I want you to stop for a second and think about something. Can you answer honestly my question: how many bloggers do you really follow? How many of them do you actually comment on? Does the number of let’s say 634 followers reflect the actual state of things? Does this mean that 634 followers are pending of your blog, that they are reading it, looking at the photos and commenting? Of course not, it is all a big sham. I would be happy to have a reasonable number of sincere followers of about 20 (I do hope I have), that are not here just to click and praise in the hope they will be praised themselves, or even worse,which is mostly the case to click the follow button just to be extended the same attention. 😀
Come on people, be honest and answer this question to me or at least to yourself.
I’m fed up with insincere followers, likers and such, and have decided only to follow the authentic bloggers and the ones whose work I admire. This mean that the community I follow will be reduced to the number of twenty and something contrary to the fake number of my followers that is currently 634.
When I started my blog (without any pretentions whatsoever except to attract genuine crowd – and that is the hardest part as in life itself – finding genuine people) I have never thought that there would be so many false pretenders, followers and attention seekers.
It makes one rethink this whole blogging business. I would like all the liars now to unclick the crazy follow button cause they are not getting any attention or visits from me. Sincerely, Paula
Very true – I get comments from a regular bunch and like from many people who visit regularly – I use the blog as a platform to market myself and my work so blogging is perfect as I draw in through G+ Pinterest and Twitter. I also use blogging as resource of creativity from fellow photographers so I love it and enjoy the ability to link to a whole host of my other interests. I click like if I like the work and I comment if i really like it – it is that simple for me. Scott
Hi Paula, I follow quite a few blogs, probably around 30-40. I read their posts when they appear in my reader, I click like if I like what they post, and try to comment whenever something really interests me, moves me or wows me. This can be quite often as I follow a really talented bunch of bloggers.
What does puzzle me are a couple of things. Some of the blogs I follow suddenly stop appearing in my reader and I have to hunt down their latest posts via the blogs I follow widget…makes me wonder if some of my posts never arrive in my followers reader.
The other puzzle is followers who when I try to click on their sites it says the account is no longer active, even though they just liked….or even more puzzling new followers who also seem to have redundant deactivated accounts. All very mysterious, but I do love blogging since I discovered its rich and varied world a year ago 🙂
Yes, I suppose there are some technical difficulties with bloggers notifications on readers. Good for you that you find blogging community and relations satisfying. Thank you for your comment Seonaid. I am interested to hear what people have to say on this subject.
I follow a variety of blogs – and I don’t click “follow” until a number of different posts have “grabbed” me in some way. I scan my email and read the first few lines of each post, then usually pop in for the whole thing. I don’t always “like” or comment back, but I do read with interest. There’s a lot of wonderful content in the blogosphere, and following, to me, is the equivalent of putting a blog in my “favorites” file. Once I find interesting blogs, I want to be able to find them again! I realize there are some of my followers who are just hoping I’ll see what they’re selling, and I’m overdue to go through and cull those out. But for the selected real bloggers who follow me, I’m grateful for the feedback and support we share. There are even a few I feel like I know personally. I’m happy to take the bad with the good. 😉
Actually so I never have seen the issue as a problem – I couldn’t dream of setting up rules how other people make theirs comments, follows and likes – other are welcome setting up rules for me, how to make comments, follows and likes – the chance I would follow such rules are as big as the chance being hit by a smowball in Sahara… 🙂 😉
If any have a hidden agenda by making comments, follows and likes – so it isn’t my problem – and I guess hidden agendas would stop if they don’t work as expected – so it seems very easy… 🙂
In my eyes the WP Reader is an amazing tool – so it’s just how much time you have available – probably it change from time to time for most of us – a visit on an other bloggers blog depends on – if it’s text or photos. the last mentioned take often less time than the first… 🙂
The reason I’m on WP is a place to relax and a place for having thrown inspiring impression in my face – the reasons why I make comments, follows, likes or all 3 things are many really many – but never for having “paid back”… 🙂
Well, you were never among the suspected crowd which makes this elaboration redundant to me :D, but I am glad still to have a proof that you have read it and voiced your opinion Drake :). I am a rebel and a reformer wannabe which is a bit of quijotian venture, but as you said… one cannot decide for others, that being said I want to stress what I used as the closing message in my post – I just want clickers to hit the road :).
😀 another comment on my eyes today…. 😀 So, it wasn’t you.. .GOOD. I hope it is the lady whose challenge I’ve just abandoned, that is if she hadn’t stopped following me a time ago. There is a great Spanish saying: uno no es monedita de oro para caerle bien a todo el mundo 🙂
I’m a new follower hence you won’t have many likes/Comments from me-yet! I’m always pushed for time, so I usually only like, plus my sleep-deprived brain stops me from leaving too many incoherent and therefore potentially embarrassing comments! I am however a genuine follower, we are out there somewhere! 🙂
Its mostly child-led sleep deprivation plus my husband will sometimes need help in the night but insomnia can also join forces with them by which time I usually abandon all attempts at pretending to sleep 🙂
Hi, Paula. With this post I can see that you are a woman with courage! I am more or less new with my blog (only eight months) and I can’t say nothing about the fake followers. When I follow to someone is because I like what he/she does and nothing more. Sometimes I can comment or not depending if I have something interesting to comment or to contribute to the post. I think this is a feedback between persons and that’s what I am looking for. If I am your kind of good follower you’ll see when times goes by. Feel free to tell me what you want. It’s a pleasure to meet you!
Cheers,
Rafael
That’s what I was expecting to hear 🙂 I forgot to thank you for the video of gator burping :D. I only saw the notification today. I cleared my reader of some blogs I wasn’t really interested in, which I hope will make notifications about what I want to see prompt and hard to miss 🙂 Thank you, Phil.
It is unrealistic to think of following a large number of blogs. I tend to stick to the ones I enjoy – especially during those times when I get to busy to blog as much as I want to. And, honestly, I tend to make the effort to visit the bloggers that communicate with me regularly even when I am unable to write any posts.
Exactly, the number of 600 and something is totally blown up and unrealistic. I wonder if people who have 1000 and something followers look at all those blogs just to check them out – practically impossible if one has a life too. Colline, thank you for stopping by and reading my views on this. Same as you, I visit people even when I don’t have time or anything to post. One can’t expect to be paid a visit unless he/she is a good visitor, and I never lie in my comments, but I feel that some bloggers do. I don’t want to transmit any negativity now, it is just me venting after some bad experience with another she-blogger here.
Totally agree. What’s worse is that WordPress now has these spam followers. I did some digging to figure out how to screen out spammers who follow my blog, but no luck. Still though, I tend “return the favor” and check out folks who like a post or follow my blog; sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised 🙂
Paula, I honestly have no idea the number of blogs I follow, nor how many follow me! It’s all such a funny business – I follow certain blogs whose work I adore, leaving occasional comments and likes, and have yet to hear boo back from them but still I remain faithful because of the “work” Plus, some people just don’t do blog chat that well. And there are some great blogs out there which get very few comments or likes.
