Reviewers' Roundtable- Social Media and Blogging

The Reviewers' Roundtable is a weekly discussion feature hosted by me and Emily from Read Your Bookcase.  Each week we discuss a different bookish/blogging topic and hope you guys will share your thoughts too! 

Go HERE to find a list of past/future topics.

THE HOSTS:

Emily at Read Your Bookcase

Michelle at Pink Polka Dot Book Blog

Using Social Media to Promote Your Blog

So yes blogging technically is a form of social media, but what I want to talk about is the other forms of social media and how you and I use them (or not) to our advantage.  When I first started my blog I really didn't know what I was doing or what I wanted out of this whole thing.  I just wanted to write about books that I was reading.  Then I realized there's this whole community and that blogging is not only competitive, but also can be so much more than what I originally thought.  So after a few months I decided it I was going to DO this, then I needed to step up my game.  I joined Twitter.  I had a Giveaway.  And I started posting a lot more.  Slowly I realized that if I wanted my blog to be "successful", I would have to promote it.  I did blog tours, joined Facebook, and commented commented commented.  There are a lot of ways to promote your blog.  Ways that I don't even know about.  Social media is a popular and effective way to do it for sure.  I'm no expert.  I want to know what ones you use and what you think works best.  Here's my thoughts:

Twitter

• I freaking LOVE Twitter.
• My blog is solely what enticed me to join Twitter.  Before that I had no urge whatsoever.  I don't care about celebrities and all their vapid thoughts.  I don't have a ton of friends IRL that use it.  I wanted to enter Giveaways.
• Then I realized I could also Tweet my posts.  And I found a bunch of really cool posts from other people that I enjoyed reading.  And it was a place where everyone I followed was talking books and TV, but mostly bookish things, and it became really fun.  AND THEN I realized all my fav authors are on there and I could like TALK to them!!!  SO much fun.
• So does it bring traffic in??  I think it does.  I don't have specific statistics (say that 5-times fast), but since joining Twitter I have had a lot of Twitter friends visit my blog, comment, and ReTweet my posts to their followers. 
• I feel like Twitter is a must for book bloggers.  It's the easiest way for people to communicate with you and if you use it a lot, you can definitely build up some regular followers.
• Follow Me on TWITTER

Facebook

• I have one for this blog.
• Honestly I don't use it that much.
• I use it under my personal name a lot... but blogging ehhh.  I haven't noticed much of a "social" thing happening on there.  I post my posts, but I don't notice a lot of action.  Maybe people are clicking it... maybe they're not.
• I personally don't follow a lot of blogs on Facebook because I use it for personal stuff and I have so many other ways (Bloglovin, Twitter) to see all of your posts.  I want my Facebook News Feed to be full of mostly my friends and fam from real life.
• Like Me on FACEBOOK

Triberr

• Triberr is used in conjunction with Twitter and because of that obviously I love it.
• What it is:  Basically you join a Tribe and as you post, your blog posts will come up in the "Stream".  You will see everyone's blog posts in the Stream and then you click on ones you'd like to share with your Twitter followers.
• I really think it works.  It gets links to your posts seen by so many more people than if you were just Tweeting them yourself
• I also love it because I visit a lot of the posts that interest me in the Stream.  So I guess it is sort of like an alternative Bloglovin for me :)

Pinterest

• So I have NOT started using Pinterest for blogging stuff.  I didn't really know it was an option.
• I've seen that people Pin their posts... and I guess that could be cool.
• I like Pinterest... It's definitely addicting at times.  BUT well I hate to be a Debbie Downer (and this is a little off topic), but ughhh sometimes Pinterest gets on my nerves.  Too many people trying to be Martha Stewart because of it.  AND as a mom it really puts a lot of pressure and competition on moms to one-up each other, and I don't dig that.  We moms have enough on our plate without trying to craft everything by hand for show.  Just my opinion :)
• I'd like to know if you use Pinterest for blogging and how and if you think it works???
• Also you can Follow Me on Pinterest

Book Blogging Community

• This is a new community that book blogger can join and I'm not really sure what it's all about yet.
• I know when you sign up your blog you are put into a database of book blogs and it allows others to search that database and find your blog based on key words (which are usually words that relate to your blog content).
• People can "like" your blog and also be "friends" with you on there.
• There also is a really cool blog associated with it that posts tons of tips and other bookish/bloggerish discussions.
• I'm not sure where this will really go, but I joined.  You should too!!
• My blog is here.

So those are the social media outlets that I use.  Which ones do you use and how do you think they work for you?  I am seriously super curious to know how you guys use this and other stuff to your advantage :)