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1. Start a Book Blog
Bluehost
I’ve been using WordPress for six years now. In that time, I’ve set up websites for an international college, a photography business, and three separate blogs.
For each of those, I used Bluehost.
It’s also the hosting service I use for The Bibliosmile.
I’ve looked into other hosting options, but I keep coming back to Bluehost.
The reason?
It’s one of the best deals on the market.
As a mother of two little ones, I don’t have extra cash lying around.
(My kids eat a lot, okay?)
Bluehost is insanely great because not only is it the cheapest hosting option out there, but it also offers mind-blowing service.
Whenever I run into issues with my website, the wonderful team at Bluehost has them fixed within minutes. Their technical support is instantaneous.
What’s more: when you sign up for Bluehost, you get a free domain name for one year, a complimentary SSL certificate, and 24/7 support.
Generatepress WordPress Theme
Here’s an interesting fact.
Since May 2021, faster websites rank higher on Google search.
What does this mean for you?
It means if you have a faster blog, you’ll…
- effortlessly boost your page views
- attract new followers like clockwork
- skyrocket your conversion rates
Simply put, you need to have a hyper-fast WordPress theme.
According to Themeisle’s study on the fastest WordPress themes in 2021, Generatepress is ranked number one on the market.
What’s more, Generatepress is the theme I’m currently using on The Bibliosmile, and I couldn’t be happier.
Generatepress certainly lives up to its promise: it is wicked fast!
I don’t have a single complaint.
I would 100% recommend it for book bloggers who want a rapid-loading, well-coded theme with excellent tech support.
Tweak Me v2 Theme
If you’re looking for a highly customizable WordPress theme that’s made with book bloggers in mind, then look no further than the Tweak Me v2 Theme.
Created by Ashley Gibson, the mastermind and coder behind Bookhype, she clearly understands what book bloggers really need.
I used the Tweak Me v2 Theme on my old YA book blog for almost two years – without a single issue!
Ashley was always prompt in replying to my questions (even if they were stupid ones) and was extremely helpful in walking me through what I needed to do.
If you’re looking for a simple WordPress theme for book blogging beginners, you can’t go wrong with the Tweak Me v2 theme!
Plus, unlike many popular WordPress themes, the Tweak Me v2 theme is a one-time payment instead of a yearly subscription.
Pay once, and you’re done!
Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin
I get it: you’re busy.
You don’t have nearly enough time to dedicate to book blogging as you’d like.
You’ve got to be efficient.
That’s where the Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin comes in.
Created by Ashley Gibson, the mastermind and coder behind Bookhype, she clearly understands what book bloggers really need.
That’s why the Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin’s got all the time-saving functionalities you need to write, format, and post a book review in record time.
It has an easy drag-and-drop interface and an automatically updating review archive that streamlines the book reviewing process.
I’ve used this plugin for a couple of years now – and all I can say is WOW!
It has saved me so much time, energy, and stress.
Mailerlite
According to Statista, a whopping 4.03 billion people around the world use email.
In comparison, Facebook has 2.2 billion active users, and Instagram has only 1 billion.
Simply put: no other platform comes close to matching email’s user numbers.
What does this mean for you?
It means that email is not a dead marketing tool. It is an insanely effective way to reach your followers, nurture a relationship, and build trust with your audience.
On The Bibliosmile, I use Mailerlite as my email marketing service provider.
Unlike Mailchimp, Mailerlite’s free plan allows for advanced segmentation, which is a super helpful tool for getting the right content in front of the right readers.
Its free plan also includes…
- up to 1,000 subscribers
- 12,000 emails a month
- an easy-to-use drag & drop editor
- mobile-friendly email newsletters
- landing pages
- embedded signup forms
- A/B testing
…and so much more!
Flodesk
Flodesk is a new email marketing service provider that’s built for creators, by creators.
What’s more: I used Flodesk on my previous blog and more than doubled my list of email subscribers.
It offers highly customizable newsletter templates designed to look professional, catch the eye of your reader, and convert!
But more than that, it’s unbelievably easy to use. The interface is intuitive; in mere seconds, you can create a beautiful email campaign that won’t embarrass you.