I am curious about your clickers as you don’t have a “like” button so where do the clicks show up? Forgive me my ignorance even asking such a question but I never look at my stats either. I have had more than a few followers drop off my radar but then the same could be said of me and some of the blogs I follow, sort of like dating some one for a time before you realise it’s not really working out . . . but no hard feelings.
As you say, it’s good to talk, get things off your chest and please know how much I enjoy my visits to your view of the world!
Hi Patti 🙂 Likes, though removed from my blog are still an option through the reader that is where the info is coming from. I don’t check my stats, the number of followers is displayed in the side bar of my blog and that is where I see it. I am not obsesssed with numbers or stats, and it is not important to me. I have written on the subject a couple of times, and there are people that only approach blogs trying to attract audience without paying any attention to blogs they are supposedly following. I just hate being used that way. Comments here are mixed – maybe some people really felt like liars after reading my post – I can’t help if they do. I am grateful for every visit you’ve paid me and every comment you’ve left 🙂 It is always so nice to “see” you.
I admire your courage. Well said, Paula! I’m afraid that the “fake” followers are not reading it :?They should. I think we might have the same fake followers 🙂
I always want to give comments and click ‘like”. To me, it a small way to pay respect and appreciate their efforts of making posts. But, I don’t bother to click the follower unless I see him/her making some effort of stopping by my post 🙂 Most of the time, I don’t spare my time to follow the ones who constantly promote themselves (like look at me… ).
You make a very good point. Blogging so often seems to be about “Look at me!” or “Listen to me!” instead of trying to get something from others who share similar interests or tastes.
Hola Paula,
Very interesting you brought this up and like I read in other comments, i dont think you´ll get the fake followers and likers here, but to be honest I tend to like something pretty fast, whenever I surf around wp blogs (mostly photography, travel, food or just interested in their geographical location) I do ´like´ where I´ve been and let people know i did, but following is a different thing. I´m not sure how many but would guess around 30-40 blogs that I really follow like photographers who´s work I admire or people that write great articles or lead interesting lifes!
Than there´s maybe another 30 blogs that occasionally put out good stuff or are just less frequently posting, but I don´t want to miss the ´good´ stuff! And I do want to follow the people that put in real interest in my work (through commenting mostly) too and see who they are.
I will only comment if something is so striking or interesting, that I want to let the maker know…
From the 1000plus followers a photo of mine only gets seen a couple of hundred times i guess, not sure, but thats a lot of fakers there too. My advice is to enjoy the people that really take time out to read, see and comment and ´follow´ you and forget the rest 😉
Have a great day, Ron.
Hola Ron 🙂 That is a good advice and the only smart step to take :). I know I haven’t made any new discovery by stating my findings here, however it feels good to get the things off one’s chest and to let the fakers (in case they would read) know they are not taken seriously :). Many thanks for your sincere comment. It’s been very nice meeting you.
But if they read, than they are not real fakers are they 😉
No, good you got that off your chest and feel a bit embarrassed i didnt comment here earlier, but i do follow 😉
Have a great day and keep enjoying the good things about this bloggin-thing!
Ron.
I know what you are talking about. They will visit you once or twice and never again and the minute you stop following them, they pop up again. Some of them even have the audacity to give you the link to their blog and tell you to visit them. Those I just trash. I don’t care about blog stats or being popular and have my favourites that I visit regularly. Some of them aren’t even followers. I follow the ones which I adore but it’s not worth having too many as there are days when you can’t even get to your own blog to post something. Sometimes I will also just ‘like’ a post – if I don’t have something to say and some days I have good days where I can sit and comment all day long without having to worry about any aches or pains. If people just ‘like’ my post I don’t mind either and don’t care whether they looked at it or not. Don’t take these things too seriously hon. Follow the ones you like, comment when and if you can and if you don’t feel like commenting or don’t have anything to say, just press the ‘like’ button if they have one. I follow your blog because I like your posts and I like you. 😀 *big hugs*
I appreciate this Sophia. I wish you more pain-free days, and I am not saying this for the sake of commenting and visiting us. Thank you so much for taking time to give me your opinion on this. *big hugs*
I wish that for myself too hon. It’s just a struggle when the seasons change but well, some days I can cope..other days not. Today is a good day again, as you can see.. 😀
PS: I had to laugh when I read Babsje’s comment about ‘Facebook-style level of interaction’ – goodness gracious! Facebook have no level or interaction. Nowadays it’s just ‘forwards’ and it’s worse than email forwards. I have two accounts on Facebook – one for personal (and only because hubby and my sons are on it) and one for games and I will tell you, I enjoy the games more than the socialising as I am not a chatter. WordPress is way better where interaction is concerned for sure. 😀
Well, yes these two sites can’t be compared at all. Babsje does not really know me and has misconstrued my “complaints” about the situation here. I almost felt offended, but I snapped out of it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I appreciate honesty and straightforwardness. As much as I like meeting like-minded people (nothing is more comforting than that) the fact that we think differently is a proof that we actually think. Wouldn’t you agree? 🙂
I blog about Ruby as a therapy because she was driving me crazy with her food obsession. Journalling every day is turning my anger in to some sort of love for her – which is a good thing. So I’m blogging for my self in a way and am happy/honoured if others are interested. My approach with following is to to be honest about what you really want to read about otherwise it’s just another inbox to clear! I make comments on about 20 blogs every day and I feel these people are my ‘online community’ but also ‘like’ posts with photos I like. It’s an interesting discussion…
Thank you, dear, I am happy to read you. I remember you telling me about Ruby being an overeater – I did not realise it was that bad. My approach to blogging is similar to yours. I am doing it for myself, to have my piece of virtual home and am happy when I meet honest souls.
I respect your decision to blog about this! I think about this very often actually. I remember a while ago I wrote a post and, as many of you have said you have people who are regular about writing comments, and it is the same for me. One woman who commented said that she followed me and then never read any of my posts there after until said post. She followed me during my 6th post and commented on one almost a year later. What was the point in following me at all? What was the point in posting that comment?
I have quite a few followers but as you have said, it really is all about those who regularly read and want to engage. That’s what keeps me blogging, engaging. I love the social portion of this social medium.
Once again, I commend you for your post and couldn’t agree with you more.
It makes me happy to see that this post that I was reluctant to publish for a long time got a positive feedback, and what’s more important it gave me an opportunity to meet more genuine bloggers. I am grateful for your visit and comment. I am very curious now to check out your blog. Greetings, Paula
Wow, this post created a lot of feedback 🙂 You hit a nerve here Paula and it seems like many people share your thoughts. I have around 400 followers, but they come and go. It was 402, then went donw to 399, back to 401, then down again… I don’t know why, but people follow and unfollow the blog all the time.
