Something odd happened this week, a single blog post absolutely floored me – that’s how good it was. Now, I read a lot of blogs, and doing so is pretty much the first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing before I go to sleep. But this blog post really stood out:
Top 100 Children’s Novels (#100-91)
It was written by Betsy Bird, whose Fuse #8 blog appears on School Library Journal. Here are some stats on this blog post:
- Nearly 8,000 words
- 51 images
- 11 videos
- 60 links
- 69 comments
- 15 ReTweets on Twitter
What’s more, this is just part 1 of a 19 part series. The thing that amazed me was not the quantity, but the QUALITY – How it served its intended audience in a fun and unique way, involving them in the process.
So I want to cover this from a few angles:
- What Betsy is doing right in terms of serving her readers.
- Her process to create this blog.
- The value it has given her.
Why This Blog is Incredible, and How Yours Can Be Too
Last year Betsy ran a series of articles based on a poll: Top 100 Picture Books. She picked a slow time of the year in terms of news, polled her readers, and then shared the poll results across a series of blog posts (covering 5-10 books at a time), counting down to the best picture book.
The Top 100 Children’s Novels follows a similar pattern with some tweaks to the rules and timing. I had a chat with Betsy, and below are the lessons I feel other bloggers can take away from her efforts:
- Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
Betsy borrowed the idea of doing a poll and series of posts like this from another blogger. She credits him, and her efforts don’t take away any value from his blog.I often find that some of the best ideas a blogger can leverage already exist in a different market. Look around at blogs outside of your field, find out what engages people, and see if you can transfer that strategy to your blog and your market.
- Involve Your Community
The Top 100 Children’s Novel posts are based entirely on a poll of Betsy’s readers. She didn’t dictate what she thought the best books were or even create a blue ribbon committee to choose. She simply asked her readers and reported what they said. - Be Flexible
An undertaking like this is complex. Betsy had to come up with rules, and the entire run of the series will take more than two months. Some unexpected issues came up, such as whether or not kids should be allowed to vote. Betsy had to create new rules while the program was in progress and inform her audience.Likewise, after she announced the poll, a reader came up with a stronger title for it. So Betsy simply changed it and moved on. The lesson is to work out as many details as you can prior to launch, but be aware that you may need to iterate further once live. There are things you learn in the wild that you can’t always plan for.
- Embrace New Ways to Connect With Readers
Betsy was a late convert to Twitter, but credits this service with the early success of the Top 100 Children’s Novels blog series. She said it was incredible to see her updates on the poll be ReTweeted and then track clicks via Bit.ly. - Create Habits in Your Audience
The series will cover nearly 20 blog posts, meaning every weekday you check her blog in February and parts of March, you will learn about five more books leading up to the number one position. What this does is build habits in your readers, and makes your blog a familiar friend who is always there when you check in each morning. It’s a ton of work to do that (as you will learn in the next section), but it is a very powerful driver of growth and engagement. - Grow Your Audience
She said that a series like this brings in a lot of new readers to her blog and further engages those who are already regular visitors. I speak to a lot of folks both within and outside of media, many of whom feel that they already reach most of the people they need to, and serve them about as well as anyone can. Betsy on the other hand, is always looking for ways to improve her blog and reach more people. This year, she had twice the amount of people participate in her poll, and her traffic numbers for February are already incredibly strong.
What it Takes to Create a Blog of This Caliber
Let’s talk about finding the resources – the TIME – to create a blog like this. Betsy blogs 7 days a week, and yet, she has a full time job as a librarian in New York City. Betsy describes her blog this way:
"It’s a second job."
There’s really no sugar-coating that. Let’s look at some of the elements included in the post I linked to up top. She covered 10 books in the post, and for each one, included the following:
- Book descriptions
- Background details on the author
- Excerpts of reviews from notable sources
- Book covers (and a history of them)
- Videos
- Quotes from reader ratings
- Her own commentary
- Information on awards the book has won
- Poll tabulation information
- Links to relevant sources
And this is just one blog entry from 19 in the series, and just one blog entry out of seven that she will post this week.
