As I near my 2 year blogoversary, I'm beginning to look back on all of the work I've put into The Hollow Cupboards. First off, I never thought that I'd have a successful blog. I've tried many times, first with a personal blog, then with photography...I even tried out beauty blogging! None of those worked for me, because as it turned out, I wasn't interested enough to invest more than a few days in it. Over these past couple years, I've grown quite fond of the community, and I hope you've all grown fond of me! That being said, I do regret a few things that I have (or haven't) done.
Social Media/Following
If I'd known that my blog would get more than 100 followers, I would have created separate social media accounts. I use my Twitter more as a personal account as opposed to limiting my tweets to readers, publishers, and authors. Though I enjoy getting a glimpse into the lives of my favorite bloggers, I understand that some don't.
I also would have created my blog's Facebook page immediately...and kept up with it. Before adding Networked Blogs and having it post to Facebook automatically, I would occasionally forget that the page existed for a reason.
I also wish I added more options to follow. For a large portion of this blog's existence, I relied solely on GFC. While this was a popular way of following, I'm sure I lost many potential followers that way as well. Now at least I have GFC, RSS, Networked Blogs, and most recently, Bloglovin'. How much is too much?
If I'd known that my blog would get more than 100 followers, I would have created separate social media accounts. I use my Twitter more as a personal account as opposed to limiting my tweets to readers, publishers, and authors. Though I enjoy getting a glimpse into the lives of my favorite bloggers, I understand that some don't.
I also would have created my blog's Facebook page immediately...and kept up with it. Before adding Networked Blogs and having it post to Facebook automatically, I would occasionally forget that the page existed for a reason.
I also wish I added more options to follow. For a large portion of this blog's existence, I relied solely on GFC. While this was a popular way of following, I'm sure I lost many potential followers that way as well. Now at least I have GFC, RSS, Networked Blogs, and most recently, Bloglovin'. How much is too much?
Starting Conversations
I have to admit, I'm kind of a lurker. Sometimes I don't have the time, and sometimes I feel as though I don't have anything worth saying, but I definitely have bypassed many chances to comment/tweet to other bloggers. I've learned that my comments don't always need to be witty and profound, people appreciate them as long as they're nice.
Less is More
When I first started out, I attacked my followers with memes. "It's Monday, What Are You Reading?", "Top Ten Tuesday", "Teaser Tuesday", "Waiting on Wednesday", "Follow Friday", and "In My Mailbox" ruled my blog the entire first year. I don't know how I was taken seriously by anyone, including publishers who (rarely) sent me books for review. Since then, I've found that the only memes that I really want to keep up with are WoW and IMM.
Scheduling
As my blog began to grow, I found that scheduling does wonders for anyone who worries as much as I do. Though I still haven't gotten the hang of writing posts more than an hour before they go live on the blog, I have been keeping a list of review books I receive and their release dates. Recently I started scheduling my weeks using Google Calendar, and I have to say that seeing all of the posts planned out seems to help ease the stress a lot! I've already planned most of my posts until October.
Always Agreeing
When I first began, I said yes to almost any author who contacted me to review their book. Who was I to say no? I was an unknown blogger with a tiny following, but they were still investing in me! As I quickly began to realize, some of them were investing in me because no one would invest in them. Thankfully, I've learned to say no, especially when they make it clear that they've never even glanced at my review policy.
I could go on and on about ways to improve my blog, but looking back on it all, I realize that I've come a long way. When I first started, I was unsure that I'd ever get as big as my favorite bloggers (who, at the time, had the same amount of following I have now) and didn't know how much I would come to love sharing my thoughts on books and book-related topics!
Do you have any blogging regrets?
Do you have any blogging regrets?
Wow, two years! Congratulations! Lots of good tips in this post, too! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteHappy blogoversary!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post and I agree with a lot of your points. I'm definitely guilty of (not) starting conversations and always agreeing. I used to accept EVERY review request. Now I'm a lot more reserved. But I still have a problem with not being social enough, especially on Twitter!
Oh, I know! I'm still getting the hang of starting conversations on Twitter. It's hard to know when to stop! If you stop too soon, you're rude, but if you keep the conversation going too long, you're being a nuisance. Haha.