Like you say there’s a handful of regulars that write comments and that are active. Some people stop by from time to time, while the rest.. Who knows what they’re doing? Perhaps they just read or look at photos, or perhaps they don’t even do that?
Personally I follow many blogs that I’m not active in. It’s because sometimes, when I have plenty of time, I do actually visit them and write comments. But normally I just comment in the blogs of the handful of people that comment in mine. The whole WordPress scene is a large community and it’s impossible to know them all and to have the same relationship with them all.
I have a regular relationship with some blogs, others are fuck-friends, some of them have been one night stands and the rest I don’t know or don’t give a fuck about.
Your blog is definitely on the regular-relationship list!
Yes!! That was my point. I’m a grown girl by now, and I should have learned to live with this fact, but every now and then I feel like venting ;). Your gravatar and comments made me curious about you – I’ll drop by later on as soon as I finish writing my new post for next Thursday 😀
Came across this via the daily challenge. Interesting! I concur with some of the other commenters- I “like” if I like and I comment if I think I have something to contribute. I don’t comment just for the sake of it. I’m new to blogging having only just started this year. Initially I started following a few blogs which caught my eye in Freshly Pressed or which were followed by others I followed. Your post has given me some food for thought because I think as a blogger you develop over time and you learn more about the bloggers you follow and find that some may not be what you first thought or expected and don’t hold your interest as much as others so maybe the time comes to unfollow. But having said that I like to be exposed to a wide range of thoughts and approaches and enjoy being in contact with a wide range of people; I won’t have the same type of relationship with all of them though but that’s okay.
Thank you very much 🙂 Being a relatively new blogger you are thinking in the “right” direction… we all fall out of “love”/things in life, we quit hobbies, so it is natural we should also follow and unfollow.. everything changes and so do we. Interesting points 🙂
You make a good point. I have Twitter account but do not allow every spammer in town, and there are so many, to follow me. I block ’em. I also do not follow everyone who follows me. There are several blogs I am unfollowing today. Why? Because they just put up any and everything but the prompt on The Daily Prompt. It’s a shame because their posts and pics are quite nice. If they visited other blogs and commented they would build followers. I am the same way about Facebook.
I have 20 followers, and I read, view their images or photos, and take the time to enjoy the different types of content. I also work 50 plus hours a week to get ahead for me and my family. I read when I can, I honestly don’t always hit “like” or leave a comment because my kindle at work does connect with the wifi. I’m a “follower” and one who quietly appreciates art and journalism, Thanks for the post, I’ll make a better attempt give your blog and others, better attention when I have the valuable time.
I have followers who never, ever comment but when I see them they tell me in person how much they love living vicariously through my posts and following my travels. They feel they are with me on my journey. That means all the world to me!. I am never alone.
Hey Annie, thank you for telling me this. Sometimes people are just silent watchers which also makes sense 🙂 Hope you have settled nicely at the new place. Take care, P.
Like you I really wonder how everyone can follow all the blogs they suscribe to, do they really follow and read, appreciate, comment and such?… A follower of other blogs myself (like yours, of course! I truly am a fan of yours, Paula, your pictures and words are inspiring every day!), I try to only follow a few because I really want to read and have a thourough look through everyone’s words and photos. Sometimes, it’s time I’m lacking of.
So really, to answer your questions, if I have to make a choice on the ones I absolutely follow and have a look at even when I don’t have so much time, it’s about 10… out of the 85 I’ve suscribed to… not so good, eh? but thanks to the “reader” in WordPress I can have a faster look over each too and stop at the other ones I find attractive.
wishing you the best!
thanks for pointing this out…
Thank you Julie. It makes me happy that you have joined this discussion, and hearing from others makes me put things into different perspectives 🙂 Je te remercie ma belle.
Tough one Paula. I love so many blogs, but just don’t have the time to read every single one. Sometimes not even my most favourite. I try my darnedest to visit everyone that makes time to stop by my blog and leave a comment, regardless of their ulterior motive. Connections with genuine blogs last. The others fall by the wayside 🙂 The blatant solicitors – the ones that leave links to their posts or videos that have no connection to mine(!!!) – I delete outright. It is a couple of the ‘regulars’ that expect a quid pro quo, that upset me more than the faux followers actually. They will ensure they leave a ‘like’ to show they have visited, but will stop commenting if I haven’t visited in a while!! Those I ignore after a while. But like you I treasure the genuine connections I have forged along the way, and those ‘friends’ that show concern when I vanish for brief periods 🙂
I’m so glad you have joined in the discussion. All your points are valid, and I have the same problem which is a lack of time and occasional disappearance. Thank you, Madhu 🙂
A good honest post! A strange place the blogosphere and as you say mostly insincere. I try to manage my follow list, it currently stands at 42 and could do with being pruned. Sadly, some are blogs I liked to follow but they seem to have gone silent – I keep them there in case they resurface. The thing I hate the most is when I get a like even though I know the post hasn’t been visited or read. Never mind, we carry on!
This is much appreciated, Andrew 🙂 Sometimes I wonder why I am the only one to stir the waters. Reading all these comments I can see that many people have felt the same. Will do as you said… We carry on … 🙂
I follow quite a few blogs, I’m actually unsure of the number at this point. Do I read every post from every blog I follow? Hardly, who has the time? There are a few core blogs that I try to regularly read, but it’s getting harder and harder the busier I get. Besides this core group, the only blogs absolutely guaranteed at least a visit are those kind enough to visit and comment on mine. Bloggers who’ve recently subscribed to mine come in a close second, for at least a visit and a “thanks”, though I may never follow in return.
Like Scott above, I started my blog purely as a means to promote my name and photography. I also use the blogs I follow, with few exceptions photography related, as sources if inspiration. So eyes on the images are important to me, even if they only “like” every once in a while, or glance at the photo in their notification email before hitting delete.
Of the almost 1,500 followers I currently have, do I expect every one of them to be hanging on my every word and picture? Again, hardly. What I hope is that at least some of those followers, ideally different ones each time, are looking at each post I publish. Maybe they only see the photo in their reader or notification email and move on. Hopefully the photo is compelling enough to get them to click through to the actual post and leave a comment, or just a “Like.” If not that, hopefully the image will remain in the back of their mind down the road should they ever need a photograph. Again, either way for me, the more eyes on my photos the better. Even if it is only occasionally, 1 out of 5, 1 out of 10, looks at any given post, hopefully it’s a different 1 in 5, 1 in 10, every time.
Very well put, Paula. The slap in the face kind of way you delivered it makes me smile.
