Blogging used to be a shit load of fun.
It still is fun, but not a shit load of fun; not as much as it used to be before the blogging community of writers started pimping way more book promo than interesting reading material.
I get it.
I'm guilty of it myself.
But now that Google Reader is gone, and I'm using Feedly, I notice it more. Whenever I take a gander at my feed, I scroll ... I scroll ... I scroll some more ... and all I find anymore are blog tours, cover reveals, author interviews, and BUY MY BOOK posts. Then I leave, and check out what's up on Facebook. As I said. I get it. I'm in the same boat. We are all publishing books, and lots of books, especially since there are so many of us going indie now.
But you know what? We have got to change this. I'm bored. And let's be honest, shall we? So are you. You may still visit blogs and comment, but I'm more than certain you are just doing it now out of loyalty.
Don't get me wrong. I'm sure there are still some of you that post interesting reading material. But you're getting lost in the haystack, friends. I really hate to say that, but you are.
Let's fix this before we die.
I have an idea.
Create a new tab on your blog/website. Call it something like Blogger Love. Whenever you need to pimp your books, or fellow bloggers' books, post your blatant promo stuff there (unless it's a guest post). Then, on the main page of your blog, the REAL blog, write an article ... or even better, write an article that is in some way related to the topic or theme of the pimp post in your Blogger Love tab. Attract readers to your post with an awesome title. And make your first line count. Just like you do when you are writing a novel. Hook your readers. Lure them in. Keep them there with interesting content. Then, at the bottom of your awesome article, link to the pimp post in your Blogger Love tab. You could say something like this: Hey, and speaking of [topic of your article], check out this book by Blah, which explores a similar issue. He/She is celebrating their book release today. Please show your support and help spread the word. You could even provide them with a pre-written tweet to make things easier for them. Or, if what you want to pimp is short and sweet, you could just tack it onto the end of the post as it is, with a bit of a, Hey, by they way, have you heard?
I know. This is going to take more work on your part, because you'll actually have to write the articles. But you know what? I think your readership will grow. This approach would be so much more effective, don't you think? After reading an interesting article, most people will click onto the pimp post, or the links at the end, because they enjoyed their visit. Why did they enjoy their visit? Because they weren't bombarded with promo and skip ahead.
What do you think? Could we start a blog revolution? I, for one, am going to try. And I'm starting today.
*Day SEVEN of the release tour for Briane Pagel's newest horror book, Temporary Anne, continues today, in which Braine is writing a story on the go, and blog readers get to choose how it continues. Great fun, right? CLICK HERE to find out more, and also how to receive a FREE book of his. Please show your support and help spread the word!
Note: My Blogger Love tab links to a new blog I created, because blogger only allows static pages and external links to be added to tabs. Other blog sites may have an option to create a new tab with a separate feed, however.
It still is fun, but not a shit load of fun; not as much as it used to be before the blogging community of writers started pimping way more book promo than interesting reading material.
I get it.
I'm guilty of it myself.
But now that Google Reader is gone, and I'm using Feedly, I notice it more. Whenever I take a gander at my feed, I scroll ... I scroll ... I scroll some more ... and all I find anymore are blog tours, cover reveals, author interviews, and BUY MY BOOK posts. Then I leave, and check out what's up on Facebook. As I said. I get it. I'm in the same boat. We are all publishing books, and lots of books, especially since there are so many of us going indie now.
But you know what? We have got to change this. I'm bored. And let's be honest, shall we? So are you. You may still visit blogs and comment, but I'm more than certain you are just doing it now out of loyalty.
Don't get me wrong. I'm sure there are still some of you that post interesting reading material. But you're getting lost in the haystack, friends. I really hate to say that, but you are.
Let's fix this before we die.
I have an idea.
Create a new tab on your blog/website. Call it something like Blogger Love. Whenever you need to pimp your books, or fellow bloggers' books, post your blatant promo stuff there (unless it's a guest post). Then, on the main page of your blog, the REAL blog, write an article ... or even better, write an article that is in some way related to the topic or theme of the pimp post in your Blogger Love tab. Attract readers to your post with an awesome title. And make your first line count. Just like you do when you are writing a novel. Hook your readers. Lure them in. Keep them there with interesting content. Then, at the bottom of your awesome article, link to the pimp post in your Blogger Love tab. You could say something like this: Hey, and speaking of [topic of your article], check out this book by Blah, which explores a similar issue. He/She is celebrating their book release today. Please show your support and help spread the word. You could even provide them with a pre-written tweet to make things easier for them. Or, if what you want to pimp is short and sweet, you could just tack it onto the end of the post as it is, with a bit of a, Hey, by they way, have you heard?
I know. This is going to take more work on your part, because you'll actually have to write the articles. But you know what? I think your readership will grow. This approach would be so much more effective, don't you think? After reading an interesting article, most people will click onto the pimp post, or the links at the end, because they enjoyed their visit. Why did they enjoy their visit? Because they weren't bombarded with promo and skip ahead.
What do you think? Could we start a blog revolution? I, for one, am going to try. And I'm starting today.
*Day SEVEN of the release tour for Briane Pagel's newest horror book, Temporary Anne, continues today, in which Braine is writing a story on the go, and blog readers get to choose how it continues. Great fun, right? CLICK HERE to find out more, and also how to receive a FREE book of his. Please show your support and help spread the word!
Note: My Blogger Love tab links to a new blog I created, because blogger only allows static pages and external links to be added to tabs. Other blog sites may have an option to create a new tab with a separate feed, however.
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