To know you have set up a need and interest for visitors, setting up an option to "follow" and/or "subscribe to your feed" is a terrific way to know there are people out there visiting you. However, comments alone do not provide an accurate gauge of visitors, so be sure to add stats to your blog so that you have an accurate idea of visitors.
Once people find you and they decide to follow you, do you get excited? I know I do! I've never actively seeked followers, it just has seemed to evolve over time. Now that I'm involved with the social network Mommy Bloggers Club, I amd meeting and getting to know mom's from around the globe. I'm in awe of the women involved, many have hundreds to thousands of followers. Amazing isn't it!
Do you actively seek followers? If so, how do you go about it?
If you are not a "follower" or "subscriber" yet, become one and I'll be thrilled to "follow" and "subscribe" back to you. Make sure to leave your blog URL.
Looking forward to your visit and feedback.
Have a terrific day and happy blogging!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm
Great post! I definitely get excited when I get new followers, just like I get excited when I find a new blog that I love to visit. It's great!!
ReplyDeleteDonna, great topic. I do get a boost when someone follows me, but on the flip side, it can be a bit discouraging.
ReplyDeleteI don't actual actively seek followers, I actively seek subscribers, and thankfully they well out number my followers.
But, that follow number is unfortunately important in that it's visible and some may think it's an indication of the quality of your site.
Because of this, I may end up actively seeking followers also.
Time willing. :)
Karen
Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing
In the beginning a couple of years ago, I started with the vast majority who did the "follow me and I'll follow you" by joining LOTS of social groups and those groups who "specialized" in that concept. Then that morphed to joining groups with the comment on me and I'll comment for you concept. I'd say that it's more of a blend these days mainly because I'm aiming for 1) similar people/likes for following/linking and 2) I actually want people to follow/like me because well they actually do!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteSplendid post! Yep! I get real excited to get new followers. I participate in a weekly blog hop and that is how i get most of my followers. I always follow back when they follow me. One major perk that made my day in March: A follower of my blog: MY SISTER IS MY BEST FRIEND, letf a comment asking me to write : MY BROTHER IS MY BEST FRIEND for her two boys. I took her suggestions to heart and wrote a manuscript during my spring break. I submitted the manuscript to my publisher and much to my delight she gave me a contract for it. The thought of writing a book about boys never even crossed my mind. Now, thanks to this follower I have a second traditional book contract. When the book is published, I will give her an autographed copy free of charge.
Nicole Weaver
Trilingual Children's author
http://mysisterismybestfriend.blogspot.com
http://mareiandherfriendtheseaturtle.blogspot.com
Well, Donna, I have to confess that I'm eclectic in my approach. Yes, I write, but I write about all sorts of subjects. I don't confine myself to one arena on my blogs anymore than in the genres I choose to explore.
ReplyDeleteThe odd thing for me is that I get as many glowing comments about things having nothing to do with writing per se as I do about a post that I make about using a new exercise to expand creativity, etc.
I love getting a new follower. It's like Christmas morning where I find a bright new package wrapped in approval ribbon. The best is the package that says "I've just bookmarked you as a fave and recommended your blog as a must read." I almost squeal when I get one of those.
Ladies, great conversation with have going here! Thanks for participating. I'm glad I'm the only one who wiggles with excitement with new followers.
ReplyDeleteV.R., with the vast amount of blogs it's amazing to connect with people with the same interests.
Karen, if only there was more time in the day!
Farrah, I agree with you full heartedly, that I want people to follow because they want to.
Nicole, you go girl! Congratulations!
Claudsy, Your voice is unique and interesting that's why you get such wonderful comments!
Best wishes,
Donna
I love getting new followers and immediately check out their blog or website. I get SUPER excited about first time commenters.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
J. Aday Kennedy
The Differently-Abled Writer & Speaker
Children's Author of Stella the Fire Farting Dragon (April 2010)
http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com
Hi Jessica, thanks for visiting. Glad you could leave a comment. I can only leave comments on my own blogs and not others. Hopefully blogger fixes it real soon.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Donna
I definitely get excited about new followers. I love to interact and learn something new every day of my life because of all the people I've met online. Here's my Topsy Turvy Land blog. Thanks for the fun post!
ReplyDeleteTopsy Turvy Land
New followers are always great. It lets me know that what I am blogging about is of interest to people. I've found that Facebook and Twitter increased my blog traffic, so I use them to help promote my blogs.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Donna, about what is no doubt a popular subject. The comments so far are proof that this topic definitely resonates.