The best part?
If you use my affiliate link, you can get 50% off of Flodesk’s services now and forever.
The Stray Curls eBooks
I was just like you not too long ago.
In 2018, I started a YA book blog called Novels & Waffles. I didn’t have a clue how to get my site in front of more people. (Sound familiar?)
I tried ALL the things.
Pinterest courses. Desperate tweets. Writing more and more blog posts. Comforting myself with book-buying binges when it all inevitably failed.
If you listen closely, you can still hear the dulcet tones of my bank account weeping.
The good news?
I stumbled upon this magical website called Stray Curls, and I was saved.
In her ebooks, Angela breaks down every single strategy she’s utilized to grow her blog into a full-time income-making business.
She clearly teaches you how to grow your blog traffic with minimum promotion, along with how to crack the code of the dreaded SEO.
I honestly learned an insane amount of easy, actionable tips that I effectively put into action when I started The Bibliosmile.
I couldn’t recommend Angela’s ebooks enough!
Some of my favorite ebooks of hers are…
Pinterest with Ell Course
Okay, so we’ve all heard the success stories.
“I reached over 9,000 blog views in one day thanks to Pinterest!”
Sounds great, right?
But then you sign up for Pinterest, upload your first pin, and…nothing happens.
Those 9,000 blog views are nowhere in sight.
If you’re anything like me, you need some pinning guidance from an all-knowing Pinterest guru who gets it.
That’s why I purchased Pinterest with Ell – the best Pinterest course for bloggers who want to grow their blog traffic and increase their sales.
This online course is insanely easy to follow!
Here’s why: it’s jam-packed with tips on how to…
- properly set up your Pinterest for Pinterest SEO
- find keywords to help you rank higher in searches
- drive traffic to your blog through Pinterest
…and so much more!
Legal Template Bundle
The legal side of blogging is not fun or easy!
Many bloggers struggle with writing their legal pages because they have no idea where to start.
Are you confused, overwhelmed, or intimidated? Don’t be!
Trust me, I know because it was not easy for me. I wasted SO MUCH TIME trying to write the legalese myself until I realized I’m not a lawyer and shouldn’t waste my time anymore.
This was time I was taking away from growing my blogging platform.
Nevertheless, I knew that the legal side of my blog is super important, and to comply with the law, I needed legal pages on my website.
We all know hiring a lawyer to handle this for us can be very expensive, but it does not mean you should skip over the legal pages!
My friend, Amira at www.aselfguru.com, is a lawyer and a blogger who has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs with their legal pages.
She works full-time as a lawyer and has been working with bloggers for more than 8 years to help them protect their blogs legally.
I’m so glad I found her Legal Bundle, which is trusted by thousands of bloggers like me!
Her Legal Bundle comes with 3 legal templates you must have on your blog + 9 additional bonuses.
Here are the 3 legal templates it comes with:
- Privacy Policy Template
- Disclaimer Template
- Terms and Conditions Template
To learn about each template in detail and understand why you need it, check out her blog post here.
I found all the templates very easy to customize, and I got done with all of my legal pages within minutes.
I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders.
Check out the Legal Bundle here.
2. Design Your Book Blog
Waffley Cute Designs
Tell me if this is you right now:
- You’ve spent hours tinkering with your website but still aren’t satisfied
- You’re struggling to get your book blog off the ground
- You want to build a beautiful blog that will attract tons of readers without going crazy
- You want to create a memorable brand but don’t have the time
- You’re looking to level up your book blogging game without spending a fortune
Then let me introduce you to Waffley Cute Designs – a small but mighty design studio for book bloggers on a budget.
Forget the frustrations of trying to DIY your dream website.
Get stress-free custom designs that will add a bit of magic and whimsy to your book blog – without breaking the bank.
Waffley Cute Designs is the perfect solution for book bloggers who want to effortlessly create a beautiful blog.
Freepik
According to a study published in the scientific journal Behaviour & Information Technology, it only takes about 50 milliseconds (that’s 0.05 seconds!) for users to form an opinion about your website’s design.
Don’t believe me?
