We have a great group of bloggers in my area who get together now and then -- I'm lucky to be a part of a group of smart, interesting ladies who like writing and appreciate my grammar geekiness (that's two of them in the photo with me at last year's blogging conference). But beyond that, I love the virtual community that exists online through blogging.
It's knowing that I can leave a comment on a blog about a friend's terrible day. Or discovering that a long-lost friend is enjoying my random stories. Or finding a new writer with a mutual love of precise language and snarky stories.
If you have your own blog, you probably already know all of this. But if you don't (or even if you do), you might be reading blogs without thinking about what's happening on the other end of the screen.
So, in case you need some tips, here are five ways to make (or keep) your favorite bloggers happy:
- Leave a comment: The only way we really know that you read a post is if you leave a comment. And despite what you might think, most bloggers aren’t just writing to “hear themselves talk.” We actually want to have a sort of conversation with you. Share your own related story, post a reaction or just leave some words of encouragement.
- Share a post: Read something that catches your attention? Email the post to a friend, link to it on Facebook or tweet about it. That's the beauty of posting all these stories, jokes, rants, recipes and recommendations online -- it makes them easy to share.
- Suggest a topic: Need advice? Just want someone else’s perspective on something? Tell your favorite blogger and see what she (or he) can do with it.
- Click a link: Most blogs will have an archive or labels or tags of some sort to categorize old posts. Unless you’ve read every post since a blog was born (hi Mom and Dad!), you might have missed something great. Pick a category at random and see what comes out of the archive.
- Subscribe: There are multiple ways to follow most blogs – “like” them on Facebook (or use the Networked Blogs app), subscribe by email, follow on Twitter or add them to your RSS feed. That way you never miss a post.
Now let's test what you've learned -- leave us a comment with a link to one of your favorite blogs (other than mine, of course) and let's share the love.
.
Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.
ReplyDeleteI In Real LIfe friends who don't comment because they feel like they'd be taking over my blog. It's OUR blog. People who read,comment, care, share are a part of my blog. I smile when I see the familiar avatars, knowing I'm going to read something from someone who 'gets' me. When a longtime subscriber comes out of the closet, it tickles me. I know you subscribed honey, thanks for finally speaking up! ;)
As for sharing, Snarky in the Suburbs sometimes hits the nail so hard on the head, I can't help but just laugh laugh laugh. And I tend not to read long posts but hers are often worth the time.
www.snarkyinthesuburbs.com
Yes. I love comments. I read every single one, even if I don't reply to them all. My favorite is when a conversation happens between two commenters. And I agree with Kim above about long time readers finally commenting on something. One of the funniest blogs I've read is http://www.thebeardediris.com/ Not sure if you know her or not. Read some of her favorites (on the sidebar) for serious laughs. I'm a little bit in love with her.
ReplyDeletePerfect post!!! Nothing turns around a difficult day like a whole bunch of Comment Approvals in my inbox!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent! And thanks for writing it. I would love to hear from more readers. I sometimes write something and see my pagehits go up but my readers stay mute. When it's something I really enjoyed writing I tend to take the silence as a thumbs down.
ReplyDeleteKeep up your fabulosity! And here's some more to enjoy: http://mountaenos.blogspot.com/. It's a blog about using rhetoric and big old words to be a better writer. I just like feeling my brain strain when I read an entry.
Ironically, since I've been a vocal commenter since before I had a blog, this is an entry I had to think about how to respond to. Not because I didn't like it, but because I think you said it so well that I'm not sure what to add!
ReplyDeleteHence, I shall simply post one of my favorite blogs to visit and then bound off to visit some of the suggestions in the other comments: http://sleeptalkinman.blogspot.com/
And please, oh please keep being a grammar geek. There are far too few of us in the blogosphere.