Internet, what's up?
How come one day you all come and visit me and the next day you all stay away? Is it because you're all at the same party? Is it something to do with the weather or national holidays I know nothing about? Is it because you only want posts about penises?
And what the hell is going on with comments? How come I can get loads of comments on a low visitor day and then hardly any when all of you pass by here?
Internet, I'm insecure. Tell me what's going on.
(And also - how do you deal with writer's insecurity, comment envy and stats obsession?)
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Take some time off! That's the only answer to blog obsession.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't worry, I am sure there is no rhyme or reason to lack of comments/visits.
Since LLC arrived I've lost some of the blogging rhythm that I had while pregnant. I don't know how so many busy moms find the time but I really enjoy writing the blog so am trying to get back into it regularly. While I have Google Analytics I rarely look at it; I know my stats are not as good as masses of blogs out there and I want to focus more on actually writing than worrying about my stats. I do love getting comments and just hope that if people visit and like my style they may leave a comment. I try to do this on blogs I enjoy but I also know I read a number of blogs and don't always comment depending on how much time I have.
ReplyDeleteThere's no reason to be insecure, now. You are an amazing woman, mother, wife, and writer. Blame it on the summer season.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking for myself - I often only get the chance to read blogs every other day or even every 3rd or 4th day, maybe it's like frequency modulation and we've all ended up visiting at the same time - this of course simply means that we, your readers, resonate dunnit? How feckin cool is that? :)
ReplyDelete@nappy valley girl - Take some time off? Are you CRAZY? Last time I took a little time off I lost half my readers! :-)
ReplyDelete@Tanya - I think too many busy mums are like us - up at a ridiculous time while everyone else is asleep. Or nap time, of course. I do worry about the time around the birth. Ah well.
@Angie Muresan - Thank you, lovely. I admit the sun keeps me off the computer too.
@MrsW - Very cool. I'm always playing catch-up, too.
I've stopped looking at stats because I start analysing why people read this and not that and it would do my head in. The comment thing - well, I don't get many at all and yes, I wonder if this means I'm talking to myself and should maybe just stop blogging (having friends who ask my what this blogging thing is all about and why I do it doesn't help). I have no answers other than that I try to focus on just blogging and not to think stats and comments. I've read though that on average 1 in 10 people who read will comment. That's pretty reassuring, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteNo comment :)
ReplyDeleteDude I may be the wrong one to ask- I hardly look at my stats-but I do like all of the people (like 4) who read my blog. Mostly my blog is just for me- no one IRL knows about it. But I find that my blog writing helps me write for other things (like for work) which is nice. Maybe start another projects- like a book or article that is away from the blog- maybe that will get your juices flowing.
ReplyDeleteAh the dreaded blog obsession and insecurity. It gets to us all, I'm sure. I've been flaky this week with commenting - just flicking through quickly on my browser, simply because I've been so busy. Don't think too much of it, all blogs have high and low weeks.
ReplyDeleteI derailed as far as comments go around the literary breakfast post. And I don't feel sorry one bit. You live in a cool place with cool languages and lots of history coolness too! Where are MY readers? Where are MY comments? (Thanks for that comment on my penis post, btw!)
ReplyDeleteWell I have about 1000 posts backed up in my reader and I'm having to be really picky about when I read. But I keep coming to you cos you make me giggle. As for the anxiety? I gave up on it. It was driving me insane.
ReplyDeleteyeah, I don't get it either, but then I do it all wrong. I don't manage to post that often. One a wk is my limit wch is pathetic, the sun shines constantly here in summer (!) and I already think I spend too mch time on teh computer! I don't comment enough either or spend long enough discoverign new blogs. I am not v methodical about reading blogs, commenting etc either. And I too have given up reading stats, it just does my head in. I'm still reading you tho, sorry if I have been a poor commenter. For me it's been a positive sign that life abroad has got busier & I am more involved so hav eles stiem on teh internet.
ReplyDeletei dont always have time to make intelligent comments...but come have a look anyway.
ReplyDeleteThen of course ill leave the computer on all day and you'll get a log time for me for like 29 hours demonstrating that im a freaky stalker but its just forgetfulness really...
yeah sometimes i'll post something compeltely random and wierd and shallow and hundreds of people read it, then ill write something thoughtful and deep and nobody cares. oh well....
Turn yourself into someone less technically proficient, then you won't be able to find out your stats! Works for me, anyway. Love your blog, btw.
ReplyDeleteWe have stats?!!??
ReplyDeleteI don't really look. Stats... to what end?
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel lonely and d little worthless but mostly I just shrug and say, no one reads my blog anymore.
That's ok because then I can write without worrying about reaction.
Chin up LIT, you have many followers and comments. I've just started and really don't know hoe to get people to find me at all. I think I'm just talking to the internet. Wait til a rainy day and you'll be smiling again! Everyone is outside burning themselves before the wind and rain come full pelt again xx
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm also a teacher on a procreation break!!
ReplyDelete@cartside - I need to stop looking at the stats as well. I will. Tomorrow.
ReplyDelete@Pueblo girl - :-)
@mountainmommachronicles - I try to do other things, but I find I can't write much, just for me.
@Lady Mama - I do that too. So I do know how it goes. I'm often a week behind, and there's no way I can comment on all the blogs then. Ah well.
@All This Trouble - Of course you don't feel sorry! (And there's no reason.) That's not what it was about - I just write what's going on, you know? And that's what was on my mind Friday.
@Mad Woman - 1000? And I thought I was bad. Maybe it's time for "Mark all as read?"
