Lights, Camera, Action! Video Options for Bloggers

by Donna Huber

Have you tried to add video to your repretoire? A couple of years ago I tried to raise the presence of Girl Who Reads on YouTube by doing a weekly "What am I reading" video. They were decently received, but they were time consuming and no one seemed to miss them when I stopped.

I recently went to a Digital Storytelling conference and of course the main topic was video.

Video has seen increasing interest, and there are many more ways than YouTube to share video. How many of you have a SnapChat account? (that's one social media channel I haven't jumped on, but it is an option). You can post video to Instagram.

While book trailers have always been a bit of a hit or miss, there are some new options for those interested in doing more video.

Both Facebook and Twitter have LIVE video options. These options would be good for a Q&A or a book club type discussion. Have you tried Facebook Live or Periscope (Twitter's live video option)? A few of tips on being successful that I garnered from the talk by a Facebook executive

1. Give advance noticed. Advertise your Live event much as you would any big promotional activity you do. Some business managers and such are setting regular days/times for these Live chats and usuing them kind of like open office hours.
2. Videos should be at least 10 minutes long. This will allow for stragglers to join in as their friends and collegues make mention that they are attending the live event.
3. Make a transcript of the event to post afterwards.

Another tip shared during the talk about videos on Facebook was that videos with closed captions get more engagement than those that are audio alone. I know I often rather read the captioning than listening to the video. Also, it makes your videos more accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing.

During the talk about reaching Generation Z, it was commented that they are more interested in knowing the people behind the brand. They are looking for personal connections. When I did my weekly vlogs, many people commented on my accent. It was something people would never know if they were just reading my words on the screen.

You may be thinking that this is all well and good, but you don't have video equipment or the knowledge to pull off a slick production. Well, there is good news on that front as well.

The video capabilities of smartphones are always getting better and there are a few free video editing programs available. During the Facebook talk it was mentioned that people aren't put off by amatuer video. In some cases it provides a more personal touch.

If you have a steady hand and a decent smartphone, I encourage you to give video a try.

I recently videoed a bit of my Special Collections Libraries tour. These videos then were shared on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and this site. Click the link above to see the videos. They are definitely amateur, but it was fun and I think added a little something special to the post.

So what should you make a video of?

• If you do an overview of your week, consider doing a video instead of a write up (or both if you don't include captions on the video).
• A tour of your "library". Show off your bookshelves and reading piles.
• Did you travel some where fun? Shoot a minute or two of video and share it on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
• Attend a bookish event and film a few minutes to give your readers a feel for what it was like to be there.
• Anything else that will share a bit of who you are with your readers.

Tips for making a good video:

• Good lighting, though in front of windows isn't always the best option. The changing daylight can cast unwanted shadows.
• Pick an interesting, but not overly busy, background (stay away from the paisley and striped wallpaper!). 
• When possible, outline what you will say to keep yourself from rambling or forgetting what you wanted to say.
• Walk slowly and do not turn quickly if doing a moving video.
• Consider a tripod for stationary shots.
• Do not zoom when you can walk closer. You lose resolution when you zoom. This is particularly important if using a smartphone.

I would love to know how you have used video in your book blogging. Have you used it for teasers or do you fully video blog? What tips do you have to share?

Donna Huber, founder & publisher. Donna is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

3 Best Practices for Writing Content on the Web

by Donna Huber

A few weeks ago I took an online course offered by HubSpot Academy. I thought one of the classes was particularly applicable to book bloggers. It was about creating remarkable content and offered a number of tips that amounted to best practices for writing for the web.

1. Pick a topic and a title

Picking a topic is often easy for book bloggers - it is the book they just finished. There are other topics that book bloggers can write about: author news and interviews, recommended reading and other themed lists, how to fit reading into busy schedules, etc.

A title can be a bit more of challenge.

You want your title to contain keywords that people would use when searching for the topic of your post. For this post the title could be 'web writing best practices' (this is the title I started with, we'll see if it makes the cut in the end), 'how to write an outstanding post', or 'tips for writing on the web'.

It is best to start with one title and then after the post is written go back and optimize it. You want to make sure what your readers will be getting from the post is stated in your title.

One last tip about titles: Shorten the title so that it will show up in its entirety in Google search. Currently Google only shows between 50 and 60 characters when it returns search results.

If you can't get it below 60 characters, make sure the most important words are at the beginning of the title.

Read more: What to Title Your Posts

2. Format and optimize your post

You always want to focus first on writing quality content, but once you have a great post written you should consider the design.

If you have been looking for information about web writing, then you know about using headers, number or bullet lists, white space, bold text and images to make your content easier and more attractive to read. These are particularly important if you write longer content.

If you are interested in how many words a post should be, read Copy Blogger's statistics on content word count. It boils down to people are busy so only write as many words as is required to get your point across.

In the course I took, they mentioned two more features that are important for SEO when formating web content: long-tail keywords and internal/external links.This is the opitmization portion of the design.

What is long-tail keywords and how should it be used in web writing?
Are you scratching your head at 'long-tail keywords'? Don't worry; you're not alone, which is why I wrote a post on keyword SEO basics. Whereas a keyword may be a generic word or phrase,  long-tailed keywords is more specific and is usually a phrase. For the example, if the keyword for your post was romance novels, you probably won't rank very high in search results because it's too broad. A long-tail keyword would be steamy romance novels.

