Followers - Part II
(what I have learned)
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I try very hard not to have controversial blog content so please bear with me. This is quite lengthy! LOL I have lots to say. :-)*
Many have asked if I've requested "Followers" because I'm trying to win a Go! Cutter from Accuquilt and the answer is no. If the kind people at Accuquilt want to send me a Go! Cutter then I would accept it with a smile and say thank you and if they don't well, so be it. :-)
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I asked for 'followers' completely out of curiosity. :-) I've never had the "Follower" gadget visible on my blog because I felt that while I appreciate that I have followers (thank you again) I knew that they weren't the only ones reading my blog.
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I've been blogging for over 4 years and believe that I'm an 'old' blogger in Blogland. I blog because I enjoy sharing my quilting journey and bits and pieces of my life.
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I learned within a few hours of my 'follower' post that many follow my blog through a variety venues - bloglines (sadly that's going away), google reader, etc. I know that my blog is listed on many blog sidebars but who can count how many? LOL Approximately two years ago my husband was 'playing' with the layout of my blog and he added a counter (good people visiting here) for "giggles & grins" - he's a silly man - anyway I think the counter gives a more accurate count of how many 'hits' my blog receives. I seem to average 1500 hits per month - is this good or is it bad? I think it's very good because that means many, many people are stopping by to see what the Wabbit Daze Gang, Mr Daze and I are doing and I thank you.
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Yes, yes I know I've babbled throughout this entire post and if you've read the whole thing you're a brave soul. LOL
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Now, let's get back to quilting - it is afterall my passion!
In Friendship!
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I'm trying very hard to respond to all your comments - bear with me!
31 comments:
Darlene, I agree with you. Blogging has been such a wonderful window to meeting new friends from all over the world. I am still amazed at having people follow my little blog. I am even blessed by the silent readers :-) I really appreciate each and every one.
I added a counter, also. I am amazed at the number of people that visit my blog but I have very few comments left.. . .usually less than 10 per post yet have 100's visit and I'm assuming, read, each post. And that's good enough for me. As long as they are reading. Maybe what I have to say is so boring or they don't agree with what I have to say. It doesn't really matter. My main purpose for blogging is to have a journal for me. And if someone else enjoys what I'm doing, then all the better!
Have a great day!!
I am a brave soul! You know what I think! I am glad you are a blogger!
If it was not for blogging, I would not have met you here as well as in person. I am thankful for all the wonderful people I have met..quilt bloggers are the best!
October 2007 for me. I msut have completely missed the accucut thing. I just like reading your blog - on bloglines, soon to be google reader.
Darlene, I don't have a blog (yet), but the 'follower' concept has changed since I first started reading the quilting blogs I love so much. There are several that I read every single day and leave comments often. There are several that I visit every day but have never left a comment on, I just enjoy seeing what they are working on and what they have to say. It's just that, as Mary of Quilt Hollow said, being an official Follower used to be something special. Not so anymore. I know the Accuquilt craze has really brought this issue to the forefront. Ah...but it doesn't matter because my blog land friends know whether I am a 'real' follower or not and that is all that is important. WEll, see what you've done? You got me to babble right along with you, LOL. So now, like you said, Back to Quilting...oh yes!!! Hugs...
Darlene - I'll "FOLLOW" you anywhere - how about following you to The Olde World Quilt Shoppe soon? For real...I mentioned it to Carol a bit ago and she said maybe we could try for October. Interested?
Well, man is a curious being. it is in us. So to be curious about your followers - perfect! Hope you get the results you want, and learn from that.
I have been blogging for a short while now, and I must admit that I love to see the pictures of my followers. They're not many, but at least I know for sure that they enjoy and appreciate my thoughts I put down in my blog. And that makes me smile, and inspires me even more!
Elzaan
I love the following. Sometimes I get upset when I go a few days with no comments(I blog almost every day; sometimes more than once) but than I look up how many people viewed my blog on a no comment day and it makes me feel better. As long as people are reading; I'm happy. I love blogging; I find it the perfect way to keep track of all my quilting projects :)
I say - add followers if you like - and it is not our business just why you do this. We all do it for a variety of reasons - and no one gets to say if one reason is "more" right than another. I like to know that someone out there is reading my blog - but mostly I like the lovely comments I get - and so far I've not had any cranky comments. Enjoy your blogging - I know I really enjoy your blog!!
When I started blogging less than 2 years ago I thought bestowing following was a very special thing. It seems to have less importance these days due to its frequent requirement for contests, etc, but serves as a great "bookmark" to remember blogs you enjoyed and want to revisit. So I am attuning my perception of following to be more of a "favorites" list. I am now a follower of your blog, though I have read it regularly for well over a year and always enjoy my time here. Rock on!
P.S. Silly is VERY important in a spouse!
Not brave, just interested in all you have to say! I hear ya abt the quilting too! Let's sew! :-)
You are just the kindest, dearest lady around !
I think many bloggers use...and I say that in the literal sense of the word...followers as a measuring tool for their popularity. To some extent, this is true. However, to bribe bloggers to become followers in order to be considered as a contestant in a giveaway is an insult. With them it's just a numbers game as in he who has the most number of followers wins. Not with me! Really, the only ones they are fooling are themselves because they know they would never have those numbers inflate so quickly had they not had that as a caveat for their giveaway.
I would like to think that those who have signed on to be followers of any blog do so out of interest and nothing else. I have several giveaways during the course of a year, primarily to thank those who do visit my blog on a regular basis. The only caveat to entering my giveaways is to leave a comment so that I know that you're interested. Period. No jumping through hoops as in for one entry you must do this and for two entries you must do that, etc. I don't want to attract people who are not regular visitors or readers of my blog because I want to support the "faithful".
