This Top Ten Tuesday feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and I first came across it on Jaime´s blog. It´s a lot of fun and they post the topics way in advance!
This week´s topic: Top Ten Tips For New Book Bloggers…which I am twisting to Top Ten Tips For New Bloggers 😀
                                                                          Source: vetsforpets.net via Vera on Pinterest
So, I have been blogging for less than a year. When is the status of “new blogger” over? 😀
From a newbie to another one, or from a somewhat less new blogger to another one…here are my Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers:
1. Choose what you want to blog about: This may come naturally. Right now you may be thinking: I already know what I want to blog about (e.g. books) but it may take awhile to actually get your groove. When I look back at my first posts, it seems that I thought I´d write much more about my commuting than what I do. Plus there are many ways to write about books: Do you want to only write reviews about books you really enjoyed? (this is what I do :D) or do you want to have a point system? or talk about covers, about characters, about the swoon-factor? about the plot? do you want to organize them per topics? do you want to talk about everything?
2. Choose the format: Do you want a recurring theme? Do you sometimes want to do a vlog? Do you want to link your posts to any of your other “online” persona aka Twitter, Facebook, Google +?
3. Check the platform you want to use: There are many choices out there. Personally, I like WordPress but it was more of a “lucky” moment than anything else. If you´re more peculiar about the features/style you want to have, I think it could be useful to check out which one you really prefer before spending too much time of your blog.
4. Stick to a schedule (especially at the beginning): It helps you to know what works and what doesn´t work for you and it helps for people to know that you´re a regular blogger.
5. Make sure people can “follow” you: See on my right? You can follow me by email, via google reader, via RSS feed, via WordPress…When I travel the blogosphere, it happens that I cannot find a way to easily get updated. Sure I could always copy the link and add it to my Google Reader but I don´t necessarily have the reflex or I am not on my computer but on my phone…
6. Use visuals: I always find it enticing when there is at least one picture/gif in the post.
7. Be yourself: There are blogs where you really have the feeling you get to know the person because their voice and spirit jump out of the page.
                                                Source: Uploaded by user via Bernadette on Pinterest
8. Discuss, connect, make friends:  Leave comments  on other people´s blogs, try to reply to the ones you get (I for example now send an email to the person on top of the comment if they´re not on WordPress.) What I found also helped greatly along the way was connecting with bloggers/writers on Twitter. Don´t be shy! People do love to get comments on their blogs, especially ones where you also share your views, your experience…
9. Participate in blog fests, in challenges, in online book clubs: It is another way to connect and to have a blast along the way. If you´re active in forums, let people know that you created a blog…
and……another very important point:
10. Have fun with it!: You´ll get to discuss topics you love with wonderful people from all around the world, you´ll learn a lot from them and from writing your own blog and maybe make long lasting connections along the way!
Elodie Nowodazkij 
Fantastic bits of advice! 🙂
Thanks C.B. 😀
Great tips, lady! I especially agree with your advice about joining in on blogfests and making connections with others. Blogging isn’t much fun when there are no comments to respond to. Not only do you learn tons from hopping around and visiting others, but you meet awesome people and increase traffic on your own blog. My blogging friends are some of my favorite people!
Thanks, Katy 😀 Meeting awesome people is one of the greatest things about blogging! and answering to comments is indeed quite fun 😀
Great tips! I think #7 and #8 are the most important. Be yourself and genuinely engage with other people and everything will take off from there. Look at you and how many followers you have in less than a year! 😀
Thanks Jessica 😀 Being yourself is indeed quite important. One of the reasons I love your blog is because I have the feeling your personality shines through your writing
Great advice, Elodie 🙂 For me #8 – #10 were especially important. I’m so thankful for the connections I’ve made through blog hops like RTW and Friday Fives, and just from following other blogs and carrying the conversation over to Twitter even. It’s been so much fun, so helpful, and so encouraging. But, like #10 says, it’s most important to just have fun!
Really great post 🙂
Thanks Jaime 😀 The fun comes mainly I think from all the connections I´ve made and I love the fact that I can continue the discussions on Twitter 😀
Number 6 is a great one, using photos really does draw people in. Good tips!
Thanks Ria 😀 Pictures just make it easy on the eyes for the reader and great illustration can just be an added way of communication 😀
Totally agree with all of your tips! #4 and #5, especially. I’m new to book blogging, but I’m learning more and more the importance of keeping a schedule. It’s been helpful for me as it keeps me motivated to write, and it’s helpful for my readers as they can see that I’m a regular poster. #5 is key, too – I’m always so surprised when I visit blogs where their RSS or GFC are hidden XD. Great tips and thanks for sharing!
My Top Ten Tips @ YA Books
Thanks 😀 The schedule really does help!
6 is a good one. I think it’s not only visuals, it’s the way people structure the post in general – Do they use h1, h2, h3 etc, do they use paragraphs or just one endlessly long text? and so on. Pictures make it all even easier. 🙂
Patricia // My Post
You´re right 😀 The way the posts are structured is indeed important. Pictures also help to illustrate the topics of the post. I find them quite useful (and fun on top of it)
Great advice – I think sometimes there’s a tendency to put too much pressure on ourselves as bloggers and end up getting bored – we need to remember to have fun!
Tara @ Hey, Tara
The pressure can creep up anytime and turning to our blogfriends and remember to have a laugh is a wonderful reminder 😀
I’ve been blogging less than a year and still consider myself as ‘new’!! I always struggle with sticking to a schedule. I plan in advance what I am going to do each week but then something always gets in the way whether it’s something major (like my laptop taking a hiatus) or just smnall things like work etc. So annoying! I must try harder.
😀 I am also still a blogging baby, freshman class and all 😀 The schedule is good but I also think flexibility is key (at least for me…)
Great advice. I’ve been blogging for a year and learn more each day.
Thanks 😀 I am still in the learning process too 😀 I think the great things is that it never ends!
Having fun with it – that’s the main reason I keep doing it. And I LOVE the friends I’ve made. And I love reading posts. Okay, I love it all. 🙂
😀 That´s a great summary of blogging, Alison and I subscribe to it: I love it all too 🙂
Blogging is a lot of work, but having fun is what it’s all about ultimately. I like that you talked about offering different methods for readers to follow your blog too. That’s great that you send an email reply to non-WP commenters! Thanks for the tips 🙂
You´re quite welcome 😀 Thanks for stopping by! I love getting notifications when somebody replied to my comment on WordPress and I thought about all those non-Wordpress users might enjoy a little email 😀 Blogging is indeed a lot of fun!
Good point… when are you a Newbie no longer?! I feel “old” in blogging, but I’m “younger” than you!! (What does that make you?! Wise, right?)
-Burgandy Ice
Hmm not sure if that makes me wise but I like the thought 😀
FANTASTIC post. I’m about seven months in and still feel like an absolute n00b most of the time, but I’m having a blast. My biggest problem: wordiness. I’m working on it–and at least on breaking things up with pictures. But I am definitely bookmarking this post!!!
Awwww! Thank you! 😀 There are still a lot I am working on when it comes to blogging and I am enjoying every step of the way 😀 The great part of it all is all the wonderful connections we make!
These are some great tips! Especially the first one (and the last one!).
I started blogging about four months ago, and I’ve really appreciated reading advice from older bloggers. Thanks for sharing!
You´re quite welcome Lauren 😀 Thanks for stopping by! Blogging is a lot of fun, isn´t it?