You know those movie
scenes where someone shows up unexpectedly on the doorstep of distant relatives,
friends or lovers who are so overjoyed to be visited by another human being? In
my experience as a blogger and two-time (or three-time…hard to recall right now)
road tripper, this is similar to what someone feels like when you visit his or
her blog.
That is why your continued participation in the A-to-Z Challenge Road
Trip counts the most; (most of) the blogs you missed way back in April are
still cranking out the same, if not better, material that is worth a look-see. Even if you visit
one blog a day from now until April roll around again, that will mean a lot for
the bloggers who are operating those online entities. To them, it’s more than a
visit. What you do (or don’t do) and what they see mean the difference between
whether the blogosphere remains buzzing with activity or goes stale.
When you visit blogs,
they see that some activity exists where there was once none. This traffic motivates
a newbie blogger to put up a new post again. This is all that’s needed to get
the ball rolling. The views you bring also keeps a seasoned blogger alert with
an urge to grow his or her readership by putting one’s best foot forward.
When you read blogs,
they see that their efforts were not made in vein because someone, somewhere, is
paying attention. Not only did you stop by for a visit, but you're actually listening to what they have to say. This is especially evident in cases where bloggers have
inspired a post on another person’s blog or ignited discussions around one
particular topic. Anyone can visit but it takes an interested individual to
read a blog post from beginning to end and then respond to it in a way that
comes by total surprise.
A few years ago, a Canadian blogger who I favored for
some time had been featured in my local newspaper. She likely would have never
even knew about the feature if I didn’t contact her about the article. So,
someone in the states read her blog and thought it provided enough valuable
information to warrant a mention in a newspaper. Who knows how the feature got
from point A to point B – it could have been recommended from one friend to
another, a magazine editor could have been doing research on one specific topic
and just happened upon her blog. The possibilities vary but all it took was for
someone to read this woman’s content.
When you comment on blogs,
they see that there are people behind those visits and views; people with varied
opinions and experienced; people who might share common interests; people who
are an example of how big the world is compared to our little universes around
us; people who also help us in creating and joining little universes within the
larger one. You stopped by for a visit, were all ears for what was on their mind and either had a cup of coffee with them or brought some of your own to share.
Bloggers see a reader who is willing to interact with them and
enjoys further discussion on the content presented in a blog post. They see
someone who is cooperative enough to step out from behind the shadows of the
blog pages where he or she once lurked, and become a part of something that
could turn out to be fun.
When you participate
in the Post A-to-Z Road Trip by visiting, reading and commenting on blogs from
the A-to-Z sign-up list, the people behind these places see that our A-to-Z
community stretches far past April. They see a community that is like a gas
station – open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They see how being a part of the
A-to-Z Challenge can help them reap long-term benefits by the very nature of
attracting new readers and hopeful friends to learn, laugh, cry, vent and celebrate
with for as long as the effort is put forth on all sides.
How many new blogs have YOU visited this week?
Can you describe the most favorite or most interesting blog post YOU read
this week while visiting new blogs?
A-to-Z Challenge Co-Host Nicole Ayers provides some
insight on films that need to be on your radar at The Madlab Post. She is a
proud supporter of the American Red Cross and is usually up for some brief
Twitter (@MadlabPost) conversations.
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