So how does she manage her blog? This is her schedule five days a week:
- 9am-5pm (sometimes 10am-6pm): Work at her library.
- Between 5pm-8pm: Dinner.
- 8pm-midnight (sometimes 1am): Blog.
That’s four hours a day of blogging, five nights a week. Then, on her two days off, she devotes a considerable amount of time to blogging as well.
The Real Value of Blogging
So clearly, Betsy puts in a huge commitment to her blog. Why would anyone do that? Well, this blog has provided value to her far beyond counting page views or collecting a paycheck. I asked her what the benefits of blogging were for her, and this is what she said:
"Blogging has given me everything I’ve ever wanted."
What does Betsy want? Well, here are some of the things the blog has given her:
- A book deal for a non-fiction book which was published last year: Children’s Literature Gems
- Two book deals for children’s picture books that she has partnered with an illustrator on. These came about from a blog post where she promoted the illustrator, and one thing lead to another, she is co-authoring two books with him!
- A book deal for a non-fiction book she is writing with two other children’s literature bloggers.
- She was on the Newbery Award Committee (very prestigious award for books that puts those foil seals on books)
- She runs a Children’s Literary Cafe out of her library, and gets to book famous guest speakers.
- It’s a second income. Yes, Betsy is a paid blogger.
- She LOVES books, she loves libraries, she loves the people she is serving through her blog. The personal fulfillment is incredible.
All of these things came about because of the blog – because the blog pushed her to create and share; because the blog served her readers in incredible ways; because the blog allowed her connect with people and create something meaningful together.
People often ask me how to measure the ROI of social media or blogs – how to justify the effort. Betsy is an amazing example of why it’s important to blog and participate in social media. The value is often not in the direct revenue that it brings, but a mixture of two things:
- Ancillary opportunities through connections.
- Personal fulfillment of creating something special.
And both of these things are inherently about helping others.
What I admire most about Betsy’s blog is the passion, the fun, the oddness that embodies her love of and admiration for books. The places books take us – the ways they have shaped our lives, and the way that they link one generation to the next. When I read Betsy’s blog, I want to go and read a book. All the Kindle/iPad debates in the world have never given me that feeling!
I profiled Betsy last year as well, still a good read: How to Become a Superstar Blogger.
Follow me on Twitter: @DanBlank.
Came here from Betsy's (amazing) blog, and just spent much time browsing. You have a great site here Dan — glad to have discovered it!
Thank you so much!
what a great post, thanks for sharing Betsy's success and the hard work that she has put into it.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful information, sometimes we tend to forget the basics and end up experimenting a bit too much with fancy things. Being simple and being who you are will definitely help you go a long way instead of try to be like others. This way you will also lose your own identity.
What a simply lovely post – not only on the benefits, bonuses, and joys of blogging, but how it dovetails seamlessly with the same love and passion that is there for the writer, the reader, and/or the consummate book lover.
I have bookmarked this post as one to return to again and again as inspiration for my own blogging and writing (both of which have had serious lapses due to a number of unfortunate and even despairing life upheavals in the past few years). It will, as well, help me to remember why I first began blogging and remind me of all the wonderful things it has brought into my life (including my best friend, a fellow blogger, and being published in an anthology!)
Thank you – I cannot tell you how much – for this insightful and moving post; both you and Betsy have earned a place on my personal reading list and blogroll. Seeing both of you have such passion for writing, and the subjects you choose to write about, makes me want to log right into my blog and get back to it after slowly letting my blogging dwindle away!
Even with so many dormant months behind me, and posts that have become less frequent as the years have gone by, I believe that – with your good advice and Betsy's passion in mind – I, too, can reinstate blogging into my daily life.