You want to make sure you are using your long-tail keyword/phrase in:

• page title
• url
• post title
• image alt-text
• headers
• the body of the post. The phrase/words should be used naturally. You don't have to repeat the exact phrase or word, use synonyms.

When writing for the web you should include links to other material.
The one optimization trick that book bloggers most often miss is the inclusion of links to other content. You might include a link to Amazon or other retailer or perhaps link to Goodreads for people to read the summary, but that's about it.

The instructor of the class recommended 1 - 2 links per paragraph. I think that might be a bit much for a book review. Yet, I do think reviewers can include 3 - 5 links per post.

You will want a mix of internal links (content that is on your site) and external links (content on other sites). So far I have included 6 links to other content in this post. Four are internal links to other content on Girl Who Reads and two are external links.

Internal links keep people on your site, while external links help increase your page rank score.

Have you reviewed other books by the same author or perhaps you ran an interview with the author. Linking to those posts are great options for internal links. As for external links, most authors now have a website or blog and you can link to those (if you can find a specific post where the author talks about the book, it would be better than just link to the homepage). Also you can look for interviews or guest posts the author has done and link to them.

For links to really help with SEO, you should link text that also includes your long-tail keywords or pertinent to the content you are linking to. Do NOT use 'click here' or other variations. For examples of better text linking, see my examples in this post.

3. Include a Call to Action (CTA)

After reading your post, what do you want people to do? If it is a book review and you are an Amazon affiliate, you more than likely want people to go to Amazon and buy the book. In this case your CTA may be 'Buy Now at Amazon'.

A CTA can be a button, a link, or even an image. Try different ways of presenting your CTA to see what works best for you.

Other CTAs may be signing up for your mailing list or following your blog. These CTAs can be in your post or in the side bar. Typically they occur at the end of the post, but you can have a CTA after the first few paragraphs that is in the form of  a passive link. A passive link CTA usually starts with 'learn more', 'read more', 'get info', etc.

CTAs typically lead to a landing page, but book bloggers do not typically have an offer that fits a landing page. However, if you offer something in exchange for signing up for a newsletter, then you may want to consider creating a landing page. But that is a post for another day.


So there you have it: 3 Best Practices for Writing Content on the Web. Whether you are writing a book review, a how to article, or an interview, incorporating these elements into your post will help get your content found, read, and shared.

Donna Huber, founder & publisher. Donna is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. She reads most genres, but her favorite books are psychological thrillers and stories that highlight the survival of the human spirit against unbelievable circumstances.

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Quick Tip for More Facebook Page Likes

by Donna Huber

Are you missing this easy way of increading likes on your Facebook page?

It is wonderful when your Facebook content gets shared by others on their timelines. For me it is often an author who wants to show of the awesome review their book received at Girl Who Reads. Then their friends and fan like the post (the one that is my page). However, that person hasn't visited my page and therefore haven't liked.

Or perhaps they saw the post when one of their friends liked the post on my page and then they likes the post.  Either way, there are people are liking posts on my page that have not liked my page.

Hopefully if they liked one post on my page they will like (as in enjoy, not the Facebook "like") other things I post. But unless they "liked" my page, they won't see all the wonderful content I share.

Thankfully, there is an easy way to address this issue. You invite them to like your page.

First, click on the line that shows who has liked your post. The list of people will pop up that looks like this:

It will show you who has liked your page and who hasn't liked your page. For those who have not liked your page, the buton will say "invite" (once you click it, the box changes to "invited"). Now the ball is in their court.

Will everyone like your page? Probably not. As you can see in the image above, two people whom I've invited to like my page have not responded to the invitation. But more often than not, the person will like my page after being invited.

Will this get you a ton new likes? Not really. But it doesn't take much time to click the button and every new like means your reach goes a little bit further. And since they already liked something you posted, it is pretty good odds that you will be able to convert them into a true fan. (Unlike with some Facebook liking schemes such as giveaway entries).

So the next time you post on your Facebook page, don't leave potential likes on the table. Take a second to check out who liked it and make sure they have liked your page.

And since we are talking about gaining likes on Facebook pages, have you liked mine yet? https://www.facebook.com/Girl-Who-Reads-273856382671730/

Leave a link to your Facebook page in the comments so we can all check them out.



Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Drive More Traffic to Your Site With This Trick

by Donna Huber

Girl Who Reads just finished two big blog events - April's A to Z Challenge and ArmchairBEA. These are big events both in the terms of the number of participants, the number of blog posts/topics, the amount of traffic a blog gets and commenting.

There is a lesson to be learned from these events that I think is often overlooked. Yet if bloggers employed it not only during challenges but also during their regular blogging business they would drive more traffic to their site every day.

Blogging challenges are often about visiting other blogs and leaving comments. Everyone loves to get comments on their posts (see Why You Should Leave a Comment), but did you know leaving comments on other blogs can drive traffic to your site?

Leave Comments on Other Blogs

One of the trends I saw in the A to Z Challenge was a lot of people saying that they were only visiting those blogs that had left a comment on their posts. If you have never heard of the A to Z Challenge a bunch of blogs, of all types, not just book bloggers, participate. It's in the thousands.

Participants had to manage the sheer volume somehow. And truth be told, towards the end I started only going to the blogs that left a comment on my blog.

