Friday, January 3, 2014

5 Tips for Successful Blogging by Melissa Snark

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Melissa Snark

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5 Tips for Successful Blogging

Just over a year ago, I started my blog, The Snarkology. At the time, I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. Honestly, I wasn't one hundred percent sure I really wanted a blog, but common wisdom held that a successful author must have one.

In the last twelve months, I've experimented with various formats and types of content. Some things work, some don't. To my great surprise, I discovered that I really enjoy blogging. Here's what I've learned...

1. Blogging is all about social reach. For the introverted writer, this may be enough to send you scurrying back into your writer's hole where you slam the door and bar it shut. But it doesn't need to be all that scary.  Here are some simple suggestions:
  • Always make sure your social media buttons are visible on your blog: Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Tumbler, etc. You don't have to be active on all of them but choose at least one or two.
  • Accept friend requests and don't be afraid to send them out.
  • Comment on other blogs. Be sure to use your name and your blog's name and URL. If you make an informative or interesting comment, readers will be drawn to your site.

2. Always be polite. Say welcome, please and thank you. Follow a few simple guidelines for interacting online:
  • If you're the host blog, make a reasonable effort to assure that your guest feels comfortable. Leave a comment welcoming them to your blog and thank them for visiting with you.
  • If you're a guest on someone else's blog, then be sure to respond to reader's comments and thank your hostess for her hospitality.

3. Content is king.  Some bloggers post exclusively to their blog, others invite guests. Some bloggers update infrequently, others daily. Whatever your choice, always remember that you are writing for your readers.

Some blogs fit into a specific niche. Others cover a broader range of topics. But even within a specialty, there's room for variety. Don't be afraid to experiment to learn what works and what doesn't.

Potential sources of fresh and interesting material can include:
  • Guest bloggers who supply author interviews, character interviews, guest posts and promotional material
  • Book promotional tour companies can be a great way to obtain fresh material and also to make new contacts. There are a number of promo companies out there and they are always looking for tour hosts.
  • Your very own fertile imagination. For example, when I don't know what to write about, I always make fun of Mr. Snark and everything proceeds splendidly from there.

4. Appearances matter. A few suggestions for attractive, readable posts:
  • Try for an eye-catching and attractive layout.
  • Whether you're on Blogger, Wordpress, or some other forum, do your level best to master formatting basics. Go for a clean layout and readable text.  No one is going to want to read your post when the contrasting red text on purple background makes their head explode.

5. Pictures are good. This is totally subjective and I have no supporting evidence but I vaguely recall reading somewhere that people are more likely to spend time on a site that has interesting images.

To demonstrate, here is a picture of a pretty fruit. I'm sure you read to the very end of my blog article because this is here!


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Author Bio:

Melissa Snark is an erotic romance and paranormal fantasy novelist. She lives in Northern California with her husband, three children and a glaring of domestic house cats.

Where to find Melissa Snark on the Internet:


Website
Blog
Email:  melissasnark at gmail.com
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page


Originally posted on Sandy Wolters blog 12/19/2013.

2 comments:

  1. Well..for the fruit picture to attract my attention, I would have had to know it was there...since I have the font fairly large, I didn't see it at first, lol. However, it is a very nice picture. Thanks for the tips, very practical.

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    1. E.L.F.
      Well, shoot. Next time I'll have to move the fruity picture to the top of the post. ;-) Thanks for dropping by!

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