Last week Aentee at Read at Midnight posted “Posts I loved reading as a non-blogger”, where she discussed how her preferences changed since she became a book-blogger. Many people (myself included) admitted in comments that their tastes changed too, and that posts they loved as non-bloggers are not the same as those they love to read now.
So today I want to talk about content for non-bloggers and content for bloggers since it looks like it’s not the same.
I rated level of interest:
3 Stars – very interesting
2 Stars - moderately interesting
1 Stars – neutral or not interesting
3 Stars – very interesting
2 Stars - moderately interesting
1 Stars – neutral or not interesting
Non-bloggers
Book reviews
3 Stars
Almost everyone admitted that they were looking for reviews when they were non-bloggers. Important note: readers are looking for a blogger with similar book tastes and interesting writing style (it can be snarky and sarcastic, other followers prefer beautiful writing, and some are interested in thorough and informative reviews).
Almost everyone admitted that they were looking for reviews when they were non-bloggers. Important note: readers are looking for a blogger with similar book tastes and interesting writing style (it can be snarky and sarcastic, other followers prefer beautiful writing, and some are interested in thorough and informative reviews).
Lists, recommendations, read-a-likes
3 Stars
Non-bloggers use these posts for their “to be read shelf” as well as book reviews.
Non-bloggers use these posts for their “to be read shelf” as well as book reviews.
New releases, book news
3 Stars
Looks like these posts are pretty popular among non-bloggers. And they find it helpful if there are also purchase links.
Looks like these posts are pretty popular among non-bloggers. And they find it helpful if there are also purchase links.
Book hauls
1-2-3 Stars
Very different opinions here. Some non-bloggers love this type of posts, some don’t.
Very different opinions here. Some non-bloggers love this type of posts, some don’t.
Discussions
2 Stars
Discussions are not as popular as previous types of posts, but non-bloggers still find them interesting. Note: non-bloggers prefer bookish discussions; they are not interested in discussions about blogging.
Discussions are not as popular as previous types of posts, but non-bloggers still find them interesting. Note: non-bloggers prefer bookish discussions; they are not interested in discussions about blogging.
Memes
1-2-3 Stars
And again very different opinions. Some non-blogger like them, some – not so much.
And again very different opinions. Some non-blogger like them, some – not so much.
Bookish events
2-3 Stars
Popular posts, especially if you add photos.
Popular posts, especially if you add photos.
Bloggers
Book reviews
1-2 Stars
It looks like book reviews became more and more unpopular among book-bloggers. It makes me really sad, we are BOOK COMMUNITY after all. Why? I have a guess, though I may be wrong. Blogger usually follows many blogs, and our blogger-friends not always have the same book tastes (like our real life friends). The range of reviews that blogger reads is wider, and they read reviews on books that are not their genre or even not interesting for them at all. As a result reading the reviews can became a choir.
It looks like book reviews became more and more unpopular among book-bloggers. It makes me really sad, we are BOOK COMMUNITY after all. Why? I have a guess, though I may be wrong. Blogger usually follows many blogs, and our blogger-friends not always have the same book tastes (like our real life friends). The range of reviews that blogger reads is wider, and they read reviews on books that are not their genre or even not interesting for them at all. As a result reading the reviews can became a choir.
Lists, recommendations, read-a-likes
2 Stars
I guess among bloggers these posts more about raising a discussion and chatting with your friends.
I guess among bloggers these posts more about raising a discussion and chatting with your friends.
Book hauls
1-2-3 Stars
It’s a way to see what your friends purchased and chat. Here book-tubers win, because many people admit that they prefer to see “real books”.
It’s a way to see what your friends purchased and chat. Here book-tubers win, because many people admit that they prefer to see “real books”.
New releases, book news
1-2 Stars
Since bloggers are immersed in community, they usually know about new releases and book news, so they don’t find this type of posts very interesting.
Since bloggers are immersed in community, they usually know about new releases and book news, so they don’t find this type of posts very interesting.
Discussions
3 Stars
Discussions are very popular in book community, especially blog-related discussions.
Discussions are very popular in book community, especially blog-related discussions.
Graphic tips
3 Stars
As well as blogging tips graphic tips are very popular. Many bloggers want to add some unique designs to their blogs, so they find this kind of posts helpful.
As well as blogging tips graphic tips are very popular. Many bloggers want to add some unique designs to their blogs, so they find this kind of posts helpful.
Memes
1-2-3 Stars
Some bloggers love memes, others don’t like them. But many admit that after they’ve read 5-10 Ten Top Tuesdays in one day, it became tiresome.
Some bloggers love memes, others don’t like them. But many admit that after they’ve read 5-10 Ten Top Tuesdays in one day, it became tiresome.
