Dirty Sexy Books

I’m going to state right up front that I cannot take much credit for this post.  Most of the good ideas came from the fellow bloggers, authors, and readers who visit Dirty Sexy Books regularly, and I want to thank them for taking the time to share their advice with me.  I’m grateful for their help, otherwise I would have been in the uncomfortable position of trying to critique my fellow book bloggers, and that’s a bit like saying ‘You pots are so black’ when I’m a kettle too.  Their advice allows me to benefit from this post as much as any other blogger, and ah-hem, apparently I have a lot of room for improvement.

Subjective is the operative word for this post.  I can almost guarantee that no one will agree with every single idea below, but with an open-mind, you just might learn a new technique or feature that will enhance your blog.  I know I did, and slight changes will be a’coming to DSB as a result.  I divvied up the tips into three main categories: Design, Reviews, and Style.  Within that I clumped the tips into The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (okay, maybe it’s wrong to have two negative categories, but I’m a serious Clint Eastwood fan, so we’re going with it).

I decided to keep everyone anonymous, so the quotes below are unattributed.  I don’t want anyone to feel like I put them on the spot, especially since I agree with just about everything below.  I’m treating this like a blind survey poll, and that gives me greater freedom to pull from your quotes with impunity.  Some of you really let loose, and I don’t want you to feel any remorse later for telling it like it is.  Your identity is safe with me.

Last, this post turned into a MONSTER.  It’s huge and it can’t be helped.  Apparently this topic is way too big for just one post, but I didn’t figure that out until it was too late to hit the brakes.  However, I summed up the essentials with bulleted lists, so you don’t have to read the full text to get the gist.

Design

The Good

• Blog Rolls
• Profile of the Blogger
• Easy to find contact information
• Archive
• Update Regularly
• Intriguing Post Titles
• Graphics to break up blocks of text

I think just about everything under the ‘good’ column came from one person, who is an author and an experienced blogger herself.  I think most bloggers accomplish these tasks quite handily.  With regard to blog rolls, I personally like it when the blogger distinguishes between the blogs they truly follow, and the ones they’re listing out of courtesy, obligation, or whatever.  This is especially important when the blog roll is longer than Santa’s Naughty and Nice list.

‘Update Regularly’ is up for debate.  Some blogs only update three or four times a week, but each post is meaty and complete.  Other blogs post a flurry of small updates, sometimes several in one day.  I think it’s a matter of preference, but it’s the kiss of death to post irregularly, with weeks in between contact.  Nobody’s going to follow a lazy, undedicated blogger.

Someone asked for “intriguing post titles that encourage you to read the posts.”  This is something I’ve been trying to do on DSB for a while now, and believe it or not, it seems to work!  It doesn’t hurt to get a little creative with the titles, because when someone is browsing through 1,000 posts on Google Reader, you want yours to standout.  I always stop to look at titles that include words like ‘sex’ or ‘sexy,’ swear words, or ‘top ten’ anything.  I’m not saying use them all the time, but every now and then it might be appropriate.  We humans are predictable creatures.  It’s sad, but true.

The Bad

• When the blog site name doesn’t match the URL
• “Enter” page
• Hard on the eyes (i.e., white text on black background)
• Microscopic font size
• Confusing Navigation
• Flawed Comment System

I know it’s not always possible, but in an ideal world the name of your blog should be identical to your website address.  There have been many times that I’ve tried to find a blog again, but I have no clue how the address goes.  In some extreme examples the URL doesn’t match the blog name at all, and I’ve got to wonder at the mismatch.

An author and I had a little discussion about “Enter” pages.  This is when you type in a website address, and the first thing that loads is a gratuitous screen where you have to click Enter.  I come across these most often with author websites, but bloggers should beware.  There’s only one instance when I think an Enter page is appropriate, and that’s when the blogger is giving a warning about explicit content.  Although in that case, if you make me click through an adults only warning, then I’d better damn well see some explicit content inside.  Don’t tease me with empty promises.

This next one is all mine.  There are several blogs that have good content, but the design gives my eyeballs fits.  The first example is white text on a black background.  I know, I know, it looks cool, and it fits the mood for many paranormal and fantasy review sites perfectly, but I can’t stand to read more than one or two posts before I’m outta there.

