On Friday and Monday, Jordan and Kassia talked about what it might or might not be wise for professional writers to blog about, and why, and some of the potential pitfalls. That got me thinking about a possible way of dealing with the multiple goals of blogging — marketing your books, making friends, talking about your interests, finding other people with similar interests — without making readers choose between seeing posts which might turn them off and ignoring you all together. When I was first published, I had two Angela Benedetti blogs, each for a different purpose. I’ve been thinking about that recently, and the discussions over the last few days have given me even more to consider.
A lot of us already have multiple blogs (journals, newsgroups, web sites, forums, newsletters) and there’s usually at least some differentiation of what sort of material goes into each. I have a journal and two blogs devoted to my writer persona myself, plus a number of other more personal journals. It’s not really a matter of hiding — anyone who Googles “Angela Benedetti” will find almost everything without too much effort — but rather of separating topics and areas of interest so that readers can choose which they want to follow.
My original thinking was that the blog on my web site (and eventually some actual web pages) would be for folks who were interested in my stories and not much else. Someone who just wanted to hear about new releases, read the occasional free story or other “DVD extras” piece, see my reviews, etc., could subscribe to that blog and get only that, without having to wade through my personal opinions on whatever, or my discussions on the process of writing or the industry or anything on that side of the street. My Blogger blog (which is the one linked up in the Columnists list) was my Writer Hat blog, where I could talk about my end of the publishing business, the writing process and craftsmanship, things I was working on and problems and triumphs, and subjects related to what I write about — mainly gay rights and some sex issues — and I anticipated that the main audience there would be other writers, although of course anyone is welcome to read and comment.
I haven’t added content to the web site the way I thought I would, though, and although I still plan to, it’s been pretty dead over there for the last year. (Which is why my writer’s-side blog is the one linked here at RTB.) There might well be 300 people subscribed to the web site blog just for the news bulletin type posts, but they never comment so I don’t know, and I’ve been thinking about what to do with it.
The recent discussions here have made me wonder if it might not help to put different discussions in different boxes — whether blogs or journals or whatever — based on intensity as well as (or even instead of?) actual subject matter. Again, the idea isn’t to try to hide one’s stronger opinions, but rather to let the readers decide which blog(s) they want to subscribe to. Folks who just want release notices and reviews and freebies can subscribe to Blog A, people who want to hear about your garden and your dog and what really wonderful books you’ve read lately can subscribe to Blog B, and people who are up for what you think about politics or what outrageous thing happened at a writing conference or why you dragged yourself kicking and screaming through this other book in the (vain) hope that the writer would somehow manage to pull that mess together by the end, can subscribe to Blog C.
Dividing things up wouldn’t necessarily mean more posts — a reader who subscribed to all three blogs would get the same number of posts as they would if the writer had just posted them all in one blog, and in an automated blog reader it’s all the same. But it’d let folks who really aren’t into the stronger opinions choose not to see them without having to miss the release announcements or contests they want. And it’d let folks who are interested in the writer’s dog and her delphiniums and in what books she thinks people should avoid, but who don’t read the genre she writes and don’t care about a free story set in her fictional universe, get all the “good stuff” without having to scroll past the writing posts.
So what do you think? Is it better all in one box? Or might compartmentalizing be a good compromise? If you’re a writer, what do you do? And if you’re a reader, what do you prefer?
Angie
No related posts.
I do see some merit in compartmentalizing, but on the other hand, I think we’re trending toward spoon-feeding the audience, not only so nobody’s in any danger of getting their precious feathers ruffled, but so nobody has to be exposed to any subject that doesn’t interest them. I mean, what if someone’s interested in your dogs but NOT your delphiniums? Separate blogs for each? What if you have a one-time post about dolphins and no reason to believe your dog or delphinium readers woudl be interested in it? Separate blog for that one post?
I generally wish people would take more accountability for themselves. Nobody’s holding a gun to your head and making you read a post (presumably). A quick 2-second glance should tell you whether or not you want to keep reading or exercise your right to move on.
Authors have to accept the fact their book isn’t going to please everyone. Trying to please every reader is an exercise in futility, so all they can do is write the best book they’re capable of. Why should blogging be any different? You can’t please everyone. Deal with it.
Kerry — sure, it could definitely get ridiculous. A certain amount of judgement would be necessary.
