There is nothing I like reading more than comments to my posts. It gives me the 'euphoric high'. I feel like a million- billion bucks when someone new comes to my blog and makes a comment.
Initially, when I'd just started blogging, I'd have just a few guys & gals who commented on my posts. Usually the same people in all posts. It was nice. But I wanted more.
So I focused on improving traffic to my post. And I've learnt a few things along the way-- which I thought I'd share with you.
I looked to other blogs with decent "readers' count". I tried to make sense of what I was going through. And I have to admit- it wasn't easy!
Most blogs had guys and girls ranting about 'random arbid bull shit'. That seemed a sure shot way of attracting the crowd. But I couldn't do that even if I wanted to. :P
So it wasn't content that was driving readers' to these blogs. What was it?
I figured that you had to go out and be visible. You had to go and make comments on other blogs. So I did. This wasn't easy either. You see it is one thing to read 'random arbid bull shit'. But to try and actually find something to comment on was(&is) extremely difficult.
So you try and improvise. Usually the first 3 lines of a post will tell you were it's ending.
Most bloggers need psychiatric therapy (and have very big egos- Don't tell them that k!). So you need to sound nice and empathetic in your comments. There are of course trademark comments like- "Nice one", "Loved it", "Brilliant!" etc. (if I've used them in comments to your posts I really meant it-- this is only for the 'others').
Guys and Gals with 'sexy' profile pics again manage to attract traffic to their blogs. I'm still trying to find a photographer who can shoot a 'sexy' profile pic for me. Everyone I go to says... "Saar very difficult Saaar.. your face very difficult Saar!".
And one more thing... if you are a guy- focus on 'girl-blogs' and vise-versa for the women. Why? Guess there's a bit of Freud in it. We arouse curiosity in members of the opposite sex. They'll usually come back to your blog. You go to theirs again and they come to yours again--- and a relationship(blogging!) is established. With members of your own sex it doesn't seem to work that way. I guess we all figure that if this guy actually likes the 'random arbid bull shit' that I'm writing then he'll come back again. Why waste time and effort reading his 'random arbid bull shit'.
Well... be grateful that I've actually shared this knowledge and insight with you. So you won't have to go through all that 'random arbid bull shit' that I had to go through.
K... enough of this 'random arbid bull shit'. Back to work... off now. Ciao!
28 comments:
_very nice_, Brilliant_ , i _loved this_
hehehhehe...
so true u are.. it takes a lot of time and tons of patience to build up a readership. but frankly, i think there are just two things you need to do
1. Be honest in what you write at ur blog
2. be honest with your comments.
i wud never go to worthless blogs.. cz asu said, commenting of them is tougher than Quantum Physics..
take care :)
PS: i guess its time i find a photographer to get a sexy pic taken. can u help me find one, saaar? :P
Lol! It gives me an insight into how U think!
So it seems U did do some research, eh? I neva gave the photograph part a thought - Its either because I'm too sexy or too boring :) Or maybe a lot of both! LOL - Am in a mood to pat my back today! :)
And yeah - nothing can perhaps be more rewarding than comments on a post!
honestly, it's kind of hypocritical to make comments on what you seem to find as 'random arbid bull shit', just to get people to come to your blog. just love what you do, focus on your content and be true to yourself. traffic will follow
and to reply to Chhaya, i don't hink there are 'worthless blogs', coz blogging is about individuality. what you may not like, others might like. it's all subjective. calling a blog worthless is just plain rude.
@manju - my apologies... perhaps i have been blogging for too long :) (not just on blogspot)
i cannot agree with ur piece fully....
may b some people are crazy for traffic in their blogs. but I think blogs serves as a vent of people's(i.e the bloggers' minds)and most people join blog to express their thots and feelings, and also its true that ppl likes others' comments on posts...yet i dont really biliv dt ppl compose bullshits fr attracting ppl....coz most ppl in blogs read othrs' blogs coz dey love reading(at least i think so).So d things which may b 'arbid bullshit' to one, may be others' just mind's words.
now this is random arbid bullshit hehehe
LOL! Uncharacteristically brilliant! Very nice. Wonderful. Beautiful. And "NO" this is not a random arbid bullshit comment! ;)
I have been trying to get people to my blog too. And I see all bloggers who try to do it have similar beginnings. I too started with telling my own people (relatives and friends to be specific) to come over and read, and literally begging them to drop a comment (sometimes I do it even today). The hunger is insatiable. You always want more. Just then I realized that I should visit other blogs (ones that would be of my taste), and boy! it was tough.
