People seem to start off with a blast, telling the readers everything they're interested in and everything they'll write about. A few post (and months) later they do a post along the lines of; "I'm sorry I update so rarely, this will change from now on, stay tuned!"
Then a post or two later the blog ends, gets buried in Blogger's basement, until a year or so later I stumble across it and blow off the dust.
Do people quickly realize blogging wasn't as fun and rewarding as they thought? That they didn't get fifty comments on each post like those blogs they've read before?
Or do people realize they don't really have that much interesting stuff to tell the world anyway?
I'm usually in the second category but I'm sticking with it. I'm not quite sure why sometimes, but it's become a little hiding place for me (though not so hidden anymore).
This blog is kinda old (for a blog) and I started it basically before I even knew what a blog was - so I had no expectations. Maybe that's why I feel I have a right to fill your screen with random words strung together and wonder if you'll read them..
I realize how quickly blogs die, and I am glad there are some people out there who do stick with it. I'll do my best to stay among them - apples won't look good with dust on them.
Comments are actually no indicator of how many people read a post. My statcounter often tells me that a certain post has been through the roof popular but for some reason nobody leaves any comments to this post. And then only 5 people would read a post but all of them would leave a comment. There is never any logic to these things. Or I simply haven't been able to figure it out yet.
ReplyDeleteGood thing your blog is alive and kicking!!
I've noticed the same thing, Clarissa :)
ReplyDeleteIf I comment on an article in the news and link to it, I'll have hundreds of hits in no time - but no comments. If I write a more personal post, suddenly there will be some.
At first glance that wouldn't make much sense, as the personal ones aren't too interesting to random people out there. But people do comment more on posts and blogs they feel a connection with, rather than ones they happened to come across. It only takes a few seconds on the first page to decide if you should bother.. or just skip to the next one. I guess it's just about getting people to stick around for more than five seconds.
High numbers of visitors aren't much of a goal for me, I prefer it when those who actually stop by leave a comment once in a while.. to see what they think about the topic I'm writing about. Getting a dialogue rather than just one way communication. But naturally that means I'd have to write something that is actually interesting, and that doesn't happen a lot these days :D
As I said, I don't have high expectations - and I know that as a blogger you can't expect anything back (and I'm sure it doesn't help I tend to write comments longer than the posts themselves!)
To me blogging is therapy. I've been at it off and on for about a year now, but it comes in waves - no blogs for weeks and then suddenly half a dozen in a day or 2. I guess I need to be in the mood for it, thats all.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel, Johnny.
ReplyDeleteAlthough... your profile links to a blog which only has one post from four months ago.. If there's another blog I'd love to read it :)
I've been changing my blog 3 times for the past 5 years or so. I probably do that because I'm always itching for a change or when I feel that a certain chapter in my life has ended, so I would like to start fresh. I won't be surprised if the next couple of years see me starting a new blog. Lol!
ReplyDeleteI guess it has a lot to do with your motives. Since blogging keeps the checks flowing into my mailbox, it's pretty easy to stay somewhat motivated.
ReplyDeleteI guess my blog has tendencies of "dying out" nowadays as I am seriously overworked with school work in addition to working full time :p
ReplyDeleteBut I do want to kep on blogging and will do so whenever I have time. Now it will be silent on my blog for five weeks though, as I'm going to the States on vacation. If I get acceess to the internet over there I might write some posts, but I think I will be too busy.
We'll see..
I like yours though. I don't comment much, but I do read it ;)