Since I moved this blog back to my domain my visitor count has decreased by at least 50%. Hm. What to do. Most "Increase Your Blog Traffic" articles list the following ploys:
- Write what you know about.
Well, no one knows more about me and my life than I do. - Visit and leave comments on other blogs.
Pimping. Nope, don't do that. When I make comments, it's because I have something to say. - Place Technorati or del.ico.us tags on keywords.
Don't know how to do that. Any help out there? - Sell stuff.
Not going to do that. Hell, I get pissed off having to sit through ads when I go see a movie. I'm not about to subject my readers to ads. - Write about the news.
The last thing the blogosphere needs is yet another self-appointed pundit. - Be snarky.
Not my style. - Write about Google.
Google. Type keyword. Hit "Search". Scroll through endless pages of directories listing directories. Done. - Post your photos on Flickr.
Hey! Here's one that I have right! - Write short, pithy posts.
This must feed the short attention span. - Write interviews with the well-known.
Any well-knowns out there want to volunteer?
The thing is, I don't keep a blog to harvest hit counts. I keep a blog to communicate. And is a large readership really all that important? I'd rather have a small readership of people who actually like to read my stuff than a huge one of people who are just trying to drive up their blog traffic. That just seems like so much mutual stroking off. All of this has made me wonder lately if blogging isn't simply a way of nabbing a little attention. Back when I was young and chasing down the fame demon (or he was chasing me), I wasn't really after the money, attention, or groupies. I just didn't want to be obscure. I wanted to make a mark, let people know that I existed. Now that I can blog, post pictures and promote my projects, that hunger has sunsided considerably.
So what do you think? Is garnering a large readership important to you? (And now we'll see if this post attracts any attention.)
Yes. I want to be read. I also think that a lot of folks who say they don't care about how many people read them are saying that to make themselves feel OK about not having a lot of readers. My quibble would be the comment, Steph, on "Visit and leave comments on other blogs." Yes the comments should be something that you need to say, and yes they should contribute something to the whole. But I would say that that is a far cry from "pimping." Engaging other bloggers - I would estimate - has gotten me 75% of my readership, and maybe more. And when a good comment (one that contributes to the original post) makes people want to read more of what you are doing... what exactly would be wrong about that? Networking is a legitimate thing. Maybe I have a different take on it. I've been published (ok ok years ago) and to me writing is going to happen and it is done to be read. I may agree with a lot of your reactions to the "advice", but I truly think commenting is the best, and actually most honest, way to go. OK - crawling back in my hole now...
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd like to be widely read professionally (that is, published books) since that provides income and spurs me to write more. But about blogs, I feel the way you seem to be leaning: it's there for the reading for those who are interested. I *do* love comments, especially when a back-and-forth discussion starts up in the comments section and takes a life of its own. That's always fun.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about it, I'd rather have a few really loyal readers who become online friends than a slew of strangers leaving comments like, "Great post!" or "You suck!"
ReplyDeleteRW: I didn't make myself clear, I'm afraid. What I mean by "pimping" is when people visit blogs and leave comments for the SOLE purpose of getting more hits, not because they want to contribute something, or because they care about the post. I visit a lot of new (to me) blogs every week and sometimes I leave a comment. But I would never leave one only to snag a new reader or two.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about it, I'd rather have a few really loyal readers who become online friends than a slew of strangers leaving comments like, "Great post!" or "You suck!"
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd like to be widely read professionally (that is, published books) since that provides income and spurs me to write more. But about blogs, I feel the way you seem to be leaning: it's there for the reading for those who are interested. I *do* love comments, especially when a back-and-forth discussion starts up in the comments section and takes a life of its own. That's always fun.
ReplyDeleteYes. I want to be read. I also think that a lot of folks who say they don't care about how many people read them are saying that to make themselves feel OK about not having a lot of readers. My quibble would be the comment, Steph, on "Visit and leave comments on other blogs." Yes the comments should be something that you need to say, and yes they should contribute something to the whole. But I would say that that is a far cry from "pimping." Engaging other bloggers - I would estimate - has gotten me 75% of my readership, and maybe more. And when a good comment (one that contributes to the original post) makes people want to read more of what you are doing... what exactly would be wrong about that? Networking is a legitimate thing. Maybe I have a different take on it. I've been published (ok ok years ago) and to me writing is going to happen and it is done to be read. I may agree with a lot of your reactions to the "advice", but I truly think commenting is the best, and actually most honest, way to go. OK - crawling back in my hole now...
ReplyDelete