Building a trail of followers is going to take time, I have realized that. I just need to be myself and write for myself. I am sure there will be lot many people who visit blogs than those who comment. If they like it they will follow you, if they don't they will plainly move on. I am playing the game of patience and also in the look out for good bloggers.
Cheers.
SOme readers seem to have taken offense to this post. some have even gone so far as accusing me of hypocrisy and being insensitive. thereby defending the rights of other bloggers to bull shit. i find in that an irony. what abt my right to bull shit???
shows your desparation to generate traffic...an urge we all share. Indeed, as you said we have "to go out and be visible". I didn't quite understand why you made a generalization while rubbishing the content on blogs. I'm not offended but I only feel we cannot make such sweeping statements because exceptions are always there. And we have to choose the best out of the worst...good luck to you.
Lols bro!!! The way you are going, you are definitely generating traffic.. from 0 to 30, you're gradually improving... :)
Hey AJ,
You got it right there. You need to be visible by commenting on random arbid shit initially. But gradually you would find your type of writers, the ones that you like reading. You have to be patient. Unfortunately most people just comment for the comments sake but then the human tendency to be yearning for notice is ubiquitous and undeniable. I have wriiten so much BS and have had comments coated with sugar and honey. It makes me laugh sometimes when people say that my writing brought tears to their eyes. The funny part was that it would not been my intention to make them cry. Criticism is rare in blogosphere.
Nice observation!
Everyone I go to says... "Saar very difficult Saaar.. your face very difficult Saar!".
<<< ROFL :D
i was having the same problems and i spewed my hate here http://adayinthelifeofindia.blogspot.com/2009/06/100th-post-and-some-ghu.html
Aj -
Yes, to an extent I agree....Some time back even I developed a crave to increase the blog readers..but later found it doesnt matters to me as a person at the end.....
And if this post of yours was a confession .....then I need to go back to your comments in my post to get an idea what it exactly was!!! (ha..ha)
Cant help to say - The title is attractive enough to increase the traffic!!!
Oho...seems you already started to become the focus of attraction...now i will always have a doubt inside whether you really meant what you commented on my site or it was just for the sake of the traffic jam:P
Joke aside, i love this post showing your honesty and struggle to make good things and to have them appreciated, which is also the dream of us all...
By the way i loved the spelling of "Saaar" lol
Be yourself, write whatever you feel like without shaping them in accordance with others, then you will have the true readers other than blank commentors with blank intentions...thts what i have observed so far:)
Hey Ajai....one more addition to the toll. :-)
Haha!Nice one :P
Actually there's no point trying to increase your hits or stuff like that. Ultimately blogging is about personal satisfaction, least it is for me!
Liked the post and book marked it on my blog. Hope you don't mind :)
Aha, hence the comment over at my blog :D
But I came here from Sojo's!! :P
heheh..
arre write wat u feel lyk...chuck all
LOL!!! u r looking for a photographer to take a sexy pic...
:)
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Hmmm. That makes me wonder if you come to my blog to massage my ego, or what? AJ, you are in trouble :P
LOL at Saar! some observations are true, initially i also thought like that, but then one fine day i realised that this blog is not my blog anymore, I started writing with other's perspective..and I stopped bothering about comments..I write what iw ant, if people read it , I am very happy, otherwise its my diary:)
AJ, I agree that It's tough to get people reading you, I enjoyed this blog for the honesty that it splashes out !!!!!
You know I was sh** scared while reading your post that it would poured with lots of criticism and yo got some too :(
I agree with some of your point and disagree with some, too.
But finally I agree exactly what Antarman had said though frankly I am not able to do that completely. If any of my good post does not get the expected response, i get paranoid, depressed may be because I am worried that my writing is not that good and more so may be my judgement about my writing is not proper, and that worries me more :(
Blog traffic increase is best if it increases because people find your post worth discussing.....but in the long run its best to have your blog a reflection of your ideology in life..atleast thats what mine is:)
LOL! :D
hats off, dude! :D
seroiusly, cool one here! :D
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