Creative Reviews discussion
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Oh, you guys make me laugh, interesting tangent! Can I come along to this convention? I have plenty of wetsuits to choose from.
Anyone is welcome in our twisted conversations!!! Enter at your own risk! ;-)
Oh, a wetsuit is needed for convention? won't this be intersting....And of course TC please come along!! the more the merrier!
I think we may need to start a new blog thread since we have obviously hijacked this one...
Or move all our chit chat to the attic area...
Gosh, TC has a whole wardrobe of wetsuits! That's advanced, that is. Cassie I think that's a very sensible suggestion just in case anyone actually does have questions re blogging and then comes here to find it full of weird-ass banter about wetsuits and cheese.
Ladies, shall we adjourn to the attic?!
JAC
Yes, ladies....grab your cheese and wetsuits and meet me in the attic. :)
J.A. wrote: "Well that's GOT to be England, hasn't it?! I'm currently sat in a rainy office with a jumper on, drinking hot coffee and considering fetching in fingerless gloves tomorrow. We've got April weather ..."David Suchet has always been my favorite Poirot. He's also a convincing terrorist in movies!
Okay, I hope I don't know what this is b/c i am american and not because I am stupid...but what is a Poirot?? :)
Cambria wrote: "Okay, I hope I don't know what this is b/c i am american and not because I am stupid...but what is a Poirot?? :)"Hercule Poirot is Agatha Christie's most famous detective. He's played brilliantly by David Suchet on BBC productions, though I don't think they've made any new ones recently.
Hi guys, moving away from cheese and wetsuits, I do have a blogging question! I'm thinking of doing a 200 follower giveaway and I'm after any hints and tips people might have on the practicalities. In the past I've seen entry via comment, email or google doc form, and giveaways where you can get extra entries vy tweeting, blogging, following the author etc. Any thoughts on whether any method is more straightforward, what the pitfalls are? I'd be grateful for any ideas!
Cambria, if you haven't read any of the Poirot books you should try one - if you like a mystery, Agatha Christie is old-fashioned but still superb! Debra, I agree, Suchet is by far the BEST Poirot.TC, 200 followers? Nice work!
JAC
TC wrote: "Hi guys, moving away from cheese and wetsuits, I do have a blogging question! I'm thinking of doing a 200 follower giveaway and I'm after any hints and tips people might have on the practicalities...."I'd like to know the best way of going about this also. Colleagues tell me that giveaways are a useful promo tool, but I've yet to try it, mainly because I'm not sure what is the best approach to take. Do you allow a 2 week or more time period? Is it best to choose a winner out of a hat from those who freely give their emails??
I should add that I've done a giveaway through Goodreads here, and when my latest book is released in paperback this fall, I plan to do it again. But I'm not sure about offering a giveaway or contest through blogs.
Debra, a lot of blogs seems to use random.org (think that's the right addy)I took a quick look the other night and it seems pretty straightforward, and probably quicker than sticking names in a hat.JAC, still a little way to go yet, just hit 150, but I'm hoping it won't take too much longer so getting myself prepared.
TC wrote: "Debra, a lot of blogs seems to use random.org (think that's the right addy)I took a quick look the other night and it seems pretty straightforward, and probably quicker than sticking names in a hat..."Thanks for the tip!
It's unusual for me to be giving tips about blogging, I'm still finding my feet, just glad to be useful.
Debra wrote: "Cambria wrote: "Okay, I hope I don't know what this is b/c i am american and not because I am stupid...but what is a Poirot?? :)"Hercule Poirot is Agatha Christie's most famous detective. He's ..."
Ahhhh. Okay. Thanks for explaining. Maybe I will check it out sometime!!!
TC, it sounds like you are doing a great job so far if you are just getting your feet wet and have 150 followers! You clearly are doing something right. As far as giveaways I am not too familar with them, but I think as far as the length goes...that's up to you.Since you are trying to reach 200 memebers then you can launch your giveaway and say that it ends when you hit 200 followers. That should keep the timeline fairly easy to track.
I think really, that there aren't really any set ways to do giveaways. I think however works for you would be great. There are always authors out there willing to give a copy of there book.
I am a guest blogger on booksfromthepurplejellybeanchair.blogspot.com and we are getting ready for a giveaway. We are giving away a book and posting a review and an author interview. We are doing it by followers...you know when we reach so many we are giving this. And then Natalie(the girl who runs the blog) is going to give away 2 books when we hit 200 then 3 books when we hit 300....
i have seen giveaways where you just leave a comment and others where you answer a question.
