Are you ready lớn join the world of book blogging? I decided to take my love of reading romance books online and become a book blogger and haven’t looked back since.
If you love khổng lồ read then you too can start blogging about books and start your own book blog.
If you’re ready to lớn jump in, here are a few tips lớn get you started.
Book Blogging: Why Start a Book Blog?
Before you enter the book blogging world, I suggest you first decide your reason for becoming a book blogger.
Do you want lớn connect with your favorite authors? Do you want advanced reader copies of books? Do you want khổng lồ connect with a community of readers?I created my book blog, She Reads Romance Books, because I wanted to lớn help fellow romance book lovers find the best romance books worth reading. I create epic book lists on my book blog so that romance readers are never without a great book khổng lồ read.
I also wanted to tư vấn romance book authors, especially indie authors, và help promote their books.
Book blogging has been a great avenue to vị so with my book lists, book reviews and advertising opportunities.
Blogging is a lot of fun but it’s also a lot of work. I’d like to think all book bloggers have a day where they have khổng lồ remind themselves why they vì chưng what they do.
For that reason be sure you know why YOU want khổng lồ start blogging about books so you never đại bại sight of your reason for doing it!
Book Blogging: Key Steps lớn Launch a Book Blog
Blogs on books range from the hobby blogger khổng lồ the more dedicated book blogger. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, there are a few key steps before launching your book blog.
1) Name Your Book Blog
This is the fun part – naming your book blog! Pick a name that fits your niche and the focus of your book blog.
My book blog is focused exclusively on romance books hence the words romance books are in my blog’s name. Anyone coming khổng lồ my blog should have a good idea that they will find information on romance books, not mystery books, biographies or other genres.
Before deciding on a name, kiểm tra it out on Namecheckr. This is an easy and quick way khổng lồ see if the name you choose is available as a domain name name và if the associated social trương mục names are available or already taken.
Visit Namecheckr
2) Craft Your Main Book Blog Pages
Your book blog is going to lớn have a few main pages: your home page, about page & contact page.
Layout your design for these pages và draft your website page copy so they are ready to upload on your book blog once your site is ready.
3) Write A Few Blog Posts
Before taking your book blog live, you’ll want to lớn write a few blog posts. This serves two purposes.
One, writing a few blog posts will let you know whether this is something you really want to lớn do.
If after writing just a few posts you realize that book blogging sounded fun but in reality is not something you can see yourself doing for the long haul then you can stop without having already invested a lot of time và money.
Two, having a few book blog posts already written & ready khổng lồ go will make sure your book blog has some great material to tóm tắt right when you launch.
4) Launch Your Book Blog
With these basic steps under your belt, you’re now ready to lớn create your site & launch!
To help you create your book blog & get the most out of your time blogging about books, here are some resources to lớn help you.
Because these are resources that I use to lớn help me be the best book blogger I can be and create an epic book blog, these links are affiliate links.
If you decide khổng lồ use these awesome resources as well và purchase after clicking my link, I receive a small commission at no cost khổng lồ you (disclaimer).
Pin this for later when you’re ready to follow the steps for starting a book blog.
Book Blogging Resources
Book Blogging web Site Builder & Hosting
Before you start blogging about books you need a web site builder. There are lots of options to choose from (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc.) but ultimately it’s up lớn you lớn pick one based on price, ease of use và design features.
When I first started my blog, I used Squarespace because I was familiar with the platform and could quickly kiến thiết a site that I was comfortable with and could easily update & create new content.
As time went on I realized that I wanted more control over my site’s speed so I made the switch khổng lồ WordPress!
WordPress is king when it comes to lớn the blogging world BUT it definitely requires more know how & can definitely be more pricey depending on the hosting company you choose & the theme you use (if you use one).
BigScoots WordPress HostingIf you go with WordPress, definitely skip the không tính phí version. That means you’ll need to lớn find and pay for website hosting.
I compared prices and options and read a ton of đánh giá and ultimately settled on BigScoots. Their managed WordPress plans come with không tính tiền SSL certificate, free email và are fully managed. I highly recommend them!
Plus, speed is everything when it comes khổng lồ blogging online. I knew that my site would have the best tốc độ going with BigScoots.
Get Started With BigScoots
GroovePages: miễn phí Website Builder và Host in OneFor those unsure if blogging is ultimately for you và you’re hesitant to jump right in with WordPress then I recommend GroovePages which is a complete web site builder and host in one.
The best part about GroovePages? It’s free!
For a limited time, GroovePages is free, giving you the ability to lớn create up to three branded web sites with full navigation for free. Plus GroovePages includes miễn phí hosting.
Not only that, but GroovePages gives you miễn phí custom domains which is unheard of. Other free blogging platforms require you to have their name in your domain name (like blogger or wordpress) but GroovePages gives you your own free, custom domain!
No need to purchase your custom tên miền from GoDaddy or another domain name provider.
Again, if book blogging doesn’t turn out to lớn be your thing, you’re not out any money if you start a site with GroovePages.
Get Started with GroovePages
Legal Policies for Your Book Blog
If you start a book blog, you’re going lớn want to make sure you have the necessary policies in place. These are required và protect you as a book blogger as well.
The three main legal policies you need for your book blog are:
Privacy Policy: Stating what information you collect & how you use that personal information. This needs khổng lồ be GDPR và CCPA compliant. Disclaimer: This protects you for the content you publish on your book blog và should disclose any tiếp thị liên kết programs you are a part of. Terms & Conditions: This articulates the rules và regulations for what is allowed and not allowed on your book blog site. Legal Bundles from A Self GuruUnless you are a lawyer or want to lớn pay a lawyer khổng lồ craft these important policies for you, I recommend the Privacy Policy, Disclaimer & Terms & Conditions policies in the Starter Legal Bundle from A Self Guru.
