Tag: Pinterest

Which is the best social media for a blogger?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell27 Comments

Which social media do you use to promote your blog?

There are so many personalized reader/news websites, how do we choose? I can’t keep up with all of them. New ones, old ones, coming and going every day. It’s exhausting.

Flipboard, StumbleUpon/Mix, Medium, Feedly, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus,  Linkedin, Reddit, Tumbler, Pocket, Pinterest or…

  • StumbleUpon. I loved this one until they changed. Every time I added my blog post to their website, I found other great writers.  Now that they’ve migrated over to Mix, I’m not so sure. Changes aren’t always for the better. At 40 million users, I can’t help but wonder how many will make the transition.
  • Flipboard.  Another one I like. But, I don’t use it as often as I probably should. I find the format a bit intimidating and that easy to use. With over 100 million users, maybe I need to stick with it.
  • Medium, ditto to Flipboard. Unless you have a paid subscription, reading the articles is limited.
  • Google Plus, I’m not sure how much traffic it generates. But with over 2.2 billion users, I hope to get a few.
  • Pinterest. I’ve just recently started linking more often and I’m pleased with the traffic. So, I’m going to try to continue with this one, after all, they boast over 2oo million users. I’ll see how it goes.
  • Facebook, meh. Lots of controversies, but lots of traffic go through this site. My results have been mixed with it. However, with over  2.2 billion users I’m not quitting.
  • Twitter. Now I’ve had good success with Twitter. Plus I enjoy reading and discovering new bloggers/writers.
  • Linkedin, I am signed up for this site, but not real active with it.
  • Tumbler It’s been so long since I looked at this one. I’m not sure how active this site is. With over 400 million users, maybe I need to look again.
  • Feedly, I’ve never used it. Looks good, but to share your blog through IFTTT requires the paid service. Still with over 14 million users, might be worth it.
  • Reddit, confusing. I’ve tried to use Reddit in the past but had little success. And of course, as with so many websites, they’ve changed theirs too. But with over 1.5 billion users…

This is just a drop in the bucket. There are even more feeds to connect our blogs. However, there are only so many hours in a day. I do want to grow my blog but can’t be everywhere all the time.

Now it’s your turn, help a girl out…

Which website do you link to your blog posts?

Which one gets the most referral from?

Do you have a favorite?

Want to read more about ways to generate traffic to your blog? 

Go to the bottom and keep reading.

PLEASE TAKE ANOTHER MINUTE AND LOOK ME UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY CLICKING ON THE LINKS BELOW.
AND STOP BY JEAN’S WRITING ANYTIME, I’LL LEAVE A LIGHT ON. 

Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Pinterest, Stumbleupon 

 

What are the best news readers?

Feedly vs Flipboard By ABHISHEK MACWAN

How to Use Flipboard as a Traffic-Generating Machine by JANICE WALD 

It’s Time for an RSS Revival By

Goodbye, StumbleUpon, one of the last great ways to find good things online By Megan Farokhmanesh 

StumbleUpon is closing down and moving to Mix – Here is your Mix getting started guide  by  

 

Which social media sends you the most readers?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

Is WordPress Reader, Google, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, or Twitter the best choice?

Or how about Reddit, StumbleUpon, Medium, or a market I’ve yet to discover? Seems a new one pops up every day. So how do we discover which is best for our blog?

Do you have a favorite you search engine? 

Okay, Bloggers hold on to your hat! Deep diving for answers today. 

All of these questions were rolling around in my head this past weekend and got me to thinking…

Am I wasting my time on the wrong platforms? Should I concentrate on just one or two and not spread myself like mayonnaise on bread.

Time for research. Which translates into dropping down the ole rabbit hole.

The first place I started, of course, was the Stats page in WordPress. But that was just a starting point. You can see from my image, according to WordPress, most of my referrers come from WordPress Readers.

But, does that tell me how readers actually discovered Jean’s Writing? I’m not sure. The term “referrer” is referencing online sources – specifically sites or services that the referring page or link clicked on to get to my site. Clear as mud, right?

Look at this section on your STATS page to get a better idea of how many people are seeing your blog.  Below is how many views, visitors, likes and comments made to my blog.

However, that still doesn’t let me know which social media gets me the most bang for my time.

So, I did a little more digging.

Another great source is Google Analytics. Takes a little while to set it up but once you do you can see which social site is sending the most people to your website. I set up my account last year but hadn’t checked on it since. So, I headed over to see what was what.