You are probably asking how they find your blog from a comment.

Leave a Calling Card

A few blogs are still using the third party comment app CommentLuv, though its use seems to be dwindling. The nice thing about CommentLuv was that it would provide a link to your latest post.

The good thing is you don't need CommentLuv to leave a link to your blog in the comments. I like to think of it as a calling card and use it as a signature - Donna from Girl Who Reads.

I use to think that it was spamming and as there are other benefits to leaving a link it is used by spammers. But if you leave a thoughtful, applicable comment that adds to the discussion or makes a relevant point, a comment where it is obvious that you are not just commenting to gain SEO points, then I believe it is not a spam tactic.

Now you could just type out your URL - http://www.girl-who-reads.com. However, this requires the person to copy and paste the URL into their browser. And we know how busy we all are, so you want to make it as easy as possible for readers to get to your blog. To do this you just need a simple string of HTML code:

<a href=URL>NAME</a>

Replace URL with the URL to your blog or a specific post. For me, it is http://www.girl-who-reads.com.

Replace NAME with your name or other text. For me, Donna from Girl Who Reads

Who Will Use the Link?

You may be thinking, 'Donna, this sounds great, but I don't want just other bloggers visiting. I want new readers."

While it is true at first that the only person who may follow a link left in comments is the blogger, it does not exclude others from following it. Especially if a conversation gets started around the comment you left. Also, if the blogger likes your content they may include a link to your blog on their blogroll or share it on their social media channels.

The important thing to keep in mind is to leave a worthy comment. That comment will be the first introduction to your writing. Put some thought into it.

Do not limit yourself to book bloggers (whatever kind of blogger you are). Just because someone doesn't blog about books, doesn't mean they aren't readers. During the A to Z Challenge, I met several lifestyle and entertainment bloggers who love to read.

Ideas for Comments

I know leaving comments can be difficult. Here are a few ideas you can use when the content doesn't spark any original ideas.

• "I love historical romance and that book sounds great. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I recently read BOOK TITLE and you can read my review here (link to your review)"
• "This is a new-to-me author, but I'm going to have to check her out. Thanks for sharing. Donna from Girl Who Reads"
• For a movie blog "I too thought the movie was well done, but I like the book a little bit more here's my review"

How often do you comment on other blogs? Do you leave a link to your blog when you write a comment?

Donna Huber, founder & publisher. Donna is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. She reads most genres, but her favorite books are psychological thrillers and stories that highlight the survival of the human spirit against unbelievable circumstances.

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

R is for Review Extras #AtoZChallenge

by Donna Huber

You've read an awesome book and you've raved about how awesome the book was, but you still feel like your review needs something more. There are several options for review extras and some may draw in more people than a review alone would.

1. Pictures

We all know that pictures enhance blog posts. Most book reviewers insert the book's cover into their review, but did you know other images can be powerful additions to your review? During this challenge I've been creating "feature images" at the top of each post. I put the title of the post on the image and it makes a great image for social media.

You can also include the book cover in the post image like I did for E is for Emma Thompson's Reading of The Turn of the Screw.

Is the book you are reviewing take you to an interesting locale? Mention historical or famous landmarks? Consider including pictures. Be mindful of copyright. It is always best to use your own pictures, but there are sites that offer Creative Commons or Public Domain images that are free to use. I like using Wikimedia Commons and Libre Stock (it's like a database of sites offering free images).

2. Quotes

Poignant quotes or emotional passages from the book can also be a nice addition. When Alison did her K is for Kiss and Tale post, she included the passages that surrounded the kiss.

I love when authors and publicists send me image quotes like the one I used in Joan Cusack Handler's guest post on Monday.

It is a double bonus since it is a quote and an image. Again, great for sharing your review on social media like Instagram and Pinterest.

3. Recipes

A number of books feature food and drink and a recipe can be a great extra for bringing in people who might not regularly read book blogs. I have featured cocktail recipes and recently after reading a few books set in New Orleans I included a recipe for beignets. Alison routinely provides a sweet snack pairing with her book reviews.

Add in a picture of the food or drink and again your review can be a big hit on social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram.

I haven't tried this but it is an idea - if the main character has a hobby or maybe a career with an activity like making jewelry or refurbishing furniture perhaps you could include a simple project for your readers.

4. Embedded Content

Did you know you can embed sample chapters and in some cases audio book clips into your review post?

To embed the sample chapters, you just need to go to the book's page at Amazon and look on the right hand side under the click to buy button. There will be an "embed" link near the share buttons. Click the link and it will bring up the code you need to use to embed the content (make sure you click the radio button for the embed code). If you are an Amazon affiliate, you can add your affiliate id so that if people purchase the book after reading the sample chapters you get credit.

Check out my post for A Bandit's Tale to see what the embedded chapters look like.

You can embed video from YouTube that is related to the book. Deborah Harkness, author of the All Souls Trilogy, did a walking tour of Oxford and related places to her books. I've also grabbed interviews and book trailers. Sometimes the author, publisher or publicist will send me the content. Other times I search the publisher's YouTube channel or visit the author's website.

Remember. my E post I mentioned above? I embedded a clip from the audio book. Audible offers a number of sample clips on SoundCloud that you can get the embed code for. This is great for reviewers who do a lot of audio book reviews, but even if you read the book it can be a nice review extra to include in your post.