Check this out:
The simple truth is this: if your blog isn’t visually appealing, you won’t gain traffic or followers.
That’s where Freepik comes in.
I’ve been a premium member of Freepik for three years now, and I can honestly say that it is the best investment I made for my blog.
I use it for my design business. I use it for my blog. I use it for my Pinterest stock photos. I use it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
(I’m not even exaggerating.)
All the graphics and images you see on The Bibliosmile were made using resources found on Freepik.
If it wasn’t for Freepik, my blog would look like a sad, wet sandwich.
Nobody likes wet sandwiches.
Pexels and Unsplash
Looking for 100% free, aesthetically pleasing stock photography that isn’t cheesy?
Photos that don’t look like this:
Then I would personally recommend Pexels and Unsplash.
Both websites offer a wide range of non-cringey photos that can be…
✅ downloaded and used for free
✅ used for commercial and non-commercial purposes
✅ modified in any way you like
✅ used without attribution
Pexels even has stock videos and a search by HEX code feature that allows you to instantaneously find photos that match your brand!
Creative Market’s Free Goods of the Week
Creative Market is a platform where you can buy handcrafted digital design content from independent creatives around the world.
The best part?
Every week Creative Market offers six free resources for download.
Some of the free resources they offer include…
- fonts
- graphics
- Instagram templates
- Procreate brushes
- Lightroom presets
…and so much more!
I’ve been getting free resources from them for years! It’s a wildly helpful tool for book bloggers on a budget that not many people know about.
Free Fonts from Fontbundles.net
Fonts are an excellent way to draw attention to your text and add impact to what you’re saying.
But finding safe websites that you can download free fonts for commercial use is tricky.
One of my personal favorites is Fontbundles.net. They’ve got pages upon pages of fabulous free fonts for you to download, with new ones being added every week.
I’ve downloaded hundreds (I’m not even exaggerating here) of fonts from this website – without having to spend a single dollar.
3. Speed Up Your Book Blog
According to Google, “The probability of bounce increases 32% as page load time goes from 1 second to 3 seconds.”
So what does that mean for you?
It means your website better load fast, or else people aren’t going to stick around.
And after all the effort you’ve put into your book blog – you want people to stick around.
Using the tools below, paired with the Generatepress WordPress theme, I’ve managed to create a blog that loads in under a second (it’s fully loaded at 502ms) and has a PageSpeed score of 100%.
So you can rest easy knowing that these plugins and tools actually work.
GTmetrix, WebPageTest, PageSpeed Insights
You know that having a fast-loading website is vitally important, but how can you accurately measure your blog’s performance?
That’s a tricky question.
Nevertheless, here are three websites that I use to measure my own website’s structure and performance:
- GTmetrix: a website speed test tool that generates scores for your pages and offers actionable advice.
- WebPageTest: a speed testing tool that uses real browsers at consumer connection speeds.
- PageSpeed Insights: a tool created by Google that analyzes the content of a web page, then generates suggestions to make that page load faster.
WP Rocket Plugin
If you’ve ever dipped your toes into the world of website optimization, then you’ve probably heard people talking about caching plugins, lazy loading plugins, image optimization plugins, plugins to clean up your CSS and defer parsing of JavaScript…
Plugins, plugins, plugins.
It’s overwhelming.
The good news?
The WP Rocket plugin makes it simple.
It’s the all-in-one speed optimization plugin that I use on The Bibliosmile to improve the speed of my WordPress site, SEO rankings, and conversion rates.
If you need help setting up the plugin, then I would recommend this extremely detailed video tutorial:
Scott from SERT Media really knows his stuff and makes the WP Rocket setup process an absolute breeze.
Autoptimize Plugin
If you need a good website optimization plugin that won’t cost you a single cent, look no further than the Autoptimize plugin.
With over one million active installations and 1,135 five-star reviews, it’s clear that this plugin is the best in the industry.
The only downfall of Autoptimize is that the initial setup is intimidating.
But Scott from SERT Media has got you covered.
Check out this step-by-step video tutorial to help you choose the best Autoptimize settings for your website.
TinyPNG
You know what they say: “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
And that’s undoubtedly true.