Whilst I was away for, geez, 4 months, i felt bad not showing up for a long time. It makes me so happy though that there are genuine followers that are looking for me. And when I returned, I really found out more who my true followers really are. And while I now become busy now, I try my best to blog not just for my own but to also see what posts the Blogs I Follow came up with.
I love blogging. I may leave and be inactive, but I’ll never abandon it.
Firstly, I have to say thank you, Paula for visiting and liking my main blog. I truly do appreciate it.
Secondly, I never keep track of the blogs I actually follow. Without counting, I know that it’s a lot. I get a ton of e-mail letting me know that their making new posts.
As I have a family life and a business life, I don’t dismiss those notices but take my own time following up on them, even the ones for your blog which I truly enjoy coming back to. I recently edited my settings so that blogs that I was labouring to follow without receiving notices now give me automatic notices. Some of those blogs that would e-mail me regularly, I have switch off for the automatic notifications, although I am still following them. I do this about once-a-year so that everybody I follow gets a turn at keeping me regularly updated. Those bloggers who have closed their accounts altogether; probably out of frustration of low and insincere traffic, I have of course deleted.
My life outside of blogging always comes first. I don’t have as much time as I’d like to make my own posts to promote the work of Modes of Flight, let alone enjoy other people’s blogs. I expect that most of those who “follow” at least my main blog are in the same boat, so I don’t get perturbed when traffic seems slow, or they just click the like button; probably, without reading what I’ve carefully composed or taking more time to view my pictures. They’re just people, and it’s just a blog.
My other 3 blogs have much less traffic but seem to be gaining one or two “followers” each day, although I fully expect traffic from them to remain minimal at best. I quite certain that many of them have clicked the “Follow” and “Like” buttons once, and never returned. I just say, “Oh well!” and move on. I have no expectations of loyalty from them, and many of them are the bloggers whom I happily still follow. It make all the more reason for me to take my time.
I hope that helps, and I hope that you continue to blog. Even when I’m not commenting or clicking buttons, I still come by to actually read what you have to say. On the receiving end, I value that far more than when others come to my blogs to click and run as if that will convince me that they’re paying attention.
Thank you for sharing this here Allan. I was aware that you had other blogs, but as you said it is the time that is lacking. I am not picky about attention and visits, a few sincere visits per year are much more valuable than all the nonsensical clicking :). I really appreciate your taking time to read this and give us your opinion.
I agree in principle but think you may be treading on dangerous ground. I agree that many likes and even some follows are relatively meaningless. But I do know I am sincere and am sure many of my followers are too. This is about a sharing community for me, not a contest or moneymaking opportunity. I’ve unfollowed people I determined were just collecting followers and didn’t share my take on blogging. But I also just click like when time is short, look at their images, maybe skim. Time is a factor. But I strongly feel that trading likes with people once in awhile is not evidence of a shallow relationship. That would be very presumptious of me. After all, I don’t know them really. I don’t want to ever presume someone’s motives, especially someone I only know from online contact. Over the years I’ve learned to keep the judgement to a minimum, since I know it’s so easy to be caught making false assumptions.
I consider myself to be a serious blogger, but if you don’t visit other blogs, and follow them, at least for a while, to read their new content, how do you expect to increase your knowledge base and readership? I can’t very well publish a post and then cross my fingers that someone somewhere will stumble upon it.
Reading and commenting build connections. Sometimes I hit the like button and move on, if I’ve read something interesting, but the overall tone or focus of the blog doesn’t really suit me. Other times I just leave a ping back on posts that have answered the same prompt I have, because I know that people use these to find more content of a similar nature. I approve ping backs on my blog for the same reason.
I know that not all of my followers read my blog, and I’m okay with that. Still, it’s nice to know that there are people who do, and leave thoughtful and encouraging comments.
BB
Thank you BB 🙂 I agree with everything you said. Thank you for clicking the follow button ;). I am trying very hard to “follow” all the blogs that I follow. I am pretty busy and only post about twice a week, so I am having a hard time keeping with bloggers that do it daily. I think I’m going to enjoy your blog 🙂
P.S. I originally came to leave a ping back (but I always read the posts I leave them at first!)http://bulgingbuttons.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/daily-prompt-pants-on-fire/
I’ve just spent hours trying to catch up on posts I’ve missed whilst I was away on my travels. I just got to this one of yours. 🙂 I often wonder how many of my 750 ‘followers’ actually read my blog. I’m quite happy with the faithful few, as I know it’s really difficult to keep up with everybody. 🙂
Thank you so much Sylvia for reading this. I am sure I have missed many of yours. I don’t like when people click follow or like without meaning it, but there are quite a few genuine people out there like you. I am sorry I can’t afford more time to blogging and all the activities associated with it. I can only post twice a week (on rare occasions three times) and it is very hard for me to keep up with bloggers that post daily, so I am sure I miss a lot. I hope they don’t feel bad about it.
Yes it is hard to keep up, and sometimes I visit someone’s blog, read it and just click the like button so they know I was there. I can’t do that on yours though.
I thought about this recently, my posts go out to between 2-300 readers yet there are only 10-20 likes and 8-9 comments. There are times when I pour my heart and soul into a post, like the last two I did which I am immensely proud of, and feel a bit disappointed that they didn’t have the desired impact.
On the other hand the people who regularly comment are the people I am writing for anyway. They make up for it.
Lost in Translation 
Can I hope to be in your list of 21 to 30? The “Hmm….What to do” Category 🙂
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the last time I checked you were on my list, but you have been silent and I thought you had checked out.
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This moment that ain’t relevant. I can’t go away too far too long from those pretty eyes. That’s a constant.
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And I was hoping there was more to me than my eyes :S
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My answer is about 10 and I’m happy with that. I recall some research that most people can’t manage more than about 20-30 meaningful relationships.
On the whole, I think that the number of interesting comments is a better measure of the quality of a blog than the number of followers.
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Absolutely 🙂 Again GF, you appear to comment when you are most needed and sought for:) I am grateful 🙂
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Very true – I get comments from a regular bunch and like from many people who visit regularly – I use the blog as a platform to market myself and my work so blogging is perfect as I draw in through G+ Pinterest and Twitter. I also use blogging as resource of creativity from fellow photographers so I love it and enjoy the ability to link to a whole host of my other interests. I click like if I like the work and I comment if i really like it – it is that simple for me. Scott
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Thank you for your input Scott 🙂 Nice to meet a genuine blogger 🙂
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Hi Paula, I follow quite a few blogs, probably around 30-40. I read their posts when they appear in my reader, I click like if I like what they post, and try to comment whenever something really interests me, moves me or wows me. This can be quite often as I follow a really talented bunch of bloggers.