I think whatever you decide will be awesome and keep doing what you are doing!!
TC wrote: "Hi guys, moving away from cheese and wetsuits, I do have a blogging question! I'm thinking of doing a 200 follower giveaway and I'm after any hints and tips people might have on the practicalities...."So I may not being the best person to give advice because I'm just now running the first giveaway on my blog, but as a person who enters I personally prefer entering on a form. Comment entry make you make your email public knowledge to enter and game to whoever wants to be nosy and start spamming entrants not that that usually happens. Email entry isn't convenient to people who don't use outlook for email because they have to open up their email in a new browser and copy past and send the email. I'm not expert, but that's just my thought on contests as someone who likes to enter them.
Debra wrote: "TC wrote: "Hi guys, moving away from cheese and wetsuits, I do have a blogging question! I'm thinking of doing a 200 follower giveaway and I'm after any hints and tips people might have on the prac..."Most of the ones I've seen on blogs use random.com or random.org to draw winners. Also you can make signing up for a newsletter a requirement to enter if you want to, it's your contest.
BTW TC how long have you been blogging? And what is your secret to that many followers when you're just "getting your feet wet"
Jenn, great comments on comment vs email vs form, I was thinking of heading the google docs route so that's kind of set my mind to that. I was thinking of launching it when I get to 175 followers, I add them slowly but surely, then allowing a week after I hit 200 because I was going to give away additional books if I get say 225 or 250 followers.
When I say still feeling my feet... I think I started the blog in Dec '10 but although I've posted a lot of reviews I haven't gotten into anything too technical. Wouldn't have a clue how to create a button for the blog, haven't done any giveaways yet, stuff like that. I take part in a couple of memes each week that get 200+ people taking part, I think a lot of followers have come from those, but I haven't made a massive effort to get followers like some bloggers do.
Well the stuff you are doing TC works!
Okay everyone, I finally got my blog to a point where I will show it to people and ask for followers!!! Woo Hoo!!here is the link:
http://theunlockeddiary.blogspot.com
Please check it out. I would love some followers. I just posted my first post this morning!!
And also, I would love any suggestions on what I can do to make it better!
Thank you. I follow so many of your wonderful blogs I just hope that mine is half as nice as all of yours!!
That's a cracking first post and I'm your 2nd follower. It looks really good, I found mine sort of developed as I went along, adding and changing bits, and I don't know about other blog providers but with blogspot it's easy to add and change bits.
@Cambria I have a small blog that's relatively new but I'm trying to do a monthly featured blogger, the post would be a review of your choice (it can be something you've already posted on your own blog) and a blurb about your blog in your own words. I ran one this month but haven't scheduled one yet for the rest of the month though that doesn't mean I haven't sent out unanswered messages to bloggers in hopes of finding one. That said if you're interested in doing that to possibly gain a couple followers just message me. The next guest blogger when I find him or her will run on the 14th of July which btw is the day I'm not admitting that I'm no longer just thirty but actually in my thirties. I'm not TC with almost 200 followers, right now I'm at 73 and between now and then I'm participating in three possibly 4 giveaway hops, the 4th depends on if I can beg someone to do a giveaway for me on that particular hop. So hopefully I'll have more by the 14th, no guarantees though. The networking part of the blogging is 10 times harder for me than the blogging. I forget what I posted where and confuse conversations all the time and I'm awful about getting back to conversations I've already started because I can never remember where I was having the conversation in order to get back there. I think 73 in a month is doing ok for a new blog though so if you think it would help getting more people to your blog by being a featured blogger drop me a message.
TC wrote: "That's a cracking first post and I'm your 2nd follower. It looks really good, I found mine sort of developed as I went along, adding and changing bits, and I don't know about other blog providers b..."@TC Thank you! And I appreciate you following me! I think mine will develop as i go too. At least I hope so!! :)
@ JA thanks girl!!