DeleteHappy second blogoversary! ^_^
ReplyDeleteThanks! :D
DeleteWow! You have lots of followers for a two-year blogger! I have been blogging for two years also, and I have only a fraction of your followers. Congrats on a job well-done!
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you! Sometimes it really doesn't feel like much at all. :P
DeleteI know what your talking about! I used to accept all book review requests, because I felt so honored that they thought of me! Then...when I actually started reading it, I realized why no one else accepted their books to review. >.< Great post, and happy 2 year blogoversary!
ReplyDeleteDaphne @ Reading Until Dawn
Right? Some authors stoop pretty low just to get their book read, but they all haven't been awful. I've read some really great indie books during my first year of blogging! I just don't have time for many anymore.
DeleteHappy Blogoversary!
ReplyDeleteGreat Post Chey! Like you, I used to accept any book review requests but afterwards regretted it. Now I'm learning to say no to authors. Wish you more reading and blogging years to come! :)
Thank you! I still probably accept too many requests, but that's just because they all sound so good. :P I've just learned not to feel obligated to say yes.
DeleteHappy 2 year!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post and I agree with alot of what you've said here. I definitely used to accept way more pitches than I do now. Yea, when you're just starting out, your just honored to be contacted! I'm still terrible at social media---I hope to improve on that AND on scheduling posts in the coming year. I'm like you, I rarely prepare a post more than an hour or two in advance!
I'm glad I'm not alone! Sometimes I feel like I'm one of the very few bloggers who schedules out what I WANT to post on a calendar, but doesn't actually write up the post until immediately before it's live on the blog. Lol!
DeleteThis is a great post, and I can find myself in many of your "regrets". I'm also more of a lurker. I try to go around and leave as many comments as I can, but sometimes I just don't feel like I have anything useful to say.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you on Google Calendar. I used to write posts the moment before they go up. Now I make a plan for at least a week ahead.
Happy blogoversary :)
And Google Calendar is awesome because it immediately syncs to my phone! Though I still need to work on writing my posts in advance... :P It's clear that most blog readers are only lurkers, especially when I get 400+ views a day on my blog and only receive 10 comments or less. I don't mind it at all, as long as someone can take something from what I'm posting! :)
DeleteThis is an awesome post and we totally have the same regrets LOL. I really regret, when I first started blogging, requesting a TON of books that I thought I could read but still haven't (and I got them a year ago) so I feel like I'm letting the publisher down. And I used to do a ton of memes as well but now, like you, I'm sticking mostly with just IMM and Wow. And you think posting memes for a year was bad? I wanted extra entries for giveaways so I used my blog as a giant advertising website. It only lasted for about a month or two but seriously I don't know how anyone even took me seriously.
ReplyDeleteAnd I HAVE to schedule my posts because I have so much going on I never remember what my blog tour post consists of or when to post a review. Blogging is seriously a LOT harder than it looks
~Emily@Emily's Crammed Bookshelf
Oh no! I'm totally on the same boat as you, though...with both books I've accepted from authors and books I've requested from publishers. Sometimes you just don't have the time for every single one! No one has ever held that against me, though. I forgot to mention that I used to advertise giveaways on my blog too! I think newbies always get suckered into that.
DeleteOh, and happy second blogoversay :P
ReplyDeleteHappy blogoversary!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean about being a lurker. I try to push myself to be social, but it rarely happens. I usually just lurk and read blogs silently. Even though, as a blogger myself, I know how everyone likes comments and interactions.
I prefer at least a glimpse into a blogger's life, so if their Twitter is full of blog links, I won't be following it for long.
Well thank you for commenting on my post, then! :) Also, that's great to know, I'm totally the same. :)
DeleteWoah, so much truth in this post! The ways to follow thing is something I have to work on, too! In the beginning, I set up RSS, GFC and Linky...but I'm not very good at the technological side of blogging - another regret I have, I guess...Also, while I do comment frequently, I find it really hard to establish real blogger "friendships"...I guess I'm a bit too shy for that :D
ReplyDelete2 years, wow! Congrats, Chey!
ReplyDelete<3 this post!! I'm a lurker too. I try to change it, but you know, once a lurker... :D And I'm hopeless at scheduling, so I really admire those who are good at it. :)