Rants, Rita, and Realities – A Grace Full Life
My podcast is available on Apple podcasts, my husband just informed me the other day. I know many of you aren’t on Spotify, which was why you couldn’t listen.
I mentioned that I recorded my first ad, but it didn’t play at the start of the podcast. I’m not sure what happened because Spotify controls where it goes. The good news is I’ve earned another penny since I recorded this! 😉
This week, I talk about the difference between engagement and numbers in the comment section of a blog. I talk about how important your comments are to writers. Or is that a broad generalization? I know how much they matter to me. I talk about how comments affect my ego and how I’m fine expressing that side of myself because it’s part of my journey. I also emphasize that bloggers have the ability to remove the comment section from their posts.
Question for bloggers- Would you keep writing if you didn’t get any comments?
I also shared a snippet of a story about a comment I received a few years ago. Those closest to me are aware of the situation I’m referring to. Hundreds of blogs were affected, so I’m not alone. I felt compelled to mention it here because this is the second time I’ve emotionally (vaguely) vomited about it on my podcast. If we have our writer meetup next summer, we’ll talk about it over a few drinks around the bonfire.
I talked about stats and pageviews and how easy it is to get caught up in that as a blogger, especially if you’re new to it all. When I first started blogging, I checked my numbers every day. When I started monetizing my blog, it changed the way I looked at my numbers.
I haven’t had to check my numbers in years, and it has affected the way I blog. There’s nothing wrong with blogging for money. Everyone has a niche; it just didn’t work for me.
I’m learning how to interact with my readers in my comment section from so many inspiring bloggers. That is exactly what I want my blog to be when it “grows up.” A place where you can meet new people. To learn, to help others, to grow, and to connect. I’ve survived the last two years so much better because of the connections made through this blog.
In the WordPress dashboard, I explained the difference between a visitor and a view. Here is a link to the tutorial:
Stats and Insights – WordPress.com Support
I also talked about an article that visualizes crowd sizes based on readership or, in the case of this article, podcast audiences.
Here is the crowd size that corresponds to my monthly readership:
I mentioned that I can see all of you in the audience.
Here is the article:
I appreciate each and every one of you. When I say that at the end of each podcast, I mean it. Thank you for reading and commenting each week. And, for those who aren’t comfortable commenting but have been reading along the entire time, thank you for doing so.
What are some of the reasons you believe people are hesitant to comment on blogs?
What makes you want to leave a comment on a blog post? What makes you less likely?
A Grace Full Life 
You KNOW I’m all about the comments, the sincere ones at least. I believe in leaving them on blog posts that resonate with me and I believe in chatting with anyone who leaves comments on my blog posts. It’s all about the connections, the feeling of being understood and appreciated. Forget the numbers, community is what I’m going for on my personal blog.
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Yes to all of this! You’ve been an excellent role model. I enjoy reading your comment section and interacting with you and your readers.
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Wow, I don’t think anyone has ever called me a role model [at least in a positive way]! Thank you
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You’re welcome. 🙂
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For the majority of the life of my blog (12+ years), I never received a single comment or like. So yeah, I will continue to keep writing, engagement or no. “I blog so I don’t kill people” could be my motto. 😉
Deb
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I am laughing so hard. “I blog so I don’t kill people.” Holy shit, yes.
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Would I keep writing my blog if I didn’t get any comments? Nope. If I were OK with that kind of exchange, I would set my sights on more formal publication. A recent post got no comments (or, it finally did, but quite a while after I posted it), and then I skipped a few weeks. Not in a huffy way; it was more that I have been really busy in new ways and it wasn’t worth the time writing would take for no conversation. For me, it’s not a blog unless a dialog in the comments is part of it. If it’s not, it’s just a website.
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Yes! You get it. Thank you for saying what I couldn’t quite put into words.
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Hey 2 things, first this episode says #24 but the one prior is #22. Also, I listened on Spotify but for whatever reason didn’t hear the ad. It didn’t play. But hey isn’t that 11 cents a great feeling ?! I’ve been doing it since April and I am nearly at $6. If I was on social I’m pretty sure my audience would be bigger and I’d be at $15. But, I’m content where it is. Yeah, lots of work does go into it. I once spent about 4 hours trying to read and record a story in one shot, I finally decided multiple records were needed because of all the characters. I am a voice of one.
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Oh crap, I skipped one! LOL.
I’m not sure what happened with the ads. When I published the podcast, it said something about the sponsor not being activated for this episode or something weird like that. But if you go back and listen to my previous episodes, the ad is playing there, so I’m not sure what is going on.
That 11 cents IS a great feeling. 🙂
I understand the social media dilemma with every ounce of my being. I’m tempted to leave Instagram now, even though I realize it makes no sense for a writer who is about to release her first book. If I had the money, I’d hire someone to do my social media for me because I despise it so much.
I know how much work goes into the podcasts and blog posts, so I appreciate everything you do. 🙂
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Right back at ya, I am super impressed to have met people like yourself that have either published or are about to. I self published comics and zines in the 90’s but it’s not the same.
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That is quite impressive, Matt. Every day artists inspire me. I’m so glad to be a part of this community.
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When I started blogging I wasn’t reading other people’s blogs. It was only during the past couple years that I began commenting and reading blogs daily. Probably the shut down had my blogging habits evolve as a way to connect to other human beings with similar interests. My parenting advice articles on SwimSwam got tons of comments. When they get nasty and negative I didn’t want to write them anymore. In contrast, I feel that people like you and the other bloggers I follow are so supportive and positive.
