As you visit blogs during the A to Z Challenge and later, you're bound to notice that some bloggers have a lot more readers and get a lot more comments than you do. If you're new at the blogging game, this is to be expected; some of you started your blog because you heard about this challenge and you learned that you have to have a blog to participate. But let's say you've been blogging for a few years, and you notice that some blogs that came online when you did are brimming with comments and "like"s while you still get maybe half a dozen comments a couple of times a week and no comments more often than not.
Jealous? Upset that they're getting all the attention and comments and you aren't?
It's understandable. You spend hours writing blog posts that will change other people's lives, and they don't seem to care, while someone else is writing about their dog and getting hundreds of people to comment every time they drop an entry onto the world of blog readers. It's hard not to be jealous of success like that.
But that's what I'm going to tell you: don't be jealous of other bloggers' success. Their success isn't your failure.
When you find a successful blog, try to figure out what it is that makes it so successful, and adapt it to your blogging. Become a part of that blog's community and interact with the blogger and the other readers. Since most members of a blog's community are also bloggers, go visit their blogs. Become part of their communities. Make sure they know where to find you.
Remember, blogging is a conversation between friends. This is true whether you're writing a blog for a business or just writing a blog to talk about you dog. Mom always used to say that if you want friends, you need to be a friend. Don't look at other bloggers as your rivals, look at them as your friends. Soon, they'll return the favor.
You have a couple of thousand opportunities to make friends with the A to Z Challenge. That list you got on will be around for a while, so why not take advantage of it?
John Holton
The Sound of One Hand Typing
The Sound of One Hand Typing FM
49 comments:
Excellent points, John!
Heather
You are absolutely right, buddy! :)
Absolutely well put John! This is an incredible learning experience and should be treated as such. Enjoying every bit of the challenge! Yayyy!!
@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
And don't be afraid to comment on a blog with a lot of comments, either. It can lead to more friendships and more comments on your own blog.
Very well said. Another point I'd like to mention is that it helps if bloggers would leave a hyperlink signature when visiting a blog. I'd had to take the time to find some of the bloggers that have visited my blog and that is time-consuming. A hyperlink signature with your comment is very effective.
Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange
What a great point and thank you for reminding that. I always tell my husband that if we go to someone's house, wouldn't they pay us a visit? Blogging is like that :)
I'm having to search out new friends in the blogging world as many of the ones I started with are no longer around. But this challenge has been great, especially in finding readers that aren't book bloggers. Girl Who Reads
Very true, we are a community not a race track.
Been through many days now. Hank is here:
http://imagery77.blogspot.my/2016/04/blog-post.html
Hank
Thanks John! Your encouragement to those who feel they may be flagging re: comments etc is very wise.
Great post! Thank you :D
http://heathersstitchingstory.blogspot.co.uk/
@xstitchchick
Totally agree with what you said. I have found during this challenge that some blogs aren't visiting back that I've visited that are new to me. That I think is one of the key essentials to building up "faithful" readers and comments. Its a two way street; sometimes people don't see that.
betty
http://viewsfrombenches.blogspot.com/
Good advice - you can't compare apples to oranges. I have found sort of a weird niche with my blog and since I have a wide variety of interests, I think I appeal to a broad audience. Don't limit yourself - there really are no rules!
You also can't languish - people like to hear from you. So if you only blog for AtoZ that is all right, but you can't expect followers to flock to you when it is a once a year thing.
I have incorporated elements from some of my favorite bloggers and added my own spin. Another excellent tip of yours - see what others are doing.
I even added a blog roll this year of AtoZ newbies (not necessarily new bloggers but new to the challenge) to give them a little more exposure AND I am rooting for them to complete the challenge.
www.thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com
Great post! It takes a ton of work to build a blog with followers. Even though I put in a lot of work, I know it's not quite "enough," which is why I have some followers but not tons. This is a perfect motivator for me to do a push during this challenge to meet other bloggers and make connections.
I always find two or three new blogs that i really enjoy visiting during the @atozChallenge. And I seem to pick up new readers, too. I'd rather have a few involved and interested visitors than hundreds that didn't care what I wrote, so I'm happy when that happens.
Very sound advice Thank you..
Looking forward to making new friends and learning from them lots of things 😊
I welcome you all to my blog 😊
Please drop by..
