Okay, now for a few tips:
Be patient.
Nothing happens overnight, or in a week, or even in a month. If you want to get the word out on your blog, look to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. When I first started The Compulsive Reader, I spent the majority of my free time on MySpace for two months connecting with authors and readers (this was before Twitter was created and Facebook wasn't as popular, now I wouldn't recommend going to MySpace). Yes, it'll take time! Don't expect to get books to review within the first month (or even two or three months) of startiong your blog. You have to establish yourself first!
Be persistent.If you post at least three-four times per week, you’ll show readers that you’re serious, and there’s a better chance that they’ll come back. Also, consistency is something that authors and publicists look for when looking at reviewers.
Be respectful.
Not all authors or publicists appreciate being hounded for books, interviews, guest posts. Most are more than willing to help out, but you know the old adage, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar”? It’s totally true. Be polite and professional, but know where the line is.
Be positive.
This ties in with Be Respectful—you don’t have to like everything, but think of others’ feelings before you publicly proclaim your dislike for a book. Be constructive, and make sure you point out something that an author did right along with what they did wrong. You don’t want to burn all of your bridges. There are some people who feed off the constant snarky attitude and brutal critiques, but mostly, it’s just so tacky.
Be happy.
Do this because blogging makes you happy, telling others about great books brings a smile to your face, not because you want free books. If you are passionate about what you are doing, it shows. But if you aren’t, that also shows. Blog because you know that the YA book community is a great one and because you want to be a part of making it better.
Feel free to email me any specific questions (thecompulsivereader@gmail.com) or leave them in the comments!