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Because of negative comments, I wish to stay relatively small. So, I’m sorry you had that experience.
This blogging community has taught me so much. Every day, I’m thankful for them.
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I am too.
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🙂
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I’m not sure I would keep writing if I never got any comments! What a great question… I work hard to leave lots of comments on both blogs I read often and brand new blogs each week. I never used to leave comments because I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my name and email with each blogger.
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You do an amazing job of leaving comments on blogs. I believe it’s important to create that relationship with other bloggers.
In response to leaving names and addresses to comment, I believe this is why many who do not blog are hesitant to leave a comment.
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I’m hesitant to comment because I just don’t know if a blogger actually wants you to comment. Some people totally dismiss things, and I think it it makes me stop and think of the “worth” of my comment. I think some blogs don’t give you a reason to say anything, they don’t give you a natural opening. Also some bloggers have their community and really don’t care about “new” people. I live the comments, so I do what I can to get people to engage
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This is so true, LA. The “natural opening” in particular. It’s like waiting for your turn to speak at a dinner party, except no one wants to hear your viewpoint, HA.
Your blog has been an inspiration to me, both in terms of how you write and how you engage with your readers.
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Engaging with people is important to me 98% of the time. Though I wrote myself NDA’s post this morning, and I was in a mood, so I don’t know who will comment in that!
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Ooh, heading over to read AND comment now. 🙂
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I started writing my blog as a test – would I have time to blog? I feared having an audience (how I thought they would magically appear, I have no idea) and then not being able to keep up. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. Once I got in the groove, I started reading other blogs and I now live for comments and the engaging that happens along the way. I love having a group of friends that I’ve not necessarily met, but who are so supportive, fun, interested, and interesting. I’m not great at knowing what the numbers mean on my blogger blog, but when I get a bunch of ‘views’ I assume it’s because there are robots ‘reading’ my blog. That bot thing makes no sense to me.
I’d initially started blogging in the hopes that it could be a way to create some income. Now I see the benefits in different ways as I’ve never made a penny blogging. I’m over it. Beyond the joy I get from engaging with readers, I feel like I’m sharpening my writing skills, not to mention I can look back and read about stuff that I might later forget ever happened. Hello, not getting any younger.
I do sometimes feel bad for being a late-to-the-party commenter. Exhibit A – today. I’ve had a nasty sinus infection since Wednesday, and STILL woke up with a terrible headache today. In addition we went to see Eddie at school and I organized a tailgater. What I wouldn’t give to just lay in bed all day.
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I also love having a group of friends I haven’t met in person. I hope to meet every one those friends eventually. Well, I’ve met you. 😉
Yes to the benefits of engagement outweighing the money!
I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, Ernie. You never have to feel bad about being late to comment. You’ve got a lot going on in your life. It’s a gift that you’re commenting at all.
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This was a fun podcast. I rarely check my stats, but I HAD to after hearing yours. I get less than 600 visitors each month. So, yeah, I’m a loser.
HA. Kidding.
I started my blog more as a journal to share with my Mom since we lived far apart. But once I started getting comments, I was loving it. I’m all about the interaction too, and like most things quality over quantity is key.
If I stopped getting comments, I’d probably stop blogging since Bev isn’t reading this anymore. (or is she? What is the wifi strength up there?)
Ughh on the nasty commenter. I get spam, but luckily it’s just stupid robots and WordPress catches them.
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Ha, no you’re not! I get traffic from the most unlikely Pinterest links. Like, from a master bathroom post I wrote in 2012. I’d much rather have someone read my current posts.
I’m sure she’s still reading it. I’d imagine her WIFI is better than any of ours. 😉
WordPress is really effective at detecting the spam. They’ve improved even more since that incident, especially since the FBI was involved.
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Holy mackerel –The Feds?!?!
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I know.
Email me and we can discuss it further.
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HI KARI! *waves spastically* Also HI THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE! (Whaaa Kari that’s so many people!)
There’s something kinda hysterical about replying late to a post that’s, in part, about commenting lol. But here I am! So yah. Commenting is sloooow for me. So if I don’t comment it is way more about me and my sloooowness then about the post. Does that make sense? I’m just crap at writing and I really, sincerely adore “my” 🙂 bloggers so I want to leave comments that are more than “neat!” But then I get slowed down by the commenting process. I can see why you podcast. Talking extemporaneously = way easier than a written piece where you can get snagged by the cycle of crafting and revising and pondering and then revising again and again. Blog posts are obvs wonderful but sometimes it’s lovely to just have a quick chat. (Btw that’s part of what I love about your podcast. Easy breezy unscripted podcast chat with Kari = delightful 🙂
Also, you totally made my day with your podcast HI. 🙂 Thank you my friend. I may be slow, but I get there eventually!
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I’m so glad you’re in that audience, Maddie.
It makes no difference when you comment: what matters is that you are part of the conversation. You contribute so much to this blog. I’m so grateful to my friends Ernie and Suz for finding you. I do believe it was from their blogs that you found mine. 🙂
Podcasts are a lot easier to create since talking is much easier than writing. But, as you all have heard, my ADHD brain is a little difficult to listen to. My writing is a lot less jumbled, thanks to edits. But it means so much to me that you like them and that you listen to them. Thank you for your lovely comments; they mean so much to me.
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