We all like to win something...myself included. But nothing turns me off more than a giveaway with list of things one must do before being allowed to enter...especially if one of them is to become a follower. That to me is so degrading. My fingers know exactly where the delete key is.
Actually, when I saw all the GO! giveaways with all the hoop jumping attached, I thought that the company itself was the one making the rules. Absolutely not! Those were the giveaway rules set out by the blogger who was doing the giveaway. How do I know this? Because I'm being given a GO! by AccuQuilt to give away on my blog and it's up to me to set my own "rules".
And trust me, no one will be made to jump through hoops and it will be short and sweet.
Whew! I'm sorry to have made this so long-winded but I thought I'd add my two cents. Thanks, Darlene. And I too would follow you to the end of the earth my friend...GO! or no GO!
Gosh sugar I never thought that for a minute..but then I tend to be a bit naive.....I think it is nice to see how many followers you have but I must admit it is no indication whether or not peeps are reading you daily or weekly..I have a Feedjit on my blog and by all accounts I average 300-400 per day...and I would say less than 1% ever leave a comment. Sadly I take that as I am not at all that interesting...lol...For those who do leave comment...wink...I adore them the most and I make it my daily goal to visit and I always leave comments. I think just knowing others do pay attention is worth hello and thanks for dropping by. I adore your blog, and I admit, I have learned plenty from you...I see your comments on blogs too. and that speaks volumes...You do care, you honour peeps efforts to entertain in our own ways...and most of all we quilt and share our passions...Sew what was your question lol...I know...I am happy to know you...ever it be far away here in my abode..blessings madame samm
I have no idea what one of those cutter things has to do with the number of followers but maybe I have my head in a bucket or something............anyway i would prefer to go with the stat counter too to know how many people visit your blog..........
I tried to find and understand the difference between followers and subscribers (all linked to google reader) but still don't understand........
I know I saw on a blog a few months ago someone going on about how many followers they have......well in my opinion who cares and it is not any sort of competition to see who has the most.........
I have been blogging for a long time like you and I post what I want like you.........I would prefer people to come to my blog and read it and and look at the pics because they enjoy it instead of coming because I have free things to giveaway ALL the time........they don't really care then just in for something for themselves........
I suppose what we all want to know is that someone visits and reads what we write......I can feel a blog post coming on...........LOL......
I've really got a bad taste about followers after the last while, especially with people making it requirements for giveaways I have to wonder how many ever really read the blog in the end. Oh well. Comments help I guess.
You were one of the first blogs I read and checked in on consistently, back when I didn't have a blog of my own. It took me probably a year to comment... I know, now I don't stop talking/hehe! Some blogs I follow (officially and unofficially) but don't comment on. It all depends.
Personally I'm glad when bloggers mention the follow button. I think I went several months bookmarking my favorite blogs but not even noticing that Blogger would keep track for me. Finally, I paid attention and started using it and LOVE it.
I only add blogs that I like and I've only had to delete one so far. I still like them but she was posting every couple of hours and it was a pain to sort through all her posts to see what everyone was up to.
Darlene - I love your blog and keep track of it with Google reader. I love to check out the new posts on other blogs by way of your blog. I am now officially a "follower" and happy to be one! I am annoyed that people would think you asked for followers for some personal gain - I know you are NOT that kind of gal. I also know you are typing your fingers to the bone trying to answer all these comments. You don't have to reply to this. You've left lovely comments on my blog and it makes my day! Keep stitching and keep blogging so I can enjoy it all ( ohhh... I'm being a bit selfish aren't I? LOL)
I love the fact that people read my blog and like it enough to become followers. I also have a counter, just because I'm a nosey so and so and like to see roughly how many people come for a visit whether they're followers or not.
Very well said Darlene...
I'm very happy to come 'out' and be a follower. I try to be a 'follower' on the blogs I read regularly.
I love blogs and 'meeting' new ladies and seeing what their are working on.
Everything in this post is true and interesting Darlene! Some of it I had never even thought about, like how many people look at a blog.
Yours was one of the first I followed, but funny thing, I was never a "follower" till now.
...one more thing...I have giveaways that are only for followers because I want someone I "know" to win, but never add an extra entry if someone becomes a follower. I think there is a big difference. Therefore, my post title will never include the word "giveaway". Just sayin'.....
The whole follower thing is a mystery. I read you. You read me. That's great! Thank you for sharing my blog with me and the world (or at least YOUR world).
Just wanted to say I too enjoy following your blog. While I may be a silent reader, I do enjoy your blog very much!
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
I have a counter too, and I agree with you that it's the best way to see how many readers you really have. People often follow for a give-away and never read it again. I would love to figure out a way to use just one method...I was thinking of doing a blog post to ask people how they like the "following thing". And to figure out if it would mess me up too bad to switch to that instead of my reader...hope that makes sense lol! That was interesting about the Go...I've often wondered why people want followers when there are all those other ways to follow, that would make sense. O.k. sorry for the ramble big sis...no worries about a reply...I am the worst as far as replying these days :)
Darlene, this is why I do giveaways to my followers, I'm just thankful I can see who is reading my blog and see all the talent these ladies have. I know I've tried to go back to my bloglist and hit the follower button on their blogs if they have one.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I will ditto what Kaaren expressed. Thank again.
Jackie.
Well, I use Reader to follow my blogs! It's simpler for me, it's all there. I've noticed the "follower" thing but never really paid attention to it! I'm playing catchup, can you tell? Of course I have a gazillion things to do, but, I need to do this a bit! Cheers!
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