Appreciation For Book Bloggers // Let’s Talk Bookish

Appreciation For Book Bloggers // Let’s Talk Bookish
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Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books and Dani @ Literary Lion where we discuss certain topics based on prompts allocated for each Friday of the week. You basically share your opinions and get into the conversation by visiting each other’s posts. You can find the June schedule here or here.

Today’s Let’s Talk Bookish topic is Appreciation for Book Bloggers, which was suggested by Rukky @ Eternity Books.

I come across many articles that debate/discuss this topic on a regular basis, so it is exciting to get to share my opinions on this. I’ll make sure to link a few interesting posts that I have across relating to this week’s topic at the end.

DO YOU FEEL APPRECIATED AS A BOOK BLOGGER?

Funnily enough, I never seriously considered this question till now, and I feel as if the answer to this is multifaceted. Appreciation can come from various people or parties, so I’ll need to take that fact into consideration as well.

I consider a blogger commenting or liking my content as appreciation. Even following my blog is a form of appreciating what I am doing. Recently, I have taken to blog-hopping regularly and I have noticed that the replies and visits I get really fill my heart. So yes, in this way I feel appreciated.

Then there is the bookish industry, which I am going to include authors and publishers as a part of. Honestly, I have not had much exposure/experience on this front. I think I connect more with the bookish industry on other platforms, like Instagram or Twitter.

WHO DO YOU THINK APPRECIATES THE WORK OF BOOK BLOGGERS THE MOST?

Definitely us fellow book bloggers! Whenever I go on a blog, I take the time to appreciate the design and the content. I make notes on what I liked on others blogs and would like to implement on mine. And finally, it is us book bloggers who comment and like each others’ content!

DO YOU THINK THAT BOOKISH SOCIAL MEDIA IS AIDING IN THE DEPRECIATION OF BOOK BLOGGERS OR IS IT SUPPORTING THEM?

I think this goes both ways because each platform serves to fulfil a different purpose or goal. Let me explain that a bit better.

Instagram gives us a more aesthetic-based approach through photography and is streamlined for that purpose, attracting audiences who love a good-looking pic (including myself!). Twitter allows us to make more informal connections with people with quick, short responses that are pretty akin to a conversation. Book blogging seems like a more literary approach, allowing us to express creativity with the language itself. Book blogging is most suitable for expressing your thoughts, feelings and views with more depth and linguistic abilities.

But this can change based on the person using each platform too! Maybe you use Twitter for longer, post-like content. Maybe you use book blogging to link to your other platforms, like BookTube videos.

Social media depreciates us at times because people tend to rely on shorter written content, like on Twitter and Instagram, because it takes less effort and time. You do not see people reviewing their Instagram or Twitter content twice before they post it (but if you do, that’s fine too!). But when we blog, we do!

But social media isn’t the enemy of book blogging in any way. Personally, I use book blogging as my main platform, sharing my best content here. I use Instagram and Twitter to connect with more people, channelling that audience to my blog quite easily too. The connections I make on those platforms help me grow my blog’s audience.

IS IT WRONG TO WANT COMPENSATION FROM THE BOOK INDUSTRY FOR OUR WORK?

This is pretty subjective. Personally, book blogging is more of a side venture and I started mainly to connect with an online community that is passionate about the same interests as I am. However, yes, if I build a big enough community (which sounds scary right now), I might consider monetizing.

I think that charging publishers/authors for book reviews, or any type of content they request, is quite reasonable once you have a good audience base set up. By that point, it feels fair to say that you have “the goods” the bookish industry wants, be it the audience, the exposure or whatever you would like to call it. Therefore, it sounds like a fair trade to exchange what we book bloggers offer in exchange for what the industry has to offer us.

Also, when has it ever been wrong to monetize a hobby? Platforms like Etsy are built on this idea, so why not? As I said, it has to be a fair trade though.

Some non-LTB posts on this topic that you might find interesting:

I had loads of fun writing this post and I’m so curious about what everyone else contributed to this week’s Let’s Talk Bookish! Feel free to start a conversation below and let’s have some fun!

My previous Let’s Talk Bookish posts:

11 thoughts on “Appreciation For Book Bloggers // Let’s Talk Bookish”

  2. I love how you discuss this topic! Blogging is incredibly time consuming and for some, expensive, it makes me sad how many people dismiss book blogging as just an easy hobby.

    1. Aw thank you! Means a lot to me! And yeah, people don’t realise the effort that goes into book blogging! 😭

  3. Great answers. I blog for me, so financial compensation isn’t a motivator at all. I’d also be wary of paid reviews on another blog, it’s hard to trust the integrity when money is involved. I do agree that those likes, follows and comments really make it all worthwhile.

    1. Thanks Louise! Yes, all the engagement really motivates my blogging too! And I get what you mean about the integrity of paid reviews, but I guess that’ll ultimately fall on the blogger themselves. If said blogger has a reputation already established, their audience will build trust with their content. Thanks for stopping by, Louise!

  4. I wholly agree that book bloggers are the ones who are the biggest appreciators of other book bloggers! Honestly, without the community, I would have a hard time continuing! I do think the fast consumption of certain social media platforms has depreciated book bloggers- but I feel it’s unfairly so? Like- so many publishers decided they only needed bookstagram influencers, and kind of cast bloggers aside, and I feel like that was a huge mistake, Like, I enjoy bookstagram from time to time, but I can ALSO tell you, I have never bought a book solely because of a bookstagram post. On the other hand, I have bought MANY a book based on a trusted blogger’s review/recommendation. Because a pretty picture is great, but I have taken pretty pictures of plenty of books I’d not want to read again!

    The monetization thing is so hard. I get where commenters like Louise are coming from in that perhaps it would be harder to trust paid reviews. To be fair, I find that true of ANY influencer, bookish or otherwise. If you’re partnering with some makeup company, you’re not likely to call their lipstick clownish or whatever. BUT, at the same time, I do think we deserve some kind of compensation. I think perhaps instead of paid reviews, a much better way would be paid ads or affiliate links or something else that isn’t directly paid reviews. That way, everyone wins, and you don’t have to question the content. Such a wonderful and thought provoking discussion!

    1. Hi Shannon! I am glad you agree with me!

      I totally agree that book blogs hold more sway over my buying habits that bookstagram on its own! Reviews and discussions of books are what’s more likely to inspire me to read them.

      Yeah, the monetization bit is still controversial. Paid ads and affiliate marketing are good options too in my opinion. And I always love a free book! 😅

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