With the year winding down, I’ve been assessing the success of my efforts at

promotion. I established my own blog and post about my travels, my books and my family. Not exactly a focused effort but people seem to like it. My followers are on the upswing. I try to post twice a week- a New Year’s resolution that went the way of all resolutions. Sigh.
I blog bimonthly at The Roses of Prose http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com and once a month at The Black Rose http://twrpblackrose.blogspot.com/ I’ve guested at a number of blogs this year and wondered if the effort is worthwhile.
It’s hard to keep a regular schedule and find time for my novel writing.
So I asked a few friends if they have more than one blog. The answers were all over the place. And absolutely no help in making a decision. Everyone gave me permission to quote them.
Jerri Hines started a new blog and features romantic releases.
http://romanticpicks.wordpress.com/
She recently had me as a guest
http://romanticpicks.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/works-of-barbara-edwards/
Maggie Toussaint wrote:
I decided against being in a group blog. I try to blog at my place http://mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com/ once a week, but I miss the occasional week. Blogging is about revealing more about my stories or me, and I like to have most of those posts concentrated at a venue I control. I do blog tours when I have a release, but I’m a blog-lite kind of gal, maybe one to two guests blogs for about 3 weeks and I call it good for new book PR. Even I’m sick of my characters and hype by then, LOL.
But I have taken a reverse approach to blogging as I try to comment on multiple people’s blog-posts each week. And, most of the time I remember to leave a link back to my blog. So I’m trying to do some stealth blog-networking. Does it work? I don’t know, but its my plan and I’m sticking to it.
I was awed by Morgan’s reply. I would love to have the energy to do this and also write wonderful books like she does.
These are the Group Blogs Owned by Morgan Mandel:
Make Mine Mystery – http://makeminemystery.blogspot.com – My days are 2nd & 4th Mondays – As name suggests, It’s a mystery blog, with members posting almost daily
Acme Authors Link – http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com – My days are each Wednesday. Members post almost everyday here – This is more of a personal life of writers blog, about our books and our writing and personal lives
Books Gone Viral – http://booksgoneviral.blogspot.com – The rules in this blog are there are no set rules on when to post. Our many members post whenever they feel the urge or have an event to tell readers about.
I also participate in a group blog owned by Dani Greer, called The Blood-Red Pencil, http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com, where I’m on the first Tuesday of the month and then later at an assigned date later in the month. This blog consists of mainly editors, but I was admitted because they like my hints for authors.
GUEST BLOGS: I own two guest blogs that are specific in requirements:
Sweet Not Spicy – http://sweetnotspicy.blogspot.com – Guests promote their sweet fiction and romances – Once a week a post appears on Tuesday and stays up until the next Tuesday’s guest.
Spunky Senior Authors and Talents – http://spunkyseniors.blogspot.com – Guests who are 50 years of age and older share their lives, and if they’re authors, they also share their books. – Once a week a post appears on Thursday and stays up until the next Thursday’s guest.
I HAVE TWO PERSONAL BLOGS:
Double M’s Take on Books, Blogs, Dogs, Networking & Life – I share what the title says, and at times host guests. This blog has no set schedule, whenever I have time or a special occasion to a post about.
Morgan’s Book Links – http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com – This blog is similar to a website, in that the content rarely changes. It highlights each of my books, plus offers buy links, and excerpts.
Morgan Mandel – http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
Stephanie Burkhart wrote:
I try to post twice a week on my personal blog Romance Under the Moonlight. I blog once a month on 99 cent book, 4RV publishing and Once Upon A Word. I belong two other group blogs but I’ve neglected as of late because my writing commitments were overwhelming. I’m getting out from under the writing commitments this Nov.,_._,___
Celia Yeary added:
I post on my personal blog roughly twice a week. I co-own a group
blog called Sweethearts of the West, and each of us–15–have a certain
day, even days of the months, which gives each of us a two-day exposure.
These two are my focus and sometimes takes more time to do than others.
Two others I can post on anytime, as long as I get on the calendar. I can rarely
manage more than two blogs at a time, although I do have good intentions.
http://celiayeary.blogspot.com/
http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/
The use of blogs seems to be as individual as each of us. I can’t draw any conclusions from what I learned, but maybe you will. I hope you take the time to visit each of these blogs and read what they have to share. If you like it, you can ask to be a guest.
http://www.Facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author
I think everyone has to do what’s best for them–there’s no one right way to do it. If you’re a writer, your first commitment has to be to your books. Yes, you have to promote, and blogs can be a great way to do that, but only if you have time. I personally have my own personal blog that I do every (almost) Monday and I contribute to two group blogs, one on every Tuesday and one the first Saturday of the month. Is it helping? I’m not sure, but it definitely gives me exposure. Good luck!
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Thanks, Jennifer, I agree. The balancing act is tough.
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Barbara, great blog at blogging. It truly is a balance. Some days I feel like I’m just talking to air, other days I’m spot on. I know I get a bunch of visitors but only a few comments when I blog so in that regard, I’m encouraged.
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Hi Steph,
It’s a toss of the dice, but I like to share with people. I guess that’s what makes me an author. Thanks.
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Great post! I’m like Maggie, I post at my own pace. I have my own blog, but I also am a hostess at Author Roast and Toast. Takes a lot of time and I often wonder if it is worth the effort or just paying for ads gets me out there better.
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Hi Patsy,
I’ve been a guest on Author Roast and Toast. Its a great site. Thanks for your input.
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Hi Barbara – good summation, and it shows that there are many approaches to blogging. I’m glad to at least have a toehold in the blogosphere. Thanks for including me in your survey.
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Maggie,
You’re very welcome. It was nice to be a guest at your site.
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Great blog, Barbara. I think you’re smart to evaluate the effort of blogging vs. the return on time….although it is difficult to figure out if it’s worth it. I’ve gone through periods of multi-blogging and then spurts of blogging only on my site. When I was blogging a lot, I didn’t notice an increase in book sales. I do, however, notice a surge of hits on my site when I comment on heavily trafficked blogs. For authors who want to write, but also get exposure, I would recommend commenting regularly on blogs that are already well established. Smart Bitches, Trashy Books is a very high traveled blog of romance book reviews. I blog bi-monthly for The Pop Culture Divas, which also gets a lot of daily traffic. One comment on either of those sites takes less time, but may return more exposure, than writing a blog on a less recognized site.
Good luck with writing and sales!
Best Wishes,
Kellyann Zuzulo
The Christmas Bottle, a magical romance about a genie and a lonely woman who gets her one wish for the season, is now available for 75 cents from Boroughs Publishing Group!
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Thanks for your thoughtful response. It’s nice to hear from someone who knows.
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