Top Ten Tuesday - Tips for New Book Bloggers

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, this feature includes random weekly bookish top tens. This week's list is - top ten tips for new book bloggers. I have some good ideas, things that worked for me, so I hope they help new bloggers!! Here's my list. Let me know what you have to add! And these aren't in order of importance.

1. Use social media.
   Get on Twitter and Facebook to help spread the word. Goodreads, Google+, Tumblr, LinkedIn, LibraryThing, etc etc, are great ways to connect and get the word out. It keeps people in the know about the goings-on on your blog!
2. Network.
   Get in touch with experienced bloggers to learn more about the community. They usually have answers to your questions or can point you in the right direction. And always be nice. It may pay off, even if that sounds bad. Gain contacts in the industry at different publishing houses. That always helps, too. Also, attending author signings and bookish events helps your networking group as well! Plus, they're fun!!
   
3. Don't be afraid to ask.
   There is no harm in asking. Worst thing that can happen? They'll say no. But whatever it is, an ARC, an interview, a giveaway.. you should absolutely ask because they may say yes! But word to the wise, don't go around asking for "free books" everywhere. That doesn't make people happy.
   
4. Participate in memes and features.
   You can post your top ten lists, your WoWs, and your TGIFs to help get in touch with other bloggers. If you link up on the main blog's page, you can find other blogs and other bloggers can find you!
5. Post (honest) reviews.
   Sounds rudimentary but it's very important. Your blog is about books, and you need to read them to blog about them. So tell people what you think and be honest! We're not here to cater to feelings. We're here to tell people the truth about books.
   
6. Don't take things too personally.
   You aren't going to please everyone. Not everyone is going to like you or your blog. That's just how it goes. And you aren't going to get everything you want. But experience, a positive attitude, and a broad network go a long way.
7. Participate in giveaway hops.
   Even if you can only afford to give away a bookmark, or you can only get a giveaway sponsored by a publisher or author, that's fine! Join a hop and you'll gain followers which help spread the word. Use tweets as an extra entry and don't use too many mandatory entries. Gift cards, even $5, are great as well. Make sure you check out Rafflecopter to make your giveaways easy to enter and manage.
   
8. Use Net Galley and other eARC resources.
   Netgalley.com allows bloggers to sign up to request eARCs from authors and publishers. You post reviews on there as well to show you've read the books you've requested. This is a great, inexpensive way to get books to review! Simon and Schuster used to send out Galley Grab emails, but I haven't seen one lately.
9. Have a good, user-friendly layout and recognizable design.
   It always helps to have a layout or avatar that people can always recognize. People know who I am by my girl with her headphones on. Make a great name for your blog and have a picture that will stand out. User-friendly layouts are very helpful. Your blog shouldn't be hard to navigate. Don't put noise in the background either.
10. Turn off CAPTCHA.
    This sounds so trivial, but people seriously hate this. It's a waste of time for commenters. If you're worried about spam or the like, use a moderator or approval setting.
    

That's all I have! I'm sure I can come up with more, and I bet lots of other people have some great tips as well. I'd definitely recommend looking through the link-up page for these. Advice is always good to receive no matter what stage of blogging you're in! Hope this helps :o) Happy Tuesday!!