Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,
hosted by Billy @
For more information, click HERE.
What to Do
1.) Post on your blog answering this week's
question:
Is there a reason why you chose
Blogger over Wordpress or a
different platform?
(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)
2.) Enter the link to your post in the
Linky list on Billy's blog.
3.) Visit other blogs on the list and
comment on their posts.
4.) Be sure to find out next week's
question when you visit
Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!
My Answer
When I first started blogging, I had no idea that there were several different blogging platforms. Blogger was just the first one I came across. Also, I liked the fact that setting up a blog on this platform was (and still is) free. I also liked the template help offered on this platform. There are several to choose from. Besides, the steps are simple, so setting up a blog is not a complicated process at all.
It was only after I had been blogging for a while that I heard about Wordpress. Many bloggers actually prefer this platform. This platform does offer free setup, as well. At one point, I did consider the possibility of transferring my blog over to Wordpress, but then, I thought it would just be too much of a hassle, since I'm not a tech geek. Hubby might be able to help, but it would still be too risky, I think. It would be a major tragedy for me if I lost my blog in the process!!
There are actually two things I don't like about Wordpress.
The first one is that Google doesn't support the GFC widget on that platform. True, many people don't like this widget anyway, saying it doesn't reflect the real level of interactions on blogs, but I've gotten so used to seeing the widget on my blog, I know I'd really miss it. All those nice little faces -- they 'greet' me every time I go to my blog. Lol.
The second thing is that Wordpress doesn't allow the posting of blog tours. These are considered to be spam, because many blog tour posts do not contain original content, written by the blogger who's posting them. This is a very unfair position for Wordpress to take, and it's blatant censorship, as well. Okay, I do agree that SOME of these tour posts do not contain original content, like cover reveal and book blitz posts, as well as spotlight posts. Bloggers participating in these types of tours simply copy and paste material sent to them by the blog tour companies. However, what about reviews and author interviews? THOSE types of posts DO contain original content, created by the participating blogger. The reviews are written by the blogger, as are the interview questions. Besides, since the interview questions are created by the blogger, the answers given by the author constitute original content, as well, especially if the blogger avoids asking the typical sort of questions frequently asked. I certainly do my best to avoid asking such questions.
I have mentioned blog tours in previous BBH posts. While I do think that these posts should not be the main type of post published by a book blogger, I still think it's VERY unfair of Wordpress to ban them outright. Book bloggers can certainly make sure to avoid spotlights, cover reveals, and blitzes, and just go for review and interview posts. That's what I do. Furthermore, whenever I publish a spotlight post, which usually contains an excerpt from the book being promoted, I will include a mini-review of the excerpt.
I am very, very picky about the books I choose to promote, too. I don't just sign up for ANY book. Therefore, when I include these mini-reviews, it's because I really do LIKE the book in question. I'm not writing these mini-reviews just to promote the book.
Banning ALL blog tour posts is VERY discriminatory to Indie authors, in my opinion. I do think these authors have every right to promote their books, and blog tours are the best means for them to do so. Besides, I'm sure that many book blog readers are interested in finding out what great new Indie books are available out there.
I have limited blog tour posts to some extent, but I am not eliminating them altogether. And I don't think they should be considered spam, unless, of course, they do not contain ANY original content at all.
I know there are other blogging platforms out there besides Wordpress, but I'm not going to consider them, either. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm very comfortable with Blogger (in spite of its quirks, which thankfully, are not that frequent). I started out with this blogging platform, and here I'll stay!
It was only after I had been blogging for a while that I heard about Wordpress. Many bloggers actually prefer this platform. This platform does offer free setup, as well. At one point, I did consider the possibility of transferring my blog over to Wordpress, but then, I thought it would just be too much of a hassle, since I'm not a tech geek. Hubby might be able to help, but it would still be too risky, I think. It would be a major tragedy for me if I lost my blog in the process!!
There are actually two things I don't like about Wordpress.
The first one is that Google doesn't support the GFC widget on that platform. True, many people don't like this widget anyway, saying it doesn't reflect the real level of interactions on blogs, but I've gotten so used to seeing the widget on my blog, I know I'd really miss it. All those nice little faces -- they 'greet' me every time I go to my blog. Lol.
The second thing is that Wordpress doesn't allow the posting of blog tours. These are considered to be spam, because many blog tour posts do not contain original content, written by the blogger who's posting them. This is a very unfair position for Wordpress to take, and it's blatant censorship, as well. Okay, I do agree that SOME of these tour posts do not contain original content, like cover reveal and book blitz posts, as well as spotlight posts. Bloggers participating in these types of tours simply copy and paste material sent to them by the blog tour companies. However, what about reviews and author interviews? THOSE types of posts DO contain original content, created by the participating blogger. The reviews are written by the blogger, as are the interview questions. Besides, since the interview questions are created by the blogger, the answers given by the author constitute original content, as well, especially if the blogger avoids asking the typical sort of questions frequently asked. I certainly do my best to avoid asking such questions.