And the possibility of people being offended is only part of it. I know that I’m on the crumbling edge of the cliff when it comes to time spent reading stuff online, and I’m probably not the only one. I won’t subscribe to a new blog if it has new posts every day, unless every one of those posts just blows me away. And even then, it’s a coin-toss. I can think of a number of blogs (and journals over on LJ) I’ve really wanted to read regularly but have restrained myself from subscribing from sheer time issues.
So might it be better to have at least a couple of blogs, one where your readers can get the skinny whenever there’s actual news, and another for people who want to hang out, kick back, grab the popcorn and chat?
I haven’t made up my mind about this (one reason I’m asking
) but I think there are valid points to just about every option I can come up with.
Angie
Well, being a semi-professional blogger,
I subscribe to the one topic per blog theory.
It is better for SEO
and for readers.
There are millions of blogs out there.
Being niche differentiates these blogs.
But really it depends on your goals
for your blog and your readership.
I’m a brand new writer.
I know that readers are nervous
about taking a chance on my writing
so I put fictional pieces on my writing blog.
That way, they can decide
whether or not they like my voice
BEFORE shelling out the cash.
My content will likely change
(or maybe not as I’m enjoying it)
as I become more established.
During one of these posts, someone mentioned that their mother reads their blog. I meant to comment but got busy. If I kept my mother’s sensibilities in mind, I’d probably never post a hunky picture, talk about erotic romance, or discuss any topic that relates to sex.
I can’t write love scenes wondering if my mom will get embarrassed! That would totally stifle my, um, creativity.
I say blog about what you want and don’t worry about one particular reader. Especially not Mom. Those who don’t care for the topic of the day can click away.
Kimber Chin — I can see that working, but it seems you’d have to put a lot of time into keeping up all your different blogs, no? Either that or limit pretty severely what you talk about. [ponder]
That adds another dimension to the “purpose” angle, too. I was thinking along the lines of, “OK, here’s a pro writer who wants to promote their books, let the readers get to know them, get to know some of the readers back, and share interests. If you’re a pro blogger, though, then your blogging is an end unto itself, and probably one of the things you’re trying to promote, rather than being just a tool for achieving your other goals? Is that right, or am I missing something?
Jill — on that angle, I agree with you, absolutely. [nod] Of course, my sixty-some-year-old mother has more than once e-mailed me links to stories on Nifty, so clearly she’s not the sort to be shocked or offended by much.
I do know other people who actively hide their writing from their families, though, and that can be tough.
Angie
If you want a targeted blog,
you have to limit what you’re talking about.
Sort of like
if you want to write a great novel,
you can’t put every plot known to man in it
(did THAT on my first manuscript
- YIKES).
Today, it is all about the editing.
There’s information overload
and readers want someone to edit
that information for them.
I don’t want to hear
the Fed’s entire speech on the economy.
I want to know if it is going to be
good or bad.
That’s it.
Kimber — but there are plenty of incredibly popular blogs out there which are multi-subject. I read a number of them, and enjoy them very much. “Boing-Boing” comes to mind, as the single most popular blog online, and John Scalzi’s “Whatever” as another very popular blog. And most of the writers’ blogs where I hang out, which get the most comments and have the liveliest discussions, are multi-subject, focused on the blogging writer and his/her interests rather than a single topic.
I agree that going absolutely single-topic is one way of working, and I’m sure it’s effective if what you’re promoting is the blog itself, and your audience is people who are into that one, singular topic. I’m not convinced it’s the only way to go, though, if what you’re promoting is yourself and the opportunity for people (like readers of one’s fiction) to get to know you as a well-rounded person.
Angie, still pondering
Oh, yeah…
Technically,
a pro blogger is
someone who blogs to make money.
Most writers qualify.
No, we don’t sell other people’s products
(via advertising)
but
we do sell our own books.
Now, we may not be SERIOUS pro bloggers
like the bloggers making 6 figures a year
and selling their blogs for millions
but we are pro bloggers.
That’s why I prefaced it
with “if you want a targeted blog”
There are many, many ways to go.
It is simply easier in the crowded blogosphere
to launch a niche blog
because it makes the blog unique.
If you can provide the uniqueness
in other ways,
go for it.
Kimber — but we are pro bloggers
Sure, I see where you’re coming from here. [nod] I still think it’s useful to make the distinction, though, between a blog which is the product you’re promoting, and a blog which is promoting your actual product, whether it’s you’re books or something else.
