Social Media for Bloggers

This post idea was sparked by a recent post all about Twitter and how it’s so useful for blogging. You can check it out here.

I am a huge fan of social media, ESPECIALLY for promoting my blog. It can be really really beneficial for promoting your blog AND for just having fun!

There are so many platforms of social media, it will be difficult to manage an account on every one. My advice to you is to pick about three sites to focus on. This way, you can focus on growing those three follower counts. Your followers there will know you better and be more likely to come to your blog. You can develop a connection with them. If you are spread too thin across a bunch of social media sites, you may post more sporadically on each and it won’t be bringing customers to your blog.

Of course, you don’t have to pick three. If you LOOOOVE all the social media sites and want to use all of them, of course you can do that! I personally have learned that it’s easier and more beneficial to your blog to focus on a smaller number.

You have to make sure not to spend TOO much time on social media: it’s useful, yes, but not as important as creating quality content for your blog! There is a good balance, and picking three to focus on can help with that.

You have to pick three sites that are going to be useful for your blog, yes, but you also have to pick social medias that you enjoy! If you don’t like using Twitter, don’t do it. I personally love it, and even though I think you should, that doesn’t mean anything! Pick a site that you like being on and using. Don’t make it a chore to post.

I focus on Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads, and am pretty active and consistently post on each. Those three sites are the best fit for me, but they might not be for you. Here are some of the many options for social media, and who it might be best for!

#1: Twitter.

We all know how much I love Twitter, and I won’t spend time talking about it as much as the other sites because I just did a post about how useful it is for your blog. But my number one recommendation of a social media site for your blog is Twitter.

Twitter is such an easy platform to use, especially if you don’t have a lot of time. You can schedule tweets, promote your blog posts, etc, in no time at all.  Make sure you’re not just marketing, though- you want to interact with people as well.

Tips for using Twitter:

Follow people in your blogging niche.

Promote your posts AND interact with people.

Include your post graphics when promoting posts.

#2: Instagram.

If you are a blogger focusing on things that are visually pleasing and could make good pictures, such as fashion or food, Instagram might be the site for you! As I am primarily a book blogger, I have an Instagram dedicated to books. I love taking pictures of books, and I’ve built up a following on there that I can now direct to my blog.

If you can take pretty photos that relate to your blog, and enjoy being creative, Instagram could be perfect for you.

Tips for using Instagram:

Take quality pictures. I don’t mean with a fancy camera (because that is so unnecessary) but if you put effort into the pictures you post, it’ll pay off.

Follow accounts you love as well as accounts with similar follower counts.

Engaging captions will bring more comments to your photos.

Post regularly. It doesn’t have to be every day, but post enough so that your followers won’t forget you or unfollow.

#3: Pinterest

I personally don’t use Pinterest for my blog- I have it for my writing related things like my WIPs, but to promote my posts? No. Since this blog is primarily a book blog, and there aren’t many book bloggers on Pinterest (as far as I know) I don’t believe that it would be useful for me. But if your blog would be perfect for Pinterest, do it! For blogs that are business or fashion or food related, topics that many people enjoy, Pinterest might be for you. I’ve heard from so many influential, experienced bloggers that it can be a huge help.

Tips for using Pinterest:

Create a board for all of your blog posts.

Then, create other boards with different topics still for your posts: ie, lists, discussions…

Pin about your blog and topics relating to it. People came to your Pinterest from your blog, or will end up at your blog from your Pinterest, so you want them to focus on the same things.

Now, I’m not a Pinterest user, so I’d check out this post to learn more.

#4: YouTube

“What?” You might be saying. “But Ava, YouTube is basically a blogging platform on its own!”

Yes, it is. But if you want to put the effort into creating YouTube videos as well as blogging, it could pay off! YouTube is an easy place to navigate, and a really easy place to get views, just because so many people use it. If your video can answer someone’s question and then direct them to your blog, PERFECT!

Tips for using YouTube:

As I said for Instagram, you don’t need a fancy camera, but you do want your videos to be quality ENOUGH so that people will watch them.

Post videos regularly. This might be once a week, twice a week, once a month… Whatever it is, try to stick to a schedule. Your followers will come to expect your videos and be excited for them.

Post meaningful comments on other people’s videos with around the same number of followers as you.

#5: Goodreads

As a book blogger, I love using Goodreads. Of course, for non-book bloggers, this doesn’t apply to you at all, so you can skip on.

Goodreads helps me keep track of my tbr and books read and my ratings. It is also a great way to promote your blog: when you post a review, include a link to that same review that you posted on your blog. This can direct a lot of readers to your site!

-Tips for using Goodreads:

Request people that you know, or people that read similar books as you. They are more likely to accept your friend request that way.

Completely fill out your Goodreads profile, and include a link to your blog.

Update Goodreads regularly.

Here are my social media links:

Twitter: Bookishwithtea

Instagram: Bookishnessandtea

Goodreads: Bookishnessandtea

What social media sites do you use for your blog? Do you stick to a smaller number, or try to do them all? What social media is your favorite, and which is the one that brings most people to your blog?

Thanks for reading!

Ava