ReplyDeleteYes to all the above. I'd have to agree, your comments about having a focus on a blog are right on point because I've noticed the blogs that are focused and stay tuned into their intended audience tend to have both lots of followers and lots of comments on each of their posts. But I must admit to being pretty scattered in my blogging.
As for blog followers, I do get a lift when a new follower is added or if a comment suddenly appears on one of my blog post. But I also totally understand when there are no comments and no new followers as I'm guessing lots of writers are struggling just to keep up with writing much less take time to network and visit.
In fact, I often wonder how someone happened to stumble on my blog in the first place. Then I get to thinking, what is it that takes me to a certain blog? Sometimes, it's an invitation that includes a link, which makes it very easy to get from point A (where I am) to point B (the destination blog). Or sometimes, I will stumble across a topic that captures my attention and I just meander around stopping at blogs as they appear. And when time permits, I will stop by the blogs of my followers just to see what's shaking.
I have also noticed that I will sometimes get comments on Facebook or other sites about a blog entry I posted on my Blogspot.com blog. Because many of the social network sites are linked, they pick up blog entries and display them in full or in part with a link. So, in a way, the interconnectedness of our networks may end up driving visitors away from our blogs where the original posts are made.
Guess I'll swing by my Facebook page and see who's doing what. Who knows how long I'll be there before moving on to LinkedIn, Jacketflap and Classmates.com. And don't get me started on websites. Wonder if I should get started on our holiday letter yet? That may be the only writing I get done this year....
Yes, yes. I love new followers (old ones too.) Every time I see a new one I have to check on them and follow back.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many great blogs I could spend all day just visiting and commenting.
Thanks, Donna, for a great post.
Donna, what a great post. I, too, get excited about each new follower. Like you said, the traffic on the site is rarely represented by the # of comments or even the # of followers, since people can click over from so many places. It is really thrilling though when though when they've liked what they found enough to follow future posts.
ReplyDeleteI write about a variety of things on my blog: writing, traveling and life management are the main topics. The reason I don't always write about writing is because so many people post about it. I hope that people who come to my blog leave with a smile on their faces or a lightbulb goes off in their heads. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I see a new follower or someone makes a comment on my blog I go to their blog and check it out. I usually follow them back and leave a comment. Sometimes it's not possible because there is no link to their picture. It's always fun to meet like minded people.
Donna, Cheryl, Bill, Bev, Kari, and Sharon:
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and participating in this discussion. Sometimes I think I spend too much time on focus rather than going with what inspires or intrigues me for the day. I wrote this post from a chat with Suzanne Lieurance on followers and it sparked me to reach out to the blogging community for their input. Thanks!
I'm running out for yet another b-ball practice and will take the time out to visit all your blogs later this evening or tomorrow. Hopefully, blogger will let me leave comments! I'm hoping so since Sharon was having the same problem and finally got through.
Warm regards,
Donna
I agree with Bill. So many people read - and comment on - my blog at Facebook that it's hard to tell how many followers actually read it on my blogsite. But I'm not sure if that matters or not as long as my posts are being read.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Yes, I get excited when I get a new follower. I always tell my husband and son when the number of followers changes. My husband is happy for me and tells me to have confidence in myself, that people must like what I'm blogging about. I used to get sad when I'd lose a follower, but there are so many reasons that people might stop following someone, so I quit dwelling on it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm with you in getting excited about new followers, Donna! I love visiting other blogs and wish I had more time to do it. Often when you visit someone's blog, they will visit yours too, and that's where many of my followers come from. You have great posts, which makes people more likely to follow you!
ReplyDeleteI love new followers and almost cry when days on end go by with no comments especially when I think the post was good. Thanks for the discussion, it is a great topic. If it isn't for the reader, we would have no reason to write.
ReplyDeleteYep, It's kind of like walking into the fitness studio to teach a room full of people and a new face walks in. I want to chat with them, get to know what motivated them to workout and what their fitness goals are.
ReplyDeleteSo I do tend to watch the numbers on my facebook page and RSS feed. I also check to see where people are located. If they are not in my area, is it near a town I may be visiting soon and could host a Zumba Fitness event.
heck yeah! but mine come in bunches bc of my giveaways! i also hate it when gfc is down, bc i know i am not getting any that day - esp when it happens in a giveaways last 3 days.. thats when i gain the most from them.. (like today.. both things) thanks google.. lol
ReplyDeleteI get excited when I get a new follower. I don't really know why. I guess it's a sign that my promotion is working. I do blog hops, am involved in a few groups, and am learning that comments work wonders to.
ReplyDeleteJewel
http://mylifeasjewel.blogspot.com