Competing with the Big Guys

When it comes to blogging, there are days I still feel like a baby. While I don't suffer from blog envy, I still wish there was an easier way to attract sponsors. I remember my friend, Ellen, over at Confessions of an Overworked Mom getting frustrated over being a little fish in a big pond. Now, she's the whale in a vast ocean. She knew what she wanted her blog to focus on, made some tweaks here and there, and is now a social media expert whose opinions are sought after and respected. She also proves the term "Mommy blogger" isn't just for those with kids in diapers. Both her children are teenagers.

I've struggled to define this blog. Originally, I was thinking it was going to be another book blog, but I found myself wanting more and more to talk about other things. Then I started reviewing more products, so the original name didn't fit. I changed the title to Books, Products and More! I was so sure I would stick with that, I created social media accounts at Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I've joined different sites like BlogFrog. Then the doubts came in again and I wondered if having "mom" in the title would make more sense. Most of my life centers around being a wife and mother.

I seem to be stuck at a certain number of followers everywhere I go. Even when I spend time retweeting other posts and commenting at other blogs, the uptick is miniscule. Offering giveaways hasn't helped much because I can't afford to offer the types of giveaways the bigger bloggers do. I've reached out to potential sponsors, but they aren't great about responding.

I would appreciate some advice. What have you done to make your blog more attractive to readers and sponsors? What do you look for in a blog? Do too many ads make you unsubscribe? If you're a regular reader here, what do you like most?

Thanks for your help. It is greatly appreciated.

Does Social Networking and Commenting Really Make a Difference?

Writers (I include bloggers in that term) are told over and over again about the importance of social networking. Twitter and Facebook have changed our ability to reach out to potential readers. Gather, Shelfari, Goodreads, Ning groups, and other similiar sites have also allowed us to connect with more readers traveling through the World Wide Web.

Over the past month I've made a concerted effort to be promoting online more than ever before; but not only for me, for others. I reached out to several author groups I am part of and asked if authors wanted to be featured at my blog, The Book Connection. Most were not authors I knew well, if at all, but I like to keep my blogs active and interesting for my readers.

In addition, I belong to a blogging syndicate where members agree to post comments at each others' sites. Though the group had been barely active the last few months, we've gained several new members and we're on track again. While comments don't read books, I'm also gaining followers and subscribers.


Another thing I've made a point to do this month is take an hour each day and retweet items of interest I've found on Twitter. Most are book related, but some are giveaways for great products. I've picked up dozens of new followers since I started.

Now, the jury is still out on whether this is a action plan I can maintain when I have a heavy workload, but it has brought more readers to The Book Connection than ever before. My experience has shown that social networking and commenting at other blogs does make a difference.

I would love to hear about your experiences.

Book Review: The Parent's Guide to Facebook by Kathryn Rose

If your teen is more technology savvy than you and thinks that Facebook is a great place to hang out, then you need to pick up a copy of  The Parent's Guide to Facebook: Tips and Strategies to Protect Your Children on the World's Largest Social Network by Kathryn Rose.

In this recently updated version, Rose brings you through the basics of signing up for a Facebook account, completing a profile, privacy settings for each section of the network, and more.

I use Facebook on an almost daily basis for work and to keep in touch with friends and family. Some of the information about privacy settings was new to me and it encouraged me to make changes to my own account. Sometimes you think you've protected yourself, but you really haven't.

The Parent's Guide to Facebook will help you feel safer when your teen is online. By walking you through setting up your own account, you'll see how Facebook works and where some of the dangers can lie for young people.

My only nitpick is that this book is in desperate need of an editor. There are several instances of missing words, the wrong words used, and one instance of words being repeated. Even the Foreward is missing a word in the second to the last paragraph. It's not the end of the world, but if you're an expert on a topic, you want to present your material in the best light possible. That doesn't happen when your text has numerous errors in it.

That aside, this is an excellent resource for parents and guardians of teens. By teaching you how to get around Facebook, you'll be able to help your teen be safer online too.

Title: The Parent's Guide to Facebook: Tips and Strategies to Protect Your Children on the World's Largest Social Network
Author:  Kathryn Rose
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN-10: 1453834559
ISBN-13: 978-1453834558
SRP:  $12.99