Today I was looking back at old posts on my blog.
It's fun to stop and look back sometimes.
Seeing how much J has grown since I started blogging way back in 2007.
3 years of memories to sift through.
I was enjoying looking at the posts and noticed that I use to get a lot more comments on each post than I do now.
I wonder why?
Then I decided to take a look at those commenter's blogs, say hello, see what's up.
The first 5 that I clicked on haven't posted in at least a year.
I am shocked.
Why are people abandoning their blogs?
Some of those bloggy friends had YEARS of posts documenting their lives.
Suddenly, I miss them.
Is that weird? To miss someone who use to leave love on your blog and in return you leave a little love on their blog and a bloggy friendship is born...that's cool stuff. How did I let it just fizzle out?
I have taken my fair share of bloggy breaks, that's for sure...but I don't think I could ever just walk away from my blog.
Could you?
I feel invested. I feel connected to people through blogging.
I also feel ashamed to have let those bloggy friendships fade into the sunset.
I am recommitting myself today.
From this day forward, if you comment on my blog I am going to come and comment on yours.
I have been doing the whole email response thing, and I will probably still do that to answer a question or ya know, if i feel like it.
You know the main reason I started blogging was to keep in touch with far away family. It turned into something I truly needed...a community of friends and support.
You see when we moved here 4 years ago I felt like I was on an island. I did not know the area. Did not like the area and the people here were like from another planet...seriously strangest part of California ever.
Really not a lot has changed. I haven't made many local friends. I have a few real quality friendships, locally speaking, that I truly value but in some cases I feel more deeply connected to some of you.
Yes YOU!
(awww, how sweet...)
Also while I am on the blogging topic in general...let's talk about hits and comments and junk like that.
I have over 600 followers and get an average of 350 hits a day.
That is 350 people stopping in and READING my posts but rarely do I ever get 10% of that in comments...sometimes it is more like 5%.
Weird right?
I think I need to come up with a giveaway for my lurkers to bring them out of their hidey holes and let me know who they are.
Something to consider I suppose...for the sake of bloggy connections. *wink*
31 Dandelion Wishes Made:
That's kindof sad.. I try to comment anytime I have something coherent to say, because I know how much I love comments, so I figure everyone else does too.. its like validation that you rock, which is also kindof sad now that I think about it..
Now you see why I don't always leave comments, because that made NO sense.
I could have wrote this post about my blog...I have found for me I get comments from different people on different topics...like yesterday people i had no idea were reading commented I think it takes a topic that one particular person can relate to to bring them out of hiding...however for me that is rare since i mainly post dribble lol
I have no idea how many people visit every post I write. I thing reader makes it too easy to not take the extra step to leave a comment for a lot of people.
I do definately try to comment back on all comments I receive.
so I'm delurking for today! :)
I do want to say that I enjoy reading your blog.
I love the new look. I know you have had it for just a little while now.
Also... how are the braces/teeth going? I remember you were postng monthly pics so we could see how they were doing....I have been missing those posts.
I miss it when people I read go away:-)
I ditto your post.
However, I have NEVER had that many followers nor do I think I WANT that many. Why the latter? Because I think I put too many personal things on and I don't want to get weirdo's or hackers or what have yous.
But I do like a couple of bloggy (cyber) friends.
I have met some and just love them.
Some I have quit following because they never reply on a comment I made and I felt like I was stalking them.
Welp, that's my story.
HolleeAnn, you know I've been reading your blog for well over a year now, and I don't leave a comment every time. Sometimes, I'm feeling kinda blah and don't have anything to say! But I do know what you mean about people abandoning their blogs. I took a break, came back, and found I had lost alot of people - same amount of followers, less traffic and fewer comments. Oh well. I blog more for me anyway.
I don't have a ton of followers either, and I'm okay with that. I just blog as a kinds of journal for my family and extended family.
I don't think I could abandon it either...it's too much of an investment already, and I love looking back through it.
I try to comment on most blogs I read....sometimes I don't if I'm in a rush to get out the door and I just want to check on my "peeps", but I try to give some love because I want to know if someone has read my blog....even if it's just a happy face. :)
I heart comments.
And the answer to your question is FACEBOOK.
I am a fan of FB, just "not a fan" of the more personal connection that blogging provides.
Now that I've gone private, I rarely get over 5 comments, which is ok, since I know who is looking, now...but still. I won't lie. I miss the comments.
I don't think I could just walk away from my blog. I rarely walk away from anything - whether that's a good or bad thing, I don't know.
Anyway, I see that you comment on my blog and I really appreciate it! Time is precious and the fact that people take the time to really read my blog AND comment makes me feel special. I'm pretty new to the whole blogging community and it really has, like you said, become a community that I've grown to love.
I really enjoy your blog. And your swaps. It's so neat to be able to "meet" these people and learn about what's going on in their world. And if you pick up a hint or tip in the meantime, score!!
I blurk, therefore I am.
Just kidding. I am just a thoroughly boring person and rarely leave comments for that reason.
Angela
Sometimes I am guilty of lurking. Not by choice, but usually because it's hard to type with a baby on my lap.
