Book Buds lives!

If I ever change the name of this blog, it'll be to something like non compos mentis, Latin for "I'm outta my friggin' mind." I tend to take on more than I can actually accomplish, which leaves me feeling frazzled and chronically behind.

Take poor Book Buds, my much-neglected other blog. The hubby was bringing home stacks of children's books -- some adorable, some numbing -- and I thought I'd be doing the world a huge service by reviewing them.

The world hasn't noticed.

The site gets a meager 15-20 hits a day, mostly lost googlers. I got dispirited and sidetracked, first by the holidays and then by the BoB contest and all that thrill of victory, agony of defeat thing. Recap: this blog was a finalist, I threw myself into it, I, uh, came in last, my hits dropped to pre-BoB levels and life goes on.

Meanwhile, more than 70 brand, spanking new children's books have taken over the Minitaur's changing table and floor, my desk, bookshelves and nightstand. They proliferate like rabbits: I turn my back and the Scholastics have cozied up to the HarperCollins to produce a litter of Doubledays.

I had the bright idea back in December to write to publicists and request yet more freebies. Last week, I got a belated Chanukah present from Random House -- two cartons with another dozen or so titles. And Farrar, Strauss & Giroux awaits my catalog selections. The postman and I are evidently fated to become better acquainted.

Then there's my overworked and under-thanked co-conspirator, Dawn, who's been cheerfully slogging away at Christmas books and a few others that catch her eye. If it weren't for her infectious enthusiasm, I might've let Book Buds continue its swift slide into oblivion.

But it hasn't, and I won't. I'm awaiting a review from an 11-year-old wannabe and his Mom, also a journalist, to see if they'll be a good fit for the site too. And I've got several posts ready to go. Expect about 3 new reviews a week for now, plus any that Dawn sends my way.

Anybody have any bright ideas for publicizing Book Buds? I'm at a loss, since it's such a different site than this one. I've listed it in several directories, of course, and do get hits from Globe of Blogs, Blog Search Engine and the like. Any other low- or no-cost ideas?

Pretty please?

Don't let a good site languish! I could use the help. After all, book-buying parents everywhere are depending on me (and Dawn). They just don't know it yet.

Comments

[TM]

Doesn't Amazon allow you to post comments using a name? Why not use your blog's name while posting reviews on Amazon.

Begin every review with the words with something like,
"Book Buds is a blog dedicated to reviewing the best chidren's books and sifting out the best from the rest." Then proceed to offer a review with the same content you post on your site. If you hit on the right key words (best children books or something like that), when google spiders Amazon, it will pick up this phrase and give you high placement in its rankings because Amazon book reviews can score well.

Also, why not approach every mommy, daddy and parenting blog out there. Explain what you do and its value to families and ask for a link and recommend a visit. Offer them a link in return.

[Ontario Emperor]

As Tip O'Neill said (in a book, no less!), All Politics is Local. Perhaps you could put flyers in the Barnes & Noble and Borders outlets in Montclair. You might even get a reviewer or two out of the deal; one of the stores (I can't remember which) encourages their employees to tell customers what their favorite books are.

Another advertising opportunity might be in the local libraries. Again, you may get a reviewer or two out of the deal.

[Michelle]

You could ask DotMoms for a link - and ask all your mama-blog friends to give you a link. Maybe you can submit your URL to some directories - Yahoo, etc.

[Dawn]

Anne - this site is destined for greatness. Why else would I be forcing myself on you and it?! Seriously, I think this is a great and noble endeavor. And a site I would visit often even if I wasn't reviewing. I like the ideas listed above. I will do my part by visiting parenting sites and offering enthusiastic praise of Book Blogs. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

[Anne]

This is exactly what I was looking for: thanks everyone! Alas, DotMoms' Julie Moos had already rejected me (I should've mentioned that), but I didn't think of asking Mom and Dad blogs directly.

The Amazon thing will start asap, and promoting myself around town will obviously take time and some strategy. I'll be donating some books to the Upland library soon, so that's as good a place to start as any.

And it's good to know I haven't worked you to death yet, Dawn, though we're just getting started. Heh. Will contact you offline to brainstorm some more.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Other ideas always welcome.

[Faith]

For whatever good it will do you, I'll stick a link on my site (do you have a graphic you'd like associated with the site?) I don't get much traffic but I suppose every little bit helps.

And Anne, I think everything you do will eventually turn to gold.

[Anne-Marie]

Try searching out and joining some mom/kid/homeschool/literary rings out there.

BlogExplosion and all its copycat traffic building sites.

Host a contest, get all your blog friends to link to it, and give away the books you don't want. People love to win free stuff.

Get listed on every directory and review site you some across. Go to my blog and scroll down to the lower left hand corner to "My Kind Sponsors," click away and join 'em.

BUST magazie (yes the feminist punk rock rag) has a bloglisting site. Punk rock moms love to read to their kids and are very pro-education. Go their and list both your blogs. I did.

And then make sure you keep it current. Give yourself a goal of maybe one new review a week or whatever.

The Denver Post has a "Blog House" listing on their website that links to Colorado blogs. Anything like that in LA?

Go begging. Contact the Zero Boss and see if you can get him to mention you. Heck you were a BoB finalist so you have an in and he's very nice and loves mentioning blogs he likes.

Make sure your listed with Yahoo's and Google's search engines. It's free.

Join Amazon's Associates Central. You can link their books to their site and make some money off it. I haven't made much, but it's sweet getting $20 from them now and again. (You can always get your relatives and friends to click on your site, and order whatever they normally get on Amazon. You still get a commisson even if they don't order what you show on your site.)

[Anne]

Faith: Once again, thanks for your kindness and, uh, well, faith in me.

Anne-Marie: Am already an Amazon associate and have yet to earn a penny. My family isn't as web savvy, I'm afraid. I was thinking of holding a contest but then I have to pay for postage to mail the darn things. Maybe I'll rethink that.

I'm also on BlogExplosion, thanks to you too! You referred me, remember?

Thanks for the other suggestions, which all make sense. You wouldn't know I used to be a journalist -- I suck at publicity!