I have missed it so, to be honest. It isn't that I have had nothing to write about or that I couldn't have made the time if I really had wanted to, I suppose – just that, with so many other things going on in my life, especially the difficult issues, the spark had somehow fizzled out, the embers of initial passion for blogging dimmed and cooled. Life, as it often does, got in the way. Then, just as I have been – in the last few weeks – contemplating a return, I come upon this post and it spoke straight to my heart; indeed, it was the very words of encouragement coupled with that gentle reminder that I needed.
And so, I just wanted you to know how much your post (and Betsy's passion) spoke to this wayside blogger and to thank you both, from the bottom of my heart, for helping me find my way back to my (writing-blogging) home. Namaste, friends.
Thank you for this inspiring post. It gave me some great ideas for ways to improve my own blogs. I'm going to check out Betsy's blog now.
It will probably be a series of more than 19 posts. If she does it anything like the Picture Books series, the top ten titles will get 10 posts, one for each title.
Thanks Brenda!
True. The only thing I will add is that a blogger like Betsy is such a positive person and is always looking to improve. That alone has had a profound affect on her blog and her audience. Thanks!
Shanna – Thank YOU! What a nice comment to leave. I think the side of blogging that is discussed least are issues around motivation and time management. Your story is one I have heard many times before – you are passionate about your subject matter, have the best of intentions for the blog, but have so many competing priorities in your life. If there is any way I can help, just let me know. Have a great day! – Dan
Thanks Noelle!
Indeed, you're right. I think this series wills stretch on well into March too. Thanks for the clarification!
-Dan
Great posts and ideas by both you and Betsy Dan.
So many underestimate the effort and commitment needed for a successful blog but it's obvious that Besty enjoys what she does. I'm sure she has her tough times where she doesn't want to blog as we all do but she's a great example of persevering. I think you've got to love blogging about your topic or your doomed to fail. Both Betsy and you obviously have t
Earning money doesn't have to be the number 1 driver/reason for blogging and personally I've found it to be a great way to spawn ideas and connect with like minded people.
Taking the best bits from your favourite bloggers is a great idea but having your own voice is an important factor that shouldn't be overlooked.
The blog post is a great example i delivering quality and using social marketing and networking to help you give your readers what they want.
Some great concepts and things for me to think about here, thanks Dan.
Wow! Now that is such a powerful message. What I like most is the quote “Blogging has given me everything I have ever wanted”. Blogging is a wonderful tool for self expression, everyone should blog about what they are most passionate about. Sure Betsy provides a good income for herself, but without her passion for books, her blog would not have provided her with that success. This I think is a key point for those wanting to blog, make sure you do it for the right reasons, and the rest will fall into place.
I don't think enough people realize that there is an audience out there for everyone. What a great example of the power of ones passion!
Andrew: agreed. That is what I find so fascinating working about working in business media – some of these niches are very small, yet they are filled with passionate experts and highly engaged communities. Perfect for blogs and social media. Have a great day!
-Dan
Thanks Robert! And I agree – if your goal is to make money blogging you will likely fail. If your goal is to empower and create, you may find it delivers things of value far beyond mere dollars!
-Dan
and Betsy is an incredible writer which makes her an amzing blogger.
I think in a world of people trying to be “Seth Godin” and duplicate his short and to the point writing style, blogs like Betsy's are amazing. She seems to know her audience and what they want — and what will keep them coming back to her blog. Isn't that what we all want?
Indeed!
Sue-ann, Interesting point. What is so great about someone like Betsy is that she is so involved in her community, so passionate and knowledgeable about her topic, that it feels more like a party of like-minds, than a blog whose goal is to drive traffic! Thanks for the comment, have a great day. -Dan
Sorry to be late to the party — but what a great post, and one that makes me feel that this new (to me) world of blogging is accessible and possible. I feel very inspired, reading about Betsy and your analysis of her success and of what it takes to be a blogger. I've been pondering all the usual questions of target audience, purpose, infusing a blog with value, finding a voice, finding a niche, and am learning a lot by reading your site. Thanks, Dan, for this great piece on Betsy and for the insights I'm picking up in your other articles.
Regards,
Toby
Thanks Toby! Let me know if I can assist.
-Dan