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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Monotony of A Book Blog : Boring Things I Find in Bookish Blogosphere

Hello dearest readers, great to see you again! I am so in the mood to talk about blogging things, so let's talk about a book blog. Yes, the kind we mostly read regularly and even you might have one too! I enjoy reading book blogs and I have tons of them on my subscribing list. It's fun to see what other bloggers read and find out whether they like their recently read books. I also love the discussions they create, because that's why we set up or blog, to have a conversation. Anyway, there are a few things I find to be not that great that spread around book blogs. Here there are:


Too many memes
This is my biggest pet peeve! Sure, I get it some blogger participate in memes because they want to socialize and have some fun. There's nothing wrong with it, actually and it's fun to do. Still, I notice many blogs are infested with it and it's not cool anymore. I even stopped by on blogs that are the meme host and have no other content other than the memes they created. I mean, what's the point? If I want memes, I'd go straight to Pinterest and look for them. Your readers want to read your content and since you have started a blog, you might as well serve them with something to read.

Too many reviews
Let me make my self clear, I like reading reviews but please don't post 100% reviews on your blog. I even did this in the past and it makes my blog so boring. If one wants to read reviews, he/she could go straight to Goodreads or Amazon. Of course you don't want to be Goodreads or Amazon copycats. You are a blogger, you have a unique voice, use them. Write other things you find interesting, share them with your readers. They wouldn't mind reading your personal story from time to time and it's actually good to add some personal touch on your blog.

Too many cover reveals
Yawn ... yawn ... It's quite an irony, actually. I love pretty covers, but I don't care about cover reveal posts. Perhaps it's because I don't wait for books to be published (except for ASOIAF book 6). Other than the "released" news, I don't pay attention to them. Too much cover reveal makes your blog look more like a community board. It has many "contents" but people would just pass it by.

Too many giveaways
Can a blog have too many giveaways? I think it can. While giving your readers incentive can be good in the long run, doing too much of them will draw their attention away from your own contents. It's sad, I know and sure you don't want your readers to stop by on your blog just because they look for prize they could win. Instead, do it in intervals, monthly perhaps, so you will have enough contents of other topics for your readers to read. 

* * * * *

Those are the things I find boring. Notice the keyword "too many". These stuffs actually are nice to have, but when they're are being overdone, they will make your blog look infested will "fillers" and that actually you don't really care about writing a meaningful blog post. There, I said it! Your turn, what's the most boring thing you find around the blogosphere?


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Comments (14)

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Yesssssssss!!!

Heck- this is true of most of the blogosphere in regards to reviews (I like book/movie/tv reviews but...come on, talk to us!), giveaways and memes/linkups. When I see a blog that is 99% reviews/giveaways- I know why they blog- to get free stuff. I unsub and never visit again!

Love this Citra!
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1 reply · active 545 weeks ago
Hi Jaime,
Great to hear from you again :) Yeah, it annoys me as a reader, when I read blogs, I am looking for something I can relate to. I (and many people) can't relate on excessive fillers.
Yeah, I also don't like too much of one variety in a blog. Too many memes is also really boring. I like to read articles/opinion pieces, reviews, maybe some book-related news, etc. Giveaways are also not the best way to build readership anyway, because most people who enter giveaways won't come back after the giveaway is over, or engage in the blog content >_<
My recent post
1 reply · active 545 weeks ago
Agreed. The best way to attract readers is to provide contents they need. I hope newbie bloggers not to fall on this trap where they force theirselves to hold a giveaway when they can't afford it. Most blog readers don't expect anyway, and you don't want to attract the wrong crowd a.k.a freebies hunters.
Nah, I posted memes, because sometimes I just want to participate in my friend memes because they already participated in mine. But yes, I agree that too many memes is not good. I once target myself that in 5 days a week I'll post something in blog, whether it's a meme, or review, or opinion or anything. But with my busy schedule right now, I'm blogging just when in the mood :/

As for giveaway, I just have challenge giveaway, and I think monthly giveaway (aside from blogoversary) worked best for me.