But you know what else is undoubtedly true?
A picture can add thousands of milliseconds to your website’s loading time.
According to HTTP Archive, unoptimized images are often the biggest contributor to page bloat.
As book bloggers, we want to create the best site experience possible. We don’t want our blogs to be bloated.
(Bloated. What a nasty-sounding word, amirite?)
Now you might be wondering, “How can I avoid website bloat and optimize my images?”
The easiest way is to take two seconds and run your image files through the TinyPNG converter before uploading them to your WordPress media library.
In my own experience, I’ve used this nifty tool to compress hundreds of pictures for my blog.
It has successfully reduced the file size of my PNG and JPEG images every time without fail.
Simply put: this free website is nothing short of a lifesaver.
WebP Express Plugin
What even is WebP?
That’s probably the question you’re asking yourself right about now.
Let me break it down for you: WebP is an image format developed by Google similar to JPEG or PNG.
Except it has insanely small file sizes.
According to Google Developers, using the WebP format reduces image file size up to 34% smaller than JPEG and PNG images while still retaining high-quality.
And smaller image sizes mean faster loading times.
The next question you’re probably asking yourself is, “How can I use the WebP format on my website?”
Let me introduce you to the WebP Express Plugin.
With little effort, WordPress admins can have their site serving autogenerated webP images to browsers that support it while still serving JPEG and PNG files to browsers that don’t.
Simple, right?
But if you find yourself needing extra guidance, check out Scott from SERT Media’s step-by-step video tutorial on how to set up and configure the WebP Express plugin:
Honestly, I love Scott’s videos so much!
4. SEO
Complete SEO Course for Beginners: Learn to Rank #1 in Google
Many bloggers struggle to understand SEO. They feel overwhelmed, confused, or intimidated by it.
I know I was.
But let me tell you a secret: SEO isn’t something you need to be scared of.
If you have the right teacher, SEO will start to make sense very quickly!
There are a lot of online courses out there that promise to teach you the “secret sauce” to SEO – in exchange for a couple of hundred dollars, of course.
No thank you.
This 100% free Youtube course by the industry-leading SEO software company, Ahrefs, is jam-packed with massive value!
It’s the perfect starting point for book blogging beginners looking to demystify SEO once and for all.
RankMath SEO Plugin
For years, I used the Yoast SEO plugin on my blog.
But then my brother-in-law, who is a web developer, suggested that I change to the free version of RankMath.
I decided to trust his advice, and I’m so glad I did.
RankMath has wayyyy more SEO tools than the Yoast plugin.
Some of my favorite features include…
- an easy to follow start-up wizard
- a page redirection tool (I used to need an entirely separate plugin for that)
- installation of your Google Analytics tracking code
- automatically generated alt attributes for images (this is such a time-saver!)
Google Analytics Academy
Have you ever logged into your Google Analytics account, took a look around, and then immediately logged out because it was just too overwhelming?
Because same.
But here’s some good news.
Google offers free certification courses for anybody who wants to learn how to navigate the Google Analytics interface, analyze different reports, and set up dashboard shortcuts.
The best part (besides it being free)?
You get a nifty certificate at the end of the course that makes you officially Google Analytics certified!
UberSuggest
You spend hours writing content, and what do you have to show for it?
*crickets*
But then your competition writes similar content, and they get thousands of views, clicks, and shares.
Why is that?
Those people have a solid SEO keyword strategy.
If you want to create an SEO keyword strategy that rivals theirs, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Neil Patel’s free SEO analyzer called UberSuggest.
I use UberSugget on the daily.
It’s my go-to tool for brainstorming blog post ideas.
It helps me know which posts my audience will respond to the best, as well as which content ideas will be most likely to rank on Google search.
Keywords Everywhere Chrome Extension
Another vital tool I use for my SEO keyword strategy is a free browser add-on called, “Keywords Everywhere.”
Just type a search into Google, and Keywords Everywhere will show you a trend chart, related keywords, “people also search for” keywords, trending keywords, and long-tail keywords.
The name, “Keywords Everywhere,” really wasn’t underselling it.
