test one. It is an actual review but I didn't want to put a whole pile up there until I was sure I liked the layout. I didn't want to have to redo a bunch of review pages if it somehow changed them on me. I will be adding lots more since I have done all my reviews on GoodReads and will be transferring them to the blog when I am happy (which at this rate may be never).
I'll look into Bloglovin, Networked and the things you suggest. I didn't even know about them. I will also be adding a link back button once I get my template sorted out - thanks for reminding me. The rating thing is also a great idea - see I'm glad I asked now LOL
Laura - I never even noticed there wasn't a comment option on the review page, wow, thanks for that!
Thanks again - I am off for 3 days so hopefully can get things sorted out here and get my head out of the sand lol
You know - I used to design websites so you would think this would be easy - NOT! lol
Sorry to kind of butt in here, but I'm in a similar situation. I started my blog right before the holidays (big mistake, because then I forgot all about it for three weeks!). Now I'm back at it, and I have about seven reviews up. I figure now I have a fair amount of reviews, enough to start trying to get people over, but now I'm afraid my design isn't good enough, or I'll find some glaring problem later. Would you guys mind taking a peek at my blog and telling me anything major you see, like you did for Lisa Jane? Also, I don't have ANY readers right now. Any starting out tips?My blog is www.ireadtilldawn.blogspot.com
Hi Jaina,I just had a quick peek, and I would make two design suggestions. First off, you have so many different fonts going on, it would look better to choose one and go with it. Secondly, it's always harder to read on a coloured background, I would suggest you go with white or make the blue really pale.
I'm not an expert on getting more readers, but I would suggest that you try to link up with authors whose books you liked and perhaps get them to mention your reviews and link to you. If you just keep posting regularly, I'm sure your readership will grow.
Hi Jaina! I think it is a great start.I can see that the different fonts are where you describe the book and where you state your own thoughts.
The colors are not bad to read.
To find readers you must go out and comment on others' blogs with a link back to your own. In the beginning it takes a while to get a following but if you are consistent they will come.
I had several hundred followers with GFC but just this month my GFC was dropped. And I am slowly getting back into a blogging rhythm and building my numbers back up.
Find book parties (many happen on Fridays) to join.
Here are a few to get you started: http://lovevisiting.blogspot.com/p/bo...
See what parties the blogs you enjoy participate in.
I hope this helps.
Thanks to you Laura and Melanie for your questions and answers. Hopefully I will be able to make sense of this site and move forward gaining some growth with readers. I face issues when it comes to reading and comprehending instructions due to my chronic illness. If anyone out there is willing to guide me along slowly to gain some readership, that would be totally awesome. I will access this site you suggested to Melanie, Laura.
Laura, thanks for posting that link for Jaina...hope it's ok if I give it a click too :)Jaina your blog looks nice. I like the colours and the reviews. I checked out your "about me" page and it gave me a chuckle...pretty funny lol
Lisa Jane, all are welcome and I enjoy parties with larger crowds. I can stand by the snack table and people watch.
I have no idea what they are but am gonna give them a shot. As i mentioned on the site, if i mess it up ill blame the dog ;)
Melanie and Laura - I changed the color of the main background to really pale blue, and made all the fonts the same. Then I joined a couple parties (thanks for the link, Laura, it was really helpful!). :)Lisa Jane - LOL, thanks.
And now, I'm wondering if I have too many shades of blue going on. Would anyone mind giving a second opinion? Thanks SO much! :D
I like the darker color of your blog name. I would prefer your post headings and sidebar color also be darker.
If any of you are on Facebook, please take a look at my wall. I have been posting author parties this week and there are some fun ones online tonight, and then later in the week.Laura DogsMom
Ill add u in the am, this phone app wont let me find your FB link right now but i did send a FRTy
Would it be too much if I asked for a bit of advice as well? I currently have a few posts drafted, but not yet ready to post. However, it would be great to have a little feedback on what I can improve before properly networking my blog (:http://abeerandabook.blogspot.ca
Hi Kim, I think your blog looks good now, it's more minimalist, but I think that works for a book blog. It's easy to read, which is the main point. The social media connections are very prominent and that's great.Here's my take for any blog design. It's good to keep in mind your goals for the blog. Do you want the blog to showcase the books? Then keep it plain so the covers will pop. Do you want the blog to represent your personality or book preferences (funny, gothic, YA, etc.) then choose the font, the colours, the design, that all feed into your style. You have to decide what distinguishes your blog and then have form follow function.
Laura, your facebook page is fantastic. I just spent a while going through your posts - thank you!
Kim (edited as I had wrong name) - I like the layout, clean and simple and your reviews are great.I am still new and learning so can't offer you anything productive except that it looks good and is easy to navigate :)
Melanie wrote: "Hi Kim, I think your blog looks good now, it's more minimalist, but I think that works for a book blog. It's easy to read, which is the main point. The social media connections are very prominent a..."Hi, Melanie. Thank you so much for your feedback! I suppose after I publish a few more posts, I can finally distinguish my blog from the rest, in terms of design. It's unfortunate, but I do tend to lose track of what my original intentions are for a blog from time-to-time, so that's a great point! Thanks again (:
Jaina wrote: "Sorry to kind of butt in here, but I'm in a similar situation. I started my blog right before the holidays (big mistake, because then I forgot all about it for three weeks!). Now I'm back at it, an..."Tweeted
Laura - I darkened my post headings and links, if that's what you meant. I don't have FB, unfortunately. :(Kim - like the others said, it's a very clean design. If you wanted to add a splash of color to offset the shades of white, that's purely personal preference.
Stan - Thanks! :)
Jaina wrote: "Laura - I darkened my post headings and links, if that's what you meant. I don't have FB, unfortunately. :(Kim - like the others said, it's a very clean design. If you wanted to add a splash of c..."
Hi, Jaina. I think once I've figured out where I want to go with this blog, I may become more adventurous with the design, of course, this is a pre-made template, so we'll see where this blog goes. I appreciate the feedback, thank you!
Hi LJI just took a look at your blog and I love it! I think the design is easy on the eye and the layout attention grabbing.
Sending you every good wish
Harmony :)
I do custom Blogger blog designs, so I'm here if any of you get fed up and want to turn the design madness over to someone else. (http://www.kmwritingdesign.com/p/blog...)One general comment I have is that as an indie author, it's WAY easier to find review policies if they're linked at the top of the page as opposed to in the sidebar! ;)
I posted this in a couple of groups to get some feedback since I don't know who to ask. I'm not looking for followers (yet) but am looking for help.
I recently created my own blog and am looking for a little guidance, because it's new I am not aware of blog etiquette (if there is such a thing) or the unspoken rules lol (I know they exist).
If I post a link to my blog would someone be willing to take a quick peek and see that I have not done something completely wrong or bad and that it is acceptable?
I only have one review on it right now and that is basically my template but before I add any more I need to know I am not doing something wrong. I usually just review on Goodreads but I wanted to try a blog and see.
Anyways - enough rambling.....let me know, feel free to post here or private message me.
ljsecretaddiction.blogspot.com