Do not like cover reveal. What the essential of the cover reveal anyway? I'll see it on Goodreads, tho.

Also do not like excerpt post and I have a mix feeling about blog tour. But, you once said that "your blog is your rule", Citra, so that's why I don't visit blogs that just have blog tour material. Hard to believe their reviews too, tho.

Sorry, too long :P. tl;dr I agree 100% with this post.
1 reply · active 545 weeks ago
I can relate to you completely, Ren. We all want to make our readers feel welcome. If the giveaway works for you, by all means, do it. I am a proponent of it, actually, as long as it's in moderation. I don't understand the point of book tours either. I reckon it's a way for publishers/authors to spread their message, but I personally have no idea on how to make it interesting enough and look less like ads. That's why I personally don't do them.

Many bloggers can do it well, though, so I say, more power to them. I guess the point is, do whatever is comfortable for you. I participate in memes in the past, I think they're fun. I have outgrown them, I guess ^_^

Aww ... no need to apologize, I truly appreciate your comment. Thank you! :D
I understand in a lot of these! I think too many memes and too many cover reveals can definitely get boring. To avoid having too many reviews I post three times a week, two of which are reviews and one is a something different post! I think giveaways can be done weekly or even twice a week though, I don't mind those. It's just giving readers more access to books! Either way, great post ;)

Check out my review and giveaway: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/10/sedich...
My recent post Sedich (Review &amp; Giveaway!)
1 reply · active 545 weeks ago
Hi Olivia,
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am glad you have find the right combination on how often to post reviews non reviews. This is something I still have to learn because in the past, I post whenever I feel like it, which is very counterproductive :|

I like your idea on giving readers more access to books. I will definitely consider it xD
Hi Citra,

I agree re: too many memes or giveaways. I post book reviews and helpful writing tips for the most part. Occasionally I'll do a meme or giveaway. I feel like I connect more with my readers by discussing books. I'm going to think twice about doing another giveaway. It's time consuming and the postage adds up when mailing the book out.
MaryJane :) :D
1 reply · active 544 weeks ago
Hi MJ Brodeck,
Thank your for stopping by. If you are comfortable with your giveaways, by all means do them. Just make sure they don't outshine your blog post :) Your contents are the stars, let them shine xD
I love my giveaways, and I always make sure I post my reviews where I can for the author because I know many are self publishing and need the support where they can get it. I am not a "blogger" in the true sense of the word because I mainly post quotes and reviews on my booklikes and goodreads accounts; then on my google + I do my reviews, garden picture. I am not a writer, but I can say that the "blog tour" posts get a little too much. And as for the giveaways, even though I love them, I've seen some people give away tons of their stuff and I get concerned. At some point there's the effort needed to get the book out there for reviews and advertising, but at the same time the author deserves to make some money. I like to see authors blog about what they are doing, doesn't have to be overly personal, doesn't have to be a daily thing, but knowing they do have interests and things in the works, are things I like. Access is good, but the author, I think, needs to find a good balance for them. What they are working on, what they are reading, etc.
1 reply · active 544 weeks ago
You're absolutely right, Brenna, the key is to balance it all. Giveaway is a good incentive for your readers, it shows that they are appreciated and welcome. Too many of them would make it meaningless. Imagine a blog with daily giveaway. I like getting prizes, but come on! I don't know about others but it's like trying to buy your readers and in long term it's not good.

I don't really read authors blog, I think I should. It would be great to add a new perspective in author's point of view xD
Totally agree! Sites that are all covers/giveaways/reviews/interviews make me yawn. I want original content!
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1 reply · active 541 weeks ago
I too love original content, Martha. To be honest, I don't really read reviews other than on books I have read. When looking for something to read, I much prefer picking it blindly. However, in my case reviews are what get me visitors from search engine and they're evergreen contents, so yes, I will keep on writing them (not to mention that writing them are kind of fun) :D

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