Blogging

Types of Round Up Posts

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Round Up Posts for Book Bloggers

Round up posts are great for SEO, shares, backlinks, and viral traffic. In fact, they are one of my favourite types of blog posts to create and I tend to feature them a lot on this blog.

You might like: 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers

Why Book Bloggers Should Use Round Up Posts

Book blogging is no different from any other blogging niche. It works on the same principle.

When you do a round up post you are featuring other people, or their content, in your blog post. This means that those people now have a vested interest in promoting that post.

It also often means a bunch of quality backlinks as they likely will want to use being featured as a way to increase their authority on the subject. They will therefore also help drive traffic to the post.

Creating round up posts is a great way to build relationships too. It gives you the chance to strengthen contacts you already have and to reach out and make new ones.

Expert round ups and content round ups

There are two main types of round up posts; Expert Round Ups, and Content Round Ups.

What are expert round ups?

This is when you reach out to experts in your niche and ask them a question. An example of this is a recent post I did about Best Tips for Book Bloggers. For the post I asked fellow book bloggers "You can give your fellow book bloggers one top tip, what is it?" and shared their feedback.

A large part of an expert round up is copy and paste as each expert will send you the content to include in your post. This makes it easy content as the main work is in formatting the post.

Hosting an expert round up post also strengthens your own position as an expert in your niche. By bringing your readers feedback and advice from other experts in your niche you become associated with experts, influencers, and well know people that cover the same topics you do. Your own authority on the subject therefore also increases.

What are content round ups?

In content round ups you are basically curating a list on content. These can be more work than an expert round up as you will likely need to visit a lot of blogs to put together the list.

In order for content rounds up to work they need to deliver value which means you need to go beyond just the link and say something about why it's worth visiting.

An example of a content round up is Book Blogger Posts September Round Up. I do a Book Blogger Round Up post towards the end of every month now.

You might like: The Ultimate Guide for Book Bloggers

Types of Round Up Posts for Book Bloggers

Here's a few ideas to inspire you to create some round up posts for your own book blog:

A collection of book reviews from different book bloggers for the same book
A collection of book reviews from different book bloggers from a specific genre
A collection of random book reviews (mix it up and add something from a variety of genres)
Bookish blog posts from other book bloggers
Ask a specific question to other book bloggers, publishers, authors, and share their answers
Best books in a specific genre
Books on your TBR- feature each book with a link to the author website/purchasing page
Top tips
Highlight different types of book bloggers (bookstagram, booktok, booktube, etc...)
How to guides (bring together expert advice on different aspects of book blogging)

What other kinds of round up posts would you add to this list? Do you do round up posts on your own book blog? Which are your favourite types of round up posts to create and why?

Types of Round Up Posts for Book Bloggers

Book Blogger Posts Round Up

A collection of blog posts by book bloggers

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

Looking for new bookish content to read? Want to discover some new book bloggers to follow? Look no further!

I introduced this new feature here on the blog in May to showcase blog posts by other book bloggers. I'll be linking up a variety of blog posts so hopefully there will be something to suit all tastes.

The following posts were submitted for inclusion in this round up via my Twitter, where I asked for posts. I'll be continuing to do this every month.

Why?

Because I like reading blog posts by other book bloggers and thought you might too. Finding the time to scan through various social media feeds to find suitable content can take up valuable time though and so I figured I'd make it easier and put together a collection here on the blog.

My plan is to include a wide variety of content so there's something for everyone. You'll find book reviews, interviews, discussion pieces and more...

Want to be included in future round ups? Follow my Twitter profile and keep an eye out for the submission tweet.

September 2021 Book Blogger Round Up

@EmmabBooks gave her What, Why, and While for reading the book Silent Heroes by Patricia Furstenberg. "Silent Heroes is a highly emotional read, action-packed, a vivid story of enormous sacrifice and bravery." You can get the book here.

In her post How to Become a More Efficient Reader @espressoedition gives 7 tips that will help you read more.

@seriesbooklover reviewed an eARC of Dead of False Creek by Sarah M. Stephen stating "I couldn’t put the book down and finished this off in one sitting." You can get the book here.

Another ARC review was done by @BiblioNerdRflxn who reviewed Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune stating "I cannot think of one negative thing to say about this book or my experience reading it. So, I gladly give it 5 out of 5 stars." You can get the book here.