The second example is just as bad, and I’m talking about a light-colored text, like sepia, on a light background.  So they’ve got light on light, there’s hardly any contrast, and then they make the font size 10 or 11 points.  Seriously, are you trying to blind me for life?  I firmly believe that theme colors should be reserved for the borders, and the main text should ALWAYS be a dark font on a light background.  It’s the easiest to read, and don’t make it too small.  I use 15 point fonts for my main text.  Sounds big doesn’t it?  Keep in mind that not everybody has healthy, young eyeballs.  These glasses I wear aren’t for show.

Confusing navigation seems to be a big stumbling block for lots of blogs.  Just about everybody who talked to me brought it up.  A DSB club member said, “I’ve gone on some blogs and have never gone back because there was just too much shit all over the place.”  I couldn’t have said it better myself.  That goes double for the big blogs that have never-ending drop down menus.  Too much content can be just as bad as too little, and how you organize your stuff really does matter.  Above all, don’t make me think too hard.  Visiting book blogs is supposed to be fun, remember?

Make commenting easy for your readers.  There’s one blog I like that recently instituted a new comment system that is a pain in the ass.  It requires all these extra clicks, and then it sends me an email that I have to click on just to follow the comments.  Ugh.  I know, I’m one to talk right?  DSB’s comment system doesn’t even have an email tracker and it’s without a doubt, the biggest flaw on my website.  I’m sorry it sucks folks.  I keep hoping that Apple will fix this glaring flaw in their blogging software.

The Ugly

• Flash Graphics All Over Hell
• Oodles of advertisements
• Too much crap on the sidebars
• Result?  It loads slowly

Okay, now we’re down to the stuff that can really turn readers off.  A little of this stuff goes a long way…

Flash graphics are spiffy, pretty, and they can also slow your website down to a crawl.  Use them judiciously.  I say no more than one per page.

Also, beware of the temptation to turn your homepage into anything that resembles a Nascar.  One commenter said, “There’s particularly one blog designer that goes around and revamps blogs in the more images, more color, blind your readers into submission style that’s incredibly prevalent amongst the blogs I follow (most of which now I can only stomach through Google Reader).”

This is where we bloggers can benefit from understanding basic restaurant design.  Have you ever wondered why your average fast food joint is bright and loud, while your average Starbucks uses lots of earth colors?   This is no accident.  Fast food places want patrons to eat their food and then leave as quickly as possible.  Starbucks wants to encourage loitering.  As a blogger, we all want to encourage loitering, so really think about the colors you employ.  There were a lot of comments about readers being chased away by the visual design elements.  You wouldn’t apply the “Las Vegas Theory of Design” to your home, so why do it on your blog?  I’ve found that simplicity and elegance go hand-in-hand.

Oh yeah, and apparently no one likes advertisements.  If your blog is big enough to support them, congratulations, but don’t go overboard.

Reviews

The Good

• Honesty
• Links to the author’s website
• Links to excerpts
• Includes quotes
• Posts reviews in multiple places (i.e. Amazon)

“Honesty” was the number one request when it comes to reviews, which kind of surprised me because I kept wondering, who isn’t honest?  I guess I’m the naive, trusting type.  This responder took it one step further and said, “[A]bove all in a review blog, I enjoy honesty without pussyfooting around.  Unless you’re actually willing to give an opinion, why be a blogger?”  Good point.  I don’t think people are being dishonest, but there’s lots of pussyfooting, no doubt about it.  Some of us had mothers who really pounded ‘don’t say anything if you don’t have something nice to say’ into our heads.  Bloggers can’t always think this way though.

Some people like to see quotes in reviews, which is something I seldom do (slap on wrist).  One author wanted reviewers to link to her website and any available excerpts for that book.  These are good ideas, but I don’t do that either (slap on wrist, again!).  Finally, the author also requested that bloggers post their reviews in multiple places, like Amazon, Goodreads, etc., and this goes double if they’ve sent you a review copy.  I do post my reviews on Amazon, so my wrist finally gets a break.  Besides bloggers, the more places you publish your reviews, the more traffic you’ll drive to your blog.

The Bad

• Flakes on reviewing the book
• Unsupported opinions
• Gives a synopsis, not a review
• Bloggers with zero expertise

How many of us reviewers have received a review copy, and then welshed on reviewing the book? Come on, don’t lie!  I’m guilty when it comes to electronic copies, but I have faithfully reviewed all hardcopies mailed to me.  Bottom line – if you agree to review a book, do it, and set a time frame so you stick to your promises.  In my opinion this does NOT include unsolicited copies that are sent without your request.  In that case the person sending the book is taking a gamble, but if you ever whispered the word “yes” then you’re obligated to see it through in a timely manner.

