I think every year I do one of these posts. Every year I set up some expectations but, ultimately, I ask too much from myself and I fail. I have had to stop feeling bad about that – this blog is a hobby; when it stops being fun, I’ve done something wrong.
This year, I have decided to focus a resolutions around the ethos on the blog and less on arbitry “I’m going to do x number of reviews a week” (a target I’ve never once met) as I don’t want to promise what I cannot do.
On the subject of reviews, I will be completely honest with everyone; they get very little interest from readers. I get far more hits on my GR reviews (which I know due to likes etc). I will continue to review but it won’t be a priority.
So, what am I thinking for the blog?
- To try to increase traffic. I know this is an odd one for a blogger to say but, ultimately, without traffic I am not reaching anyone with my book reviews. I am working on my SEO, my cross posting …. honestly, it’s a whole new world of learning but, ultimately, if no one reads the blog, then no one will see anything I want to talk about.
- To try to continue to read more own voices books. This one is something I started to actively do last year and I have now read a lot authors that were new to me, I have found some fabulous authors and I want to continue.
- To try to do more posts for bloggers/readers. When I first started out, there was so many bloggers who were happy to help out and posted content that really helped me. I don’t see that anymore so I want to do that again. If anyone wants a particular topic (whether it be about reading tools, blogging topics or website stuff) just comment.
- To do more recommendation lists. Seriously, this is what people read. Whether you are doing a general Top 10 or a Top Dragon book list, people want to read those posts. It may be because there is more choice or because there is no chance of a spoiler, I really don’t know but it is where most of my traffic comes from.
I decided a while ago that I wasn’t doing blog tour posts for authors I didn’t read because, as I say, I want to be honest on this site and featuring authors feels like an endorsement and I won’t do that for an author I have never read.
That still stands.
The issue I currently have is whether to run events anymore.
I love doing them but I don’t invite authors; they sign up themselves. This means I am not really checking the authors I am featuring and then, if they turn out to be bigotted douches, they are already on the site. I’m not OK with that but I don’t know how to do them a different way. I’m not sure what to do with that so, for the time being, they may be on pause until I figure out a way forward.
My reading goal for 2021 are to continue trying at least one new author and audiobook narrator a month. Some months I exceed and other it’s a struggle as I just want to keep with my comfort reread/relistens or nothing new speaks to me.
I like the idea of a new author a month…. happy reading!