Armchair BEA 2014: Expanding Blogging Horizons

Posted May 28, 2014 by Lola in Lola's Ramblings / 8 Comments

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Last year I saw a lot of bloggers participating in Armchair BEA and it looked like a lot of fun, so decided to join Armchair BEA this year. More information about this event you can read on the Armchair BEA site. Also as I live in the Netherlands attending the real BEA convention isn’t really an option, but everyone can attend Armchair BEA.

Yesterday I didn’t do an Armchair BEA post because I already had two other posts scheduled. For today I choose the topic expanding bloggin horizons. Okay so here’s what the Armchair BEA topic description is for the topic I choose today:

Expanding Blogging Horizons
What do you think about when you think about going beyond blogging or expanding your horizons? Is it a redesign of your blog? Have you branched out into freelance writing or even published a novel of your very own? Or, have you moved into a different venue like podcasts or vlogging? This is the day to tell us about how you have expanded on blogging in your own unique way.

Basically I want to talk today about how I expanded my blogging horizons by starting my own blog tour organizing company Lola’s Blog Tours, why I started it and how bloggin helped.

How I expanded my blogging horizons
Lola's Blog Tours
I expanded blogging by starting my own tour organizing business Lola’s Blog Tours. I always thought it would be interesting to organize blog tours and such, but it always seemed to be a too big of a step to take and I didn’t believe I could actually do it.
After I worked as a publicist for a small publishing company for a time I knew I not only liked organizing tours, but combined with my blogging experience I also knew I actually had the skills to do it. That gave me some more confidence, but for a long time I still only thought about it, always thinking of exuses of why it wouldn’t work. I finally needed a push in the back from my mom to finally start my own company. One day when I was talking with my mom about not having a job I mentioned more as a joke that I could always start my own company and she told me to go for it. I figured out what i actually had to do and if I could afford it and eventually in September 2013 I started Lola’s Blog Tours.

How blogging helped with starting my own company
My blogging experience certainly helped when starting my own tour organizing company. I already knew quite a bit of html and how to make blog posts. I also had some experience already with a content management system, although back then my blog was still at blogger, the experience in general with that kind of system really helped. I started my company on wordpress.com and after a few months I decided to switch both my blog and my website to wordpress.org where both my website still are. Even though I only knew how to work with blogger at first, I learned how to use wordpress pretty quickly. Another thing how my bloggin experience helped me start Lola’s Blog Tours, was that I already knew quite some bloggers and authors and I never would’ve thought those connection where so valuable.
When I started my company I did wanted to make a seperate website for it, I know some people put their tour information on their blog, but I wanted that bit of seperation and I hoped it would make my company look more professional when it has it’s own website. It also helps me see it as different things and my blog feels more personal and Lola’s Blog Tours feels bit more professional. Although there is still some parts that work together. For example I showcase which tours are currently open for sign-up in my sidebar here on my blog and feature them in my Sunday Posts. I also often participate in blog tour, book blitzes and cover reveals I organize with Lola’s Blog Tours with my blog Lola’s Blog Tours.

What is Lola’s Blog Tours?
At Lola’s Blog Tours I basically organize blog tours, book blitzes, cover reveals and review opportunities for fiction books. Those 4 things are my main 4 products, but I am also open for any ideas an author might have. I really enjoy working with both authors and bloggers and am still happy I made the choice to start Lola’s Blog Tours. I also love promoting awesome books and that’s exactly what I can do with Lola’s Blog Tours.
If you are interested in becoming a tour host for Lola’s Blog Tours, make sure to stop by my tour host page.

Have you expanded your bloggin horizons? Did you notice the skills you learned with bloggin come in handy in other fields as well? Which skills have you learned from bloggin?

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8 responses to “Armchair BEA 2014: Expanding Blogging Horizons

    • It’s a lot of work, but it’s also so much fun :). I really love the work. There are so many amazing authors and bloggers out there.

  1. Good old mum for giving you the nudge you needed. It would have been such a shame if you hadn’t taken the plunge since yiur experience really was so appropriate. Good luck with the business

    • I actually started Lola’s Blog Tours back in september 2013 and so far it’s going pretty well and I love the work. Thanks for stopping by Lily!

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