The next time you write a book review, get creative and stand out from the crowd by including one or more review extra.

What review "extras" do you include with your reviews or like to see with reviews?

Donna Huber, founder & publisher. Donna is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour. She reads most genres, but her favorite books are psychological thrillers and stories that highlight the survival of the human spirit against unbelievable circumstances. 

Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Build Online Relationships with Engaging Content

by Donna Huber

I'm back with another Tips on Thursday post. I know at the end of last year I thought I would discontinue this feature, but after a couple of months I found I missed it. Also at the end of the year I was trying to stave off burn-out and didn't feel like I had any more information to share. Well, a break has done wonders and I find myself with a lot I want to share. I probably won't go back to weekly posts, but will definitely be doing a monthly Tips feature.

I've been participating in a group to encourage engagement on variou social media channels. You know, in an effort to make social media social again. But it has me wondering if people know how to socialize any more.

The point of the group is to have discussions, but I was surprised by the number of posts that were nothing more than "buy my book", "this book is now on sale" and other iterations. Seriously, some of them had no text beyond "get this genre novel for 99 cents". There was no context to start a conversation. Honestly, it had the absolute opposite effect on me than the author wanted.

I was looking to connect with people with a shared interest and instead I was advertised to.

According to this blog post, a consumer is bombarded with 300 - 700 marketing messages each day. I didn't need to go looking for more advertisements.

I was surmised 3 possibilities why people think 'buy me' posts equate to engaged posts.

1. People don't see the point
2. They don't know how to craft an engaging post
3. They just don't care

Why should I create an engaging post?

A post that makes a person think is more likely to be remembered. I can't name one book from last week that was mentioned in a "buy my book" post though there was a couple of boxed sets advertised. However, I do remember the post about Irish legends, Native American folklore, a reality that sounds like science fiction, and even one on choosing the appropriate beer for St. Patrick's Day.

These posts made a lasting impression on me. They also showed off the author's writing ability. SHOWING me you can write is better than TELLING me you can write (or have other people telling me).

I'm horrible with names, but I will remember small details of conversations we have. The more memorable the conversation, the more likely I will recognize your name when I see it attached to something else.

Also, an engaged reader will continue to come back for more. And you will get more opportunities to sell your book to the person.

Don't believe me? Check out this post on Hootsuite's blog, which starts off:

It’s no secret: The better you know your audience, the better you will be at engaging with them. The better you are at engaging with them, the stronger the relationships you will build with them. And the stronger the relationship with them, the easier it will be to sell to them.

How do I write an engaging post?

When you sit down to write your post, approach it as a conversation and not a lecture. A conversation requires participation by two or more people, whereas a lecture is just one person talking.

Right now, this post is a lecture. While you may be enjoying the information I'm providing, there is no required action on your part. How can I turn that around? How can I make this more interactive?

In face-to-face conversations there are natural opportunities for others to interject. It is not as easy in blog posts, though other social media channels make it much easier because they are set-up to be more dynamic.

Asking questions, presenting a problem, stating a position can all encourage dialogue.

Examples of Engaging Content

Ask questions of your readers. Perhaps you think that tweaking your back cover blurb will increase sales. Ask your readers which blurb is more appealing and for any suggestions they may have. I asked two questions above and I didn't answer them. I think it is important to pose questions that you don't necessarily have an answer to. You can always follow-up with your ideas in the comments.

Present a problem such "I'm having trouble finding time to write. I need to find a better work/life/writing balance". People will offer their opinion on how to balance your time. As your target audience aren't necessarily other writers make sure it is a problem they can relate to - most people have struggled with life/work balance. I presented a problem with this post - creating engaging content.

Stating a position is opening yourself up to debate. And while it can create some of the greatest conversations, it is also the hardest to do. In one of last week's tweets an author put forth that there's no such thing as a fascinating woman. That was an excellent starting point for an extended conversation. I came back with I didn't agree with that statement. I expected the author to come back with an explanation of why they did or did not agree with the statement. I got a sad face which I couldn't figure out if it meant the author was sad that I didn't agree with them or it it meant they were sad about the statement. Either way it didn't encourage further conversation.

I debated how to start this post because I stated a position that others may see as an attack, which is not what I'm doing at all. By the number of articles out there on engaging audiences, it is a far larger problem than just what I'm seeing within this group. By the way, I think this article has great tips on creating engaging content.

(Side note: this group I'm part of is relatively new and a learning curve is to be expected. I've noticed better content this week.)

What does it take to engage your audience?

• It takes work. I've been working on this article for a few days. While I've only been writing it for two days, I've been thinking about it and searching sources for a a little more than a week.
• It takes time. You have to build an audience. You have learn what your audience wants. You have to build trust and a relationship. All of that takes time. Don't get discouraged if you only get a few comments (or even none), keep working on it. 
• It takes diligence. You can't just put up a post and forget about it. Continue the conversation in the comments. That is where the real engagement and relationship building occurs.

What do you think? What do you do to engage your audience on social media?




Get even more book news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mHTVL. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Related articles

• Get above the noise: Using social media to promote your content (webinar) (venturebeat.com)

Why You Should Leave a Comment

by Donna Huber

You just read a great article online and you thought to yourself 'that's a great read' and you might even share it to Facebook or Twitter, but then you move on.

