I call them zero-second blog clickers, the follows your blog picks up in a “I’ll-follow-you-if-you-follow-me” trade or at a follower traffic exchange.
I love them. I hate them.
Sure, as a new blogger writing at least three posts a week, I’m in the market for readers who will follow my work. The more the better.
In some cases, as in Face Book’s Networked Blogs, the number of followers increases your blog’s prominence in the blog lineup (The top 50 in your topic, for example).
So I know the draw of traffic exchanges. They’re easy and they work in getting people to stop by, if only for a few seconds.
But followers who are actually interested in what you have to say and will therefore read your posts and maybe even leave a comment have to be earned. The hard way. By frequent, relevant blog posts and word of mouth. If you write the best content possible, your blog will begin to stand out and people will want to read your posts and share them with their friends.
Also, search engines use key words (tags), not necessarily numbers, to find your blog. So eventually long term readers will find you through meaningful searches.
But this all takes hard work, patience, and time.
Eventually, each blogger must decide, Do I want a small party with good friends, or a big bash with people I don’t know or relate to? Anyway, how does one keep a conversation going with thousands of fans?
To learn more about blog followers, including how to become a follower of your favorite blog, go to: Mama Blogga.
And if you made it this far, thanks for reading my post. I hope you found the content interesting and that you’ll come back again.
I hear where you are coming from. I believe in the climb to build my status as a blogger, I become a bit overwhelmed and personally I know I can not possibly visit each blog I follow daily, but I do try to click on several a day and I do leave feedback most often. Of course, whenever someone new followers me, I'm always faithful to return the favor. Sometimes there is a connection and other times there isn't, but you never know when those people may lead you down an avenue to meet others who you do connect with. It's sort of like blind dating. You don't know until you meet these people via their posts if it's going to be worth your time or not.
I love all of your blogs!!!
Hi Cathy. I like the way you compare new followers to blind dates. It's true, you don't know at first which of them will find your blog interesting enough to become a "friend" and vice versa. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Thanks Tonya.
I have to agree with Cathy, I'm a blogger on three blogs, and the process is slow, and I do try to comment everyday on as many of my regulars as possible. Sometimes I don't get there right away, and have to wait until the following day, be a bit late. Life takes hold. The hardest part is keeping your blogs fresh, that's what keeps everyone coming back. That without a doubt is the hardest part. I think you're doing a great job with that..
Thanks Lee. You're so right, keeping the blogs fresh is hard. But the extra time and effort involved is worth it in the long run.
It seemed that I was lucky the last time on network blog, follow you follow me favors. I met you and Krislin, who are both writers and now joining me on Thursday Two Questions – which included some participants that are very loyal readers on Blessing Reflections. So I can't complain. Of every 100, there's a couple of good friends.
Even almost to be a year blogging in Dec, there are far and few in between great followers, but the group at TTQuestions are really fabulous ladies, and I hope you have been enjoying their company. Great post.
I agree Self Sagacity. We are lucky to have found one another. Good followers (and I'm only talking about good as far as comments are concerned) are indeed hard to find. Krislin is also a wonderful follower and cyber-friend. I'm enjoying the TTQuestions. What a great idea that was (and is).
*chuckles* I'd take either, honestly, if I could just get some dialogue opened up.
Nothing like posting a contest, and not having people respond when you publish they're a winner.
Oh my. I hope I wasn't one of your winners. I try. I really do. In fact, right after this post, I'm off to your blog to make a comment. Thanks so much for stopping by and making me laugh.
I don't think you ended up drawn. But I'd give you a copy if you want.
Margaret — I think I have a few of those zero-second types listed as followers of my blog. They never leave comments. On the other hand, I have several loyal commenters, who are kind and encouraging and fun to "know"! However, I'm glad I read this because I was beginning to wonder about all those strong silent types out there. Surely all of them couldn't be having computer problems at the same time?
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Hello Kay. God bless our loyal commentors. I remember before I started blogging that I was deathly afraid of leaving a comment, so worried that I'd say something wrong or make a total idiot of myself. So I can understand why many people don't respond to our blogs. Also, many don't know how. Really. And then there's the time factor. You know, so many blogs, so little time. That's why I so value the people who leave comments and I try to reciprocate. Thanks for stopping by.