@Honolulubelle did a book review for Lil’s Bus Trip by Judy Leigh and gave it 5 stars and stated "I adore and revere this author’s skills as she covers all the feels with smart observations and keen perceptions while keeping a smile on my face during the vast majority of my perusal." You can get the book here.

You might also like: Net Galley TBR Reading Challenge

The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson was reviewed by @ReadingLadiesBC who said "Readers who are looking for a light, feel-good, HEA story will appreciate The Last Chance Library. Fans of books about books and libraries/librarians will find additional enjoyment! Librarians will certainly make a personal connection." You can get the book here.

@eastendreader98 reviewed A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas saying "I would say that Maas is one of the strongest writers out there at the moment who deals with trauma in a strong and sensitive respectful manner." You can get the book here.

Sweet, Sexy Heart By Melissa Foster was reviewed by @TtlyAdd2Reading who found it to be "a beautiful, heartwarming story of unconditional love. Fans of steamy romance set in a small town will love this latest offering from the queen of sexy and heartwarming stories." You can get the book here.

Jealousy’s A Witch by Louisa West is the 2nd book in the Midlife in Mosswood series and the audiobook version was reviewed by @FloraFornica69 who said "I really enjoyed the pace at which Johanna read this story. The emotions and inflexions she used for the different scenes felt natural and brought them to life." You can get the book here.

@grabthisbook does a regular post where a new guest who is tasked with the challenge of nominating five new books to be added to the Decades Library. Each week he asks guests to select five unmissable books which they would want to see added. As picking five books seemed a bit too easy he added a second rule: each guest must only select one book per decade from five consecutive decades. So their final five choices will come from any 50 year publication span. Decades: Compiling the Ultimate Library with Elizabeth Haynes is the selection by author Elizabeth Haynes.

You might also like: Ways To Avoid Book Blogging Burn Out

@thepagewalker1 reviewed The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara stating "The Meeting Point is a story of taking a huge risk falling in love, with someone you have not met. Olivia Lara wrote a heartwarming story. She managed to keep the tight exciting plotlines together, while also keeping it simple and clean. Everyone and everything is absolutely charming." You can get the book here.

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman was reviewed by @HayleyByTheBook who said "The Man Who Died Twice was one of my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2021. And friends, it DELIVERED.". You can get the book here.

@GripLitGrl reviewed the psychological thriller Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney and stated "Her stories always grab a hold of my undivided attention whenever I open one of her books. Feeney delivers another gripping page turner sure to be a hit with Rock Paper Scissors! She is the queen of brilliant endings. I was left me holding my breath till the very last word." You can get the book here.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun was reviewed by @Bookapotamus who thought "There are so many fantastic conversations about mental health and an incredible amount of diverse, queer representation. I loved how inclusive the characters were and the storyline was and how important topics were interwoven throughout – without being heavy handed or forceful." You can get the book here.

@unquietlibrarn reviewed House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland saying "The characters are tantalizing, and the story pulls you in immediately and keeps a tight hold the entire way through. It’s not something I’d suggest if you’re interested in light reading, but it would make a great spooky read for the month of October." You can get the book here.

@lovelyaudiobook gave her audiobook recommendations for September offering a fun mix of Contemporary and Historical Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Nonfiction.

In the post What I Read This Summer @WordsofMystery talks about some of her misses and some hits these last two months.

You might also like: Common Problems Book Bloggers Have and How To Solve Them

What bookish blog posts did you enjoy reading in September? Have a favourite book you read in September that you want to share?

In case you missed it, don't forget to check out the August Round Up for even more great bookish posts by different book bloggers.

You might also like: The Ultimate Guide for Book Bloggers

Are you a book blogger? Check out 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers

Book Blogging On A Budget

Ways To Book Blog Without Breaking Your Bank

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

Book blogging can be expensive... but it doesn't have to be. There are lots of ways you can still be a professional, dedicated book blogger without breaking your bank.

So, if you're like me and have a passion for reading and blogging but also have limited funds to support it don't panic. You can book blog on a budget.

Getting books for free

Whilst it's nice to be able to buy a huge book haul it's not something that everyone's wallet can cope with. Luckily we have plenty of budget friendly alternatives to keep us supplied with books to read and review.