But the author of the article never knew you liked their article. Sure they can see that it was shared so many times (though it is a bit more difficult to track that on Twitter now), but they don't know that you personally shared it and enjoyed their article.

That is why it is important to leave a comment.

You might not think that leaving a "great article" comment is important or even worth the effort. However, I can tell you as a writer there is nothing that puts a smile on my face faster than seeing someone leaving a comment, even if it is just "great article".

Why is it important and has me doing the happy dance?

Because it let me know, one, a real person read my article. I can look all day at the numbers my metrics. But some of those numbers are robots or scammers. And the ones that aren't are just hypothetical people that I know only what the numbers tell me. But to see a real comment (as oppose to the scammers that want to get a link on my blog), lets me know that there is a real person reading what I wrote and did enjoy it and didn't just mindlessly share what everyone else is sharing.

While you might think leaving a comment saying "great article" is meaningless. It is not. I know the time you took to actually type that comment. I participate often in a weekly meme and it takes effort to leave a comment. And you know what? Most of comments are "that book sounds interesting" and "not really the book I typically read". Not really profound statements.

So the next time you read an article you enjoy consider leaving a comment to let the writer know exactly that. Your comment doesn't have to "add" to the conversation or be some profound statement to be appreciated by the writer.

And you know what else? When one person comments it makes it more likely another person will also comment. So what do you say? Want to make a writer happy today?


Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

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Tips of 2015

by Donna Huber

A little present from me to you - all the tips posts of 2015 in one place. Whether you need content ideas or exploring a new social media platform in the new year, I hope you will find useful information that you may have missed or overlooked in the first time around. There's even a few tips for readers and authors.

Blogging Goals for 2015
Facebook Changes and Your Promotion
Expanding Beyond the Blog
Join a Book Club
Book Marketing 101
Why Use Calibre, The Easier Way to Organize eBooks
Getting "Content" on Triberr
This Sucks
Points to Consider When Writing a Review
Support Your Favorite Blog: Use Their Affiliate Links
Dealing with Blogging Burnout
Make Friends with Bloggers
So You Want to Start a Book Blog
My Blog Doesn't need to be Babysat
My 3 Triberr Pet Peeves
Earn Review Rewards with Reading Alley
Armchair BEA: Social Media
Read the Review Policy
Dear Author, I See You
The Digital Library is an Avid Reader's Best Friend
Picture it: Using Instagram for Blog Promotion
Set a Blog Schedule
Making Money Blogging: A Case Study
Tips for Blog Posts While Vacationing
Blogging with Kids
Want Free Books? Write Reviews
Let's Party! Hosting a Book Themed Party
Keep Your Sanity and Maintain a Quality Publication: Tips for Managing Multiple Contributors
Blogging in the Classroom
From Blog To Book
Writing a Blog Post Worth Reading
SEO Basics: Using Keywords
Anatomy of a Review
Experimenting with a Monthly Theme
Make Promotional Plans for the Holidays Now
How Do You Decide Which Book to Read Next
Getting Things Done
Finding Images for Your Posts
Are Blog Worth Tours Worth Doing?
NaNoWritMo Tips from Grammarly
Reading During the Holidays
Tips for Wrapping Up the Blogging Year



Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Tips for Wrapping Up the Blogging Year

by Donna Huber

In the midst of decking the halls and downing the egg nog, there are a few blog related tasks that should be on your end of the year to do list.

First and foremost: Back Up Your Blog

This task really should be done periodically throughout the year. The more you post the more often you should make a back up. This is even more important if you are squatting on free real estate (i.e. Blogger or Wordpress.com).

You would hate to log in one day and find your blog gone, POOF! It has been known to happen and as the new year is a prime time for new guidelines you may unknowingly find yourself caught in a change in terms of service.

Second, reflect on what worked

I like to do a wrap up post each year because it forces me to take a look at what readers liked, what memes brought the most traffic and comments, what guest post topics have been done to death. Knowing what went well and conversely what didn't work so well will guide you in what to do next year. Maybe it is time to say goodbye to a feature that has out lived it times. I'm contemplating discontinuing these weekly tips posts. They are time consuming and I'm not sure they fit into the content landscape of Girl Who Reads anymore. I'm toying with idea of doing a monthly column instead that would address the business side of publishing and blogging.

Third, set goals for next year

After you've had time to reflect on what went on in 2015, it's time to consider where you want to go with your blog in 2016. Do you want to add variety and do more than reviews? Or have you found that you have strayed for reviews and want to go back to your roots? I'm feeling this way a little bit. I don't think I can write more reviews, and adding new voices to Girl Who Reads has been popular, which is why we will be adding a new reviewer in 2016. The monthly columns have also been popular and a great way to have regular content. We are adding at least one new columnist in January.

Finally, set your editorial calendar

The end of 2015 will be here before you know it. Take a few minutes to outline the content you want to publish at least in January. If you can start filling in the later months before the ball drops, then you will find it will free you up to do more reading!

What is on your end of year to do list?


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#Reading During the Holidays

by Donna Huber

For Americans the mad dash to the end of the year starts with Thanksgiving and doesn't slow down until the middle of January, especially if you have kids. There's the round of Christmas parties and family gatherings, school plays and Christmas concerts, and in between you are finding time for present buying and wrapping, decorating the house, and baking cookies.

