Friday, February 22, 2013
So Many Questions and Not Enough Answers
Has anybody noticed a decrease in foot traffic over the past few months or is it just me? It feels like no matter what I do I can't increase number of readers or comments. I have recently increased how many blogs I read and comment on to help increase foot traffic to my blog but I don't feel like I am quite the response I was looking for.
I know that not every blog I comment on is going to return the favor. I know that bloggers might have a ton of blogs they already read and have no room for new blogs or people are just really busy and don't get around to it. Back in 2010 I was getting a lot of comments and readers, not so much lately. I did some calculating and figured out that I am getting a crappy return. I have over 300 followers and average about 10 comments per post (which is very weak and I have been trying to pump up those number) which comes down to about 3% of my readers/fans are commenting. I have no idea what the average percentage is out there in the blogosphere but I thing that just sucks.
What my rambling and ranting is trying to say is that I need help producing more foot traffic to 'Just the Cheese'. I promote posts on Facebook and Twitter and I read and make quality comments on many blogs. I try to participate in blog hops and blog fests to bring people over but that only works for a short while.
Am I doing something wrong? Have my posts gotten stale and recycled? Do people that used to read my posts not find them funny anymore?
What do you do to increase your readership and solidify a decent number of comments? Have you noticed a decline in commenting? Do you have any advice that I don't have to pay for?
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25 comments:
Crap, I'm sorry! No decrease at my end.
You just need to connect with other snarky bloggers. And connect with their followers. I can recommend a few.
And I think you are just as funny, so no worries there.
I have noticed a decrease in my traffic, too, so I am somewhat relieved to hear you say this. I attributed it to the fact that I am trying to write a book now, so have been saving my better stuff for the book, and not posting as much.
As much as I hate to say it, I think commenting is a tit-for-tat thing: You comment on mine, I comment on yours. I don't mean for it to be this way, but it is kind of annoying when you comment on someone else's blog and they never pop over to yours, like they are superior or something. I've just started commenting on blogs when they comment on mine- there simply aren't enough hours in the day to read/comment on all, and at least I'm doing the polite thing by returning the favor.
Oh- and by the way: You still got it! You still funny!
Mine suffered a big hit roughly a month ago.
Really it seems one of the only ways to really increase your followers is to comment on other people's posts. It's still not guaranteed though so not every blogger will get back to you. I've had to drop a few blogs myself but I make a point to visit people who visit me.
I am happy when i get 6 people commenting:) I was never the popular sort though so whom am i to say. I comment sometimes on many peoples blogs about their cards etc... and very few return the favour and when someone does i feel great! Doesn't take much for me eh? Personally I think some people make money on here, others are just whoppingly amazing at blogging and getting out there and i do not know their trick. I do know that you ARE funny, I ENJOY reading your blog and would find it sad if you left this world. Maybe Blogging was a huge rage a while back and people, being fickle, went on to something new as this has become old for them. Pick Alex's brain as he gets amazing responses and is genuine in complements
My comments have been down, too. I think MUCH of it is I have been short on time for ages, so I've been worse about getting around. It DOES seem like a huge investment... You get around to ten extra blogs and maybe manage 5 payback visits... You have to be consistent to get consistent, but sometimes life is in the way. I don't know what the answer is, short a sugar daddy that will allow me to quit my day job...
Perhaps it is just there are so MANY blogs out there vying for readers and everyone has a favored style. I think it is really hard to find readers that share similar humor or interests. I comment on dozens of blogs every day and maybe a third of those reciprocate. I get that some of those don't enjoy my blog as much as I enjoy theirs.
I have noticed that blog comments are decreasing on a lot of the blogs I have followed for awhile.
This all can become somewhat frustrating. I appreciate when bloggers say they aren't bothered if they have few readers as they just enjoy writing. Not me..I like readers and I find it frustrating trying to build a following.
I have noticed a decrease too. Also, I think blog hops artificially increase your number of followers. I've participated in a few, followed, read and commented on blogs per the rules, but never seem to get a return on my investment. It's just a way to increase your numbers without people ever really reading your blog again.
I agree with everything that Dawn says. I do the best I can for that "tit for tat" commenting (hee...hee...hee...I said 'tit'). Then, if I have time, I head over to blogs that have commented in the past. Then, if I have time after that, I look at the blogs of followers. Then, if I have time after that, I no longer have a job. In that case, I "ambush" people who comment on my commenters blogs who haven't commented on mine. Geez-a-Lou, that sounded frikkin' complicated.
I need a nap.
If someone comments on my blog then I return the favour in fact when I read my comments I then open up tabs of all those who have left a comment and go for a visit and I also follow a lot via email that way I see the new posts as soon as the happen and since I check me emails every day I end up reading around 30is blogs a day and I comment on every blog I read. I would love to be able to follow you via email but don't see an email follow link here maybe you could change that......or add me to an email list using the email jnjm62@gmail.com then I would be here every post......
It's a strange time of year and numbers fluctuare naturally. My pageviews haven't taken a hit but my comments have...sometimes. Anyway, keep doing you and don't worry about others. They'll come and go but those who truly enjoy your blog will always be here and share your links.
Just keep working it - sometimes blog traffic goes through cycles.
I doing an early swing through from the A to Z list, but I wanted to chime in. I saw a bit of a drop around the holidays, and it's just slowly starting to pick back up. I've never had much in the way of folks commenting, but readership numbers are up so I'm okay with that.
Hope to keep stopping by and finding new blogs to connect with. Melonie from Nagzilla blog hopping A to Z
No worries my friend...you are just feeling a little inferior today. This too shall pass. I value the steady commenters I have and the pass-throughs are appreciated. But my numbers are no higher than yours.
And trust me...some just aren't on your wavelength...I knew that going in. What did you expect, world peace!! No matter, I'm still here and isn't that what really counts??
Mine really hasn't changed comment wise. I have the same people who comment and then the same people who don't. I am too busy right now to blog regularly though, so I try not to complain too much about it. Even though I sometimes do. :) Same with the followers.
I'm not sure how to get followers or increase traffic either... If you find a solution please let me know;)
My comments have been declining too. I used to be getting close to 100 back in 2012. Now I can't even hit 50.
Maybe Blogger as a whole is dying?
Wrong. There all having fun at my bay ;)
I blame Bryan and Brandon....
I wish I had some words of wisdom for you, other than to just keep plugging along. I read, I don't always comment. Life gets busy. Wish I was more like Alex :)
Hello I am just passing by from the A to Z. I have only a few followers and only about half a dozen regular followers making comments.
It is just the way things go at times, the A to Z should add a bit of traffic in April. I don't think there are any clever ways to increase comments of followers although blogfests do help, and I do ask myself the same questions at times but luckily I'm mad and stubborn enough to just keep going on and on and on and on till there is just me, , , ,
It's slowed down for a while at my place, but I keep moving forward slowly but surely. Tomorrow's post outta shake things up.
xoRobyn
It seems to me that the number of comments coming in relates almost directly to the amount of comments a blogger makes. BUT, as somebody before me said, I think you have to go and seek new followers by connecting with people who follow the blogs you follow, but don't follow yours. I don't know if that makes any sense at all.
When I posted three or four times a week I used to get about twice the number of comments that I get now. I totally understand that because I only post once or twice a week.
I've definitely noticed this. Many of my old readers have stopped Blogging, and it's been well over a year since I last reached out and found some new Blogs. I'm trying to make the effort to read some new Blogs now, and hopefully some of those will follow me back.
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