Net Galley

If you like ebooks this site is a gold mine! Open internationally, Net Galley offers a wide variety of ebooks for review. They have a large selection of book you can "Read now" where you can immediately download a copy, and a wide variety of ARC copies you can request too. In the case of the latter you just have to cross your fingers and hope you get lucky.

You might also like: Net Galley TBR Reading Challenge and Net Galley: What You Need To Know

ARCs

Publishers and authors sometimes send out ARCs (Advanced Reading Copies) to selected book bloggers. These can be print or ebook format.

You might also like: SEO for Book Bloggers: How to Improve SEO for Book Reviews

Book Tours

There are loads of PR companies that organise book tours for authors and publishers. Many of these offer review copies to those who participate in the tours.

You might also like: Book Blogging Programs: Platforms Recommended by Book Bloggers

Amazon

On Amazon you can find a selection of free kindle books available to download to your Kindle or the free Kindle Reading App.

You can find free books on Amazon here

Libraries

Don't forget about your local library. If you're not fussed about keeping the book this is a great option. They probably have a good selection on their shelves but most can order you the books you want. Most also offer a selection of ebooks and audiobooks.

You might also like: Quotes About Libraries

Creating a blog on a budget

Free platforms

Whilst it's nice to be self hosted the cost involved might not be the right fit for everyone's budget. Luckily there are plenty of free options available.

Blogger, and Wordpress are the best known and most used but there are others too like Wix, Weebly, Tumblr, and SquareSpace.

Check out the blog post How to Choose the Best Blogging Platform in 2021 (Compared) by wpbeginner for help on choosing the best option for you.

Cheap Domain

Namecheap, Bluehost, GoDaddy, Domain.com... there's loads of places where you can buy a domain without spending too much money.

Check out the blog post Where to Get Cheap Domains? 10 Cheapest Domain Registrars by codeinwp for help on choosing the best option for you.

Free blog templates

Again, there are loads of options available. A quick search on Google will bring up a huge amount of sites that offer free blog templates. Some you might want to try include; Gooyaabi Templates, BTemplates, ColorLib and TemplateLib.

Free visual content creation tools

Canva is my personal favourite and what I use to create the graphics I use for this blog but there are plenty more for you to choose from.

Check out the blog post 51 Best Free Visual Content Creation Tools To Make Marketing Easy for more options.

You might also like: The Ultimate Guide for Book Bloggers

Ways To Book Blog Without Breaking Your Bank

Got some tips of your own for book blogging on a budget? Know of a great free or cheap tool that helps you as a book blogger?

Book Review The Zodiac Killer by WL Knightly

My thoughts about The Zodiac Killer by WL Knightly

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

The book synopsis for The Zodiac Killer by WL Knightly

From USA Today Best Selling Authors Lexy Timms and Ali Parker comes a new thriller pen name - WL Knightly.

Detective Darek Blake thought the secrets of his past were long buried, but when a young girl is murdered in a familiar way, finding the killer will not only bring back memories he’s repressed, but give him a golden opportunity to impress the FBI.

So, when his partner, Special Agent Lizzy McNamara digs up evidence that’s a little too close to home, he’s shaken to the core. The worst sin he’s ever committed bubbles up, threatening to destroy his future.

Are the Zodiac killings a coincidence or is someone toying with him, and if so… who?

You might also like: Book Review: Mind Games by Nancy Mehl

Discussing The Zodiac Killer by WL Knightly

Some quotes from The Zodiac Killer by WL Knightly

“You knew what my life was like when you married me.” “And I’m starting to wish I’d kept the receipt.”

Max nodded. “Right, well, I still stand by my original advice.” “Your original advice was not to marry her,” Darek said, grinning. “You told me that all the way up the altar.”

The right woman could make a man stronger and better. He just wasn’t sure he’d found the right woman.

The name stopped Darek in his tracks, and a shudder ran through him. Memories of his earlier nightmare echoed through his skull, and the gnarled scar on his shoulder itched. He rubbed absently at the place where he’d been branded as a child.

The zodiac was very real to some people, and they let it rule their entire lives.

