Enhancing My Blog: Strategies for Being Better

I am all about making my new blog the absolute best that it can be. After reading Chapter 12 of Essentials of Social Media Marketing, I was inspired to experiment with the blog's current layout and format. My goal is to optimize the blog’s structure and provide a more engaging experience for my audience.

Moving forward, I plan to incorporate bold text, bullet points, and images into my regular posts. These were some of the strategies suggested in the textbook to attract more views and audience engagement. I also think overall it can make lengthy posts easier to read by breaking up large chunks of text.

Another recommendation from the book was attention-grabbing titles, but I feel this is difficult due to the type of blog that I am running. I prefer to have the title of the book I am reviewing as the direct title so that it is easier for readers to know what they are going to expect. But Essentials of Social Media Marketing said that having numbers and facts is important as well.

In addition to these changes, I will continue researching best practices for blog content. I want to explore how different formatting techniques can further improve engagement. By using these strategies, I hope to better my blogging style, grow my following, and create content that is both informative and visually appealing.

Please let me know in the comments if there are any strategies you prefer or if you have any advice for a beginner!

The Finish Line (The Ravenhood #3)

The Finish Line by Kate Stewart is the final book in The Ravenhood Trilogy. While it took time for me to fully connect with the series, I ultimately fell in love with its characters. The story picks up after the events of Flock and Exodus, centering on secrets, betrayal, love and loyalty.

If this book interests you, I highly recommend reading the first two installments before continuing, as this review contains spoilers, and the summary may not fully make sense without prior context.

After being told to leave Triple Falls and never return, Cecelia has moved on but remains haunted by her past and the choices she made. Tobias, unwilling to let her go, is determined to prove himself and win her back. However, their journey is anything but easy. Cecelia has grown stronger and refuses to accept anything less than honesty and commitment. As Tobias seeks redemption, more is revealed about the Ravenhood’s mission, its criminal activities and the weight he carries.

This book is not for the faint of heart due to its violent elements, but every moment keeps readers on edge. Tobias’ growth throughout the series makes him a strong contender for the title of “book boyfriend,” despite his flaws. His transformation from a closed-off leader to a man willing to risk everything for love is one of the novel’s most rewarding aspects.

Stewart masterfully crafts a finale that is as heartbreaking as it is satisfying. Overall, The Finish Line delivers a powerful and emotional conclusion to a series filled with challenging themes. It is a book I will continue recommending to dark romance readers for months to come.

Stars: 4/5

Spice Level: 4/5

Social Media Saving Books

The world has changed substantially since the birth of social media and the upgraded technology that came with it. Most of its benefits are better communication abilities and unlimited and free access to the web and, most importantly, social media allows companies to reach out to their target audiences.

You probably don't realize how much books are benefited by this tactic as well. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads allow readers to post their reviews (good or bad). This can elevate the level of love these books get and place small, new, or popular authors on The New York Times Bestseller list. Personally, I know that most, if not all, of the titles on my To Be Read list (TBR) come from "BookTok." "BookTok" is a community of TikTok users who review and discuss their suggested or new books. 

Many authors promote their new books on "BookTok" to reach their type of readers. Social media has given a huge helping hand to bringing books back into the world and creating online-style book clubs from audiences all over the world. Readers now share their favorite quotes and characters and even create playlists for their favorite novels. 

Without social media, communities like this would not have existed where we bring paper to the digital world. This is just briefly touching on one benefit of social networks listed in Chapter 1 of our Introduction to Social Media textbook.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna was not my favorite book. That is not to say that it was bad; it just did not particularly suit my taste. My mother gifted this book to me in a Halloween gift box now that I am in college, but it can totally be read at any time of the year.

As one of few witches in the world, Mika Moon knows to follow the rules of the witch society, mainly to not be around other witches for lengthy periods and to stay hidden. But she finds a way to sneak around the latter and has fun as she posts videos online "pretending" to do magic. After a while, someone reaches out, saying they know that she is a witch, and they need help teaching three young witchlings. Although breaking the important rules, Mika decides to travel to this person's house to help them and, she meets the three girls, others who live in the house, and Jamie. Jamie is very protective of the girls and finds Mika a threat by teaching them how to use their magic, but he slowly falls under her charm. Once all secrets are revealed, Mika realizes that she might have to risk it all to save her newfound family.

The romance and angst in this book were at a good level due to there not being too much but not too little either. I also love it when books don't spoil what the ending is likely going to be. I did not expect anything to happen, and this was the point in the book where I just could not set it down. I wish it would have been this way the whole book. 

I often got lost with the other characters, as it seemed a bit confusing with so many living in one house. Mika and Jamie were the only two that I could keep track of, as well as their major character development, which I preferred because they were the mains. But it would have been nice to have a clearer picture of the rest of the characters.

This book is very good for those who need a quick read for the cold weather. It can totally be read within a day with a good cup of hot chocolate or coffee by the fireplace. 

If you like witches and a cutesy romance, this book is just for you!

Stars: 3/5

Spice level: 1/5