I have mentioned blog tours in previous BBH posts. While I do think that these posts should not be the main type of post published by a book blogger, I still think it's VERY unfair of Wordpress to ban them outright. Book bloggers can certainly make sure to avoid spotlights, cover reveals, and blitzes, and just go for review and interview posts. That's what I do. Furthermore, whenever I publish a spotlight post, which usually contains an excerpt from the book being promoted, I will include a mini-review of the excerpt.
I am very, very picky about the books I choose to promote, too. I don't just sign up for ANY book. Therefore, when I include these mini-reviews, it's because I really do LIKE the book in question. I'm not writing these mini-reviews just to promote the book.
Banning ALL blog tour posts is VERY discriminatory to Indie authors, in my opinion. I do think these authors have every right to promote their books, and blog tours are the best means for them to do so. Besides, I'm sure that many book blog readers are interested in finding out what great new Indie books are available out there.
I have limited blog tour posts to some extent, but I am not eliminating them altogether. And I don't think they should be considered spam, unless, of course, they do not contain ANY original content at all.
I know there are other blogging platforms out there besides Wordpress, but I'm not going to consider them, either. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm very comfortable with Blogger (in spite of its quirks, which thankfully, are not that frequent). I started out with this blogging platform, and here I'll stay!
What are your thoughts?
Please leave a comment,
and I'll go check out your post!
I only knew about Blogger too.
ReplyDeleteI also am afraid of migrating to Word Press. I don't want to lose all of my blog posts either.
Nice answer as always.
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog Hop Answer
Hi, Elizabeth!
DeleteYeah, I figure, since I'm not a tech, and I'm already used to Blogger, why change, right? I wouldn't be able to stand it, if I lost all my previous blog posts!! That would mean nearly FIVE years of work down the drain!!!! YIKES!!!!
Thanks for the compliment!! Happy Hopping!! And thanks for commenting back!! :)
Wow I wouldn't be happy if I was limited on what I posted.
ReplyDeleteSportochick’s Musings Blog Hop Answer
Hi, Teri!
DeleteYeah, I wouldn't be happy, either! How DARE Wordpress arbitrarily decide that blog tours are spam!! So I'm sticking with Blogger.
Thanks for the visit and the comment!! :)
I also started with Blogger as it seemed a little easier to get started. I also heard that in the long run wordpress was a more flexible platform ad at times regretted my choice.
ReplyDeleteI did not know that Wordpress banned Blog Tours. Though I have never participated in one such a restriction seems unacceptable. From what I have observed they not usually spam or advertising but they are simply highlighting books that readers might be interested in.
Hi, Brian!
DeleteYeah, it seems that Blogger is the most visible platform, to the beginning blogger. And it never occurred to me to even check to see if there were other blogging platforms. I just wanted to get started right away! Lol.
I have also heard that Wordpress has more flexibility, but that's mostly if you sign up for the paid service, which is ranges from about $3.49 to $7.00 a month. This is what I found out when I did some Googling the other day.
If you go to Google, and type in "Blogger vs. Wordpress", you'll get a list of sites that will give you the pros and cons of each.
I found out about the blog tour restriction about a year ago, from another blogger. Not only is it unfair to Indie authors, but it's also censorship. So that totally turned me off Wordpress.
I don't see blog tours as spam, either. They simply bring certain books to readers' attention. And Indie authors really don't have the advantage of the heavy marketing done by the big publishers. So that's why I consider this policy to be very unfair and discriminatory to them.
Now I'm a bit worried, though, because I read, on the Wordpress site (the first one that comes up in a Google search) that Google can do anything they want with the content on Blogger blogs.....I'll have to do some more research, in that case.... but I'd much rather stay with Blogger, for now, at least. Exporting my blog to another blogging platform sounds much too risky!
Thanks for the great comment!! :)
I prefer blogger too, Maria. I find it so much easier to use, especially for someone like me who isn't tech savvy. My husband helps me when I ask, but I don't like to rely on him for everything. I was part of a Wordpress blog for a short while, but found it difficult to manuever. I'm sure some of that had to do with my experience with Blogger--it's hard to switch from one to the other when you didn't know it well.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Wordpress doesn't allow blog tours. I have blogger friends who post blog tours on their blogs without problems.
Hi, Wendy!
DeleteI've heard that Blogger is easier to work with, as well. And I don't like to bother my hubby, either, although he's a tech geek. Lol.
I guess I just started using the first blogging platform I came across, and that was it. At first, I found things a bit difficult, until I got used to the Blogger software. This happened pretty quickly, though. And yes, I wouldn't want to go through that process again, with a new blogging platform!
I found out that Wordpress doesn't allow blog tours when I was visiting a blog one day. I was surprised, and a bit shocked, as well. This is censorship! Plus, it discriminates against Indie authors. Well, I didn't like that at all!
On the other hand, I've read a comment on Elizabeth's blog that mentioned Google having the right to do whatever they want with the content on Blogger blogs. Hmmmm.....I need to check into this further!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!! :)