Shelf Addiction Blog

Armchair BEA 2013 | Keeping It Real, Fresh, and Fun

6/1/2013

Design credit: Nina of Nina Reads

Photo credit: thegeekwhisperer.com

Hi again Airmchair BEA bloggers!

Today's topic is all about how to keep your blog fresh and fun! Just like the photo says, I tend to think that most of us are in a "permanent state of re-invention" at least where our blogs are concerned!

So far it seems like I've been changing the design of my blog every 6 months. I really do it for me, because I want to look at something new. Ironically, I actually change the design yesterday and I hadn't even seen what today's topics were!! I think when I'd like to see something fresh, the readers and bloggers who frequent by blog also wouldn't mind seeing a new page. I don't really mess with the layout, just the design.

I also try to think up new and exciting features. For example, I'm doing a Summer of Indie Author Features event this summer. By the way, it starts tomorrow!! I haven't really read much Indie, so I thought it would be fun not only for me, but for my blog subscribers to meet some Indie and self published authors. In my personal opinion, I think that introducing different features once in a while mixes thing up and keeps it fun for everyone!

Lastly, I read all kinds of books. Thanks to my wide variety of reviews, I think that also contributes to keeping my blog fresh. It's always fun to read about something out of your comfort zone, and again, I think that my blog readers enjoy being introduced to something different.

What helps you keep your blog fresh? Please share!

Happy Reading,
~Tamara

Check out my previous Armchair BEA posts!
Genre: From Picture Books to Young Adult | Genre: Literary Fiction | Paths To Becoming a Better Blogger | Genre: Genre Fiction | Introductions

10 Comments

Grace link

6/1/2013 03:49:35 am

I haven't re-done the look/feel of my blog in a while, but I think it's time for a new theme. I'm a bit torn though, as people recognize what my blog looks like now. Have you noticed whether changing it has an impact on your viewers? Your blog looks quite nice, btw. :)

Tamara @ Shelf Addiction

6/1/2013 04:07:41 am

Hi Grace, So far I have not noticed any negative impact. Most of my readers follow through other means, like RSS, Facebook, email, etc. From those points of entry nothing looks different. My header is still the the same so when they visit the website, it still looks familiar.

Nikki link

6/1/2013 10:06:30 am

I love that idea for a feature! I'd love to read more Indie and self-published authors but I do feel like it's harder to wade through the not-so-good books and find the gems. I'm excited to hear your thoughts on the books you read. :)

Kelly link

6/1/2013 10:46:43 am

When I was on Blogger, I was changing my design every other month! I've had my current design for about a year, which is the longest I've gone without making changes. But I'm definitely feeling that itch again, and it definitely helps make (me at least) feel like things are fresh!

New features are also great - I love when I come up with one and it catches! I've got a bunch that I've done once and retired though, haha

Andi @ Estella's Revenge link

6/1/2013 11:23:59 am

Great tips! I like to mess with my design too, and I just finished a new one recently. I also just discovered a whole community of "BookTubers" on YouTube, and I'm thinking of doing more video blogging. After 8 years of blogging brand new things don't come around too often, so I feel like it's a chance to really do something different and enhance what I've done so far.

Happy ArmchairBEA!

6/1/2013 01:00:07 pm

Hey Andi,

"Book Tubers" are so fun! Like you, I totally stumbled upon the community. Many of them have been around for a while. I do enjoy doing videos, I see it as another way for me to shake things up a bit! I'll be checking out your vlogs too!

6/1/2013 11:25:10 am

And I see you're a BookTuber, too! Awesome! Off to watch your vlogs!

Liss Thomas link

6/1/2013 12:42:16 pm

I'm thinking of new features as we speak! As an Indie Author (hint, hint), blogging fiction is my main focus but changing up the menu is always rewarding. And I'm like you, I like to change the look of my site every once in a while :)

Becca Lostinbooks link

6/1/2013 03:15:34 pm

I love the "permanent state of re-invention." I feel like I am that way in my personal life and I am trying to bring that to my blog now. I have been blogging for 4 years and while I want to stay true to my "brand", if you will, I also want to continue to make it fun for me. I will be in the market for a designer soon, but need to save up! :)

Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know link

6/2/2013 03:19:18 am

I kind of have the same thoughts as you. I read a wide variety of books and I think that helps. And I've recently introduced one new feature with plans for a second similar feature. But I'm also looking at including more discussion posts as well. Great post.

<a href="http://sandyfarmer.blogspot.com/">Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know</a>