Amira at A Self Guru is a business lawyer & successful blogger who has created these templates for bloggers & online entrepreneurs. Purchase this Legal Bundle and rest assured that your book blogging ventures are covered. Plus, with the purchase you’ll have access to any future updates!
Grab Your Legal Bundle
Email marketing for Book Bloggers
One of the best ways to build & stay in cảm biến with your book blog audience is lớn start an thư điện tử list from day one.
Social media followers can come and go but your email list is a great way to lớn keep your readers informed of what’s new on your blog & to keep the page views coming.
GrooveMailIf you’re creating your book blog on GroovePages then you’ll want to mở cửa an email marketing account with GrooveMail.
You can get started easily with their free plan. It will be seamless lớn integrate sign up forms on your book blog website pages lớn start building your list!
Get Started with GrooveMail
MailerliteAnother great email marketing account for bloggers is Mailerlite.
I’ve honestly used Mailchimp, Convertkit & Mailerlite for my business and book blog & Mailerlite totally beats out the other two.
I find it to lớn be very user-friendly and cost effective with all the bells và whistles that you might want.
Get Started with Mailerlite
Pin this for later: How lớn successfully use Pinterest for your book blog!
Book Blogging With Pinterest
Once you start book blogging, you’ll want lớn make sure you get traffic to your blog! One of the best ways lớn increase your traffic is khổng lồ use Pinterest.
Check Out My Pinterest Page & Follow Me!
Pinterest is actually a search engine, like Google, so your nội dung has the ability khổng lồ be viewed again và again unlike on social truyền thông media which has a very short life span for content.
Pinterest Course: sạc pin It With EllTo learn the basics of Pinterest & how to set up a business account for your book blog, I recommend the Pinterest course, sạc It With El.
This course gives you the nuts và bolts for how lớn set up an account, how often to pin and how lớn schedule your pins to Pinterest. It’s quite affordable và gives you the exact steps you need lớn launch your Pinterest strategy.
Start the Course
Pinterest Scheduler: TailwindAfter the Pinterest course, one of the best investments I made for my book blog was joining Tailwind. Tailwind is a Pinterest Scheduler that lets you schedule out your pins to Pinterest in advance.
This service not only saves you SO much time but it will skyrocket your views.
Once I started using Tailwind, my pin views jumped from 5.5K to 121K in just one month và to 540K in just six and a half months. It seriously was a game changer & makes pinning to Pinterest so much easier.
Get Started with Tailwind
Pinterest Image Creator: CanvaPinterest is all about the visual pins so if you are serious about developing a following for your book blog on Pinterest (which you should!) then you’ll want to lớn use Canva.
Canva is a không tính tiền graphic thiết kế platform which enables you to lớn easily create pinable images for your blog posts.
They make it super easy for you giving many Pinterest Templates khổng lồ choose from that are already in the correct form size for appropriate pins.
I use the miễn phí version of Canva but am considering upgrading khổng lồ Canva Pro to lớn utilize it’s extra bells and whistles, but the miễn phí version should be sufficient khổng lồ start with until you know your needs.
Check Out Canva
Learn SEO to lớn Launch Your Book Blog
When you enter the blogging world, it’s important to learn and understand tìm kiếm engine optimization. Angela at Stray Curls is amazing at explaining the importance of SEO and how khổng lồ implement it effectively for your blog.
She offers blogging resources including several ebooks that are worth EVERY penny to help you on your blogging journey.
Check out The Ultimate Blogger’s SEO Blueprint ebook
Selling Digital Products
Selling digital products on your blog is a great way to earn income lớn keep your blog going. I created và sell the printable Romance Book Reading Journal on my blog for example.
SendOwl
I use SendOwl khổng lồ sell & send my digital Journal because it is SO easy lớn use & is very affordable.
You can set up your product in minutes, link your checkout page khổng lồ your blog và you’re done! SendOwl takes care of payment và delivery of your product. I highly recommend!
Get Started with SendOwl
Using Quizzes on your Book Blog
Using quizzes is such a fun way to lớn get visitors lớn your book blog interacting with you and your content.
Interact Quiz Maker
I use Interact khổng lồ create all my quizzes. They are super easy to create và you can even search for images and GIFs to lớn use within your quizzes.
With the paid plan you get access lớn your quiz analytics & have people sign up for your thư điện tử list.
Get Started with Interact
Book Blogging: Finding không tính tiền Books
If you’re blogging about books, then you’re going lớn need books to read, am I right? Now I love using the library but sometimes it just doesn’t carry every title you’re looking to read.
And when you read as much as I do, purchasing books can really add up! That’s why I’ve honed in on several legit sources for không tính phí books for my book blog.
You can check out all of my sources for free books in my free romance book guide.
Book Blogging affiliate Programs
If you are writing about books in your book blog, then you’re going khổng lồ want khổng lồ sign up for tiếp thị liên kết programs so that you can make money from those book mentions.
Book retailers such as Amazon, táo khuyết Books, Barnes & Noble & Bookshop have tiếp thị liên kết programs that you can join.
Once you become an affiliate, anytime a visitor to your book blog clicks on one of your affiliate link and makes a purchase, then you get a small commission at no additional cost to lớn that person.
These tiếp thị liên kết programs don’t have huge payouts, but if you’re serious about blogging about books, then it can địa chỉ cửa hàng up. This money can then be poured back into your blog or be used lớn purchase more books!
Just be sure that you always disclose your affiliate links in each of your book blog posts and pages where appropriate.
Get Started with Amazon Affiliates
So there you have it!
Follow the tips in this Book Blogging Guide & you’ll be on your way as an official book blogger. It’s really a lot of fun so join in và get blogging!