I don't think of myself as a competitive person by nature. That could be an admittedly biased view, but I am just putting it out there. I do like to have an especially tasty dish at a potluck and that, as my friend M. puts it, may be my one "thing."
I must admit, though, that recently, Blog envy has entered my consciousness. My friend J., who was my editor in Charlotte is, in fact, a superior writer. Her blog, Welcome to My Momplex, has almost 40 followers. I am guessing this is because she a) as already mentioned, is a superior writer and b) writes about more interesting things than her 20 year internal struggle with her grade school nemesis.
I realize, of course, that this is not a competition. This blog - ironically - started as a way to let said Momplex author know what was going on in my life without writing her e-mails that took three days to read. (Side note, J and I only worked together in Charlotte for six months, and have now been friends for over 10 years. Funny how fate works out, huh?)
My question to all of you out there in the blog-o-sphere is this - how does one build a readership? How does one grow your following to almost 40 people interested in what you have to say on a daily basis?
Now I will address what my friend T. - she of Momakin fame - has called "Comment Crack." Sooooo aptly put, friend. (She, may I add, also has a nice cache of followers. But I'm not supposed to be counting, right?) It is funny what I put out there that I think will engender a lot of debate among friends, or at least commenting. It never does. It is the post that is the throwaway that ends up with either a silly string of comments that I love or thought provoking notes from friends, some of whom I wasn't even aware stop by at all. Ahhh, the Comment Crack. So addictive when you get a taste, and yet something you cannot - or at least should not - force.
So I will continue brain-dumping, as I used to call it in my pre-baby life in the workplace, and you all do with it what ya please. I'm glad you stop by and happy you read. :)
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5 comments:
Happy to be a regular supplier of your comment crack, my friend.
It is a tricky thing, isn't it? I have blog envy, too - big time!
My current issue is wanting a pretty blog - which is so superficial it's ridiculous. But not all of us can be the amazing writers that J is!!! I see a lot of blogs out there that are more style than substance, and they get followers by the boatloads. Of course, given the choice, I'd choose substance over style. But I'm entering a particularly ugly phase wherein I'm channeling my inner 12 y/o and pouting while saying things like, "all the other girls have pretty blogs..."
In answer to your question, the first and probably most important thing to do is comment yourself at the blogs you visit. Most will visit you back if you've left a comment. Some will stick around if they like what they see.
I sure do hear what you're saying about not being able to anticipate what people will respond to! I am way off on that one every time!
You hit a nerve with me today - I've, as I said, been experiencing a lot of envy, too. Thanks for giving voice to it.
Oh! And thanks for the linkage!!!
aaaaand - if you didn't figure out from my example - that networked blogs thing on FB is a great way to build your following!!! It didn't actually start doing anything until I had 7 followers, but I guess it's working ok now!!!
Tam - I'm on there too, but haven't gotten any traction.
Don't know if you got my note, but I've been unable to comment here. Maybe that's part of what's up?
Ahhhh! It let me back in! Yeah!!!! In case you didn't get my email, (1) thanks for the compliments, (2) thanks even more for the enduring friendship, and (3) I say you've built it and people should be coming. Wish I could suggest something helpful. Maybe it's a frequency-of-posting thing? I try not to let more than a few days pass between posts.
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