So, I have been blogging for a little over a year now and have had a great time doing so. I am truly amazed at what a powerful tool the blogging world is for women. Whether we are looking for craft ideas, dinner recipes, solace, friendships, how to's (you name it) it may be found in Blogland.
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| My Tilly |
Anyway, my thoughts lately have been on how to be a better blogger.
I would really appreciate learning:
- How do you keep up with the blogs you follow? Do you read them in google reader? How often do you comment? Do you expect a response to a comment? How long do you devote to reading other blogs?
- How do you keep up with the readers of your blog? Do you respond to every comment? Should each comment be responded to? How long do you devote to your readers?
- How do you keep up with your blog posts? How often do you post? Do you have a schedule? How much time do you spend posting?
- Anything else you may feel is important to consider:)
I am really looking forward to reading what you have to say; I feel like Tilly when I read comments:)
Heather
myeverydaygraces.blogspot.com
Heather
myeverydaygraces.blogspot.com
Posts
18 comments:
I don't really have any hard and fast rules that I follow. There are things of importance to me that, I think, lead me though. I'm sure we all have followers that come and comment often, those I do try to always visit and comment. If I find someone who is new to blogging, I will make an effort to encourage by visiting and commenting, as I remember how difficult it is to start out...I read all of the blogs I follow in my Dashboard section. I tried it in the Reader but for me it seemed too impersonal, maybe because I like to see the photo and the few words, and the new postings seem to have a section all their own..I guess I just need something more visual..I don't have a certain time line about posting, I just know that bad feeling when I haven't for awhile and know I won't feel better until I post...I don't expect a response to a comment, wow, some people get a lot of comments and would never be done responding. I like to respond but have to be careful because of how chatty I can get.
I think you are a great blogger. You are so kind in your comments and you have great posts..I think you are just 'Fine and Dandy'.
Have a wonderful weekend.
I try to respond to all of my comments and I keep tract of those I follow thought Dashboard;I do this on a daily basis. I attempt to post three times a week and have the posts somewhat varied in content. I hope you get lot of comments on this post because I could also use some tips on inproving my blog! Have a great weekend(-:
Great questions, Heather! They're something we all think about if we're bloggers, I think. :-)
I only respond to comments that ask a question, touch me, or seem to need a response- I get many that are just "great recipe" or "this looks good" or some such thing that while fun to read just don't warrant responses. In fact, it bugs me if I go to a blog and the author is responding to EVERY one- it's so forced with a lot of "thanks" "glad you liked it" and what not. I think comments should be a conversation and the bigger blogs let that happen naturally (oops- I didn't realize 'til I was writing this that I had a real opinion here :-).
And I LOVE Google Reader! I only got on board about 6 months ago after trying to keep up with my favs through a few email subs (really don't like...) and on my own. With Google, I've been able to add a bunch more that I can keep in touch with on a reg. basis. I follow about 30-40 (good limit for me) and can scroll through them in about 30 minutes, clicking on the ones I want to visit (it's how I'm here today!). Unlike Dashboard, I can see the full posts without clicking- and I see all the pics (not sure why the previous commenter can't...). I check it about every other day. LOVE it!
And I have a schedule for blogging (it was encouraged at the SBSummit I went to last year). For my first year and a half I posted 5 days regularly. It got to be too much, so I'm down to 4 with an occasional 5. I have a day for the garden, one for recipes, one for menus, and one for a DIY /craft- though I'm not strict about any except the menu and garden-it is my blog, after all. ;-)
Btw, I read once that some people don't like to subscribe to blogs that post too much because it's hard to keep up with them. Wow- was that nice for me to hear- it's OK not to kill myself with posting. ;-)
Whoa- didn't mean to write a book here! You know I enjoy your blog, Heather, and I'm always interested in what you have to say!
-Jami
An Oregon Cottage
Hi Heather!
I read all my blogs through google reader.
I think how you respond depends on what your blog goal is. if you want a blog that takes on sponsors and develop a huge readership, then yes, the PR of putting yourself out there - responding to every comment is necessary. But if you are just casually blogging (like me) then I don't think it is as important.
I love comments too - but my time is scattered that I often forget to respond.
Hi Heather! I most often read the blogs I follow on my cell phone. I love being able to browse through them while I'm waiting in line to pick up my kids from school or sitting at one of their practices. I only comment on things that interest me, never out of obligation. However, there are a few bloggers who I will comment on almost all their posts. These are people who I have formed relationships with and I want them to know that I care about their content. I only post if I have something I really want to share with my readers (or someday my kids). Hopefully that's at least a few times a week, but I don't stress about it. The most important thing for me is to keep in mind why I started blogging in the first place and to stay true to that! With all that being said, I haven't been blogging as long as you, nor do I have as many followers. So I don't think you need my advice :). But for sure, blogging should be fun, not stressful!
What a great post! It was very interesting to read previous comments. I am fairly new to blogging, so tips are always appreciated!