@Paradise Lost in Translation - Very positive sign indeed. I need to sit in the sun more. Now it just has to shine dammit. And please don't be sorry - not what I meant at all.
ReplyDelete@screamish - Freaky stalkers amuse me. Online anyway.
@angelsandurchinsblog - A lobotomy! Why didn't I think of that? Thanks.
@Countess - Well, we do if we install them.
@Jo - I don't know - I just love the thought of people coming here to read. It's what keeps me trying to write better stuff.
I read your blog! And it's lovely. Glad Bethany just found you as well.
@A Muse Inner Me - Welcome! The best way to get people to find you is to leave comments on other blogs. If they're needy (like me) they will come and visit you and then you just need to make sure to have a good post up that keeps them coming back. I'll be visiting soon, when the sick girl gets off my lap!
Bethany found me ages ago - she's just a sporadic visitor!
ReplyDeleteSelect profile... google account... post comment... wait... new comment screen... post comment again... wait... sighghghghgh.
PS thank you for the compliment, btw!
ReplyDeleteha!! blogger is messing with me too!
ReplyDeletebecause..bloggers counter says i hardly had 3000 users yet..while statcounter tells me that i have hundrerds of readers everyday..so..that confuses me all the time...and actually i just blogged about to finde out who the lurkers are..funny you are here with blogger isues too:-)
I never other with stats because I just don't understand them! I do however like to see the words that people use to find my site... there are some freaky people out there... or is it just my freaky posts?!!
ReplyDeletebother, bother, BOTHER!!
ReplyDeleteI'm brand new to blogging, so can't tell you much, except what I'm trying to do. I try and look at comment content, since this helps me gauge what interests different people. My numbers are low, so try not to worry about it or it'll drive me mad.
ReplyDeleteMe? Worry about numbers? (God, I'm jealous of how many comments you've gotten here. Just kidding! No I'm not.)
ReplyDeleteYeah, honestly, I check the number of hits daily but don't do much more than that. And then am amazed at the vast range of numbers I get day-by-day.
Well, I was just joking about not feeling sorry for you. I used to get a few comments on almost everything but now, not so much. Like my inflatable zebra post? Not much and I was SURE it would be very popular. I'd hoped to point out a kinship to your stats obsession pains. What gets me is seeing everyone visit and getting no response. Sometimes it makes me a little batty and it also makes me leave comments that are not well thought out and are counterproductive to my cause. I am also currently suffering from what may be heatstroke.
ReplyDelete@Jo - That does sound annoying. I'm always signed into Blogger, so I don't have that problem. And you're welcome.
ReplyDelete@Danielle - Blogger has a counter??? Must investigate. I am interested in my lurkers as well, but not sure how to find out who they are, short of visiting every single internet user.
@Eternally distracted - I love the freaky searches as well. I am still popular for girl crushes and gay porn. Yay me! Oh - and penis as well.
@nmaha - At the start, stats are something to ignore indeed. I used to go crazy on single visitor days - the single visitor being me.
@Ms. Moon - :-) Blogging's a freaky business, Ms. Moon.
@All This Trouble - That was a great comment! Especially the last sentence.
People, I must post about comments more. I'm loving loving loving this! Thanks all of you!
I read every post that you write but I really don't have much time to comment on blogs these days. I think perhaps I should read less blogs and spend more time commenting but I read on my phone which is convenient, commenting requires the laptop!
ReplyDeleteI don't pay any attention at all to my stats. I just make my blog how I want it, it seems to work for me.
Blame the world cup. Works for me. That or sunspots. Sunspots are definitely my whipping boy for the day.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that I'm not the only who obsesses about these things. I love your site but sometimes don't have time to comment!
ReplyDeletehow weird to see my name as I was reading your comments. i love Jo, but she's right, I am sporatic, thought it's everywhere. I have to be careful with you AND Jo because I love you both but you both say animal/pet things that sometimes get me all weird. your cats, her dogs. but it's me, not you all, i'm just a freak.
ReplyDeletewhat are we talking about? oh, blogs, yeah, well i don't check stats much. i think i have about 15 people a day if i'm lucky.
i feel guilty lately when i blog if i haven't visited other blogs. i feel like i am inviting people to a party and i haven't gone to their party, you know? it confuses me, because obviously blog posting is not a party (esp not my blog) that i'm inviting you to, but still i feel rude writing my own blog if i'm not reading others. that's partly why i blog only once a week or so.
also, it's summer, that for sure part of it.
don't worry, silly Mwa!
@Kelly - I do that on holiday, read on my phone. It is indeed too tiresome to comment on it.
ReplyDelete@dadwhowrites - Good idea. We could blame EVERYTHING on the world cup. I'm going to start with my sore back. Damn football!
@Kate - I think it's in the nature of the game to get obsessed with it.
@Bethany - I can see what you mean about the animals. I'm always thinking I must be alienating animal lovers. If it's any consolation, three out of four inhabitants of this house really like the cats, and I keep a respectful - even caring - distance. (I buy their flea repellent and their food.)
I know about the party idea as well - strange thing.
hello!! I'm back! I know, it's all my fault cuz I've been away. But I will click assiduously just for you!
ReplyDeleteI feel weird if there are lots of hits on mine. Like I'm being stalked by fetishers or creeps who want to abduct my children. On days I get like 2 hits, I feel relieved that I have two good friends who are loyal and dedicated.
I think you're supposed to think of blogging like when you give a talk to a large audience: think of speaking to just one person out there and it'll all be fine :)