Often time our favorite past-time gets pushed to the back burner. But as an avid reader it can be like withdrawing from an addiction and the holidays are already stressful enough. Here's some tips to getting your reading fix.

Short stories and novellas

I've been featuring the short stories and novellas that I've read on Sundays. These stories have been life savers and fun reads. I usual start wrapping things up an hour or so before bed and these books are great way to unwind.

While not usually considered novellas, I find chick lit novels to typically be quick reads. And this time of year I eat-up fun romance. I've been known to pull out my Nook while waiting in long lines at stores, so books that have short chapters or section breaks are also good choices.

Audio books

I love audio books. I listen to them when things are slow at work or I'm cleaning the house. If you are finding it difficult to find the time to pick up a book, perhaps audio books would be the way to go. Pick something family friendly and play it while baking cookies or making ornaments with your kids. Another benefit of listening to audio books this time a year - a break from the endless loop of Christmas songs on the radio.

Familiar books

This is the time of year to pick up your favorite books and re-reading them. They read faster because you know the story and you might not feel so bad about only reading more than a paragraph or two at a time.

Are you worried about not having anything to post on your blog?

Book lists are HUGE right now. And they can take a multitude of angles - Best Books of 2015, Favorite Books to Read Again... really the options are endless and will attract readers to your site, especially if you come up with catchy titles for your book lists.



Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Finding Images for Your Posts

by Donna Huber

As book bloggers we are use to working with words - after all the "product" we are talking about is filled with words. However, we must think about what is eye-catching. Much like the cover of a book can attract a reader, images you use in your posts can attract readers.

Create your own images

We already know that we should include the book cover in our posts. With image sites like Pinterest and Instagram becoming increasingly popular, you will want images that really "pop" or are attractive.

Sometimes a bookcover alone will be spectacular enough to catch the eye, but you may need to get creative. Now if you have only the electronic cover it may be more difficult. I know some bloggers make banners and other images that include the cover. However, you do not own the image of the cover and you could be violating copyright.

Now if the book is available in hard copy, then you have more options. (Even if you don't own the book, you may be able to find it in your library or at the local bookstore). I know it is strange to think about, but doing a "photo shoot" with books can be a fun way to promote your posts.

I took the picture above when I was reading The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer. While reading the book I kept thinking "life is like a bowl of cherries". So I thought it made a good photo op.

You can use more than book covers in your posts. Perhaps a book is set in a place you have visited and you have pictures from your trip. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness takes place partially in Prague and a few years ago I went there. Though my pictures were not from the 1590s I did have pictures of some of the places mentioned in the book. 

You won't necessarily have to travel far and wide for images. Was a field of flowers the site of a favorite scene or was the book about a country girl visiting a big city for the first time? These are images you may be able to find near you. 

Use stock images

Taking pictures isn't really my forte. I often think "that" would make a great photo, after the fact. Or maybe I have the "perfect" picture, except it is a little blurry. Thankfully there are a number of great photographers that make their work available for free under a creative commons license.

There are a number of sites that offer royalty-free stock images, but as a blogger you may not have the budget for purchasing such photos. I know I don't and am always on the lookout for FREE photos. 

One place I find creative commons and public domain images is Wikimedia Commons. It can be a bit of a hit or miss in finding the right image and you may have to wade through some less than spectacular quality. What I like best about the site is that it provides all the info you need to accurately attribute images.

A similar site where I have found most of my images is PhotoPin. The quality of the images is wonderful and I have always found an appropriate image. Again it gives the appropriate attribution for each image and it allows you to choose what size you want to download. A drawback though is that is difficult to attribute a image used on social media. Posts on Facebook and even Twitter get more engagement when accompanied by a photo.

That is why I was happy to discover Hubspot is offering more then 500 free stock images that require NO attribution. Another author mentioned LibreStock and I have taken a look around.

It is basically a search engines for images. It links out to free stock images on other sites. I took a look at the site and it has a wonderful photos. I also like that many of the images do not require any attribution. 

A word of caution

Whenever using images that are not your own you are responsible for ensuring the legal use of that image. You are required to perform due diligence in making sure that the site you got the image from has the legal right to offer the image for use. 

There have been cases were someone uploaded an image to a site as either public domain or under a creative commons license when in fact that person did not have any rights to the image. Anyone who used the images, though they thought they were using it legally, were found at fault for violating copyright. 

Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Getting things done

by Donna Huber

For many of today's writers, writing is not their full-time focus. Even those who write for a living may have some "pet" projects that they enjoy but can't devote a lot of time to. This means that not everything gets done.

For writers who run their own sites, like bloggers, all the time they have day to day is to create the content for the site. However, there are a number of other tasks that need attention too. It's important to set aside time occasionally for these tasks as well.

I've talked about setting up content calendars and making editorial plans to make it easier to keep up with the writing. But making plans to attend to other tasks are necessary. Keeping a running "to do" list will help you accomplish these goals when you find yourself with a few extra minutes.

There are also events throughout the year to help you set aside time for accomplishing "blog maintenance". I love Bloggiesta though my schedule doesn't always work out to participate.

I'm planning to take some time off next week and there are a few things I would like to do with the blog then. Namely, I'm looking for a new theme for the site. I've had this them for a while and a lot of things have changed in website design during that time. There are smaller things like updating some of the pages.

Will I get to it all next week? Probably not. But I can tell you that having a list of things I want to do does make it more likely to accomplish something.