She wasn’t trying to be a domineering bitch or an arrogant hard ass, but she needed him to know she deserved respect. Too many times, men in her line of work thought they had to be forceful and ultra-masculine. That kind of attitude had ruined partnerships before.

He ended the call and headed down to his private penthouse where he did some of his more intimate dealings. He searched the news on his phone, and now, he understood why the others were concerned.

Darek thought it was his lucky day, but it was actually a catalyst for the worst fucking day of his life.

He hated dialing the guy’s number and the fact he had to keep the guy in his contacts at all, but that was what happened when you made friends with the devil.

Home was a place where you didn’t have to cry unless you wanted to, and those who lived there with you didn’t hurt you.

She took his hand and squeezed it tight. He’d never felt connected this intensely to anyone in his life. The thought both thrilled him and scared him.

He headed to the public library and went inside. He had always loved the smell of libraries and had fond memories of his mother taking him down to check out mystery books. He didn’t read all the time, but when he needed an escape from the old man, he’d hole up in his room and bury his nose in one. It sometimes worked, too.

She drove like a maniac, and Darek wondered if she was a racecar driver in a previous life. One more sharp turn, and his stomach did a somersault. “Don’t kill us. I’ve got a divorce settlement to win. If I’m dead, not only will she get the fucking house, but she’ll get my life insurance. Don’t let that woman have my fucking life insurance.”

Where to find The Zodiac Killer by WL Knightly online:

Amazon affiliate link

Goodreads

You might also like: The Ultimate Guide for Book Bloggers

Are you a book blogger? Check out 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers

Common Problems Book Bloggers Have and How To Solve Them

Solutions to Book Blogging Problems

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

As a book blogger it's not always clear sailing. We all go through moments where we struggle with one aspect or another of book blogging.

The good news is we all go through it from time to time. You are not alone in your struggles.

The other good news is that there are solutions for the common problems that book bloggers face.

I recently took to Twitter and asked Book Twitter what their biggest problems were as book bloggers.

#QOTD What are the biggest problems you face as a book blogger?#BookBlogging #BookBloggers #BookTwitter
— Jo Linsdell (@jolinsdell) September 8, 2021

I was not surprised by the answers. That's because we all experience a lot of the same problems when it comes to book blogging.

Problem 1: Not enough time

The struggle is real! We all live such busy lives and finding the time to do everything can be a struggle at times.

Not enough time to read-

This is probably one of the first problems that comes to mind for most book bloggers. There is just never enough time to read all the books!

Solution- Don't try to read ALL the books. Accept that you can't. There's just too many.

If you can't manage longer reading sessions, try catching up in shorter bursts. You'll be surprised at how much reading you can get through with 10 minutes here and there.

Remember it's not a competition. Read what you can, when you can. Reading should be first and foremost an enjoyable activity.

You might also like: Ways To Get Out Of A Reading Slump

Not enough time to blog-

Solution- If you're feeling overwhelmed by your blog and struggling to find the time to post maybe you need to take a look at your posting schedule and re-organise it.

You don't have to post every day (although it's great if you do). If twice a week is more manageable then do that. You can always add extra days slowly as you go.

Another thing that helps is batching. When you do have some free time try to set up multiple posts and schedule them for posting. This is easier to do if you have templates e.g. for your blog posts like reviews and templates for your blog graphics.

I personally use Canva for my graphics and have templates set up so I just make a few quick changes and I have new, on-brand graphics ready for posting in a matter of a few minutes. It saves me loads of time.

You might also like: Ways To Super Charge Your Productivity As A Book Blogger

Problem 2: No one reads my blog

It can be discouraging when you put a lot of work into your blog posts but feel like no one is reading them.

Solution- It's not enough to just publish a post. People have to know it exists. There are two main ways to do this.

1. Are you leveraging SEO to optimise your posts for organic traffic?

When writing your blog posts make sure you're using keywords in your headings, urls, alt tags, meta descriptions, and in your article. Don't just stuff the keywords though. It should read naturally.

By optimising the SEO of your blog post you are making it easier for Google and other search engines to find your content when they crawl your site and therefore improving your chances of showing up in search results.

2. Are you sharing your posts on social media?

Share your blog posts your social media channels. Let your followers know when you have a new blog post out. Also make sure you have social share buttons on your blog posts to make it easy for readers to share your content on their social media channels too.

