In 2003, when I was launching The Movie Blog, I searched for "movie blogs" on Google and found 11,000 results. Fast-forward to today and that same search produces a whopping 17,200,000 results - a growth of over 1563636%. This exponential increase in popularity applies to blogging as a whole but is especially evident in the movie blogging sphere. Why? Simply put, movies are an enjoyable topic to discuss, debate, speculate about and comment on. Personally, I receive around 15-20 emails per week from people who share their new movie blogs with me (which is always flattering) whilst also requesting links or mentions; however there are countless others who start their own movie blog each week without reaching out.
When starting a movie blog, it's common to seek advice on how to get started, run things, keep th
...ings going, and grow. As someone who has seen many new movie bloggers start up and disappear soon after, seeking advice from anyone is a good idea. With the aim of providing guidance, here are 20 tips for starting, maintaining, and growing a movie blog - though many are applicable to blogging in general. It's important to emphasize the need to be passionate about movies when starting a movie blog. Some people reach out for advice on how to blog for a living or gain entry into movie industry events, but it's crucial to do it because of a genuine love of movies. While I'm no expert in blogging, I've gathered these lessons from my experience.
At GenericMovieBlogThatWontLastMoreThanAMonth.com, a reader asked for advice on getting invited to Studio press events. The author of the blog believes that good blogging is
driven by passion and a desire for self-expression. Initially, the author started their own blog, The Movie Blog, because they had a love for discussing movies and no intention of turning it into a career.
It's important to be passionate about your writing, otherwise it will appear forced. Realistically, it's unlikely you'll achieve 500 daily readers - not to be negative, just a fact. Blogging for fame and fortune will lead to fast disillusionment. However, if you love discussing movies, blogging becomes a lifelong hobby. Start with a free blogging platform to avoid the hassle of domain and hosting purchases and licensing fees for platforms like WordPress.
Creating a movie blog may seem overwhelming, particularly for novice bloggers or those with no specific focus. However, this can also offer valuable insight after some practice. To ease these difficulties, I strongly suggest utilizing free blogging accounts from either www.blogger.com or www.wordpress.com.
Starting your blogging journey at Com for a month or two is a great way to determine the direction you want to take and discover your voice. It's important to commit for more than two weeks before deciding if you'll persist for years to come. Testing the waters with this free exercise is good practice as many individuals set up their blog but end up not doing it, wasting their money. If you eventually opt for a full domain name and server with a more robust blogging platform, all your posts can be transferred without difficulty, ensuring that none of your early writing goes to waste. The key is to start small.
For new movie bloggers, it is advisable to begin with one or two posts per day.
Attempting to post 10 times daily from the outset can result in burnout due to impractical expectations or excessive eagerness. It is crucial to discover your own writing style before augmenting your productivity.
It is important to gradually increase your output of ideas while maintaining confidence, but it is advisable to avoid overdoing it. Despite the abundance of film-related updates available, it is crucial to proceed at a reasonable pace. Remember that emulating professional bloggers by posting multiple times a day is not necessary as most bloggers are just hobbyists.
Avoid pressuring yourself to dedicate 6 hours daily for website posting because writing or audience quality is not improved by quantity. Instead, prioritize consistency and excellence. Consistency plays an essential role since I personally prefer following blogs with steady posts of 2-4 times a day over those that post sporadically, whether it's ten or none at all.
Ensuring consistency in blog posting is crucial for both readers and bloggers. While taking a short break or adjusting frequency is acceptable, it's important to maintain consistency throughout the month. This helps readers know what to expect when visiting your site and contributes to forming good blogging habits.
6) Improve your skills as a movie blogger by reading established movie blogs. Just like aspiring hockey players observe NHL players and scientists study the works of their peers, studying experienced movie bloggers will help you develop your own skills. It's not enough to only read The Movie Blog; you should expand your horizons to learn from other experienced bloggers. Personally, I follow at least 15 movie blogs (not news sites) on my RSS reader and bookmarks, which I read almost daily. I don't
rely on these blogs for news (I prefer to get that from dedicated news sites), but I do appreciate their unique styles and find them illuminating. Some recommended movie blog sites include: ww.
The websites mentioned are screenrant.com and twitchfilm.com.The following websites are listed: slashfilm.com, www.firstshowing.net, and www.cinematical.com (with the clarification that Cinematical is more of a blog than a news site). They are all included in a paragraph enclosed in
tags.