What blog maintenance do you need to do?

Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

How do you decide which book to read next?

by Donnan Huber

I'm in a bit of a reading slump and to be honest I'm feeling totally overwhelmed with my TBR pile. I no clue what to read next or even the kind of story I want to read.

It would be easier to choose the next book if I knew if I was in the mood for a thriller or fantasy. I'm pretty sure I'm not in the mood for romance as I just finished a romantic novella that was good, but not fulfilling - does that make sense?

A comment last week got me thinking about how people choose their next book. For most reviewers there are titles that are coming up that need to be reviewed. For me, I try to read any Netgalleys that are coming up for archiving or ARCs that will soon be released first.

But when there are pressing deadlines, I just choose whatever I'm in the mood for. But what if I'm not sure. It's like going into a restaurant knowing you need to eat but nothing on the menu is jumping out at you.

Have you ever felt like this when trying to decide your next read?

The commenter that sparked this idea in my head mentioned that she posts a list of titles of she needs to read and then lets her readers pick her next read.

I thought that was a good idea. It gives more exposure to the titles that are sitting in the TBR pile and gets readers more actively involved. If I could narrow down the list a bit I would probably try it. But I don't even have a full list of what is waiting to be read on my Nook. And I know I couldn't narrow it to just a few choices as I don't have any idea what criteria to use.

I asked on Twitter how people choose their next book and @Tina_Bookworm mentioned she's used a random number generator (like random.org) to help her decide between a few titles. I thought was an interesting way of doing it. And again, if I could narrow it to a few choices might be the best way to go at the moment since it would totally leave it up to chance.

I'll probably give myself a few days and try to decide over the weekend. I know I have a few Netgalley titles to read. So maybe I will get started on one of them.

So tell me how to do you decide what book you will read next?



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Make Promotional Plans for the Holidays Now

by Donna Huber

Christmas-themed M&M's (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Whether you are an author looking to increase book sales or a blogger wanting to increase readership, you should be planning your holiday promotions now.

Ideas for Authors

If you saw the list of new releases this month you saw there were a few Christmas books. If you are an author and have a Christmas themed book set to come out you should be looking to release it by the second week of November or at the very least set it up for pre-order.

But before we get to Christmas, lets talk about another holiday that can benefit horror, supernatural, and thriller writers - Halloween. This is your month. Even if you don't have a new book out this month you can run promotions on your back list. Slash the price to give a boost to sales.

Whether you reduce the price or not, be sure to do a media blitz. Create a few graphics and craft some promotional messages that your street team can share on social media. Contact a few of your blogging friends to see if they can run a guest post or an excerpt. If you blog, consider posting a little something special - never before scene set in the world of your book.

Ideas for Bloggers

There are a variety of posts you can do that around the holidays that will bring new readers to your site.

Recommended reading lists are always a big hit. Last year I did a Thrills & Chills list while Claire supplied a list of horror novels. For Black Friday, Girl Who Reads publishes a Holiday Buying Guide with recommended books to give as gifts.

One of the things that a lot of people are looking for this time of year are craft ideas. You can do your own search for literary related crafts and do a post linking to them. If you are crafty yourself and have a great book related project then definitely share it with your readers. Be sure to take pictures as your post will be a hit on Pinterest.

What promotional plans do you have for the holidays? 

Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

Related articles

• Holiday Fun Facts to Share on Social 2015 Edition (verticalresponse.com)
• Tips & Tricks for Christmas Promo Season (getresponse.com)
• 3 Tips For Creating Evergreen Holiday Content From The Queen of Halloween: Ellen Degeneres (business2community.com)

Experimenting with a Monthly Theme

by Donna Huber

Some time last year (maybe?) I considered setting up monthly themes. I could see the pros and cons to it and in the end I decided not to do it. But I'm thinking about it again and I have decided to do a little experiment this month.

One of the advantages to setting up monthly themes was the deciding on the editorial calendar each month. I would know what to do for "filler" posts (those posts that appear on days when there wasn't a review, guest post, your regular feature scheduled).

Quickly though I realized a major downfall to setting a theme. I would be locked into what kind of books I read for the month and what if I got behind? I wouldn't necessarily be able to review a book that I had already read, but hadn't reviewed.

A related dilemma was what about the staff reviewers and feature writers. I don't dictate what they read or write outside of some guidelines to keep the focus of Girl Who Reads.

October always gets me thinking about doing a theme as I see a lot of other sites focusing on monsters and mayhem in the lead up to Halloween. So I thought I would try a little experiment this month to see what people thought about it.

I'm aware that my readers might hate it. If a reader doesn't like horror s/he might wind up avoiding the site all month. (I don't read horror so that would never be all that was featured).

I made several decisions about how to handle a "themed month" in hopes of getting feedback on the idea as well as not alienate anyone.

First, I decided to let reviewers and feature writers do their own thing as usual (though they are welcome to play with the theme if they choose). I'm currently reading a chicklit short story and Chris tomorrow is sharing his experience with self-publishing. So there will be variety.

Second, I did a call for submission for Halloween themed flash fiction. While I hoped for some scary stories, I didn't want to limit it to horror genre in case someone was dying to write a comedy set at a Halloween party. I've wanted to feature creative writing pieces more so I thought this was a good opportunity to try it. While I had hoped for a few more submissions, I'm pleased with what was sent in. You will be seeing them on Fridays starting next week.