What does puzzle me are a couple of things. Some of the blogs I follow suddenly stop appearing in my reader and I have to hunt down their latest posts via the blogs I follow widget…makes me wonder if some of my posts never arrive in my followers reader.
The other puzzle is followers who when I try to click on their sites it says the account is no longer active, even though they just liked….or even more puzzling new followers who also seem to have redundant deactivated accounts. All very mysterious, but I do love blogging since I discovered its rich and varied world a year ago 🙂
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Yes, I suppose there are some technical difficulties with bloggers notifications on readers. Good for you that you find blogging community and relations satisfying. Thank you for your comment Seonaid. I am interested to hear what people have to say on this subject.
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I follow a variety of blogs – and I don’t click “follow” until a number of different posts have “grabbed” me in some way. I scan my email and read the first few lines of each post, then usually pop in for the whole thing. I don’t always “like” or comment back, but I do read with interest. There’s a lot of wonderful content in the blogosphere, and following, to me, is the equivalent of putting a blog in my “favorites” file. Once I find interesting blogs, I want to be able to find them again! I realize there are some of my followers who are just hoping I’ll see what they’re selling, and I’m overdue to go through and cull those out. But for the selected real bloggers who follow me, I’m grateful for the feedback and support we share. There are even a few I feel like I know personally. I’m happy to take the bad with the good. 😉
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Thank you for sharing your experience here.
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Actually so I never have seen the issue as a problem – I couldn’t dream of setting up rules how other people make theirs comments, follows and likes – other are welcome setting up rules for me, how to make comments, follows and likes – the chance I would follow such rules are as big as the chance being hit by a smowball in Sahara… 🙂 😉
If any have a hidden agenda by making comments, follows and likes – so it isn’t my problem – and I guess hidden agendas would stop if they don’t work as expected – so it seems very easy… 🙂
In my eyes the WP Reader is an amazing tool – so it’s just how much time you have available – probably it change from time to time for most of us – a visit on an other bloggers blog depends on – if it’s text or photos. the last mentioned take often less time than the first… 🙂
The reason I’m on WP is a place to relax and a place for having thrown inspiring impression in my face – the reasons why I make comments, follows, likes or all 3 things are many really many – but never for having “paid back”… 🙂
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Well, you were never among the suspected crowd which makes this elaboration redundant to me :D, but I am glad still to have a proof that you have read it and voiced your opinion Drake :). I am a rebel and a reformer wannabe which is a bit of quijotian venture, but as you said… one cannot decide for others, that being said I want to stress what I used as the closing message in my post – I just want clickers to hit the road :).
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Drakes are quacking and making noisy sounds, in particular the black ones… 🙂 🙂 😉
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I don’t mind the noise unless it comes from pigeons or brainless people in my office 😉
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P.S. I am happy to report that since I published this post I’ve lost two followers 😀
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It’s not me, these eyes I can forgive everything… “hahaha” 🙂 🙂
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😀 another comment on my eyes today…. 😀 So, it wasn’t you.. .GOOD. I hope it is the lady whose challenge I’ve just abandoned, that is if she hadn’t stopped following me a time ago. There is a great Spanish saying: uno no es monedita de oro para caerle bien a todo el mundo 🙂
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I’m a new follower hence you won’t have many likes/Comments from me-yet! I’m always pushed for time, so I usually only like, plus my sleep-deprived brain stops me from leaving too many incoherent and therefore potentially embarrassing comments! I am however a genuine follower, we are out there somewhere! 🙂
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Oh poor thing, do you suffer from occasional insomnia too? I can relate. It’s so good to meet genuine followers 🙂
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Its mostly child-led sleep deprivation plus my husband will sometimes need help in the night but insomnia can also join forces with them by which time I usually abandon all attempts at pretending to sleep 🙂
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Hi, Paula. With this post I can see that you are a woman with courage! I am more or less new with my blog (only eight months) and I can’t say nothing about the fake followers. When I follow to someone is because I like what he/she does and nothing more. Sometimes I can comment or not depending if I have something interesting to comment or to contribute to the post. I think this is a feedback between persons and that’s what I am looking for. If I am your kind of good follower you’ll see when times goes by. Feel free to tell me what you want. It’s a pleasure to meet you!
Cheers,
Rafael
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I like people that are ready to accept punches when they are due :D. You called me a woman with courage 🙂 Muchas gracias. Paula
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You deserve it!
Have a nice day!, 😉
Rafael
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Well I plan to stick around and I’m always happy to see you in among my comments Paula!
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That’s what I was expecting to hear 🙂 I forgot to thank you for the video of gator burping :D. I only saw the notification today. I cleared my reader of some blogs I wasn’t really interested in, which I hope will make notifications about what I want to see prompt and hard to miss 🙂 Thank you, Phil.
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Si, Paula! Sei una donna sincera e piena di coraggio!
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e rabbia 😉 Baci, P.
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It is unrealistic to think of following a large number of blogs. I tend to stick to the ones I enjoy – especially during those times when I get to busy to blog as much as I want to. And, honestly, I tend to make the effort to visit the bloggers that communicate with me regularly even when I am unable to write any posts.
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Exactly, the number of 600 and something is totally blown up and unrealistic. I wonder if people who have 1000 and something followers look at all those blogs just to check them out – practically impossible if one has a life too. Colline, thank you for stopping by and reading my views on this. Same as you, I visit people even when I don’t have time or anything to post. One can’t expect to be paid a visit unless he/she is a good visitor, and I never lie in my comments, but I feel that some bloggers do. I don’t want to transmit any negativity now, it is just me venting after some bad experience with another she-blogger here.
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Totally agree. What’s worse is that WordPress now has these spam followers. I did some digging to figure out how to screen out spammers who follow my blog, but no luck. Still though, I tend “return the favor” and check out folks who like a post or follow my blog; sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised 🙂
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Thank you Bupe Rose 🙂 It helps me to see other people with similar experiences and impression. We are together on this one 🙂 Have a great day!
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Paula, I honestly have no idea the number of blogs I follow, nor how many follow me! It’s all such a funny business – I follow certain blogs whose work I adore, leaving occasional comments and likes, and have yet to hear boo back from them but still I remain faithful because of the “work” Plus, some people just don’t do blog chat that well. And there are some great blogs out there which get very few comments or likes.
I am curious about your clickers as you don’t have a “like” button so where do the clicks show up? Forgive me my ignorance even asking such a question but I never look at my stats either. I have had more than a few followers drop off my radar but then the same could be said of me and some of the blogs I follow, sort of like dating some one for a time before you realise it’s not really working out . . . but no hard feelings.
As you say, it’s good to talk, get things off your chest and please know how much I enjoy my visits to your view of the world!