@Jenn- I am totally interested!! 73 followers in a month is awesome. Take me to your leader!! I was hoping just to get 20. LOL. I guess I aim low. :)
I will message you. I have several reviews already written that you could have...Thanks so much for offering! It will be fun!
lol Cambria, I feel like I'm networking more than I do anything else anymore. I'm meeting a ton of cool people, but keeping up with the different sites and hops and conversations is completely confusing. It helped that I used to critique for Kayelle Allen back when I was attempting to write and she gave me a shout out. She runs a marketing and promotion group on yahoo for writers. She also is a fairly popular indie romance and erotica writer. Well Indie or Small Press, not sure which, she has a publisher but it's not a huge one like Random House or Harper etc. The same day she mentioned me I actually got two or three review requests from writers which was pretty cool. Someone actually asked me to read their work instead of me volunteering. Actually that was probably my favorite part of doing this blogging thing, getting specifically asked for my opinion. And the blog hops, the giveaway hops and networking sites helped as well. I actually have a goal of 100 followers by the end of summer for my blog. If I'm going to do it I want to do it well kwim? 100 followers opens up things like blog book tour spots which means regular contests and interviews to post on the blog. Having 7 on the first day tops me by a lot I don't think you'll have any issues getting to 20 in a month. I think you'll far exceed your goals. I put a link to your blog on upcoming events and will move that link to the Featured Blogger widget on July 1st. If you have a little banner you want me to put there make sure to send it to me. Thanks so much for agreeing to do this and I hope it helps you meet your followers goals.
Jenn- Thank you so much for putting up a link to my blog on your upcoming events! That was so so sweet of you. I like your style, and i agree if your going to do might as well do it well. I tell myself that all the time. :)I think you will definitely reach 100 by then end of summer. i have heard that reaching 100 followers does open up doors in the bloggin world. I am really trying to do it one step at a time to try and figure it all out. LOL. But it really helps that people like you are so great in helping me. There are so many great people out there...soemtimes I am amazed at all the kindness. :)
That is awesome that you know Kayelle Allen, I am not familar with her but she sounds great and I can always respect a successful writer!
Networking does take up so much time and it does get confusing for sure. Sometimes i forget where i left posts and stuff too. I try and write the bigger stuff down. LOL.
I like getting asked for my opinion too. The first time someone came to me specifically fo a review i was secretly thrilled. lol.
but i like getting asked by other bloggers like you to do guest posts too, because that to me, is a way of telling myself that i must be doing something right...or else no one would try and talk to me. LOL
anyway, i will message you and tell you what reviews i have and you can see which you like. And also, when my blog gets a few more followers I hope you will do a guest post for me too!!
TC wrote: "That's a cracking first post and I'm your 2nd follower. It looks really good, I found mine sort of developed as I went along, adding and changing bits, and I don't know about other blog providers b..."i love that saying "a cracking first post" been stuck in my head all day. :)
I'm baaaackkk!! so i am up to 8 followers for my first day....i want to make it to 10. can anyone help me do that??
Find a friend and join! If i hit 25 members by the end of the month I wil give something away!!
Hi Cambria, you did a great job with your first blog, congrats! I'm following now so that should put you up to 9. If you or anyone would like to follow me on our group blog it's at http://writetype.blogspot.comThanks, and good luck!
Why thank you Debra!! I am now following you!! Almost to 10!!
Cambria wrote: "Why thank you Debra!! I am now following you!! Almost to 10!!"Hey chica! I just added to follow you so now you OFFICIALLY have TEN followers!! Whoohooo!!! *high five!*
Follow back if yaz want: http://www.nerdalien.com/
~Annabell
Hi! My name is Angel, and I just started a book review blog with a couple of my friends a few months ago. My blog mostly features YA Literature. Hope you guys enjoy it! And if you really like it, please follow. Thanks so much! ink-kaja.blogspot.com
You are doing awesome Cambria. @ Angel, Annabelle & Debra, stopped by and followed you, great blogs. :)