PositiveVibes ✌ http://smartshivani.blogspot.com/2016/04/just-breathe.html
It took me awhile to realize the amount of comments I get is directly proportional to the number of comments I give. Blog hops are the best way to meet bloggers. Or help someone who is running a blog hop. Co-hosting Alex Cavanaugh's monthly IWSG always brings a lot of traffic my way.
Donna H, I found your blog thanks to the challenge. I don't blog about books or reading (though I might post about both now and then) but I do enjoy reading blogs like yours.
http://floridamom-nature.blogspot.com/
Great points. One thing I've found helps get visits to my own blog is visiting other blogs and participating in blog hops. If you sit in your own little corner never venturing out, people won't know you're there.
~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Great point. ^_^
Totally good points... I am never afraid to get on board to share my wacky thoughts... Welcome in the letter "J"... thank you!
Jeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2016]
Stop over and find a free "SIX STRINGS: BLOGGING AtoZ CHALLENGE" Here: http://www.jmhdigital.com/
HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?
Well said! It can take time to find blogging buddies. Sharing posts on FB and Twitter will help, as well. Tagging #atozchallenge will help other people find you. Good luck!
https://julihoffman.com/2016/04/12/j-is-for-justification-atozchallenge/
This is a great post and reminder. I'm glad I stumbled upon it today! I've been down about my blog at times. But this challenge has been s great way to harness the work and not have time to be anxious.
Thanks! Nina
@NinaRubin1
Afterdefeat
Coaching By Nina Rubin
J is for Joy https://cheryllynnroberts.wordpress.com/2016/04/12/j-is-for-joy-troibun/
Sound advice! Words to live by in every aspect of our lives!
This is so true! I have felt every side of this but will say my blogging family has become as real as my real-world family. Interaction and Communication is the key!
Bidy @ http://dearlittlerme.blogspot.com
J is for Jungle Book
It's better to focus on quality instead of quantity. Over the years, I've encountered certain people who only seemed to want to interact with their established blogging buddies, in spite of how frequently I commented on their blogs. I eventually stopped visiting them because they couldn't network equally.
This challenge has been such a learning experience. I appreciate everyone who has visited my blog and left a comment or a like. It's my first time blogging and even though I'd like to have many, many more visitors, I know I have to earn my place at the table.
www.lorihenriksen.com from Thoughts While Walking the Dog (still trying to figure out how to sign on Google so folks can find me)
good post
Guess the confusing part is when some bloggers visit and then never come back. :o
Joy @ The Joyous Living
I use one every time I visit other blogs.
Joy @ The Joyous Living
Hi Donna! Nice finding your blog thanks to this post.
Joy @ The Joyous Living
True! Would obviously love more readers/visitors but really like having a consistent few. :)
Joy @ The Joyous Living
Thanks for sharing!
JOY @ The Joyous Living
I love networking... Stimulating :)
Joy @ The Joyous Living
Great post! Creating a community is an important reason for blogging! -- Jaye from Life Afloat (http://lifeafloatarchives.blogspot.com/)
Well said, John! Blogging is supposed to be about engagement and community, not a contest to see who can amass the most commenters, etc. I'd much rather have fewer comments that are interactive and sincere than some of the "fly by" ones that have been interspersed with the good ones lately.
Ditto to what C. Lee McKenzie said.
I couldn't agree with you more, Lee! Things start to really open up when looking at visits/comments in terms of quality over quantity.
I don't have the time or energy.
well said!
As a first timer this year, I am finding all sorts of new blogs that I like to visit. It just becomes a matter of keeping up with them all. :-)
What! I can't be the center of attention.
Oh well as a retired and very youthful senior citizen, I already fade into the woodwork quite nicely. One thing about being older is perspective. Things will be what they are sometimes, and you would be sorry if it was different.
Cheers.
I'm actually not jealous of other bloggers. Yes, some have more comments than me, but I have more comments than others. I do prefer interaction. I also realize that if I'm jealous of others, I'm more likely to imitate them and not be my own person.
Reading other's blogs is always enlightening.
A great conversation on this thread!
Writer In Transit
I'm probably of the minority that is happy with 2 or 3. I don't need a 10 or 20 (though it would be nice). I know I have a topic that's of a small margin.
Dammit, Jason went to camp at Lake attack some irresponsible brats and lost all his knives. Take control of this bike's famous monster of the film world and help him get to the end of the stage without caputar. Do not forget to collect all the white weapons you find along the way.
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