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Hi Patti 🙂 Likes, though removed from my blog are still an option through the reader that is where the info is coming from. I don’t check my stats, the number of followers is displayed in the side bar of my blog and that is where I see it. I am not obsesssed with numbers or stats, and it is not important to me. I have written on the subject a couple of times, and there are people that only approach blogs trying to attract audience without paying any attention to blogs they are supposedly following. I just hate being used that way. Comments here are mixed – maybe some people really felt like liars after reading my post – I can’t help if they do. I am grateful for every visit you’ve paid me and every comment you’ve left 🙂 It is always so nice to “see” you.
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I admire your courage. Well said, Paula! I’m afraid that the “fake” followers are not reading it :?They should. I think we might have the same fake followers 🙂
I always want to give comments and click ‘like”. To me, it a small way to pay respect and appreciate their efforts of making posts. But, I don’t bother to click the follower unless I see him/her making some effort of stopping by my post 🙂 Most of the time, I don’t spare my time to follow the ones who constantly promote themselves (like look at me… ).
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Thank you so much Amy. Once again I’ve come to a conclusion that we think alike 🙂
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Grazie,ho letto tutto! Posso dirti di non prendertela troppo? A.
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Si, puoi 🙂 Che gentilezza Anna di leggere tutto. Ci sentiamo. P.
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You make a very good point. Blogging so often seems to be about “Look at me!” or “Listen to me!” instead of trying to get something from others who share similar interests or tastes.
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Thank you. I am glad I am not the only one getting this impression 🙂
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Hola Paula,
Very interesting you brought this up and like I read in other comments, i dont think you´ll get the fake followers and likers here, but to be honest I tend to like something pretty fast, whenever I surf around wp blogs (mostly photography, travel, food or just interested in their geographical location) I do ´like´ where I´ve been and let people know i did, but following is a different thing. I´m not sure how many but would guess around 30-40 blogs that I really follow like photographers who´s work I admire or people that write great articles or lead interesting lifes!
Than there´s maybe another 30 blogs that occasionally put out good stuff or are just less frequently posting, but I don´t want to miss the ´good´ stuff! And I do want to follow the people that put in real interest in my work (through commenting mostly) too and see who they are.
I will only comment if something is so striking or interesting, that I want to let the maker know…
From the 1000plus followers a photo of mine only gets seen a couple of hundred times i guess, not sure, but thats a lot of fakers there too. My advice is to enjoy the people that really take time out to read, see and comment and ´follow´ you and forget the rest 😉
Have a great day, Ron.
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Hola Ron 🙂 That is a good advice and the only smart step to take :). I know I haven’t made any new discovery by stating my findings here, however it feels good to get the things off one’s chest and to let the fakers (in case they would read) know they are not taken seriously :). Many thanks for your sincere comment. It’s been very nice meeting you.
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But if they read, than they are not real fakers are they 😉
No, good you got that off your chest and feel a bit embarrassed i didnt comment here earlier, but i do follow 😉
Have a great day and keep enjoying the good things about this bloggin-thing!
Ron.
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Lo mismo para ti Ron 🙂 Fue mi placer leer tus comentarios.
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I know what you are talking about. They will visit you once or twice and never again and the minute you stop following them, they pop up again. Some of them even have the audacity to give you the link to their blog and tell you to visit them. Those I just trash. I don’t care about blog stats or being popular and have my favourites that I visit regularly. Some of them aren’t even followers. I follow the ones which I adore but it’s not worth having too many as there are days when you can’t even get to your own blog to post something. Sometimes I will also just ‘like’ a post – if I don’t have something to say and some days I have good days where I can sit and comment all day long without having to worry about any aches or pains. If people just ‘like’ my post I don’t mind either and don’t care whether they looked at it or not. Don’t take these things too seriously hon. Follow the ones you like, comment when and if you can and if you don’t feel like commenting or don’t have anything to say, just press the ‘like’ button if they have one. I follow your blog because I like your posts and I like you. 😀 *big hugs*
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I appreciate this Sophia. I wish you more pain-free days, and I am not saying this for the sake of commenting and visiting us. Thank you so much for taking time to give me your opinion on this. *big hugs*
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I wish that for myself too hon. It’s just a struggle when the seasons change but well, some days I can cope..other days not. Today is a good day again, as you can see.. 😀
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I’m glad to hear hun :).Maybe cause it is Thursday and under the good charm of Jupiter 😉
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Must be. 😀
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PS: I had to laugh when I read Babsje’s comment about ‘Facebook-style level of interaction’ – goodness gracious! Facebook have no level or interaction. Nowadays it’s just ‘forwards’ and it’s worse than email forwards. I have two accounts on Facebook – one for personal (and only because hubby and my sons are on it) and one for games and I will tell you, I enjoy the games more than the socialising as I am not a chatter. WordPress is way better where interaction is concerned for sure. 😀
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Well, yes these two sites can’t be compared at all. Babsje does not really know me and has misconstrued my “complaints” about the situation here. I almost felt offended, but I snapped out of it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I appreciate honesty and straightforwardness. As much as I like meeting like-minded people (nothing is more comforting than that) the fact that we think differently is a proof that we actually think. Wouldn’t you agree? 🙂
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Absolutely! Not everyone can think or feel the same way as another. Just think how boring life would be then. 😀
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I blog about Ruby as a therapy because she was driving me crazy with her food obsession. Journalling every day is turning my anger in to some sort of love for her – which is a good thing. So I’m blogging for my self in a way and am happy/honoured if others are interested. My approach with following is to to be honest about what you really want to read about otherwise it’s just another inbox to clear! I make comments on about 20 blogs every day and I feel these people are my ‘online community’ but also ‘like’ posts with photos I like. It’s an interesting discussion…
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Thank you, dear, I am happy to read you. I remember you telling me about Ruby being an overeater – I did not realise it was that bad. My approach to blogging is similar to yours. I am doing it for myself, to have my piece of virtual home and am happy when I meet honest souls.
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I respect your decision to blog about this! I think about this very often actually. I remember a while ago I wrote a post and, as many of you have said you have people who are regular about writing comments, and it is the same for me. One woman who commented said that she followed me and then never read any of my posts there after until said post. She followed me during my 6th post and commented on one almost a year later. What was the point in following me at all? What was the point in posting that comment?
I have quite a few followers but as you have said, it really is all about those who regularly read and want to engage. That’s what keeps me blogging, engaging. I love the social portion of this social medium.
Once again, I commend you for your post and couldn’t agree with you more.
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It makes me happy to see that this post that I was reluctant to publish for a long time got a positive feedback, and what’s more important it gave me an opportunity to meet more genuine bloggers. I am grateful for your visit and comment. I am very curious now to check out your blog. Greetings, Paula
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I would love to be a part of the real ones. And you were right about everything you said there-a great reminder actually that I will take note.
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🙂 Good, I am happy to hear that, Sony 🙂 I really am 🙂 Thank you!
