Question: What would you do over if you were to start your blog again from scratch?
Answer: I think I would buy a more professional template from the get go. Now I am too scared to change it because I don't want to lose anything important in the process. I would also change the name, to what, I am still not sure, but I would shorten it a bit. I would have done more research so it didn't take me so long to figure out basic stuff that I should have had up and running from the beginning. But I guess all my experiences, even the frustrating ones, have benefited me in one way or another. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!
This Week's Posts:
Question: Unexpected Books - Which books did you have reservations about reading, but ended up loving once you did?
Answer: I was actually excited to read Fifty Shades of Grey. But then a lot of my friends who read the book said that I would not like it. They know me pretty well so I started getting nervous about reading the book. I knew I was going to read is no matter what, but I was no longer sure if I would enjoy it. Well, I decided to go all out and I bought the whole Fifty Shades Trilogy. I've read the first book a couple days ago and I finished the second book, Fifty Shades Darker, last night. And I LOVED both of them. I can't wait to read the last book, Fifty Shades Freed. My reviews are coming soon, so be on the look out. Let me know if you follow me, so I can follow you back.
Happy (early) Friday follow to you! <3 Oh wow, glad to hear that FSoG went well for you because I understand that one's got an incredibly vast range of mixed reviews for it...(don't think I'm old enough to handle the content just yet). Will look forward to your reviews!
ReplyDeleteHappy Follow Friday.
DeleteIt's so hard when you're a new blogger to know what you need or don't need. By the way, I think your current name and template is great!
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks. :)
DeleteI hear you on the frustrating things being beneficial. I never see it during a hard time, but after the fact, I learn things. Great answer.
ReplyDeleteNew GFC follower
My FF
So very true.
DeleteA great answer! I would have chosen a different template instead of the first 'cute' one I saw ;) and a shorter name.
ReplyDeleteMy FF - http://obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/feature-and-follow-firday-10th-august.html
Have a nice weekend.
I like your template, but I can see that you could get tired of it. Still cute though.
DeleteAw, Jen! Don't be scared abotu changing your template. It's not as scary as it seems or sounds--you just need to pack stuff up if you do.
ReplyDeleteThere is so SO much I'd do differently. I'm not scared of templates because hell, it's what I do for a living. But the name? OH GOODNESS WOULD I CHANGE IT. I wish I'd put thought into it. The problem was that once I was ready to I was scared--I already had people reading my blog, and I didn't want to lose them, or to be like 'who the hell are you?'
All learning experiences though :)
*hugs*
LOL, I love Saz101. It's so different from everyone elses.
DeleteAnd changing my template IS SCARY. You are just a big smarty pants with the knowledge to do it at a whim, so it's not scary to you. Damn you graphic designers!!!! You have all the fun.
Great answer! I always get distracted with every pretty template I see! X)
ReplyDeleteAnd nice TGIF answer--I haven't read the series, but I've heard such polarized reviews!
Here's my FF
LOL, yeah, some are so freakin pretty it's amazing.
DeleteMy blog partner would kill me if I changed my template whenever I felt like it (which happens multiple times during the month). I'd be totally break just paying a designer to changes my blog look all the time. LOL.
ReplyDeleteHere's my FF
Old GFC follower
LOL, I am all by myslef so I could change it anytime but it's just too much and I have little time.
DeleteYeah, it seems that book blogging is definitely an ongoing learning experience. Research seems to be the most common theme this week!
ReplyDeleteNew follower via GFC!
Here's mine:
http://www.sinnfulbooks.com/2012/08/follow-friday.html
sinn @ sinnful books
I can't even count the hours I did researching AFTER starting my blog. Ugh!!!
DeleteI enjoy your current template personally. While a professional template is nice, the ones you create yourself always seem to be more personalable and not so manufactured. Just my 2 cents. :D
ReplyDeleteOld follower
http://abookishco-op.blogspot.com
Awww thanks. I alway thought it had a rustic look, which I like. I don't like cartoonish templates which are the most common. So thanks, I kinda felt the same, but I know a lot of people like the streamline look better.
DeleteLovely blog you have here! Design is definitely a must! It reflects who you are or so they say :) I'm afraid to change mine myself!
ReplyDeleteFollowed you on RSS :)
Happy Friday! My FF
Promiscuous Diva
I am such a scaredy cat when it comes to messing with HTML, lol.
DeleteI can't leave a comment on your blog for some reason, But I am a follower. :)
I'm quite happy with my blog theme but have thought about changing things, like you I am to scared that I am going to mess something up or delete something so I have just left it.
ReplyDeleteNew follower on NB and Linky, old follower on GFC...oh and I liked your FB page.
http://thebloggyawards.blogspot.co.uk/
I am quite happy with where I am at with my blog. I wouldn't want to change it again.
ReplyDeleteHere's my Friday Hops
Have a GREAT weekend!
Old Follower :)
I always loved your blog, don't change a thing.
DeleteOld follower hopping through :) Here's my FF post #7
ReplyDeleteAhh..50 Shades, luckily I was the first of all my friends to pick that one up, so I didn't get any of the bad reviews before I read it. I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, based on the subject matter, so I enjoyed the story, and didn't pay attention to all of the little things that people seem to be nitpicking to death. Here's my TGIF.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I just let the story take me and I enjoyed it. I don't try to find things wrong with a book. I only notice them when they are really noticable.
