Blogging Tips from 4 Pros
I’m still a fresh egg to this blogging business, and though I’ve already learned a few lessons, I was recently blindsided by a situation that I hadn’t anticipated. The bottom line? I very unintentionally ticked someone off. My takeaway lesson? As writers, we’re probably going to irritate/anger/offend a few people now and then…even when we don’t mean to…even when we can’t possibly imagine how we could. It’s part of the writer’s package, I guess. If it doesn’t ever happen, perhaps it means we’re being too safe.
So this smack upside the noggin’ got me thinking, what advice can I glean from a few experienced bloggers I admire? Well, let me tell you, all of the bloggers I contacted were not only prompt with their responses, but extremely helpful and friendly! If you’re new to blogging, thinking of starting a blog, or even want to re-energize your current blog, you’ve come to the right place because their advice is going to put you on the fast-track to building a knockout blog with a strong readership.
Without further ado, four fantastic bloggers in their own words…
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TERRY SPEAR
Heart of the Wolf–Publishers Weekly “Best Books of the Year!”
www.terryspear.com
When blogging, add a picture or two. I’ve had lots of comments just because I added a picture that caught readers’ imaginations. Tons of narration can be boring, just like in a book. Add dialog in a book and it’s instantly more entertaining.
Ask a question at the end of your post to encourage your readers to think about what you’ve said, and some might even participate.
Keep the blogs fairly short so that readers who are busy and don’t have time to digest a lot can drop by and read something short and to the point and might even take the time to comment.
Use a blog that’s easy on the eyes. Just like anything, we want to make it easy to read.
And one last point, be sure and link to what’s important. If you’re talking about a new book release, be sure and share the links to where the book can be purchased. Always make it as easy for your reader as you can. 
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MONA RISK
OSIRIS’ MISSING PART, June 23, 2011
Rx FOR TRUST, 2011 EPICON FINALIST
www.monarisk.com
www.monarisk.blogspot.com
1- (Expanding on Terry’s tip on keeping the post short:) Remember that readers and bloggers will probably hit several blogs to leave comments, so don’t force them to skip your blog because it’s overwhelming. A good length is 300 to 500 words. If you add a blurb or an excerpt, shorten the post itself. (OK, I’M WAAAY OVER THE LIMIT TODAY, BUT I TRY TO ADHERE TO SHORT POSTS TOO. )
2-It’s worth repeating that pictures attract, so make sure you adorn your post with a few pictures to pull the reader’s attention. (I CAN VOUCH FOR MONA’S EMPHASIS HERE. HER BLOGS ALWAYS
HAVE FANTASTIC PICTURES—USUALLY OF SOME FARAWAY PLACE SHE’S EXPLORED.)
3-Choose topics of general interest. Remember the public like novels where the emotion grabs your heart and appeals to your feelings. Same with the blog. Speaks to the reader directly. Make
him/her share your experience.
About the blog:
1- The blog must be easy to read. I’ve seen blogs that have dark text on black or dark background. They are difficult to decipher and will discourage even a thorough blogger/reader.
2-Don’t ask the reader to spend time opening links to find an excerpt or going places to view something interesting. Save the reader’s time and make it easy for him/her.
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Smart Bitch SARAH WENDELL (Jeeves, I love saying that!)
Co-founder of the smash website Smart Bitches Trashy Books, LLC, as well as To Be Read, LLC
www.sbsarah.com
http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com
www.thetbr.com
Your voice and your blog are unique, and thus it’s up to you to determine what success means for your site. Every community is different, so perhaps you’ll have a lot of page views but not many comments—and that is ok. Or maybe you’ll have lots of comments one day but few the next—that is ok, too. Simply having a site you update [consistently], that receives your time, attention, and creativity, is an achievement of which you can be hugely, enormously proud.
I think the hardest lesson I learned was to have the focus and motivation to determine my own success, to listen to what I thought rather than what other people told me was the best way.
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GWEN HERNANDEZ
2011 Golden Heart® Finalist
www.gwenhernandez.com
Find a niche to gain followers. Once I started writing occasional how-to posts about Scrivener (writing software), the number of visits to my site grew beyond my small circle of writer friends. Viewers began to subscribe to my blog and become part of my regular group of commenters. Now my site is a community of supportive friends from all genres of writing. We have discussions, and we have fun. I’m no longer talking to myself.
Find your blogging voice. My background and personality give me a unique style and focus. Different from, say, the writer/editor who specializes in entertaining posts about grammar, or my friend who likes to inspire her blog readers on a deep emotional level. Let readers get to know you through your blog posts, and they’ll come back for more.
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Gwen also mentions having patience when getting started and setting a realistic schedule you can adhere to in order to keep it fun and not a chore.
One final tip of my own, make sure you link your Facebook and Twitter accounts with your blog so when you post, it’s automatically uploaded to the social media site(s).
What tips do you have to make a blog the best it can be?
I’m just sitting here nodding my head in agreement with everyone. I wish I’d thought to mention some of those other tips, but I guess this would have been a very repetitive post then.
Thanks for including me, Misty!
Indeed! Your tips are fantastic. If you don’t have some idea of a niche for your blog, I’d think it would be rather overwhelming and, as you say, tough to get a regular following.