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Thank you so much!
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Wow, this post created a lot of feedback 🙂 You hit a nerve here Paula and it seems like many people share your thoughts. I have around 400 followers, but they come and go. It was 402, then went donw to 399, back to 401, then down again… I don’t know why, but people follow and unfollow the blog all the time.
Like you say there’s a handful of regulars that write comments and that are active. Some people stop by from time to time, while the rest.. Who knows what they’re doing? Perhaps they just read or look at photos, or perhaps they don’t even do that?
Personally I follow many blogs that I’m not active in. It’s because sometimes, when I have plenty of time, I do actually visit them and write comments. But normally I just comment in the blogs of the handful of people that comment in mine. The whole WordPress scene is a large community and it’s impossible to know them all and to have the same relationship with them all.
I have a regular relationship with some blogs, others are fuck-friends, some of them have been one night stands and the rest I don’t know or don’t give a fuck about.
Your blog is definitely on the regular-relationship list!
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😆 😆 Nobody has ever made me laugh this hard on WP. I’m talking belly laugh 😆 😆 Tusen takk, CG 🙂
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Fortunately there are some good friends hiding in all the likes and comments as well…
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Thank you Rider 🙂 Fortunately, you are right 😀
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Just like real life- we know many people, true friends are few…
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Yes!! That was my point. I’m a grown girl by now, and I should have learned to live with this fact, but every now and then I feel like venting ;). Your gravatar and comments made me curious about you – I’ll drop by later on as soon as I finish writing my new post for next Thursday 😀
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Came across this via the daily challenge. Interesting! I concur with some of the other commenters- I “like” if I like and I comment if I think I have something to contribute. I don’t comment just for the sake of it. I’m new to blogging having only just started this year. Initially I started following a few blogs which caught my eye in Freshly Pressed or which were followed by others I followed. Your post has given me some food for thought because I think as a blogger you develop over time and you learn more about the bloggers you follow and find that some may not be what you first thought or expected and don’t hold your interest as much as others so maybe the time comes to unfollow. But having said that I like to be exposed to a wide range of thoughts and approaches and enjoy being in contact with a wide range of people; I won’t have the same type of relationship with all of them though but that’s okay.
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Thank you very much 🙂 Being a relatively new blogger you are thinking in the “right” direction… we all fall out of “love”/things in life, we quit hobbies, so it is natural we should also follow and unfollow.. everything changes and so do we. Interesting points 🙂
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Wow. You have 20? That is awesome. I was happy with my 3 to 5. 🙂 Nicely written. No need to come back to my post. I am only here to read and comment.
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Thank you Mr. Atheist. I might just drop by – I am a curious one 😀
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You make a good point. I have Twitter account but do not allow every spammer in town, and there are so many, to follow me. I block ’em. I also do not follow everyone who follows me. There are several blogs I am unfollowing today. Why? Because they just put up any and everything but the prompt on The Daily Prompt. It’s a shame because their posts and pics are quite nice. If they visited other blogs and commented they would build followers. I am the same way about Facebook.
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Thank you very much Frances for joining the discussion. It was interesting to read you. Have a nice weekend!
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Thank you Paula. This is what blogging is all about.
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I have 20 followers, and I read, view their images or photos, and take the time to enjoy the different types of content. I also work 50 plus hours a week to get ahead for me and my family. I read when I can, I honestly don’t always hit “like” or leave a comment because my kindle at work does connect with the wifi. I’m a “follower” and one who quietly appreciates art and journalism, Thanks for the post, I’ll make a better attempt give your blog and others, better attention when I have the valuable time.
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It’s so nice of you to come here and say your piece 🙂 I wish you a peaceful and restful weekend. Rest and family time are above all 😉 Best, Paula
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I have followers who never, ever comment but when I see them they tell me in person how much they love living vicariously through my posts and following my travels. They feel they are with me on my journey. That means all the world to me!. I am never alone.
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Hey Annie, thank you for telling me this. Sometimes people are just silent watchers which also makes sense 🙂 Hope you have settled nicely at the new place. Take care, P.
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Like you I really wonder how everyone can follow all the blogs they suscribe to, do they really follow and read, appreciate, comment and such?… A follower of other blogs myself (like yours, of course! I truly am a fan of yours, Paula, your pictures and words are inspiring every day!), I try to only follow a few because I really want to read and have a thourough look through everyone’s words and photos. Sometimes, it’s time I’m lacking of.
So really, to answer your questions, if I have to make a choice on the ones I absolutely follow and have a look at even when I don’t have so much time, it’s about 10… out of the 85 I’ve suscribed to… not so good, eh? but thanks to the “reader” in WordPress I can have a faster look over each too and stop at the other ones I find attractive.
wishing you the best!
thanks for pointing this out…
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Thank you Julie. It makes me happy that you have joined this discussion, and hearing from others makes me put things into different perspectives 🙂 Je te remercie ma belle.
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Tough one Paula. I love so many blogs, but just don’t have the time to read every single one. Sometimes not even my most favourite. I try my darnedest to visit everyone that makes time to stop by my blog and leave a comment, regardless of their ulterior motive. Connections with genuine blogs last. The others fall by the wayside 🙂 The blatant solicitors – the ones that leave links to their posts or videos that have no connection to mine(!!!) – I delete outright. It is a couple of the ‘regulars’ that expect a quid pro quo, that upset me more than the faux followers actually. They will ensure they leave a ‘like’ to show they have visited, but will stop commenting if I haven’t visited in a while!! Those I ignore after a while. But like you I treasure the genuine connections I have forged along the way, and those ‘friends’ that show concern when I vanish for brief periods 🙂
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I’m so glad you have joined in the discussion. All your points are valid, and I have the same problem which is a lack of time and occasional disappearance. Thank you, Madhu 🙂
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A good honest post! A strange place the blogosphere and as you say mostly insincere. I try to manage my follow list, it currently stands at 42 and could do with being pruned. Sadly, some are blogs I liked to follow but they seem to have gone silent – I keep them there in case they resurface. The thing I hate the most is when I get a like even though I know the post hasn’t been visited or read. Never mind, we carry on!
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This is much appreciated, Andrew 🙂 Sometimes I wonder why I am the only one to stir the waters. Reading all these comments I can see that many people have felt the same. Will do as you said… We carry on … 🙂
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I follow quite a few blogs, I’m actually unsure of the number at this point. Do I read every post from every blog I follow? Hardly, who has the time? There are a few core blogs that I try to regularly read, but it’s getting harder and harder the busier I get. Besides this core group, the only blogs absolutely guaranteed at least a visit are those kind enough to visit and comment on mine. Bloggers who’ve recently subscribed to mine come in a close second, for at least a visit and a “thanks”, though I may never follow in return.