If you’re looking for other helpful SEO Chrome extensions, I would also suggest:
5. Content Creation
Copywriting For Beginners: How To Write Web Copy That Sells Without Being Cheesy
I took this course during my free trial of Skillshare, and it has downright changed the way I write for the web.
Not only is the instructor a copywriting veteran, but he presents the course material in a way that’s clear and easy to understand.
He even provides free templates and formulas!
Now here’s the important part: if you’re looking for a simple way to take your book blog to the next level, then take this course.
Giving your website’s copy a complete makeover might be just what you need to hit your next blogging milestone.
Another great Skillshare course by the same instructor is Content Marketing 2021: Create A Content Calendar And Fill It With Ideas Your Audience Will Love.
Headline Analyzer by MonsterInsights
Here are some interesting statistics:
According to Copyblogger, 80% of all readers never make it past the headline.
Additionally, some of the best copywriters of all time suggest that you should spend half of the entire time it takes to write a post on the headline alone.
Simply put: if you want people to read your blog posts, you need to write a headline that will sweep them off their feet.
But how do you know what a good headline looks like?
I use various headline analyzers to make a final decision, but the Headline Analyzer by MonsterInsights is the one I use most often.
Here are a few other useful headline analyzers (that are all COMPLETELY FREE):
AnswerThePublic
AnswerThePublic is a free keyword tool that collects autocomplete data from search engines like Google and then quickly compiles them into easy-to-digest visual charts.
Sound confusing?
It’s not – simply type in a word, and AnswerThePublic will provide you with a list of questions or phrases that people are actually typing into search engines.
For example, if you type in the phrase, “YA books,” this is what you get:
It’s a goldmine of content ideas that you can use to create fresh, ultra-useful blog posts.
The kind your readers really want.
6. Productivity
Notion
Can I be totally honest with you?
I’m not a naturally organized person.
It’s a familiar story, and it usually goes like this:
- I quickly jot down a blog post idea on a used napkin
- I tuck an important to-do list into a half-used journal
- I start writing an article in one of my six different note-taking apps
Then I inevitably forget about or misplace it.
Here’s why: my notes weren’t in one easy-to-access, organized space.
Once I discovered Notion, however, that all changed.
Notion is an all-in-one workspace where you can write, plan, collaborate and get organized. It allows you to take notes, add tasks, manage projects, and more.
Simply put, Notion streamlined my blogging process and boosted my productivity by two hundred percent!
2021 Ultimate Book Blogger / Reader Spreadsheet Template
Do you love spreadsheets with a passion?
Does a good chart or statistic bring you unexplainable joy?
Or do you simply need a better way to keep track of all of your books and stay organized?
(That last one is definitely me.)
Then let me introduce you to this free all-in-one book blogger spreadsheet created by my amazing friend Kal at Reader Voracious.
Keep track of what books you’ve read, what books you own, upcoming releases, ARCs you need to finish, and so much more – all with automatic formulas and self-updating charts!
The Ultimate 2022 YA Release Spreadsheet
The Young Adult genre is a billion-dollar industry and that means there are A LOT of books out there – and hundreds more are being published every day.
Fact:
Staying up to date on all the latest and greatest YA books is enough to give anybody a massive headache.
I hate headaches, don’t you?
That’s why I put together The Ultimate 2022 YA Book Release Spreadsheet.
With this regularly-updated spreadsheet, you’ll be able keep track of the the hottest upcoming YA releases for the entire year – all in one convenient place!
With over 250 (and counting) YA books listed, you’ll never be out of the loop again.
And the best part?
You can get the Spreadsheet for FREE when you sign up for my newsletter!
The Book Blog Guest Post Directory
Just image if you could reach new audiences, establish yourself as a trusted authority, and supercharge your SEO … all at the same time.
Here’s an industry secret:
That’s exactly what you do when you guest post on another blog.
Guest posting is an insanely effective tool for book bloggers, but finding blogs that accept guest posts can be tricky.
But with my Book Blog Guest Post Directory, it’s easy.
Within minutes, you can connect with a book blogger who actually wants you on their platform.
No more wasted time. No more awkward cold emails.