Cambria wrote: "Jenn- Thank you so much for putting up a link to my blog on your upcoming events! That was so so sweet of you. I like your style, and i agree if your going to do might as well do it well. I tell my..."It's np at all I'm glad you're interested in doing it. Besides that means I don't have to write a review on my birthday lol. Seriously I wish I had a bigger following to offer bloggers access to. I'm hoping to spend my summer getting ahead on content for the blog so that I can fit networking into my schedule better and hopefully keep track of it, maybe organize my desk so I can find things when I do write them down. What I'd honestly like to do is be about 60 reviews ahead so that if life gets busy I can still make time to network and not have to worry about content or losing what little I've gained because I haven't bothered posting. I have so many ideas now that I started doing this, I just need to get further ahead to have the time to try to make those ideas happen. Like edits to the design, I like the basic design of my blog, but the template doesn't have a footer or left side bar. What I need to do is learn the code to make those. I have yet to figure it out. I'm thinking I'll actually have to open my boring computer language book collection this summer. I've collected that type of book for years because in theory I'd love the knowledge, in practice nonfiction bores me to death. I also own more books on writing than the local library, haven't read most of those either. However I'll mention my methods towards gaining a following is not the best one. I'm one of those people that doesn't wade into the water when I do anything, I take a canon ball into the middle and hope the weight of the waters around me don't cause me to drown. For example when my ex convinced me to play online games and join this gaming league, in a month I was a td there, and within two I was designing half the gaming pages because back in 2001 and 2002 a basic knowledge of html went a long way online. Not the site, but each tournament had it's own html page within the site, kind of like a blog post, but written in all html. By six months I didn't even play anymore and getting a page designed from me was about three weeks out at least. It was all I freaking did because I didn't know how to say no. The worst part was I didn't even like playing online games. I'd only started doing it because my ex asked me to. I only got free of it because my ex got into a fight with the site owner when they started expecting me to do more than just tournament pages for free. Basically what happened is the owner needed another web designer and even though I really wasn't qualified for the job he didn't want to actually pay another employee even though he had the money to do so. The site was really successful. Mike got mad because I didn't have time to do his tournament pages if I was trying to learn the code I needed to use for the actual site design. He and Russ got into an argument Mike quit for both of us and I haven't logged into anything like that since. In other words I don't do anything half way, I over commit and burn out. I'm hoping that won't be the case with blogging but I've already got Ed lecturing me to slow down. Patience skipped me in the gene pool so I want to do everything at once and the more things I do the more ideas I get that I want to do as a part of those things. It just spirals... so doing things my way, not the best option.
@Angel and Openbooksociety- I am now following! Awesome blogs ladies!@Jenn- slow down girl!! LOL. write all those ideas down! And I would love to get you a banner for my blog for on your blog but I have no clue how to make one of those. LOL. Same with a button....
this is me being confused.......LOL
And Annabell....your number 10!! Woo hooo! I made it to ten in one day! I'm going to go do a happy dance.
Now lets see how many I can get today.....
Muhahahahaha
@Cambria - I'm baffled by buttons too, I know nothing about code other than it exists and looks complicated!Am now following a few more blogs, have just been reading some very interesting posts.
Thanks a lot TC! I would be happy to follow yours if you provide the link. And by the way, I'm absolutely astounded by the blog/tech savvy people out there who know how to make buttons.
I know! Its insane the things that people know how to do. I doubt i will ever learn that stuff. LOL.So, TC you are reading interesting posts, eh? is that good or bad?
Cambria wrote: "I know! Its insane the things that people know how to do. I doubt i will ever learn that stuff. LOL.So, TC you are reading interesting posts, eh? is that good or bad?"
That's the thing: in this techie age, you have to spend a fair amount of time learning how to format, or create a blog page, Facebook page, etc. I learn a little at a time, and ask for help from friends when I need it. :)
Angel wrote: "Hi! My name is Angel, and I just started a book review blog with a couple of my friends a few months ago. My blog mostly features YA Literature. Hope you guys enjoy it! And if you really like it, p..."Heyaz Angel! Now following yaz! I like your blog page. Very pretty =)
~Annabell
Cambria wrote: "And Annabell....your number 10!! Woo hooo! I made it to ten in one day! I'm going to go do a happy dance.
Now lets see how many I can get today.....
Muhahahahaha"
LOL yes! Whooohooo! Glad to be apart of the top ten *wink* And thank you for following my blog =) And I am the same way! I have no clue how to make a button or banner *frown* I wish I did though.
Jen: Girl, you gotta learn to chillax woman before you combust! lol Start carrying a notebook around with yaz and jotting down every idea that comes into your head so you won't forget them and go crazy!
~Annabell
Creative Reviews
Books mentioned in this topic
The Finkler Question (other topics)The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia, #2) (other topics)
Unraveled (other topics)
Intertwined (other topics)
The Superiors (other topics)
Or was that what you meant by Wilde? (Actually, he'd probably be well up for all that - can see him turning up in his own wetsuit, tbh).
And tell that hot babe to get out of my wetsuit! It's unhygienic!(The cheese I leave for others to deal with).
JAC