When a blogger leaves a comment on my blog, I always go to their blog and leave a comment. If it is blog that I really find interesting, then I become a follower. I have to admit that my blog friendships are like my real life friendships,in that it is reciprocal. In other words, if you comment on my posts, I'll comment on yours!
I post about 2-3 times a week. I don't post everyday because I agonize about the photography and would probably go nuts if I did. I have to often remind myself that this is supposed to be fun and not to obsess! :)
Hope this answers your question! I'll be interested to hear what other bloggers have to say! :)
Hey Heather! I'd love to get into blogging. Sounds like fun! Can you help me get started? I hope you're well and love your blog.
first of all, i think you are a wonderful blogger! but i am very interested to see what everyone says, as i'm always eager to learn myself! :)
i usually comment, if i have something to say. if not, i move on to the next. i do not 'expect' comments, but welcome them! as far as posting a certain amount.. i don't really have a schedule. when i first started out, i stressed over how much or how little to post. but then, just realized that i have to be myself. if i have something to say or share.. i post! just hope i don't drive people crazy when i have an eventful day {like yesterday} and end up posting a few things. that is definitely out of the norm! :P
Hello! Better? I love your posts, hope you don't change anything! (Well, maybe give updates on the Lovlies a little more often:@) I don't respond to every comment. If someone asks a question, or needs to discuss something further I'll e-mail them. I check out new blogs as time allows (that darn day job gets in the way of everything!). I basically post to join in various parties, or if something seems of interest. I follow folks either on my blog page or through Dashboard. I check in often to keep up. I think of it as a hobby and try to keep it fun:@)
Good grief, I just formulated some answers and then managed to delete them when I previewed it! Let's see if I can remember most of it :b
I use Google Reader for most blogs. I always comment when I subscribe to a blog, but only comment regularly on those that have become friends. I don't expect a response to my comment.
I have a very loose schedule--Sunday is always my quote for the week, Tuesdays will frequently find me at Jami's garden party, I try to have a decorating or craft post during the week. But it ebbs and flows over time, I've found.
It helps immensely to use my downtime to prepare posts that are scheduled for later publishing. I use statcounter to track what is attracting readers. Lots of hits are nice, but comments are the real payoff. I love the friends (like you) that I've made!
It's interesting to read other responses on this and you all've got me thinking :)
Hi Heather,
Your friends that have commented gave wonderful advice. I love looking through the blogs I follow along with new ones found on their blogs they follow. Surely I don't comment as often as I should. Will really try to work on that because so many give me smiles and the blog owners should know that.
Take care.
hi heather,
i love your blog! the advice from everyone is great~ they answered a lot of questions~ my favorite on this post...the picture of Tilly! She is adorable!
to answer your questions~ i read the blogs i follow every day thru goggle reader and make comments most of the time. i always follow those that follow me~ i don't have a routine for posting but i try to post at least once a week~
happy weekending~
xo
katie
I usually only answer comments if they ask questions. There is no way I could possibly read all my followers blogs regularly unless I would devote all my waking hours to that.
I do have my favorite blogs that I like to read everyday and try to make a point on leaving a comment.
I try to post five to six times a week. For a while that wasn't possible and I noticed my readers lagged then as well.
Blessings~
I keep up with the blogs I follow on my blogger dashboard. I don't read all of the blogs that I follow. If the title is interresting yes then I read it. If I am doing a blog hop thingy then I will go and look at the others that are particapting in the same blog hop.
I don't respond to every comment. Don't know if that is good or not. If the person asks a question I try my best to then respond.Posting 5-7 times a week. This number can vary..depends on what we have going on during the week.
That picture of your dog is too cute!!!
PS I look for blogs that have interesting things like reciepes and photography. Great stories about whatever your family is doing are always fun to read also.
Oh yes I forgot to mention that blogging provides away to learn and grow from other readers in there experiances and of course freindship.
I actually have a spreadsheet of parties I attend, along with their HTML buttons and the project I submitted, favorite blogs to visit, projects I want to try with the URL so I can link back if I make them, and new blogs I just discovered. This helps keep me organized to a certain extent. I also post every day, but we all know that on Saturdays and Sundays I totally phone it in.
I am a bad blogger... I have been playing in this land only a year and a bit ... ;) I get lost in different areas of this crazy world... I come and go... haven't found my balance yet!! I should read all your comments. and get some advise.. ha ha! but I am too tired!! which is usually the case anyway!! ;) I love it when I find my way back to your blog... you are always cookin up something fun... ;)
Hi I too read all the blogs I follow in google reader and click on those I wish to comment on, I dont have any set timetable to post I do this for fun! I think having lots of pictures is very important and this is what lets my blog down, I love following blogs with lots of things to look at and I am blown away at how talented everyone is it makes me feel very humble but gives me a goal to work towards, Ive already learnt a lot so I hope one day I'll be able to have a great blog like yours. I have to say that I dont know anyone personally here in the UK who blogs it seems to be much bigger in America people give me strange looks if I talk about it so I tend not to dicuss it Facebook is much more popular everyone does that here
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