How to make your blog more interesting?

[Shaunna McLaren@Scarlet Letters]

So, I just started my blog a week and a half ago. So far, I only have reviews on it and, even though it's a book review blog, I feel it's a tad boring right now!

 

What kind of things do you all add to your blogs to make them a bit more interactive and interesting?

 

Thanks!

Shaunna :)

http://sfmscarletletters.blogspot.com

[Shaunna McLaren@Scarlet Letters]

Thanks so much for that Amanda, really helpful! I'm a bit nervous about contacting authors, but I suppose I'll need to man-up and give it a try soon! I'll look into guest posts and stuff, too.

 

This blogging thing is a lot more complicated than I thought it would be! Haha. :)

[Anya Millar]

Hi Shaunna,

 

Authors, well most, love to promote their books and reviews/interview are a great way of doing that.  Don't worry about contacting them, we don't bite (well, most of the time) and love the help bloggers like you provide to both us and to our potential readers. 

 

Aine

House Millar series - Blood's Voice

[ManOfLaBook.com]

I do my Fun Friday Facts feature every week which people seem to like.

 

Every now and then I also write an piece about a hot button issue but I haven't had time for that lately. I also try to write something more than "just" my thoughts on the book. For example Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams I also talked about my own trip to Peru.

 

http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

[Shaunna McLaren@Scarlet Letters]

I'll need to try and think of a feature to do, then. Get my creative side on the go! Haha.

 

Thanks for your help! I was a bit wary about letting too much of myself into my reviews, but I suppose it lets people connect a bit more, so might give it a try!

[ManOfLaBook.com]

Shaunna, I checked out your blog and it says that you're an English lit major.

 

I think that if you'd bring some of your classroom in your blog, maybe post some assignments, what you're doing, you're take on the old as well as new classics would take it to a whole new level than "just" reviews (not that there is anything wrong with that).

 

I followed, looking forward to see what you're going to do.

 

http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

[Shaunna McLaren@Scarlet Letters]

Oh, that's a really great idea! Thanks so much! I can't believe I didn't think of that - no common sense at all. Haha.

 

Thanks so much for that, really appreciate it!

[Wendy Mitchell]

I do a couple of weekly memes. A cover crazy look at awesome visual impacts and a weekly serial called The Trailer Park Vampires. Also giveaways at random times. Networking is huge!!

[Grace]

 I mostly stick to book reviews, but I do like participating in a reading challenge or a readalong when the topic lines up with books I'd normally read.  It's a nice chance to network with other bloggers with similar interests, and I've made a lot of friends that way.

 

_____________________

Books Without Any Pictures

[Janice C. Neal]

I think the info on your blog is great, also the setup.  I am new so sure my feedback is not as good as the other.  I haven't started my blogging yet.  Great site though. 

[Joseph Arellano]

In addition to writing/posting book reviews, I've posted several articles about the process of writing book reviews.  Also articles about current issues in the publishing trade, and some book giveaways.  I'm thinking about also adding a few posts featuring small and independent book shops - especially those with cats that work there!   Joseph

http://josephsreviews.wordpress.com/

[Ryann Kerekes]

Hi Shaunna,

 

I checked out your blog and it has a really nice set up. It is very visually appealing. It's somewhat hard to make it intereactive when you blog book reviews. They are very informative, but don't necesarily lend themselves to lots of comments/ or dialog. Maybe try posing a question to your readers at the end.

 

I struggle with the interactive thing too. I blog more about the writing process, and would love to get more comments than I do.

[Joy Tamsin David]

Lots of people hate memes, but I participate in them occasionally, some of them are really interesting.  Also, I really enjoy when bloggers inject bits of personal info in their blogs.  I like blogs with candid photos of them or their bookshelves. 

 

One thing I've discovered is, ANYTHING can get tired after a while. So no matter what you're doing, you need to constantly re-evaluate and renew to keep things interesting.

 

Joy

www.edgyinspirationalromance.com