Here are some websites related to film:
- incontention.com
- www.filmjunk.com
- www.thedocumentaryblog.com
The websites filmschoolrejects.com, www.rowthree.com, and www.obsessedwithfilm.com are present within the of this paragraph.
Although only a few movie blogs are mentioned, there are plenty of others to explore for those interested in writing about film. To stay informed on the latest happenings in the industry, it's important to read multiple movie news sites of high quality. It should be noted that blogging and news reporting differ among various outlets and have distinct priorities.
It is common for movie blogs to concentrate on a single news outlet, leading to redundancy. To avoid this issue, it is suggested that readers expand their sources of information. While an excessive number of sites are not required, having around 4 or 5 reliable sources is ideal. Personally, I prefer www.comingsoon for outstanding film updates.
www.iesb.net and www.variety.net are both part of the net domain.
There are numerous websites such as com movies. yahoo. com and www. thehollywoodreporter. com, among others, that you can explore to find the one that suits you the most.
When writing a blog, it's essential to choose engaging topics that truly intrigue you. Your readers will detect your lack of passion if you don't have any interest
in a particular subject, such as the news about Pauley Shore teaming up with Japanese independent comedies for three years. With numerous other news stories available every day, avoid writing just for the sake of it. As a blogger, keep in mind that reporting like a journalist is not necessary.
If you want to enhance your writing and website, it's crucial to concentrate on subjects that truly inspire and drive you. Opting for topics that capture your attention, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, can result in improved writing abilities, greater audience engagement, more valuable conversations, and an overall better website. While generating content, always remember to prioritize quality and consistency over quantity.
9) It is important to differentiate between being a movie blogger and a news reporter. It is common for even the most skilled movie bloggers to overlook this. Remember, simply having a movie blog does not make you a journalist. As a blogger, you are simply someone who enjoys discussing movies with others in a digital setting. You do not possess expertise in the movie industry.
Bloggers should not pretend to be journalists because investigating stories and pursuing leads are outside their responsibilities. These tasks demand significant training and dedication, which journalists have developed over days or even weeks for a single story. Attempting these without proper preparation can be presumptuous, so bloggers are advised to concentrate on a particular type of film instead of trying to cover all genres equally. It is crucial to note that by "type" of film, I do not mean genre.
When I say "kind," I'm not talking about particular categories like comedies, dramas or thrillers. Rather, I'm
encompassing a variety of film styles for you to discover - Hollywood blockbusters, independent productions, foreign movies, vintage films and others. Nevertheless, it's crucial to avoid attempting to please everyone at once. While The Movie Blog presents diverse genres such as documentaries, Asian cinema and indie flicks, our primary emphasis is on Hollywood features.
Although Twitchfilm will still discuss certain major Hollywood films, their primary emphasis is on Asian and foreign cinema. It is important to maintain a clear direction and focus. Additionally, it is recommended to occasionally touch upon other topics of interest while always keeping the main target in sight. 11) Another helpful tip is to stimulate discussion by asking open-ended questions at the end of posts and encouraging readers to participate in the comments section or forums.
Blogs thrive on interaction and are designed to facilitate conversation. A key to success is being responsive to comments, which may become challenging as a site gains popularity. Nonetheless, this is essential not only as good manners, but also to keep things intriguing. A lack of exchange can make blogging grow tedious quite quickly.
Leo Laporte stresses the importance of utilizing the ban option to address problematic users on your website. Negative comments from trolls and flamers can discourage readers and create an unfavorable environment in the comment section. By banning such users, you ensure a positive atmosphere for everyone involved. While commenters affect your site's tone, there is no need to worry about losing traffic as other contributors make positive contributions to conversations. Moderating your comments results in a more inviting experience for new readers while allowing you to maintain control over your website's guidelines.
The comments section
of your website can greatly influence how it is perceived, either positively or negatively. This impact can be profound. Although losing readers may feel discouraging, especially for new websites, having a well-established comments section carries more benefits than drawbacks in the long term.
To make your commenting rules stand out and show off what makes your website unique, create an organized comment guidelines page. For inspiration, check out the example I created on my personal site.
If you want to avoid becoming just another run-of-the-mill movie news site, it's vital to produce original content instead of relying solely on common releases.
