What Makes a Blog Successful?

You're in for a treat today! The amazingly successful bloggers Carrie, Rachel, Annie and Beth Erin are here to tell us how to start and develop a successful blog... in a time when blogs are falling off the map, these gals reach out to people through interviews, book reviews and have begun a marvelous annual readers' retreat, gathering readers and authors in one venue. (Christian Fiction Readers' Retreat, August 2017) Grab some coffee or sweet tea and enjoy the conversation!

What Makes a Blog Successful?

The four of us love what we do. We love fiction (particularly Christian fiction) and we love blogging (most days). But we also know that staring at a blank blog can be intimidating. We’ve all been there. We all had that first moment of “I think I’ll start a blog….. Umm… could someone please tell me how to do that?” That’s why we’re here today - to be that someone for anyone who might be stalled out at the ‘Ummm’ moment.

And because we’re word nerds, we came up with an acronym.

 

SOAP (Start. Organize. Advertise. Promote.)

 

START

Getting started in blogging is a twofold endeavor: motivation (mission and goals) and logistics (platforms, domain names, hosting, income sources, etc.) Choose a motto, tag line, quote, or verse to motivate you and tell your readers what your blog is all about. Do your research and figure out what choices are right for you and your blogging goals.

Why do we blog?

Rachel (bookwormmama.org): "Sharing my love of books with the world." When I got back into reading, it started as my escape. Now, I still enjoy melting into another world through the pages of a book...But my main focus is to encourage and promote both authors and readers.

Annie (justcommonly.blogspot.com): For me, blogging about my world, be it books or food or travel, is a way for me to release the thoughts that take up my mind. Books tend to do that a lot, and when I connect with a kindred soul on a shared love of a book, a character or whatever, it’s God’s blessing to me, and I’d love to share that blessing with others.

Beth (faithfullybookish.com): My tagline at Faithfully Bookish is "Connecting and encouraging readers and authors" and the verse that drives me is 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Carrie (readingismysuperpower.org): After I'd been blogging for a few months, I decided on the tagline "Introducing You to Your Next Great Read" because the thing that thrills me the most is when I can connect a reader to an author or a book that they've never read before! ESPECIALLY when the author or the book becomes the reader's new fave!

How do we blog?  

Annie: I use Blogger, and it's just easy for me. It's owned by Google, so everything is connected. I started reviewing library books, and then connected with a publisher when I was asked to review a book, and that's how it all started. Then it was signing up for publicity tours and review programs to continue on.

Rachel: Bookworm Mama is powered by Blogger (I LOVE using Google for everything). Through Google Domains I purchased my domain a couple months ago for a very reasonable price. I need my wiser and more experienced blogging sisters to guide me into the realm of affiliate links etc..

Carrie: I use WordPress.org (paid platform). The initial cost went into a theme that I could customize (Tweak Me from NoseGraze) and the domain name/hosting costs. I use Amazon affiliate links to cover the costs.

Beth: Faithfully Bookish is a WordPress blog with paid hosting so I use affiliate links to offset some of the costs.

ORGANIZE

In addition to scheduling posts through our blog platform, we also use organizational tools such as Trello, Google Calendar, Hootsuite, etc. and varying amounts of self-discipline!

Beth: I'm a Google calendar fanatic. Several color coded calendars for everything from review posts and author spotlights to reminders and real life appointments are displayed on my computer & smartphone at all times. I also use Hootsuite to promote each blog post on social media and I love Buffer for Twitter because it is so easy to reuse posts.

Carrie: Google Calendar and Trello together keep me sane! I think I’ll always be perpetually behind though lol! Color coded calendars for what's scheduled (at least in my head) on the blog plus like Beth said - real life - makes sure I have my schedule on hand no matter where I am. As long as my phone is nearby :) Trello I now use mostly for blog ideas (lists) and big group posts that I have to coordinate.

Rachel: Find a program that works for you, but don't be afraid of change. Carrie introduced me to Trello....And my life has never been the same! (YAY for color coding!)  Self-discipline is ESSENTIAL for making a blog successful. I treat my blog like a job. There are times that I  tell my kids, "Go play for a little bit please, Mommy has to work now." Also, instead of watching TV now when the kids have their quiet time, I “work”.

Annie: I'm still fairly old school. I use a monthly planner so I can see the full month to schedule my posts. Usually 2 weeks to month ahead of schedule, I'll start scheduling it on my blog (even though the post is not complete). For dates that I really need to keep track of (for example, CFRR deadlines), I'll use Google Calendar with the different color coding.

