tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post3459760451055129990..comments2024-03-18T05:15:30.666-04:00Comments on Foma*: Blog Advice From WaPoyellojkthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09592683505688819187noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-41260500417264128742007-11-06T01:08:00.000-05:002007-11-06T01:08:00.000-05:00I'm not particularly concerned with my numbers (go...I'm not particularly concerned with my numbers (good thing, since they're rather low...), but I can't see nominating myself for any particular awards (except, perhaps, "Most Verbose": is there one like that?). I did once experience a fairly significant jump when one of the major music blogs linked to something I wrote - and if I post a photo and mention it over at CC, that drives up my numbers too - but generally those things happen either organically (the CC thing) or accidentally. I'm not consistent enough - certainly not in topic or approach, probably not in frequency (although I've been posting more lately, and trying to have at least a few short, punch posts mixed in with my classic TL-DR stylee), and probably not in quality either.<BR/><BR/>I will say that having an RSS is important: there's only one blog I read regularly that lacks it, and at times I just forget to check it, since as I'm checking my RSS thingy it doesn't come up. Luckily, she's a good writer, so I tend to remember.<BR/><BR/>See? Too long.2fshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17813487704459856169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-14669315218015034882007-11-05T21:31:00.000-05:002007-11-05T21:31:00.000-05:00I'm not sure what a RSS feed is. Is it something ...I'm not sure what a RSS feed is. Is it something that notifies me when you've updated?<BR/>But I like reading your blog because of your stories and because (unlike me) you post pretty consistently. I also like reading through the comments people leave.<BR/>:o) ElizabethElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06544076384942487436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-54492583601493166752007-11-05T18:12:00.000-05:002007-11-05T18:12:00.000-05:00I've mentioned that Empress Dooce has no clothes. ...I've mentioned that Empress Dooce has no clothes. The success of her blog <A HREF="http://livebythefoma.blogspot.com/2006/09/wrapped-up-like-dooce.html" REL="nofollow">baffles me</A>. Network effect, first in a niche, and building community all are a factor. I've dropped blogs from my blogroll because the writer no longer bothered to ever visit mine once they became big time.<BR/><BR/>I prefer to view my blog as a friendly place to drop by. I just don't have time to regularly visit many more blogs than I already do.yellojkthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592683505688819187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-65419996790040068502007-11-05T17:58:00.000-05:002007-11-05T17:58:00.000-05:00It seems to me that in some cases, becoming a majo...It seems to me that in some cases, becoming a major league blogger has more to do with perception than content. <BR/><BR/>If the readers <I>think</I> you're a big deal then for some reason they will flock to your site and leave 100s of comments, even though your blog's content is mostly so-so (i.e. Dooce). <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, I've read some VERY creative writers who only get a couple of comments a day - only because they're not perceived as some kind of "celebrity." <BR/><BR/>I think one good way to build readership is to consistently leave comments on tons of other people's blogs more than anything, but who really has time for that?Jeff and Charli Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13868852480996815442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-18918387914974790942007-11-05T12:30:00.000-05:002007-11-05T12:30:00.000-05:00The complete Studio 60 is coming out on DVD for th...The complete Studio 60 is coming out on DVD for those that want to prolong the pain. It might be worth investing in if you want to try the drinking game for a series of Friday night gatherings. Who knows, it may yet be a cult hit.<BR/><BR/>drNeedleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322437575472650069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-16680426963611501952007-11-05T11:49:00.000-05:002007-11-05T11:49:00.000-05:00It turns out I do have a feedburner subscription. ...It turns out I do have a feedburner subscription. I just didn't realize it. According to it, I have five subscribers. As alex recommended, I put my RSS link in a more prominent place. We'll see what that does.<BR/><BR/>dan,<BR/>It's so rare to hear from an actual writer. Thanks for the comment. I don't know how many times I've linked to a Joel Achenbach article or blogpost and never gotten a word. I think I annoy him a little.<BR/><BR/>My issues with Sunday Source are probably an entire entry. Let's start with the abnormally high ratio of white space.yellojkthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592683505688819187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-14642970986180000022007-11-05T11:14:00.000-05:002007-11-05T11:14:00.000-05:00Glad you thought my story was (mostly) practical. ...Glad you thought my story was (mostly) practical. It was, of course, aimed at people who WANT traffic (the "how to blog" story is as passe as blogging itself, so I wanted to approach it purely from a readership standpoint).<BR/><BR/>As for the Sunday Source being "usually useless," I'd love to hear why you think that, how you think we can do better, and what ideas you might have for us. Please e-mail me at zakd@washpost.com.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-64532639885168791362007-11-05T10:04:00.000-05:002007-11-05T10:04:00.000-05:00Use "feeburner" to get a handle on your RSS reader...Use "feeburner" to get a handle on your RSS readers.<BR/><BR/>Linking to and commenting on other blogs seems to generate the most readers. I have always wanted readers--that's the point, isn't it? It's not to make money, it's to get my words out there. The feedback is great too.<BR/><BR/>I'm disinclined to nominate myself for awards but I think it's a fine idea.<BR/><BR/>I don't think a theme is necessary, but I've found it easier to write with a general theme. I don't feel compelled to stick with it, but it gives me some direction.<BR/><BR/>When I read other blogs, it's for content, narrative (plot), and style. The best blogs excel all three areas but I like others that are good stories even if not well-written.Jamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328884172511150275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-65353674309262786932007-11-05T08:01:00.000-05:002007-11-05T08:01:00.000-05:00Besides being a traffic generating scam, the award...Besides being a traffic generating scam, the awards blogs don't ever have a category that fits me: Random Stuff.<BR/><BR/>I wish I had a better idea how many people read me through a rss feed.yellojkthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592683505688819187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-16196392370034745882007-11-05T07:40:00.000-05:002007-11-05T07:40:00.000-05:00Creating a voice? Eh. Awards? Eh. If you're an ama...Creating a voice? Eh. Awards? Eh. If you're an amateur and not trying to make a fortune, many of these ideas don't matter. Big hits are often just a way to stroke your ego.<BR/><BR/>Post when you have something to post. For some creativity isn't a strong suit, for others there aren't enough hours in the day, and still for some not that much happens to us on a daily basis worth writing about.<BR/><BR/>Easy access is key. My pet peeve is people who don't provide full content via RSS.<BR/><BR/>I comment on most things that interesting to me, mostly after perusing through subscriptions in Google Reader. I rarely hit up the links on blog rolls, but usually click through on commenter's links. I've found many a good blogs thataway.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04528549821608330424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11920826.post-77573335875323797122007-11-05T07:10:00.000-05:002007-11-05T07:10:00.000-05:00Nominate yourself for awards? That's kinda wrong.Nominate yourself for awards? That's kinda wrong.The Mistress of the Darkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16923975714269274370noreply@blogger.com