Holy Cow! Google Analytics had zero stats for my website. Please don’t judge me too harshly. Because I’m embarrassed to tell you, I’d forgotten one very important step. The freaking Accept button. You know that button that says you agree to terms, yadda, yadda yadda…  

 

So y’all tell me…

How do you figure out all this stuff?

Or do you just go with the flow and not worry about who or how?

Do you concentrate on one social media outlet more than another?

Which social media do you think helps your blog the best?

Want to read more about which social media is sending visitors to your website? Click on the links below.

Who is Driving Visits to Your Site

What social media channels drive the most traffic to your website?

WordPress Stats

How to See Which Social Media Platforms Are Sending You the Most Traffic

I HOPE YOU’LL TAKE A MINUTE TO FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA, JUST CLICK ON THE BUTTONS BELOW. I’LL LEAVE A LIGHT ON.

    

 

Do you know how to write a book review?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell81 Comments

I must confess, writing a book review is very hard for me.

You’d think as a writer, writing a book review would be easy. It’s not.

But reviews are as important to writers as water to fish. Writers need book reviews. The best way to get is to give.

So I set out to learn more about writing a good review.

I used to adhere to the old saying, “If you can’t say something good say nothing.”

Now I go with, “In everything, there is some good. Look for it.”girl-308360_640

When you write a review, it’s important to find that “something” good to say.

Even for books that aren’t my genre, and even for those that make me cringe, I search for something good to say.

Things to look for…

  • Did the title or the cover get your attention?
  • Identify the genre.
  • Identify the audience (age.)
  • Identify the Point of View.
  • Is there a theme or common thread throughout the story?
  • Does the book or authors style remind you of another’s?
  • Review don’t critique.
  • Were characters loveable, believable, scary, or memorable?

Information to include in a review…

  • Include the name of book and author as well as the length of the book.
  • An opening hook. (ask a question, give a hint, etc.)
  • What you enjoyed. (character, line, writing style, etc.)
  • Who might enjoy this type of book?
  • A short summary. But remember this is not a book report.
  • A wrap-up or closing. (If you didn’t particularly like the book, this is a good place to sandwich the bad with good.)

Review example:

(Author’s name) new book, (book title) is (what? funny, sad, moving, thrilling, haunting?) A (genre) in (where or time?) is about (what? war? girl? boy? love? death?)  It’s about (a brief summary.)

(who?) will enjoy reading (book title). I found this book to be (quick, detailed, engrossing, lengthy, informative, etc.) Readers who enjoy (genre) may like (title.)

Final tip:

If you’re unsure how to word your review, read other reviews in the same genre. Go to Amazon.com, Goodreads, or Barnes & Noble.com and read reviews until you are comfortable with the process.

So, do tell…

What advice can you offer to this struggling reviewer? 

Do you find writing book reviews easy or hard?

Keep reading, good articles below on the art of writing a review.

Click to write me or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at  jean.cogdelland Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on and I’m waiting.

Please remember share this post with your Twitter peeps andFacebook fans.

How to Write a Book Review  by Bill Asenjo 

Writing a Book Review  Contributors: Allen Brizee

Book Review Writing Template  By 

How to sell your book with a target audience

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell16 Comments

On this subject, I’m totally clueless.

There I said it. They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well, I don’t know about you, but this is a problem for me.

I’ve never been good at the sell!

book_sale

One thing I’ve learned through this process. Targeting an audience begins with the title of your book. This is something I didn’t realize until now.

I’ve now discovered the audience for my upcoming book is preschoolers. That means my target audience is their parents or grandparents. Right? Because preschoolers can’t order books on Amazon at least not without a little help.

So, what’s next? I can’t lurk in the parking lot at Tiny Tot’s Preschool as parents drop off their kids. That might get me a lot of publicity but not exactly the type I need.

Step 1- my target audience:

  • Moms, Dads, and Grandparents
  • Little girls with big imaginations
  • Ages 1-5

Step 2 – where they hang out:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Online publications
  • Local Libary

Now what?

Y’all have any suggestions?

Talk to me, the lights on and comments are now open.

Keep reading great links at the bottom of the page!

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdelland Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Do You Waste Time Marketing Your Book To The Wrong Readers? by

5 Tips on How to Identify Your Target Audience  by

How To Target an Audience (And Avoid Book Launch Flop) by

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