Or maybe it’s not. But I do know that I have a blog focused on only on the single topic of relevant announcements about my releases, my reviews, columns, contests, promotions — only things particularly focused on my writing itself, and in the year or so it’s been up I’ve had one (1) person comment. [wry smile] I can’t really change anything about it (and clearly something needs to change) without expanding to other topics. So in this case, at least, it seems the single, sharply-focused topic approach isn’t doing the job for me.
Angie
Kimber — exactly. There are different ways of making it work. [nod] The trick is figuring out which method or approach will give you the result you want, in your particular circumstances.
Angie
Angie,
Please don’t ever use comments
as an indication of popularity.
One of my blogs has
2,500 unique readers a day.
If I’m lucky,
I get one comment a month
(unless I miss a day
then I get 1,000 plus comments/emails).
My readers are mostly busy women.
A stat counter is a MUST
for blogs and websites
(if you care about traffic).
Sounds like what you really need
is a goal for your blog.
Once you have a clear goal,
you can start to visualize your perfect reader
and what he/she wants.
Then when you sit down to write your post,
you can filter by asking
‘would he/she be interested in this?’
Kimber — sorry, I didn’t mean to cause offense. Most of the popular blogs I visit have lively conversations going, so that’s one metric I use for success. 2500 hits per day is, of course, pretty darned awesome even if only one person per month is commenting.
I do care about conversations, though. I don’t think of my blogs as just billboards for my own thoughts. (Although actually, if my annoucements blog does get even 2500 hits per month then I suppose it’s serving its purpose of primarily promotion.
) I have a stat counter on my writing blog (still nowhere near 2500 a day, LOL!) and tried to install it in my other (Wordpress) blog and it didn’t work. I diddled with it for a while then gave up. 
Should probably find something that works and see what traffic is actually like.
Angie
LOL Angie.
I have rhino-skin.
You can’t possibly cause offense.
There, you answered your own question.
What you value is conversations.
So what does your perfect reader
like to chat about?
Do you offer two sides of a discussion, signalling that both are welcome?
Do you end every post with a question?
Do you let everyone comment?
Do you email commenters back and thank them, inviting them back to your blog?
Do you visit the commenters on their own blogs?
BTW… my blogs aren’t billboards of my thoughts.
That would scare people.
For the 2,500 reader a day blog,
I summarize business books, trends, whitepapers in 150 words or less for busy businesswomen.
They stay current in 5 minutes or less.
Blogs only grow in readership
if they add value in some way.
Kimber — maybe the problem is MPD, then because I’m still thinking that I need a place which is essentially a billboard, for people who aren’t interested in the chat. [bemused smile] Or maybe not; I definitely need to get some numbers on it.
Which is why I’ve been staring at it recently, trying to figure out what to do with it.
And we’re drifting off topic some, or at least getting away from the general and too much into the personal — this not being one of my own blogs here — but maybe we can call it a workshop on how to analyze your blogging goals?
Angie
It really depends.
I started my personal playground blog two years ago. starcaptainsdaughter.blogspot.com I started reviewing books there as part of my self-education in this business. That boomed and it became necessary to create a new blog just for book reviews.
enduringromance.blogspot.com
That boomed and it became necessary to recruit fellow reviewers.
At Enduring Romance, I noticed Young Adult Science Fiction largely neglected by the publishing industry, especially for girls, so I created
youngadultsciencefiction.blogspot.com
That one’s brand new and mostly cut-and-paste interviews, reviews, and such. Anyone with recommendations or suggestions, please pop over and make them.
We’ll see how it goes.
Looking back, I created new blogs or recruited fellow bloggers when I sensed a need among readers.
I think this conversation is interesting. The thing that strikes me most, though, is that if I blogged or even read blogs, to the extent that some of you gals seem to, I would never get anything else done! Do you sleep?
Kimber An — it sounds like your blogging has grown very organically. [nod] That’s a great way to do it. Maybe overthinking is the worst problem?
Imelda — LOL! Well, yes, I spend a lot of time online, definitely. In my own case, I was (and still am) a pretty firm and active fixture in a large online community, with several journals and a very long reading list of journals and communities. (Sort of like multi-user blogs.) When I started publishing, I moved over to this community, which in itself is actually more than one. I have distinct groups even here, including m/m romance writers, mainstream het romance writers (centered here at RTB), and another group of writers whose work is in a variety of genres and whose only common factor is that they all write or would like to or they read the others. I don’t want to drop my old community, but I find my new ones both interesting and useful, so…. [laugh/flail]
It does suck up a lot of time, keeping up, but so far I’ve managed. Not having a day job helps.
Angie