Reviews that scream “It Rocks!” or “It Sucks!” without some kind of explanation are not useful.  One blogger I know likes to back up her opinions by pulling quotes from the text, and while that works, I also think an explanation is fine too.  If a reviewer says, “This book has misogynistic undertones,” then an explanation is in order, don’t you think?

This next one comes up all the time… someone said, “Give me reviews, not just synopsis.”  Too many reviewers fall back on recapping what happened instead of saying how they felt about the book.   I devote one paragraph to the plot summary and that’s it.  Some bloggers use the back cover blurb.  Either one works for me, but make sure that the rest of the review is just that – a review.

I think it’s great when bloggers branch out and try new genres, but what’s not so great is when they don’t disclose their newbie status.  If this is the first graphic novel you’ve ever read/reviewed, I think it’s only fair to mention that in the review.  One author who responded to my request gave me a fabulous quote about this:

“I’ve run across bloggers who have set themselves up as experts in all things literary and yet they, themselves, have only recently become readers.  When I read their reviews and comments, I’m thinking – man – that reference or allegory or analogy went right over your head, you dumb shit. I strongly feel that if you are going to set yourself up as a book blogger/reviewer, and you want people who actually know literature to take you seriously, you should be a reader – of all types of literature and you should love to read – not just what’s hot at the moment.  As a book blogger, you ought to have a kitchen sink full of books swirling about in your brain, an ever-present background noise that you can tune into and draw from.”

The Ugly

• Spoilers
• Being cruel and mean

Spoilers.  No one likes them, but many reviewers persist in including them.  Most readers will accept them if they can access the rest of your review without reading the spoiler section.  So if you must include spoilers, hide them behind a link or something.  I encountered a review just last week, where in the very first line the blogger said something like, I can’t review this book without divulging the ending, so you’ve been warned.  WTF? I stopped reading right there.

Unfortunately I have been guilty of this last one – being mean and cruel.  In my paltry defense, I’ll say that this was back when I first started blogging, and yes, on a few bad reviews I went too far.  For example, I referred to a book as a “steaming pile of crap” and so on.  There’s nothing wrong with being colorful, but whenever I write a bad review nowadays, I always envision the author reading it.  That’s changed the way I convey critical opinions, and I think my reviews are better for it.  It also smoothes things over a bit when the author contacts me to *respectfully disagree* with my review, and don’t think it doesn’t happen.

Style

The Good

• Funny and Personable
• Upfront statement of the blog’s purpose (review site, fan blog, genres, etc.)
• Original angle / unique content
• More article-like features
• Welcomes/respects differing opinions
• Creates a community

The general consensus is that people like it when bloggers are personable and funny.  I agree 100 percent with the personable request, but being funny is not a requirement in my opinion.  Some of my favorite blogs don’t go out of their way to be humorous and I like them just fine.  I think the best bloggers find their ‘voice’ and stick with it consistently.

There are so many book bloggers these days, it’s a good idea to state upfront what kinds of books you focus on.  As this person said, “let [me] know what genre or genres they are blogging so I don’t waste my time trying to figure out if they will ever talk about books I might read.”  Sometimes the name of the blog is explanation enough, but never assume it’s self-explanatory, especially if you read/review books across many different genres.

This next point is critical, and it’s what separates an okay site from the top tier blogs – find a unique angle.  If you follow Twitter compulsively and hear the latest info first, then turn your blog into THE place to find new covers, blurbs, and updates.  If you’re good at expounding on literary topics, then write more article-style posts.  If you’re good at talking to people and planning, then turn your blog into an interview powerhouse.  New bloggers often make the mistake of trying to be an amalgamation of everything they love about their favorite bloggers, but that doesn’t work so well over the long haul.  Find your strengths, and then pour your energy into those types of posts.  Also, do a critical examination of blogosphere, and try to find a new niche that isn’t being fulfilled by anyone you’ve seen.

With regard to content, several readers expressed a hunger for more article-like posts.  I understand this hunger, because there are too many bloggers posting generic interviews or news-style posts that just regurgitate something we already know.  What makes me sit up and take notice is a blogger who can express original opinions.  I love, love, love it when a blogger will take a topic and just riff on it.  I usually learn something new about the person, and it gives me a way to engage them in an interesting conversation.

