Lessons well learned
I haven’t been blogging all that long. In the big scheme of things, 18 months is very little time.
In my time blogging I have learned many, many things. The following are merely a few.
A blogroll is NOT a dessert full of sugar and fat as was my first thought when I heard the term {and still think it does for that matter}
In a similar vein, a widget isn’t really a bug that will invade your pantry!
Your blogroll Is YOUR community. There are REAL people behind those keyboards, and regardless of the tone on a particular blog, when you delve that little bit further, you will discover some truly amazing human beings.
One of the very first unwritten rules I found was to NOT ignore a comment, regardless of what you thought of it. You wouldn’t ignore a person who said hello in the street, and your blog is no different. It’s simple manners.
The same goes for only responding to some comments and not others. That’s just plain rude. To pick and choose between the merits of one comment as opposed to another is simply wrong in my book, however there are many who don’t share this opinion apparently. Some people even ignore you after leaving a comment on your blog, having it responded to, yet when you repay the visit they ignore you like you don’t exist…go figure!
No matter how loud a person proclaims it’s not about the stats…it IS. If it wasn’t important, we wouldn’t have so many counters now would we?
Whilst personal posts can generate much traffic, many times there are few comments. Some posts simply leave people wondering what they can say that makes sense, and in the absence of finding something they feel is appropriate, choose to say nothing. I too have been guilty of this.
The posts you think will bomb go off like a rocket, and those you think will be great hit the ground with a thud so hard it rattles your bones, and whilst I’ve learned this lesson well, I’ll never, ever work out the difference between the 2!
There are many blogs with content/quality to die for and this is justifiably reflected in their readership and popularity. On the other side of that coin, there are also many blogs full of little but utter crap, regardless of their status. {not mentioning any names here no matter HOW tempting it may be!}
Never underestimate your readers. They are the life blood of your blog. Treat them well and you will be repaid ten fold.
Bloggers are, without a doubt, the friendliest community you will ever meet online.
Nothing is too much trouble to help a fellow blogger. This is a relatively new revelation for me. Since joining the forums, I’ve been privileged to encounter some remarkable people and been on the receiving end of many helpful hints and tips, and in some cases physical help. No question is too silly to ask another blogger.
It is possible to form relationships with people through blogging. I know I have, and to prove it make weekly phone calls, and we’ve planned to America next year to meet 2 people we’ve become very close with.
Many people don’t understand blogging and, quite unfairly, label it all a waste of time. I disagree, vehemently.
How can meeting wonderful people from all walks of life ever be a waste of time?
Blogroll - a dessert full of sugar - mmmmm. I haven’t physically met anyone from blogging but no doubt it will happen one day. In the meantime I enjoy the virtual friendships.
So true, this still happens to me after several years of blogging
How can meeting wonderful people from all walks of life ever be a waste of time?
I don’t think it can be. It opens worlds up to us that we may not ever get a glimpse of otherwise.
Nice post.
Brilliant post Anonymum!!! And so true!
I wanted to pick out 1 point that particularly resonated with me but well…. they all did! And I’ll never view a “blogroll” quite the same every again! 
I am only a few months into blogging so am learning loads at the moment. A point you articulated that resonated strongly with me, is about the community aspect to blogging - bloggers are real people behind the keyboards and as such common courtesy is paramount. Like yourself, I have already have so many people help me with advice and tips and I appreciate them all. Hopefully one day, I might know enough to do the same for other newbies!!!
Great post AM
So many pertinent points….
Very important post and brilliant. So many of us make real life friends through sharing on forums and via blogging … even across the world.
‘It opens worlds up to us that we may not ever get a glimpse of otherwise’.I agree with Bettina and with you … it’s never a waste of time but don’t ask my dear husband !
I try to get to all my comments apart from the meme ones that say nice photo etc… but I endeavour to return the visit. Sometimes when ther eisn’t enough hours in my day or week … I can’t and I feel guilty about it -letting them down
mmm can I have cream with my blogroll please??
thanks for that… cheers kim
Jen: The term amused me the first time I heard it, and still does…there are some strange terms in blogging…i’ve not met anyone yet either, but that will change in time, I can guarantee you..
Neerav: It’s one thing that’s always eluded me…you put your heart, soul and 3 hours into a post , it generates 3 comments, but throw one together for a filler in 10 mns and it takes off like a rocket…go figure hey?