Third, any filler posts as well as the Saturday promos will be theme related. An author friend is setting up a Halloween hop and I've volunteered to help host. So reader looking to get their literary fill of all things scary and supernatural will have plenty to look forward to this month.

As you may know, I'm a scientist by education and no experimental protocol would be complete without a way to determine results.

One way to judge success is looking at traffic. If numbers are higher, then it could be the cohesive nature of the daily articles are retaining readers. However, alone visitor numbers mean little. Perhaps there a lot of people are looking for Halloween related books.

Likewise, the number of shares a post gets will give me insight to reader behavior.

A second way is through comments. Comments, definitely when paired with numbers from above, can give me more understanding of what readers think about a monthly theme. Are non-themed posts getting more comments? What are people saying about the themed posts? I really hope you will give me some feedback through comments, either on this site or one of the social media channels where the posts are shared.

And finally, the best way to determine if monthly themes are appealing to readers is to do a poll. So look for that at the end of the month.

I do hope you will enjoy the bits of Halloween-themed pieces that will be coming this month, but there will be plenty of the non-scary as well to hopefully keep all my readers happy.




Top photo credit: Jack-o-lantern Wikipedia
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Anatomy of a Review

by Donna Huber

A lot readers say they can't write reviews. Most of the time it isn't really "can't" but more of a "I don't know how". Let's look closer at what goes into a well-written review that will help you establish yourself as a credible book reviewer.

Details about the book

A good review will provide pertinent details or facts about the book to let readers know what kind of book it is.

You should always mention the genre (and subgenres if applicable). Typically the main genre is quite evident though the lines between some genres are blurry. You can check the book listing at Amazon for genres that the book falls into. I also like the Genre Map at Book Country. If you click on the main genres you will get a listing and description of subgenres.

Another important detail to include in your review is the target audience if the book is for children, middle grades, young adult, or new adult. You do not have to point out that an adult book is for adults as many adult books are read by high school students. However, you will want to point out any questionable content that may be inappropriate for younger audiences.

Other details include title, author (yes, I have seen reviews that never mention the author or title of the book except in the title of the post), publisher, publish date (particularly if it is a pre-release review), and available formats.

What's the book about

I know some reviewers just post the book's description with the review and that's fine. But if you do not, then I think it is important to provide a short "what's the book about". Two or three sentences should really suffice as you don't want to ruin anything for the reader.

How you feel about the book

This is really the meat of a review - your thoughts and feelings. This is the section that people who read reviews before purchasing are the most interested in and should be the biggest section of your review.

It is also the most difficult section to write.

I suggest breaking it down to make it easier to organize your thoughts about the book.

Overall feeling

How did you feel when you turned the last page? Did you read it in one sitting or did you have to trudge through it to get to the end?

To capture my overall view, I write it down immediately upon finishing the book. I find Goodreads to be a good place to do that, but you can write it on a scrap of paper or in a notebook.

Along with your overall feelings about the book, you will also want to discuss the aspects that make the book belong to its genres as well as any that are a departure from the genre.

The characters

Did you connect with one of the characters? Was the cast of characters more of an ensemble or was there clearly a leading lady/man?

It is okay to point out flaws in character development as well as the good things.

Don't just say you connected with the main character, but explain why. If it is the characters witty comments, then give an example with a quote from the character. If you find yourself saying I loved this character, then discuss what made you fall in love with that character.

The plot

Was the plot predictable? Was it plot heavy, full of action, a slow build up, etc.? Were there plot holes or distracting subplots. Did the story wrap up neatly with all the plot threads tied up or did it end with a cliff hanger?

When discussing the plot you may find it difficult to not reveal more about the story. Be on guard for possible spoilers.

Instead of discussing what happened, focus on how the plot unfolded. Carefully use examples and quotes to back up your points.

The writing style

Your thoughts on the author's writing style may be part of your overall feelings or may be touched on in your thoughts on plot and characters, but it is important that it is discussed.

Is the story character or plot driven? Was so descriptive that all your senses were engaged and you felt like you were in the story? Remember to provide examples with quotes from the book whenever possible.

Be balanced

There is rarely a perfect book, so it is okay to mention major flaws in the work. That does not mean to nit pick or personally attack the author.

If something stood out to you that negatively impacted your reading (i.e. drew out of the story), then it is worth mentioning in your review.

Perhaps it is a personal preference. For more, the level of detail in a sex scene can be quite off putting. I always preface any such comments to indicate that it is my opinion and preferences. What I don't like about the book may be exactly what someone else is looking for in a book.

It is also okay to review a book you didn't particularly like. It is important then to find some redeeming quality or try to see the book through the eyes of who would enjoy it.

Provide examples

The best reviews in my opinion provide examples to back up their points, but it is also the most often neglected aspect of a review.

I know this is a weak point of my reviews and something I'm hoping to remedy. I recently bought a small spiral notebook and I'm going to try to make notes while reading. I found it helpful when I was doing the read along of The Gateway Chronicles.

Don't overthink it

When writing your review imagine you are talking to your best friend about the book. Don't concern yourself that you don't sound "literary enough". I would guess that most people writing a reviews these days do not have a degree in literature.

People reading reviews just want to know what a fellow book lover thought of the book and you can do that.


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