Tags
2-3 Stars
Bloggers like to tag each other. It’s a fun way to communicate and get to know each other.
Bloggers like to tag each other. It’s a fun way to communicate and get to know each other.
Bookish events
2-3 Stars
It’s great to visit an event vicariously through fellow blogger.
It’s great to visit an event vicariously through fellow blogger.
Non-bloggers and bloggers
Personal posts
3 Stars
Personal posts are very popular. It’s good to know a real person behind the blog, especially when you follow a blogger for a while.
Personal posts are very popular. It’s good to know a real person behind the blog, especially when you follow a blogger for a while.
Travels with photos
3 Stars
People love these posts (bloggers and non-bloggers alike).
People love these posts (bloggers and non-bloggers alike).
Resume
Content for book-bloggers is not the same as content for non-bloggers. So if you want to widen you audience, you should write posts for both groups. If you want to engage bloggers, you should post more discussions, graphic tips, blogging tips. If you blog focuses on non-bloggers, your content: book reviews, lists, recommendations, read-a-likes, new releases, book news.
All these differences are not strict. I’m sure there are book-bloggers who love new releases as well as non-bloggers who find graphic and blogging tips interesting. Just do what you feel passionate about. It’s the reason we all started blogging after all. Happy and content blogger is always magnet for followers.
It is sad that bloggers aren't reading review, I read them all the time and like doing so but you are right, if there is a book that is in a genre I don't read I don't spend as much time reading the review. For instance, I might scan it instead of reading the whole thing but I do still read them.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised by the personal posts and memes though. I would have thought those numbers would be reversed for some reason. Very insightful!
Well I am outside the norm, as I like reviews and seeing others opinions I find it fascinating.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post Ksenia, it's so interesting to see what appealed to the two groups. Like Kim, I like reading other bloggers' reviews, especially those who I know have similar tastes because then I can more easily figure out if a certain book is going to work for me or not. Love that people find personal posts interesting, I always do as well. It's fun getting to know other bloggers outside of just books!
ReplyDeleteFabulous post Ksenia! Really interesting to see how our tastes change isn't it. I was only really reading again for around six months before I started blogging, but I love reviews still. I'd actually rate reviews higher than book hauls or discussions actually. New releases as well. Being a blog reader is how I add new books to my lists based on reviews and it's a bit sad to think that my type of blogger / reader could be a dying breed. I think the way we blog probably makes us navigate towards other bloggers who not only share our bookish tastes but also have similar blogs to our own. I'd love to see this discussion out in the community so we can compare notes. Really fascinating stuff. Wonderful post poppet <3
ReplyDeleteThats very interesting. I do know a lot of people that post straight reviews and as a blogger I don't mind. I have started this new thing where I take my friends recoms for some of the books I recently read and it had turned out so good. I need to do more discussion posts, If only I had more time :(
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I never really read blogs before I was a blogger. I don't think I knew they existed. I mean, I started reading more because I got more and more into blogging, so I suppose that is kind of the same thing. I love reading other blogger's reviews; I would hope more actual bloggers would too because it's still nice to get different opinions and discuss what one thought!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I hate when I hear a book blogger who doesn't read reviews. Especially when that is what they started with. I think a ton of my traffic is other bloggers, although I wish it was more of a mix. I love to read reviews, it is the thing that draws me to reading a blog.
ReplyDeleteI don't know exactly how other book bloggers read blogs, but my method is two-fold. First there are some bloggers to whom I feel drawn; they read the same kind of books I do and often have other things in common as well. I follow these bloggers on Bloglovin so I see everything they write; how much I read depends on what catches my eye and how much time I have. Secondly, I follow the weekend memes like Sunday Post (where I learned about this post), Mailbox Monday and It's Monday. I don't read all the posts every week but I try to read 30-30 random posts from one or more of these memes. If the post interests me, I may click through to your home page and see what you've writen lately. If your post links me to a discussion post that I find interesting, I'll click through--and I've found some really interesting discussions on blogs that review book that don't interest me one bit (like your blog--our tastes in reading materials are very different, and that's ok, but I'm a lot more likely to read your discussion posts than your reviews for that reason).
ReplyDeleteHello Kesnia - I saw your post linked by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Review. Lovely to meet a blogger across the world with a love of books in common. This is a great post giving lots of interesting feedback. Thanks for sharing. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteOops - sorry I misspelled Ksenia. Now I am wondering how it is pronounced. :-)
ReplyDeleteI just want to read reviews on books. I always thought book bloggers would love non bloggers to read reviews. We are looking for book clubs, reviews etc. we do not have ARC piles and have the time to read recommended books. I always thought book blogs were for the public not just book bloggers.
ReplyDelete