As for walking away from blogging, although I have taken many breaks and have moved to a new bloggy home, I could never quit!
Funny you posted this because I've noticed the same thing - but I think some it has to do with the fact that I haven't been visiting blogs as much lately. But also some of my favorite bloggy buddies just don't blog anymore - bummer. I miss them too. Funny, huh?
btw - It was great to hear your voice today! I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your summer. :)
Amanda (Shortmama) had the same question the other day. I told her that I always wondered why when I went to leave a comment on "popular" blogs (you know, ones that have lots of followers like you & her) only have just a few comments. I sometimes just assumed it was because I was always really quick to read & comment when a blog was posted but lately I've been super duper busy & haven't been reading posts as quickly but still comments are slim. Totally weird. I love leaving comments so you can always count on mine :)
Maybe when lives get busy it's easier to read and not respond. I think we do that a lot in life, not just online. I bet you could all check your facebook friends and see the exact same trend - a lot of excitement and connection when it began, and then a fizzle once everyone is used to the phenomenon, or has gotten too busy to want to expend their engery. I did enjoy your post, though, and wish you luck in your new, or possibly renewed, venture!
Interesting! I know I post a lot less in the summer in general, which is sad because I"m doing more exciting things but I just don't have the time. I've definitely taken bloggy breaks before but I don't know if I can ever really, really walk away. That would be hard!
When I started my blog I was so excited about it and wanted to make it sort of a scrapbook for my daughter/family but for some reason I just couldn't get into it. I was just thinking about why I stopped blogging the other day and I may have found the connection. When I stopped blogging I was still using my old laptop which was super slow. About a year ago I got a new one and its much faster so maybe I should try it again. I definetly take plenty of pictures and now would really have something to blog about since Ky is in tap dance, and soon to be in soccer and school.
I've walked away from blogs. But I saved them to my computer first. Does that still count? My first blog was on a small server and for a few reasons that server had to close down; I lost touch with a lot of bloggy friends when our server was lost! I moved to blogger a few years ago and just this month I closed my blog to start a new one, which I'm enjoying a lot more. It's hard to break into a new group of bloggers, though, and make new friends!
I do sometimes miss some of my old commenters, though.
You should feel good about your blog. I hosted a giveaway when I launched my blog and even after ten days didn't get one entry! AH!
Yeah I dont get it either! It seems like over the last few months my hits have gone up by my comments have gone down...so weird!
Feel the same way you do about those who no longer blog and those who visit and don't comment. I try to comment on each blog I visit to that they know I am reading, but I don't get that in return. Just hosted a Christmas In July week with some really fun Etsy shops and the largest number of entries I had was around 20 comments. And it was so simple to enter - just leave a comment. Kind of upset me.. Oh well!
Have a great weekend!
Yeah - I am a lurker. I read and read and read many blogs and I do not comment.. hardly ever!! I am bad like that.
I just feel like a goober if I comment and I may not come across like I want it to.. so.. I usually just sit back in the wings and watch.
I used to post all of the time but I realized that a month had passed and I hadn't posted. I think summer is partly to blame. I would rather be outside and enjoying my free time than parked in front of a computer. I am slowly picking up speed again. :o)
this summer i have had the WORST time trying to sit down and blog, the kids are on my like flies on POO when i'm at the computer!! i hate that i've fallen so behind:(
still love ya though ♥
I'll say hello! I don't think I could ever leave my blog sometimes I don't get much on it and some days I make several posts but I love looking back and seeing what I wrote about :) I can't remember how I found your blog but its in my blogroll so I'm sure you posted something that I enjoyed! I'll try and stop by more often. Come visit my blog sometime if you want!
Oh and I think I just became your 666th google friend...I should win a creepy prize for that :) Ha ha just kidding but quick someone else follow cuz' thats a creepy number!
I totally get what you mean about never being able to give up your blog! I was gone for 2 weeks, and had serious withdrawals.
I just love my bloggy friends too much, I guess!
I go in and out of blogging...depends on what's going on in real life, ya know? I need to be better about it, though. But don't get as many comments as you. ;)
Well, I don't have near the followers or commentors but I understand the curiosity of where they have all gone. I too like to read my old blog posts from 2006 and it is interesting how much I have changed in my writing and "sharing".
Since I found the site for printing your blog I have really tried hard to keep updating mine. I'm now considering it a memory keeper for my girls. I've stopped filling albums with printed pictures. Instead I include all my great pictures into posts so I not only have the pictures but the stories as well. I still love your blog. Glad to hear you're not abandoning any time soon!
mine has been in the crapper lately. i mean my comments. my blog has been slower in posts too. i think Fb has killed the blog star in all of us. faster connections but less of the background story. i have to do both.
i can't walk away from my blog i love it too much but i have had to back off on the time use to maintain all my blog friendships. sigh. just not enough time in the day.
but i love keeping up with you on FB. you are one of my fave blogfriends.
So I just did some catching up and I will admit that I'm a lurker. I have to go to my parents house to update my blog (my computer freezes) so I rarely check blogs from home anymore. I love what you have done with the blog, the new look!
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