 

ADVERTISE

Social media has become one of the driving forces behind connecting people all over the world. As much as I have a love/hate relationship with it in my personal life, these sites really are key to spreading the word about your blog, the authors you are promoting, and meeting new people in the bookish world.

Rachel: Facebook is the #1 traffic generator for my blog and the platform I like the most. Connecting with different groups has helped a lot. I also enjoy posting my graphics on other sites. I NEVER thought I would be one to use "hashtags"...But they really do help your reach. It is important to use ones that are pertinent to your post. #Giveaway #Books #amreading #romance and #bookblogger are my top ones.

Annie: It's a given to share on Facebook Pages for me, and then onto my personal timeline and groups. I personally LOVE taking Instagram photos and posting them. I see the trend for "bookstagrams" hitting more, so it'll be a great way to advertise books or our posts.  I have it synced up that most Facebook & Instagram posts will tweet as well. 

Beth: I'm a visual person so I also keep an album of book covers for reviews and author spotlights on my Facebook page and on Pinterest. Albums and boards are a great way to give readers easy access to my past posts.

Carrie: I tried keeping up regularly with ALL the social media but after a while I noticed that Facebook and Twitter were what generated the most activity for me back on the blog. So, I still use Pinterest and Instagram and Google+ but not as much as I do Facebook and Twitter. I had to select something to focus on and those two were the best uses of my time. For others, it may be different.

PROMOTE

As our (and your) blogs grow, we have the privilege and power to share, build, and encourage. While a larger audience is great for promoting books and events, we are also building relationships with readers, authors, fellow bloggers, publishers, and publicity groups. (P.S. - you can see by our answers that THIS is where we are most passionate!) 

Annie: My dream is to see CF head towards mainstream market. I think it's important to share our posts in order to promote, but also to do each of our best to be advocates of the books we love and review for. Even if it's a bad review, it can spark discussion, and I think that's also key. Relationships I've built through this blogging community have been a true blessing. Fellow readers, bloggers, authors and publishers, many have become friends, and that's just amazing!  Joining publicity tours is a great way to get your blog going, and it also helps with traffic flow, especially tours with giveaways.

Rachel: It's never been about the numbers for me. My goal, my heart, is to build relationship with authors, bloggers, readers, etc...THAT is why I do what I do. I long to see CF become known for what it is. Good, quality books that leave you encouraged, speak to your heart, challenge you, build your faith...And make you swoon at the romance that is portrayed in the RIGHT way...the way that God intended. Events like Facebook parties are FUN! And a great way to connect with others. My hubby makes fun of me for these "virtual parties"...But I mean, who wouldn't enjoy a party in your PJs, curled up on your comfy couch, steaming cup of tea (coffee), and chatting about books...

That "little" thing that has brought us all together and connects us across the miles. Community is essential. Our blogging journeys are all very different and we can learn so much from each other.I have people in my inner circle, giving me advice, asking for MY advice and supporting and encouraging each other.

Beth: I love seeing that invisible wall between authors and readers come down. Building relationships is the most rewarding aspect of blogging for me. Brainstorming and collaborating with other bookish people is great fun!

Carrie: Relationship, relationship, relationship. Blogging takes so. much. time. lol but the RELATIONSHIPS I've built - with authors, readers, other bloggers, publishers, and even publicity groups have made it FUN and meaningful. And I love what you all have said about being an advocate for Christian fiction - that's why I do this! One of the most fun things EVER is getting to be a steward for the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat with Annie as well as Bonnie Roof. I think that collage of pics taken at CFRR2016 show how the relationships we've built through blogging and reviewing are some of our most treasured!

  

THANK YOU, Seekerville, for letting us chat about what we love doing! Do y'all have any burning blogging questions that we can help answer? We promise to tell you everything we know - or make something up! 😉

Annie, Beth, Carrie, and Rachel are book bloggers and reading addicts with a passion for Christian Fiction and connecting with readers and authors. 

Follow the links below to learn more.

Just Commonly | Faithfully Bookish | Reading is my SuperPower | Bookworm Mama 

Oh my stars, these amazing women have not only sent us the perfect blog, they've sent us the perfect blog about blogging.... WITH FOUR BOOK GIVEAWAYS!!!! Thank you, ladies!!!!!

I brought coffee and tea, scones and fresh jam, some sweetened cream and curd... and toasted, salted almond biscotti because it seemed somehow correct to do so! Leave a comment to be entered into the drawing for one of these delightful books....

   One lucky winner will get all four books.... but make sure you leave a comment to be entered, my friends!!!!