These posts are meant to bring about some conversation, discussion, and perhaps even a debate. These discussion posts can occur at varying days of the week, mostly depending upon what's scheduled on the blog and what I feel like discussing.
I mentioned something along the lines of "how do I get more readers to look at my blog?" the other day on Twitter, and I started talking to Natalie @ Novel Reads about this dilemma.
I know that I'm still a fairly new-ish blogger, and with my URL move and all, it's even more confusing for some people. But I do think I've been trying a lot harder, both for myself and for my audience. I know I don't have to post every day, and the main reason that's been able to happen is that I had a bunch of old reviews that I wanted to circulate out after my URL switch. I try to have original content and make my reviews interesting or insightful to read. I try to sort of promote my blog via Twitter.
I mean, yes, I still blog for myself. I don't necessarily think about my stats and my page views or anything like that, but as much as many of us hate to admit it, it is important sometimes. Plus, I like knowing that people do read what I put out there. I want to blog because I want to talk about books and TV shows and music and movies. That's part of the reason why I LOVE comments. I want to talk to you guys! (And extra shout out to Cait @ Notebook Sisters for constantly commenting on my posts.)
So what I want to know is, how do you think is the best way to increase readership and reach a larger audience? Is there any way other than time and chance/luck? What makes you follow or read a blog's content? And just for me to know, why do you/do you not come back to Fly to Fiction and read my posts/reviews?
EEEEEE. My name. x) *blushes* Thanks for the shout out. I love your blog because I think you're a super nice person and I like talking to you!! (On twitter too!) I love how you don't JUST post reviews...so the discussions are probably my favourite, and also when you do random posts and just...it all, basically. x) How specific am I, right?!
ReplyDeleteI really sucked at blog audiences until late last year...and then I kind of learnt a secret. Be friendly. It's kind of hard for me because I get REALLY nervous around people! The kind of "omg, am I saying something dumb?" Now I just say the dumb stuff and talk to lots of bloggers and go on lots of blogs aaaaand...I know so many awesome bloggers I JUST CAN'T EVEN. YOU ARE ALL WONDERFUL.
hehe No problem! :) Awww, thank you so much! So glad you like the discussion posts. I've kinda burned out on new ideas, but hopefully I'll have more up soon. And yay for random posts! :P Hahaha, no worries! Thank you so much *hugs* And I love Notebook Sisters. You (both) always make me laugh :D
DeleteOoo, I'm the same (as in being nervous around people not blog audience). I try to talk to as many bloggers/people as I can, but many of them just talk to me on Twitter and don't stop by often. Hopefully it'll change a bit! :)
AND YOU ARE WONDERFUL
I agree with Cait and just to get to know the people in the community :-) I don't have a huge audience but I love my blogger friends and the folks that visit my blog. I try to respond to comments and visit their blogs though I usually fail at these things. I think also being yourself and putting your heart in your reviews and posts helps. Of course, unique content always helps. I tend to visit blogs where I have a similar taste in books, they are a close bloggy friend, or they have interesting discussion posts or an unique feature.
ReplyDeleteI love my blogger friends too! I try to talk to as many as I can, even if I get nervous often. I always like to respond to comments when I can since I get so few of them, and I'm trying to be better about commenting on other people's blogs, but when I barely even have time to post on my own, it's tough.
DeleteOhh, awesome. Thanks for the advice! :)
Gaining a readership has been something that I've struggled with even after two years of book blogging. Like at the end of the day, I'm still blogging because I enjoy it but it's also really nice to see that people actually read your blog and appreciate your content. And being totally honest here: sometimes, I wonder how some people who have been blogging less than I have were able to so quickly pick up readers. It's not wondering in a mean way like they're so much worse than I am but I'm just genuinely curious (and maybe a tad envious), what makes people come to your blog and stay? I feel like I've been blogging for a pretty substantial amount of time but this is still something that I am so clueless about. But I try not to think too much when blogging about will this get me more readers because I don't think that's a super healthy way to go. I like to just do my own thing, have fun and if great things happen, then they'll happen but if they don't, that's okay too because I love blogging and I'll keep doing it because I love it!
ReplyDeleteRight, exactly!
DeleteMe too :/
Yeah! That's definitely the best way to go :)