DeleteI'm actually a new blogger so I just followed you! Do you mind giving me some advice? I feel that my posts are aren't as good as others./: Could you help me with that?(:
ReplyDeleteMy blog: simple-books.blogspot.com
I thought your posts were good. You have to find your voice, don't try to be like others or it will sound forced. Whatever comes naturally is what will work best.
DeleteI think your template looks fine! :D
ReplyDeleteJust followed!
My FF
Thanks
DeleteHappy Friday Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI just did this for the first time and actually quite enjoyed it. Looking forward to more awesome reviews from you btw! :))
Marian @WheneverLifeGetsTough
Well, Welcome. :)
DeleteI had a heck of a time picking out a name for my blog, too... it seemed like all of the cool ones were already chosen. I ended up going with my own name, which in retrospect was probably a good idea since I am writing as well as reviewing, and that helps with branding. I like your background here, though -- it's interesting, but not overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower via GFC -- my blog is nickieanderson.blogspot.com
I am writing too. I was going to use my name but, I don't know, I wasn't sure if I should at the time.
DeleteI like your template but I can understand why you might want to change it. No matter how much I like my template I'm always finding things wrong with it haha. Old follower :)
ReplyDeleteWorld of Books
Yeah, I think bloggers can never really be 100% satisfied with their blog. There is always something to change.
DeleteJust blogging by, happy Friday.
ReplyDeletehttp://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/08/feature_10.html
I'm liking the current name :)
ReplyDeletehttp://uncorkedthoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/feature-and-follow-1.html
xo
I wish I had done more research before taking the leap also.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're enjoying Fifty Shades - LOVE that series!!!
Have a great weekend, Jennifer!
Old follower. :) My FF
Oh, and I like your design. It's very clean and you're header is awesome! Papyrus is my favorite font...and I just admitted to being a total nerd... :D
DeleteLOL, I can't believe you know the font. hehe. so nerdy. Lol.
DeleteYaaay, A Fifty Shades Fan. So happy I found another one.
Hi, old follower returning to reassure you that your header and template is wonderful. I always get a shiver when it pops up on my Facebook feed!
ReplyDeletehttp://todayinshenaya.blogspot.com
LOL, that's funny. It is a bit creepy, huh? I figured paranormal is a little scary so I tried to match.
DeleteNot participating in the hop, but wanted to say hi.
ReplyDeleteI would def change the name of my blog, but I dont know what to either.
Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog
Yeah, it's almost been a year and I still don't know what name I would change it to.
DeleteI had a blog with my sister and after a year posting it all by myself I moved over to WP and was able to make the changes to name and such so I understand that part. I think for the most part though, is that bloggers grow with their blogs so you see changes all the time. Heck I am still using the free WP but will hopefully be buying my site soon. Just remember everyone makes changes and it's okay. It's typically a live and learn process.
ReplyDeleteHave a Great Friday!
Old Follower
My Friday Follows
Great response. :)
DeleteI wish I'd done a more professional template too. My style is okay, but I feel like it just looks amateurish. I want something a little snazzier. I just have to put in the time one day to fix it up. *Following via GFC!*
ReplyDeleteC.J.
http://cjlistro.blogspot.com/2012/08/feature-follow-mandee-compelled-by-words.html
Yeah, so little time, so much to do.
DeleteI really like your blog. While it would've been great to start the blog off perfectly, like you said, the learning process is really beneficial. Whenever I get the chance, I enjoy twitching the blog, but I'm scared to change designs too because I don't want to lose something along the way lol
ReplyDeleteMy FF
Ning @ Reading by Kindle Fire
Exactly. I have heard horror stories of losing a lot of your blog while trying to redesign it.
DeleteThank goodness you decided to read them! I love all three. Everyone has their opinion about Fifty Shades and some are just based on what other say. I've never been that way, so I tried it and loved the story. What most people don't realize is that it's not porn, it has some intense love scenes, but it also has a very good story line :)
ReplyDeleteNew follower!!!
Here's mine: http://fiktishuhs.blogspot.com/2012/08/tgif_10.html
Not porn at all. I was expect hard core XXX and it's nothing like that at all. It's a great, passionate love story.
DeleteAwesome answer. Old Follower. Glad you take your experiences through all the tought times and benefited from them. =] Thanks for sharing and visiting My FF
ReplyDeleteMichael @ The Bookshelf Review
I've been thinking about changing my blog template to more of a professional looking one too. I don't want to spend a ton of money though - so its a hard decision. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
The Brunette Librarian's FF & a special giveaway :)
I LOVE your template. I wouldn't change it.
DeleteI'm thinking about changing my blog template as well, but not sure how I want to go about it. I like your blog title...its unique! I'm glad you enjoyed the first two Fifty Shades books. I really enjoyed Fifty Shades Darker though Fifty Shades Freed wasn't my favorite. Old follower.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hope the last book is good because I want it to end on a positive note.
DeleteI love your honesty, although I think your blog template looks really professional. I’m glad I dropped by from TGFI. I am your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Shanae
My Blog
I totally agree with you, I would have paid to have a template done and I'm afraid to get one and then have it just not fit what I'm looking for. Your template looks really great though. I need to fix mine up more, it just looks so... Plain.
ReplyDeleteAdria
Breath of Life Reviews
Following you!