Successful blogs create a sense of community, and that means welcoming differing opinions.  Some blogs are only interested in collecting like-minded readers, and it’s blatantly obvious when this is their goal.  I suppose they garner a loyal following, but they’re also turning off lots of potential readers.  My personal favorites are blogs where the blogger isn’t afraid to have someone pop over who disagrees with their view.  When done respectfully, I think dissenting opinions are extremely interesting.  I can only read so many comments that say “Me too!”  Sometimes I want to see someone who says, “Not for me, and here’s why…”

Okay, I have a confession.  One of the ways I test a new-to-me blogger is to disagree with some point they’ve made, either on a post or a review.  Bloggers who respond in a thoughtful manner are folks I can hang with, but the ones who get ruffled, angry, and defensive aren’t worth my time.  Try it sometime.  Heck, try it on me.

The Bad

• Complicated Contests
• Grammatical Errors
• Snobby bloggers
• Unabashed author fawning or fellow blogger fawning
• Lack of response

This is a personal preference, but I don’t like complicated contests.  Sorry, I’m not a fan of contests that ask people to join their followers list, or tweet for extra points.  For God’s sake, don’t make me do math.  I hate math.  What’s with the point system anyway?  Are they really weighing each entry appropriately?  I’ve even seen some contests lately where you have to email a scanned copy of a receipt for a book purchase in order to enter.  Arrgh!

Several folks complained about grammatical errors, typos, and one person said, “proofread the friggin text.”  I asked you guys to rant and rave, and yeah, some of you didn’t hold back at all.  I love it.  Grammatical errors are like speed bumps to a reader, and too many flaws makes the blogger look sloppy.  Avoid them at all costs.  Sometimes I reread a post 4-5 times before publishing it, and I still miss stuff!  It sucks, but be hyper-vigilant.

Now I’m treading on really thin ice, but here goes…  Snobby bloggers exist, and I avoid them like the plague.  I honestly didn’t want to bring this topic up, but it was mentioned by some readers who responded to me, so here it is.  The fact is that most bloggers are incredibly cool people, and if you happen to encounter the one percent that isn’t, just move on and never look back.  I have no advice for those people.

I was surprised to see that excessive pandering was mentioned, but upon further reflection I realized that this bugs me too (oops, and I may have been guilty of this sin a few times).  Some bloggers get into a tight circle with their buds, and they’ll gush over each other, pass around made-up awards, and for a newcomer it can be… off-putting.  As one person said, “limit unabashed author fawning or fellow blogger fawning (a little goes a long way).”  There’s a difference between expressing honest appreciation for an author or a blogger, and then there’s inserting one’s nose between their butt cheeks.  I’ve even encountered a blogger who fawns over a particular publishing house ad nauseam because they send her free books.  She’s always thanking them profusely and she’s crossed the line from thankful to fawning in my eyes.  It turns me off.

I’ve blogged about this before, but lack of response from a blogger is the kiss of death to me.  If I take the time to send a blogger an email, or put a thoughtful comment on their post, and I never hear a peep in response, then I never come back.  Bloggers must be incredibly responsive to anyone who reaches out to them, and yes, that means everyone.

The Ugly

• Snarkiness
• Rudeness

I received A LOT of comments about excessive snarkiness, so this is a big problem.  Here’s a sample:

“The single biggest thing book bloggers do that ticks me off and will stop me from visiting their site is to give off an undeserved attitude of snarkiness and rudeness.  You can be snarky if you have some history and if you are snarky in a humorous way – not simply for the sake of being nasty.”

Another person said “[It] should NOT exist just to snark unless you’re really really good at it.”  Personally I don’t mind a little bit of snark from time to time – we all have an inner bitch, and sometimes she’s damn funny – but I agree that some blogs affect the snark purely for the shock value.  That’s wrong.  Only do it if it comes from your gut and it’s genuine.  Readers will be able to tell the difference.

Rude bloggers will become lonely bloggers fast.  My personal mantra is respect, respect, respect.  It allows me to be critical and disagree with others without turning them away for life (hopefully), although sometimes my forthright manner is a little too brusque (I had a boss who described me as ‘abrasive’… who me?).  I’m working on it.  I’ve never been offended by a different viewpoint that presents itself without demeaning others.

Well, I’m sorry this post got so damn big.  It’s much too big for me to expect anyone to read it all, but I hope the bulleted lists helped.  If I missed one of your biggest turn ons or turn offs, please share with us below.  It’s my hope that the comments will be hopping on this one.