Here’s to a winning Golden Heart entry! Good luck! 
Hello Misty!
That was such a cool post
I’m feeling much better now. It’s never too late to get some sound advice from fellow bloggers.
One day in November I had a slow day at work, so I checked out some of the reviews of the book that I was thinking of getting. As I was reading one of the blogs, it has occurred to me that maybe I should right my own reviews, so here I am seven months later, a handful of subscribers and comments, and a very steady traffic of almost 14, 000!
I’ve almost followed every advice these awesome ladies gave without even knowing that I’m doing it
Almost meaning that now I’ll incorporate the one that I’ve been having the hardest time following and that’s the length of my blogs. I’ll definitely watch it now and make sure they’re not “Gone With the Wind”!
Thanks to all the ladies for taking their time and giving us the scoop on how to.
..
Mel at http://www.bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com
Mel, I stand in awe of your traffic! I’m not surprised, though. Your blog is so much fun! Thank you, thank you for sending Grace Burrowes’ THE HEIR. What a great book.
Great advice ALL! Thanks for taking the time to help the rest of us newbies. Timely posts would be my advice. I had almost a week between posts and my page views dropped significantly. Will have to learn to balance working on the manuscript and posting regularly on the blog. Thanks Misty!
Yeah, I’m wondering about the once a week thing too, though I don’t know if I can keep my quality up with more frequent posting and still make tracks with my manuscript and…the rest of life… Any advice? Maybe that’s why so many people band together to share blogs, I suppose.
Thanks for visiting Melanie!
This was all very, very helpful – and I needed it.
Maxine
posting on The Petit Fours and Hot Tamales site
Glad it was helpful for you, Brenda. Thanks for stopping by!
Initially, blogging came easy. I wrote about writing. Then I got a contract and suddenly I didn’t feel qualified to write about what I do all day long. Go figure! I was reading other published writers’ blogs and thought, “Man, I don’t know the half of this stuff. I better keep my big mouth shut and learn some more before I start giving out advice.” I blog, instead, about the struggles of a writer–like characters that wake you up in the middle of the night to tell you that chapter you worked so hard on that day simply won’t work. Still, we all need to find our own voice–t’aint always easy. Great post! Loved hearing everyone’s take on things.
Thanks Vonnie, though I certainly think you’re in the same league as these fine ladies! I’m loving Storm’s Interlude!! It’s taking me a while to read though since I’m reading it mostly on my phone (I stiiiiillll don’t have a darn e-reader!).
Great idea for a post, Misty! And kudos on getting such a wonderful line-up of ladies to share their advice. I’m with you, though, on how does everyone manage it all? I wonder if any of the popular bloggers felt at some time that they were sacrificing other areas — whether working on the ms, or working on keeping their teenagers out of trouble — in order to stay consistent and not let their fans down. It’s a lot of pressure, and I’m always in awe of those of you who can do it on a regular basis.
Trina, when I blogged every day for a year, I didn’t have time to write and became very stressed. See my next comment for the solution.
Trina, I think everyone has to find a balance…and then be flexible because that balance will fluctuate depending on what’s going on in life. For example, this summer with my children home from school I have to accept that I’m not going to be able to write as much as I want. I’m ok with that, though, because I’ll never have this time back with my children. I may not ever have as many visitors to my blog because I only post once a week, or for whatever reason, but this is what works for me right now.
I know you’re entering a new, exciting chapter in your life…take some time to dream and goal set. You can do anything you put your mind to!
Trina: When I first started blogging, I tried to post five days a week. Back then my entries were pretty short and I had so much to say!
But it can quickly start to feel like an unwelcome commitment, so I cut back to three days and I’m a lot happier. Who knows, maybe my readers are too.
About once a month, I miss a day. Like this week when I skipped Tuesday because I got so distracted trying on clothes for RWA that I forgot to finish and post my entry.
At some point, like when I get a contract–hey a girl can dream–I may decide I have to cut back on my schedule. Whatever schedule I choose, though, I try to be consistent.
Ultimately, the most important thing is your writing (and family, sleep, health). If you’re not writing, the blog doesn’t matter anyway.
Good luck!
“If you’re not writing, the blog doesn’t matter anyway.”
—So, so true, Gwen!
Misty, I’m learning a few tips about blogging here. At one point I got tired of blogging every day and stopped blogging for three months. Big mistake. I lost many of my followers and had to start again, but I did it in a more reasonable way and at a more practical pace. I blog once or twice a week and promote my blog on every loop I know.
May I announce that today is Release Day for OSIRIS’ MISSING PART?
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9394-osiris-missing-part.aspx
YES, YES, YES!!! How remiss of me not to shout it from the blogging rooftops! OSIRIS’ MISSING PART is totally on my TBR list (along with Terry’s Heart of the Wolf)! Best wishes for much success, and thank you so much for sharing your blogging wisdom, Mona.
Great advice, ladies. Hi, Mona!
Hey Mary, nice to have you on the blog. I love the pink theme on your site…one of my favorite colors!
very helpful. Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by, Regina. I love your One Little Elephant blog concept! Very nice looking blog too!