Like Scott above, I started my blog purely as a means to promote my name and photography. I also use the blogs I follow, with few exceptions photography related, as sources if inspiration. So eyes on the images are important to me, even if they only “like” every once in a while, or glance at the photo in their notification email before hitting delete.
Of the almost 1,500 followers I currently have, do I expect every one of them to be hanging on my every word and picture? Again, hardly. What I hope is that at least some of those followers, ideally different ones each time, are looking at each post I publish. Maybe they only see the photo in their reader or notification email and move on. Hopefully the photo is compelling enough to get them to click through to the actual post and leave a comment, or just a “Like.” If not that, hopefully the image will remain in the back of their mind down the road should they ever need a photograph. Again, either way for me, the more eyes on my photos the better. Even if it is only occasionally, 1 out of 5, 1 out of 10, looks at any given post, hopefully it’s a different 1 in 5, 1 in 10, every time.
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Yes, when I read Scott’s comment I remembered your motives. Thank you for your input.
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Very well put, Paula. The slap in the face kind of way you delivered it makes me smile.
Whilst I was away for, geez, 4 months, i felt bad not showing up for a long time. It makes me so happy though that there are genuine followers that are looking for me. And when I returned, I really found out more who my true followers really are. And while I now become busy now, I try my best to blog not just for my own but to also see what posts the Blogs I Follow came up with.
I love blogging. I may leave and be inactive, but I’ll never abandon it.
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I’m glad to hear that Rommel. Posts like these and the feedback from bloggers makes us get to know them a bit more 😉
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Firstly, I have to say thank you, Paula for visiting and liking my main blog. I truly do appreciate it.
Secondly, I never keep track of the blogs I actually follow. Without counting, I know that it’s a lot. I get a ton of e-mail letting me know that their making new posts.
As I have a family life and a business life, I don’t dismiss those notices but take my own time following up on them, even the ones for your blog which I truly enjoy coming back to. I recently edited my settings so that blogs that I was labouring to follow without receiving notices now give me automatic notices. Some of those blogs that would e-mail me regularly, I have switch off for the automatic notifications, although I am still following them. I do this about once-a-year so that everybody I follow gets a turn at keeping me regularly updated. Those bloggers who have closed their accounts altogether; probably out of frustration of low and insincere traffic, I have of course deleted.
My life outside of blogging always comes first. I don’t have as much time as I’d like to make my own posts to promote the work of Modes of Flight, let alone enjoy other people’s blogs. I expect that most of those who “follow” at least my main blog are in the same boat, so I don’t get perturbed when traffic seems slow, or they just click the like button; probably, without reading what I’ve carefully composed or taking more time to view my pictures. They’re just people, and it’s just a blog.
My other 3 blogs have much less traffic but seem to be gaining one or two “followers” each day, although I fully expect traffic from them to remain minimal at best. I quite certain that many of them have clicked the “Follow” and “Like” buttons once, and never returned. I just say, “Oh well!” and move on. I have no expectations of loyalty from them, and many of them are the bloggers whom I happily still follow. It make all the more reason for me to take my time.
I hope that helps, and I hope that you continue to blog. Even when I’m not commenting or clicking buttons, I still come by to actually read what you have to say. On the receiving end, I value that far more than when others come to my blogs to click and run as if that will convince me that they’re paying attention.
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Thank you for sharing this here Allan. I was aware that you had other blogs, but as you said it is the time that is lacking. I am not picky about attention and visits, a few sincere visits per year are much more valuable than all the nonsensical clicking :). I really appreciate your taking time to read this and give us your opinion.
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I agree in principle but think you may be treading on dangerous ground. I agree that many likes and even some follows are relatively meaningless. But I do know I am sincere and am sure many of my followers are too. This is about a sharing community for me, not a contest or moneymaking opportunity. I’ve unfollowed people I determined were just collecting followers and didn’t share my take on blogging. But I also just click like when time is short, look at their images, maybe skim. Time is a factor. But I strongly feel that trading likes with people once in awhile is not evidence of a shallow relationship. That would be very presumptious of me. After all, I don’t know them really. I don’t want to ever presume someone’s motives, especially someone I only know from online contact. Over the years I’ve learned to keep the judgement to a minimum, since I know it’s so easy to be caught making false assumptions.
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Thank you 🙂
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I consider myself to be a serious blogger, but if you don’t visit other blogs, and follow them, at least for a while, to read their new content, how do you expect to increase your knowledge base and readership? I can’t very well publish a post and then cross my fingers that someone somewhere will stumble upon it.
Reading and commenting build connections. Sometimes I hit the like button and move on, if I’ve read something interesting, but the overall tone or focus of the blog doesn’t really suit me. Other times I just leave a ping back on posts that have answered the same prompt I have, because I know that people use these to find more content of a similar nature. I approve ping backs on my blog for the same reason.
I know that not all of my followers read my blog, and I’m okay with that. Still, it’s nice to know that there are people who do, and leave thoughtful and encouraging comments.
BB
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Thank you BB 🙂 I agree with everything you said. Thank you for clicking the follow button ;). I am trying very hard to “follow” all the blogs that I follow. I am pretty busy and only post about twice a week, so I am having a hard time keeping with bloggers that do it daily. I think I’m going to enjoy your blog 🙂
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Thanks for giving me a try!
BB
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P.S. I originally came to leave a ping back (but I always read the posts I leave them at first!)http://bulgingbuttons.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/daily-prompt-pants-on-fire/
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Thank you 😀
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I’ve just spent hours trying to catch up on posts I’ve missed whilst I was away on my travels. I just got to this one of yours. 🙂 I often wonder how many of my 750 ‘followers’ actually read my blog. I’m quite happy with the faithful few, as I know it’s really difficult to keep up with everybody. 🙂
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Thank you so much Sylvia for reading this. I am sure I have missed many of yours. I don’t like when people click follow or like without meaning it, but there are quite a few genuine people out there like you. I am sorry I can’t afford more time to blogging and all the activities associated with it. I can only post twice a week (on rare occasions three times) and it is very hard for me to keep up with bloggers that post daily, so I am sure I miss a lot. I hope they don’t feel bad about it.
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Yes it is hard to keep up, and sometimes I visit someone’s blog, read it and just click the like button so they know I was there. I can’t do that on yours though.
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🙂
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I thought about this recently, my posts go out to between 2-300 readers yet there are only 10-20 likes and 8-9 comments. There are times when I pour my heart and soul into a post, like the last two I did which I am immensely proud of, and feel a bit disappointed that they didn’t have the desired impact.
On the other hand the people who regularly comment are the people I am writing for anyway. They make up for it.
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Thank you for commenting Danny 🙂 I am glad to see that others have thought about the same issues and have come up with similar conclusions 🙂
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