I was going through my Blogroll (list of other blogs) this morning and was saddened to read that some were burned out and taking a break, some are slowing down (to like 1 post a week), some are frustrated because they don’t get a lot of readers or comments and some were quitting. So what the hell does this mom in Oklahoma know about blogging?
* if you have all your anti-troll/commenting crud up - you will get less commenters
* working your way to the top of the blogging world is hard work - a full time job (not willing to do that - if you are hanging in the middle like me - you will probaly stay there for a while)
* Just because you don’t see a high number of hits doesn’t mean people aren’t reading it - many use RSS feed to read (I do)
* Most people don’t comment
* Most people that read blogs are bloggers & if you don’t read theirs - they won’t read yours
* If you can’t post more than once a week - add a contributor (I have 3 so far - it takes the pressure off too) We try and post at LEAST once a day
* Don’t just regurgitate the news unless you want to be a professional journalist or play one on your blog - Big Yawn!
* Many lower or middle level blogs are not appreciated or get the readers of the established top dogs
* Google will pick up your blog posts if people are looking for something specific and you have been around a while
* Blogs do keep the MSM in line and they are reading us
* Ask yourself why you are blogging, how much time you REALLY want to put into it, do you have delusions of grandeur and fame (I still do - some days), do you thinkk you will make tons of money from personal blogging, who is your target audience and will you hurt yourself or your family in the meantime - employers read blogs too!
Some days I want to bang my head against the wall because I feel under-appreciated as a blogger (pity party) and others I am thrilled I got an e-mail from a soldier in Iraq to thank me for my support, or someone needed more info about latex allergies and contacted me, or a blogger is having a crisis and I can help or a friend in Iraq needs donations and I spread the word through my blog.
Instead of duty, honor, country (which I feel pertain to blogging as well) I’ll choose: perseverane, commitment and uniqueness as the 3 key blogging words to consider. Hooah to all bloggers, wanabee bloggers and blogless nomads who read and comment on blogs!
c/p at Hooah Wife
Posted by Greta at May 1, 2006 07:17 PMI read here often! Interesting blog. I also use it as a source of links to places I like far less when I feel like a bit of polite not-quite-trolling.
Posted by: Suricou Raven at May 3, 2006 06:08 PMRaven,
I too read here often.
This is my first time to comment.
This is a great blog, keep up the good work ... I too believe everyone is entitle to my opinion!
Hopefully Canadians from Northern Canada are welcome. So glad we recently elected a conservative Prime Minister who is trying to improve our relations with the US.
Will comment again ... between kids, laundry, husband, supper, sports, more laundry etc etc
Keep up the good work. The bloggy goodness is baked right in!
Posted by: Barry at May 5, 2006 09:20 PMHang in there! I also know about 'blog burnout'. My reason for blogging is simple - Islam. Our blog has had several heady periods; during the Mohamed cartoon fiasco it was getting many thousands of hits per day, but it is, seemingly, a world of peaks and troughs. Having been in a trough for some time now, it's easy to feel uninspired and drained. Preaching to the choir is tedious, but the fairly constant trickle of new readers keeps us going. I am not attached to the blog though. All I care about is that people are informed of the perils of complacency regarding Islam and the danger it poses to us all.
With Islam, there's always a new phase though, hey!? LOL
I'm just starting my own blog, on the theory that you simply can't have enough conservative gals in the blogosphere.
Posted by: Mrs. Ewer at May 8, 2006 02:45 PM