Creating unique articles can enhance the appeal of your website and improve the likelihood of converting initial visitors into returning ones. While these pieces require more effort and time to produce, they are ultimately rewarding. Among the various original topics that one may consider writing about are: identifying reasons for George Lucas' decline in popularity and devising potential solutions for his resurgence, managing impolite individuals at cinemas, selecting films with a significant other, analyzing actors who appeared proficient in a single movie but failed to replicate their success elsewhere, addressing Michael Bay through an open letter concerning Transformers 2, recommending introductory Asian films to viewers, deriving life lessons from Star Wars, assessing the economics of theaters displaying movies onscreen, offering practical money-saving suggestions for film enthusiasts and explaining why pre-movie advertisements are worse than piracy. Such exclusive content tends to spark conversations among readers while also attracting attention from other webmasters; furthermore it provides writers with an opportunity to express their personal opinions.
While there may be various justifications, the primary concept is that a blog ought to
possess individuality. Therefore, it must showcase your viewpoints, encounters, and beliefs. In essence, it should not function as an indifferent informant of cinema updates; rather, it should serve as a platform where your character can flourish since blogging is inherently personal.
One way to distinguish your site from others is by sharing personal details about yourself to engage readers. Despite the opinion of those who believe that blogs should not be personal, it is important to embrace your uniqueness and take advantage of it. Additionally, starting a podcast early on can be advantageous as it has become popular and easy to do.
By utilizing podcasts, you can incorporate a personal element into your movie blog and provide insight into who you are to your audience. Free services such as Studio, Odeo, and GCast have made recording podcasts more accessible than ever before, making it possible for you to get your podcast up and running quickly.
Commencing a podcast is an enjoyable and simple way to enhance the effectiveness of your website. Therefore, if you are unveiling your site, there is no justification for not initiating podcasting promptly. Rather than fretting over the aesthetics of your site, prioritize crafting top-notch content. Devoting an excessive amount of time and energy on design may have adverse effects. Instead, opt for a decent template or theme initially and reserve the design aspect until later when you can refine it.
Instead of focusing on the appearance of your website, concentrate on writing and developing quality content. Allow the design to evolve gradually over time and don't stress about making it perfect from the beginning. Remember that successful sites prioritize content above a visually
appealing design, so put your energy into creating valuable content rather than worrying about how your site looks right now. You'll likely make many changes along the way.
Learning about the benefits of using the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB) can greatly enhance a movie blogger’s work: a) Providing links to IMDB pages for actors or movies discussed in articles gives readers easy access to more information. b) Utilizing IMDB for fact-checking purposes can add depth to posts and provide a wealth of information in one place. c) It is always advised to check an actor's IMDB page before referencing them in a meaningful way to avoid potential mistakes. Familiarizing oneself with IMDB can provide endless benefits.
As a film enthusiast and blogger, make Rotten Tomatoes and Meta Critic your go-to online resources. Familiarizing yourself with these sites can enhance your understanding of the context in which you express your views on movies. While they are not the sole indicators of a movie's quality, they offer valuable insight into the overall consensus about a particular film. Utilize this information to articulate your perspective in light of popular opinions but always remain true to your own viewpoint.
Recognizing the impact of personal interpretation is crucial when discussing film. It's frustrating to encounter people who claim absolute authority on movies and disregard opposing views. However, it's important to keep in mind that film is an art form that is perceived and understood differently by individuals. Even if 15 people watch the same movie, they may have 15 distinct interpretations.
Express your opinion confidently while respecting that others may have different perspectives. Remember, opinions are subjective and individual experiences can vary. Don't
start a blog until you understand this key truth. Don't shy away from expressing unpopular opinions, as it is your unique perspective that sets your blog apart from the countless others covering the same movie news. Your opinion is what makes your site truly unique amongst all other movie blogs on the internet, rather than just your design, graphics, or slogan.
To create a unique and engaging website that encourages dialogue, it is crucial to boldly communicate your opinions, regardless of their popularity. Embrace expressing your ideas with confidence and without apology.
It's important to express your genuine opinions, even if they diverge from popular beliefs. Whether you dislike "Blade Runner" or oppose the WGA during a writer's strike, share your reasoning in discussions. Don't simply repeat what others have already said on other websites - dare to proclaim your adoration for a movie that receives criticism. You don't need to enjoy "Star Wars" just because everyone else does; we all possess our own unique list of unorthodox favorites. Unlike indecisive jellyfish, confidently hold steadfast and speak your truth.
Being genuine is key to expressing oneself through blogging, especially when it comes to movies. To assist in this endeavor, I am offering 20 tips that have been cultivated from my five years of experience. While there may be moments where I don't adhere to these suggestions, they remain fundamental principles for establishing and sustaining a movie-focused blog. So begin your journey, take as much time as you need, discover your distinct voice, and let your enthusiasm shine.
Contribute to the improvement of the online movie community.
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