Blogging Tip: Getting Followers

I never thought I'd really be qualified to post this, but I've actually gotten quite a few emails about it, so I figured I'd post about it for everyone else who's looking for some tips on the subject.

So, how do you get new followers?

Well, firstly: don't expect to get hundreds of followers in one night. Getting a solid reader base is a long process, which is why it can be so rewarding. With that established, my main tip would be to network. Make sure people know your blog exists. If you want to be known, you can't be shy. The best ways to network with fellow bloggers, authors, and publishers are:

--Commenting. This really only works with bloggers, but leaving nice comments are definitely effective. I'd recommend leaving a link to your blog at the bottom, without saying something like "comment for comment!" or anything.
--Twitter and Facebook. Twitter especially is the best way to communicate with bloggers, authors, and publishers. Not only will people discover your blog, but you'll make some fantastic friends! Facebook also has a lot of authors and blog pages to connect with.
--Follow Friday. Book Crazy Jenn hosts a wonderful weekly meme that helps you discover great new blogs, as well as help a few people find yours. Note: this is only to be used for blogs that are centered around books.
--Friend people on Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing.

I'd also recommend having a giveaway when you can, but you have to be sure to have a good amount of good content with your giveaways. Nothing's more annoying then a blogger who does nothing but give away books and never reviews anything.

And if you have a blog on Blogger, be sure to add their Google Friends Followers widget. Also install email subscribing and Feedburner subscribing. You want people to have easy access to staying updated to your site.

So that's all I got. Hopefully I helped someone out--I know I was looking for advice when I was a new blogger. If you've got advice to share, please comment.

Waiting On Wednesday (46)

This week I'm waiting on...

Going Underground by Susan Vaught

Del is a good kid who’s been caught in horrible circumstances. At 17, he’s trying to put his life together after an incident in his past that made him a social outcast—and a felon. As a result, he can’t get into college; the only job he can find is digging graves; and when he finally meets a girl he might fall in love with, there’s a whole sea of complications that threaten to bring the world crashing down around him again. But what has Del done? In flashbacks to Del’s 14th year, we slowly learn the truth: his girlfriend texted him a revealing photo of herself, a teacher confiscated his phone, and soon the police were involved.

Basing her story on real-life cases of teens in trouble with the law for texting explicit photos, Susan Vaught has created a moving portrait of an immensely likable character caught up in a highly controversial legal scenario.

Coming September 13th 2011 from Bloomsbury

This one looks so quirky and unique. Can't wait to read it!

A Book Place That I Love

Because I am a dork, the last time I went to my favorite library (that, of course, happens to not be in my town. Of course) I took some pictures of it. And after some doubt on my part, followed by people on Twitter convincing me that it's not overly nerdy, I thought I'd share them with you. So, I give you my library:

I love how open it all is. ^.^ And the cool display shelf-thingys. And the lamps. Which is a first for me, cause who loves lamps?

And these are the CDs!! I've gotten so many good CDs here.

And this....

Is the wonderful teen section. This library's really new, and so are all of their teen releases are too.

AND LOOK AT THESE CHAIRS!

I KNOW, RIGHT?!

Sidenote:

Random, but I had to share. The Hunger Games. In Spanish. They were so cool and shiiiiiny and yes I realize I'm weird.

I love it there. I could seriously just stay there and read all day long.

Pink Review+Giveaway

Author: Lili Wilkinson
Release Date: February 8, 2010
Pages: 310 (ARC)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher
Challenges: 2011 Debut Author Challenge

Ava has a secret. She is tired of her ultracool attitude, ultra-radical politics, and ultrablack clothing. She's ready to try something new—she's even ready to be someone new. Someone who fits in, someone with a gorgeous boyfriend, someone who wears pink.

Transferring to Billy Hughes School for Academic Excellence is the perfect chance to try on a new identity. But just in case things don't work out, Ava is hiding her new interests from her parents, and especially from her old girlfriend.

Secrets have a way of being hard to keep, though, and Ava finds that changing herself is more complicated than changing her wardrobe. Even getting involved in the school musical raises issues she never imagined. As she faces surprising choices and unforeseen consequences, Ava wonders if she will ever figure out who she really wants to be.