You might also like: The Ultimate Guide for Book Bloggers

Problem 3: I don't know what to write about

Especially when you've been book blogging for a while, it can be hard to come up with new ideas for content to post to your blog.

If you've been in a reading slump you may not have a lot of reviews to share with your readers which can leave you struggling to come up with things to write about.

Solution- Good news! Book blogging isn't just posting book reviews. There's loads of other types of book related content you can cover on your book blog. All you need is to get a bit creative.

Interviews, book spotlights, lists of books you; love, hate, or just from a specific genre, book trivia, book vs film... not to mention all the weekly memes you can join in with. Experiment with new types of content and see what works well with your readers.

You might also like: 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers

Problem 4: No one is commenting on my posts

Without blog comments we can start to feel like no one cares about the blog content we put out. Are we just talking to ourselves? It can feel that way and after all the work we put into creating our blog posts this can be quite a downer.

Solution- The first thing to do is make sure you're making it easy for your readers to comment. We live in a world were we want everything instantly so if they have to jump through too many hoops to leave you a comment chance are they won't bother.

Have you included a CTA (Call To Action) in your blog post? You should. Ask your readers a question. Sometimes they don't know what to write and so don't comment. By asking a question you're giving them a prompt for what they can write about in their comment.

You should also make sure your blog post looks good, and is quality content. If it's nice to look at and engaging there's a higher chance they'll read it all and feel motivated to comment on it.

And last but not least, make sure you reply to all comments that do get left on your blog posts. If you want people to take the time to post comments you should make time to reply to them. Just good etiquette 😉

You might also like: Exploring CTA's: Different Types of Calls To Action To Use in Your Blog Posts

What are the biggest problems you face as a book blogger?

Best Tips for Book Bloggers

Book Blogging Advice and Mistakes to Avoid

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

Whether you're just started out or have been book blogging for a while now we can all learn from the experience of other book bloggers.

I asked my Twitter buddies for their top tips for book bloggers and they didn't disappoint.

Book Blogging Tips

Book Reviews

On a practical level the sooner you review the books you read the better. The book will be fresh in your mind and so you don't risk forgetting things.

As an avid reader, you probably have several books already on the go or start a new one on finishing the last. Another good reason not to put off creating your reviews.

Don’t wait too long writing your reviews after finishing a book… which… cough… I obviously have no experience with at all😅😅😅🙈
— theartsyreader (@theartsyreader1) September 9, 2021

Avoid Overwhelm

It is so very easy to overload your plate and take on too much. If you sign up for every book tour and say yes to every book review request you'll soon be left feeling overwhelmed.

If like me you're guilty of getting click happy on Net Galley you might want to join me for the Net Galley TBR Reading Challenge.

Pace yourself. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Tempting to keep requesting/or buying but churning out reviews like a machine and you'll soon run out of original things to say.
— A good book 'n a brew 📚 ☕ (@NatterBlog) September 9, 2021

Know your why

Make sure you have a clear idea of why you book blog. You should be doing it first and foremost because you love reading and are passionate about sharing about it. If your heart's not in it it'll show in the content you create.

Also, whilst having goals is great you should try not to compare yourself to other book bloggers. We're all on a different point of our book blogging journey. Celebrate all your personal milestones and enjoy it.

Don't compare yourself to others, be happy doing what you're doing, and do it for you. I appreciate that's easier said than done.
— Jill Doyle🕷 (@JillsBookCafe) September 9, 2021

Do what feels right for you

Book blogging can feel stressful at times and lead to overwhelm when your TBR gets out of control and you lack inspiration for a new blog post. Try to find the right amount for you. You don't have to post new content everyday.

When possible try to schedule a few blog posts in advance so you can take a few days off.

You might also like my posts Ways to Avoid Book Blogging Burn Out and 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers.

Blog when you feel like blogging. Read when you feel like reading. Do things when you feel like doing them and breaks are A-OK ✌
— 🗡Esther | Book Blog | Always Need Thriller Recs🗡 (@BooksCozy) September 9, 2021

And last but not least...

Be consistent

It might seem contradictory given the last point but being consistent is more important than you think. This applies to both your blog and the social media channels you use to promote it.