If I offend any potential visitors – tuff. This is my rant on blogging and bloggers in general. I enjoy blogging. I enjoy visiting the blog sites from my friends lists on the various blog sites. I try to visit around ten sites per day, if I find something that really appeals to me then I will leave a comment. I probably leave about six comments each day. I notice that I am getting close to 600 hits on this site, I know for some people they would say so-what, or else they would say they get close to that each day – well I know I am not up there with the best – no where near it – but to me 600 is exciting – another milestone. 1000 will be my big milestone. However, after almost 600 hits I have received all of seven comments.
I know a lot of people are trying to monetize their sites. Why are they ignoring one of the best resources available – and that is the comments. When you leave a comment you can often also include a link to your page (site). This link is highly regarded by search engines like google and helps to improve your page rank. As it is first, a one way link and second, a deep link (not just a link swap on the home page) the search engines place a higher value on the link. The more links like this, the higher your rank can become.
Another aspect of blogging that rankles me is the blog directories where you can submit your blogs. These are valuable resources when used correctly. Most people use these directories to surf blogs, make contacts and communicate occasionally. Most directories allow you to contact all your “friends” and send messages. I notice on one directory that I belong to that whilst people are sending messages, there are very few responses. Why?I am not sure! I sent a message to all my ‘friends’ and didn’t get one response – I think I may have had three or four visitors looking at the page. I wonder, does anyone else ever get to a stage where they say – why bother!
When it comes to monetizing your site, what would like visitors to do. Obviously click on some of the links, the advertising etc. However, how often do you click on someones advertising when you see it. I don’t mean random clicking, I am talking about clicking on areas of interest. I can guarantee that of all the visitors to this article, only one or two will click on a link. I guess its human nature. Everyone wants you click on their $ earning links but forget to do the same when visiting other sites.
I would love for someone to come up with a simple series of well written advice articles for bloggers on how they could improve their blogging routine each day. If anyone knows of one please let me know. I will happily read it, and link to it if it sounds good.
Blogging is a great way to get your message across, have a rant like this, provide useful information, the list is endless. It is also a great way to discover information, get help or just for pure entertainment. Our blogging experience could be so much greater.
That’s my rant. If you have any comments then I dare you leave them – with a link to your pages. Until next time – I hope you enjoy your stay on this site, please tell others if you do.
Great article! Don’t have anything clever to say, just wanted to leave my link.
Found you on cre8Buzz and looking forward to reading more of your blog!
‘ I wonder, does anyone else ever get to a stage where they say – why bother!’
All the time.
Hi Les… and just to illustrate one of your (great) points, I’ve just found your blog through a comment you left over at eMomsatHome: (http://www.emomsathome.com/blog/2007/10/30/4-search-engine-optimization-rules-that-were-supposed-to-actually-matter/#comment-95796).
And I’ve joined your BlogCatalog community too.
As for monetizing blogs and getting people to click on ads etc. I rarely click on ads cos I tend to get tunnel vision around whatever it is I’m looking for. But I would happily click on an affiliate link to a tool or resource that I’ve just read a review for, for example. I tend to use my own habits as a steer for what I want or expect my readers to do. So I don’t go overboard on ads. But then my blog in itself is not a ‘money-maker’, my money comes from converting visitors into clients.
Using your own habits as a steer is arguably a highly flawed strategy – but it works for me. I attract the kind of clients I want to work with. I don’t mind admitting I don’t have huge traffic either. Not important with my model – because the traffic I do have converts extremely well – so its very much quality over quantity. But as I say, this is an entirely different model from a blog that is created simply to generate revenue from ads and affiliate links.
I’d say that if that is your blogging model, then you need to put the ‘passion’ for your topic, above the ‘desire’ for the income…. So, focus on creating great and useful content, reviewing related products, creating some of your own products around existing products and services and let the ad income do its own thing.
Not sure what you have in mind when you say you’d like to see a “simple series of well written advice articles for bloggers on how they could improve their blogging routine each day”, but if this is the kind of thing, (http://claireraikes.blogs.com/bizblogangel/2006/10/business_blog_m_1.html), let me know and I’ll compile a little list of some of the older content that’s buried deep in my Archives. Actually, this may prompt me to create the little HotLink list I’ve been meaning to do for aeons!!
Anyway, I’m starting to ramble now, so i’d best sign off.
)
Look forward to reading more of you
Warmest
Claire x
Les,
I just found your sight by clicking through a link on Blog Catalog. This post illustrates many of the universal frustrations about blogging.
The comments on my blog are intermittant but I do have a group that comments regularly. I’m thankful to those folks.
I have a few ads but they don’t bring in much money. I like what you are doing with the reviews. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Lisa
I completely understand your frustration. I have the same kinds of frustrations when I can see through my BlogCatalog and MyBlogLog widgets that people have visited, but none have left a footprint in comments.
When I visit a blog, I always try to leave relevant comments to at least one of the posts, if not more than one. This one that you wrote really hits home with me, though. Thanks for saying what I’ve been thinking.
Thanks to all who have taken the trouble to leave comments. It is really appreciated – after all it only takes a minute or two and the benefits outway the two minutes.
cheers to all
I notice on one directory that I belong to that whilst people are sending messages, there are very few responses.
I hardly ever respond to mass sends on any blog directory because people use them to spam so often that it’s become like a myspace bulletin and you become oblivious to them after a while.
I also found your site through a comment on another blog. I think that people don’t always “have” a comment to leave. Some blogs are just more interactive than others. I literally just said this on blogcatalog but I find that I get more comments on an out of the ordinary post than I do on my regular posts. It’s as if people are waiting for something they can respond to. It’s nice to get comments but it can take a bit of time to get a little community going. You’ll get there eventually.
I think comments are related to two things:
1.Traffic. Many sites get 15, 20, or even 50 comments on lots of their posts, but they get thousands of visitors a day.
2. The type of information on the site. Sites that just provide tips or information don’t necessarily get a lot of comments as people just read the information to find what they want. A site that posts pictures or controversial commentary might have a higher comment to post ratio.
ps. I see you use WordPress. Do you use Akismet? I have had good luck with it, but occasionally a spam like the comment right before this one does slip through.
On my site I average only 30 to 60 visitors a day and usually get 6 or 7 comments per week. One day I had over 750 unique visitors and only one comment. When I viewed statistics, most of the visitors were landing on one particular post, reading it and leaving. I think they were on fact finding missions and were going from site to site to get educated.
-Will