Bettina: As I’ve said, so far they’re virtual friends, but I’ve learned that with blogging friedns you don’t really need to physically be with them…there just seems to be a bond with some..and it’s a tangible bond
Lightening: Thanks! I always have an urge to get the custard happening when I see, hear or say the word…I’ve resisted though, cos I think it might clog up the coding!
PQ: I agree, courtesy is high on the list…I treat people with courtesty in life, and this is, relistically, just an extension of that life…that the medium is a computer is not reason to be rude…they ARE real people that visit and comment…why treat them any different than you like to be treated yourself?
Meg: High praise coming from one who’s opinion I value…thank you
Trish: I do understand on the comments in relation to time…it can be hard sometimes, but it’s those who never respond or acknowledge that annoy me…the internet has made the world a much smaller place and that’s a good thing I think
Kim: I always want custard, but hey, if cream is what you want, I’ll join you and have custard as well! You’re welcome
I think that many bloggers are learning to relax and enjoy a bit. That has got to be good. It can get very stressful trying to fit all the blog world and real life world stuff together.
Your point about which posts resonate and which do not is a puzzle for everyone in blogland. You just have to keep going and not worry about it too much.
Excellent post.
Sugary, fatty blogroll…….mmmmmmmmmmmm.
Excellent points to be made and I’m happy to say that I respond to pretty much 99% of all the comments on my blog. Primarily for the reasons that you’ve put up there and also something from the Simpsons when Ringo Starr said ‘they took the time to write to me and I don’t care if it takes the rest of my life I’m going to write back to each and everyone of them’ or words to that effect.
I’ve made some great friends from my blogroll and reacquainted myself with some old ones too.
Colin: Absolutely it’s good that people are starting to relax a bit. One other thing I find is many write for their readers instead of for themselves. I’m one that writes what I think not what I think others want to read. Yes, comments are nice, but if they don’t happen, they don’t happen. I find by taking this attitude overall, whatever I have to say flows better if that makes sense? I’m more ME as opposed to how I can sometimes come across. Having said that, when people do comment I appreciate eevry last one of them and like to acknowledge they’ve taken time from their day to say something about waht I said.
There are few posts I’ve worried about if they’ve bombed, the odd one here and there, but not too many. I know the difference between a bomb and a rocket will never be worked out. It amuses me no end
Lee: I can’t join the fun with blogroll, cream and custard…no sugar for me at the moment
I agree with Ringo {even if it was on the simpsons which i can’t stomoach!}…I’ve found some great friends through blogging…and friends they are…we laugh togther, we cry together, and these people probably know more about me than people I see every day. It’s a strange thng this blogging, but I love it. Every bit of it
What an excellent post Anonymum - an absolute pearler!
I started blogging to empty a head full of left over bit’s of brainbox business… and it simply grew from there. Strangely, I gathered up a group of readers, started looking around at their blogrolls and man - it grew like a like a mad thing from there.
So much so - I can’t keep up now - cos real life (and as much as blogging is about a ‘virtual world’ it’s all about real people with real lives) keeps getting in the way - dammit! I end up feeling guilty because I don’t put enough regular posts out there in the ‘blogosphere’, nor get the time to comment and repay the compliment (and it IS a compliment to have someone drop by and leave an engaging or nice comment) on your readers blogs.
Bugger - so much to do - so little time lol
Cheers Anonymum!
Belongum: Firstly, my thanks for your kind words! A pearler? High praise indeed!
I find life gets in the way a lot too. It seems to come with the territory when you blog, and yes, whilst it’s a virtual world, it’s a very real world, and one that those who DON’T blog, simply don’t understand. The thinking behind it tends to elude them and they see bloggers as a strange race of aliens.
I find it relaxing, fascinating and can hardly remember what life was like before I started it. Many would say the same, it’s like an addiction that you don’t want to let go of!
When my daughter first started doing it, I’ll admit to thinking she’s lost the plot! Until I started..THEN I understood.
Don’t ever feel guilty for not doing enough. If what you post is only once a week and it’s good, then what does it matter. Comments are indeed a compliment, I agree.
I think if people see you’re making an effort, they don’t mind so much as if you ignore them completely.
Cheers for the comment, and to everyone else who commented as well. It’s nice when a post is well received no matter where it’s done