 So. Pink. It was a title I was pretty ashamed to show people, and the cover didn't help. Cause it just looks so...girly, which is very not me. But I don't even care cause...this book. Guys. THIS BOOK.

I spent a lot of this novel wanting to shout at Ava. Cause I mean, she can be preeeetty stupid. But somehow I still really loved her, and wanted nothing more than for our confused heroine to succeed in her mission of self-discovery.

All of the supporting characters were so original and fantastic. I want each member of the stage crew to hop out of Pink and come and criticize my town for it's lack of a good hole-in-the-wall cafe. They were all so fun and real and oh so very lovable. I mean, even the prissy girl has a story!

My friends can tell when I'm really lovin' on a book, cause I'll text them quotes from it that I find to be particularly LOL-worthy. This happened with Pink. It was just so. freaking. funny. Fans of John Green's humor will definitely enjoy the humor in Pink, as well.

I knew I needed to read it when I saw John Green blurbed it, and he didn't steer me wrong one bit. This book is my favorite 2011 debut of the year so far. Lili Wilkinson is sure to become a prominent new voice in American YA, and I for one can't wait to read more of her work. Pink was everything I looked for in a fantastic contemporary novel, so go read it.

Book Report:

Plot: Grabbed me from page one and didn't let go.

Characters: Seriously wonderful!!

Writing: Great!

Ending: It was very fitting and right...even though I might've rather had a "and then they kissed and rode into the sunset on horses" ending...but I still loved it.

Kid friendly? There's talk of sex, teen drinking, and some occasional swearing.

Should I read it? Yesyesyes.

Overall:

 

  

Because I loved this book I'm getting my own hardcover copy of it, so I'm giving away my Advanced Reader Copy of it. US and Canada only, ends May 13. FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER. Good luck!

Forever Trailer!

The Wolves of Mercy Falls series is a huge favorite of mine, so I'm getting really excited about the release of Forever, and this trailer only helps.



So cool!

Shift Review

Author: Jeri Smith Ready
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 380 (E-ARC)
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: For review from Galley Grab
Other titles in series: Shade

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart. 

Shade was one of my favorites of 2010, so it's fair to say that I'd set high expectations for Shift. Expectations that were completely and totally met.

Grief is a huge theme in Shift. Even though Aura can still see Logan and talk to him, he's still gone. Aura's in that place in the cycle of grief that's somewhere between still mourning and moving on. She's confused, but her feelings for Zachary? They're growing. Her emotions are so strong and real it's crazy, and it makes her seem that much more real.

And...well...OK so I can't really say much else without spoiling the book for you. This series continues to be refreshingly original in the midst of a major Unoriginal Paranormal Novels Crisis, and is one of my favorite series. Jeri Smith Ready's world-building is phenomenal, her characters are lovable and realistic, and her twists will completely SHOCK YOU. I didn't Shift's twist coming at all, and was definitely wearing my 0.o and :O faces. This book was sexy, unexpected, and just plain awesome.

Book Report:

Plot: Brilliant and original.

Characters: LOVE THEM. And I want my own Zachary. Anyone wanna make that happen for me?

Writing: Very good.

Ending: Wonderful. But still ready for more.

Kid friendly? Eeeh, well, there's some hot make-out scenes, as well as teen drinking and mentions of sex.

Should I read it? Read Shade first, of course. But for definite. This is a great series!

Overall:

Weekly Update+Scorpia Rising Winner

No IMM this week since I didn't really get a lot and am feeling lazy. So just a Weekly Update and contest winner.

Weekly Update

Posted this week:

Nothing Review

Waiting On Wednesday (45)

Here Lies Bridget Review

Read this week:

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This Girl Is Different by JJ Johnson

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Plan to read this week:

Bite Me by Parker Blue

The False Princess by Ellis O'Neal

The Absolute Value of -1 by Steve Brezenoff

...and hopefully more.

And now, the winner of my Alex Rider contest is....

msyingling

Congrats, I'll be emailing you! I've got a new contest coming this week for a great book, so look out for that. Have an awesome week everyone.