Reading but no commenting?

I'm told for every 10 blog readers, there is only 1 comment. I'm told people read, but no one comments anymore.

When I started blogging, it was a way for me to meet other writers, commiserate, start the "platform" I was told I needed to start. It was fun and I enjoyed it. Back then I had 100-150 followers and on any random day, I'd get a slew of comments. I felt the love!!

But now things are different. I still post blogs, though less frequently. But even with double the followers I used to have, I'm lucky to get 2-3 comments. I check my stats on Bloggers and it shows a decent amount of blog hits. So I *think* people are reading. But I guess I'm just not seeing the proof...in the form of feedback....interaction....the whole reason I got into blogging to begin with.

But I do get that interaction on Twitter now. So maybe things have just shifted??

I try to keep my blog fresh and updated, since it is doubling as my website for the time being. Blogger is easy to use and with the pages function, it just made sense to me. I can't afford to hire someone to make a fancy website right now.  And I wouldn't know how to update it anyway.

So...blog readers, if you're reading this, why do you read and not comment? I don't comment on every blog I read...usually it's because I just don't have anything to add.

Blogs people like to read??

So I just Googled "What do people like to read about on blogs?"

Not many helpful links came up. The first was a site called "What white people like". Didn't even waste my time clicking on that one. Another came up "100 Blog Topics I Hope You Write". That sounded interesting, so I clicked it. Nothing exciting.

I love blogging and sharing my writing journey...but lately it seems no one is really interested. I've been getting very few comments and Google Analytics shows low numbers, aside from a blogfest last month.

I am desperately trying to find out what people want to read about and comment about!! I want readers to know me...but is my life really all that interesting??? My writing life is probably the most exciting thing I got going!! No one wants to read about my trips to the gym or housework. I don't lead a very glamorous life!!

But my goal this year is to gain new followers and get more conversations going in my comments. I am always so jealous of blogs with 20+ comments! I can count on one hand how many of my posts have gotten that response!! And it's been almost 2 years I've been blogging!!

Make sure you sign up for the Show Me the Love Blogfest!

Social networking and our opinions

I think most people frequent at least one from of social networking- Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, etc..., whether it be for business reasons or purely for pleasure. I visit these places for both reasons. Some weigh more toward one reason than the other, but I do it because I enjoy it. And I like interacting with others.

BUT.....

Everyone has their chance to say whatever is on their mind....whenever they want. Opinions on anything and everything. And we all have our opinions, which are different from what others think. So when we open ourselves up by posting our thoughts.....it's expected that others will respond with their opposite opinions, right????

When I post something, I do it with the knowledge that someone may think differently and share their thoughts. I normally don't mind....I don't expect or want everyone to think the same as I do. I don't mind a good debate as long as all parties remain open-minded and things don't get nasty.

When you post, do you expect to get a range of comments back?? Does it bother you if someone disagrees with you?? Since it is your post, if someone doesn't agree, should they just not comment??

There are many times I have a different opinion that what someone has posted and I wonder if I really should comment. I try my hardest to always post my opinions in a concise and respectful way. But as we all know, words on a screen are often misconstrued.

Commenting on blog posts

I try my hardest to read as many blogs as I can...but honestly...my blog reading time is limited and I just can't read every post written by every blog I follow. I'd love to...but physically, it's impossible. And that fact only makes me appreciate the comments I get even more. I assume most bloggers are like me...to some degree. No one has time to sit and read blog posts all day long. We all have responsibilities- homes, kids, jobs out of the home, writing. So when someone takes the couple minutes to read my post and then comment, wow...it means so so much!!!!

And I like to make sure I acknowledge those comments back. But what is the best way???

I am constantly learning about the internet and how things work...I am always picking up something new. Blogging is no exception. It took me a while to figure out I could click a box and have all blog comments emailed to me. That was such a fantastic discovery!! I didn't have to go and check my blog eighty times a day to see if someone commented!! And there was no more mystery to whether or not someone commented on an old post!

So it it easiest to just reply to those emails directly for acknowledgment???

Sometimes when I comment on someone else's blog, I will subscribe...but not all the time. It's not real fun to open my inbox and find fifty new emails- most of them comments on a blog I subscribed to.

What do you guys do in regards to blog post comments???? And bloggers who get 20, 30+ comments...do you reply to them all personally???? At this point, I can keep up with my comments...I usually only have a handful. But someday I hope to get more!!