Hi - I'm sorry to say that I'm going through another period of what we bloggers would call "blog doubt" if anyone had actually bothered to think up a name for it. I'll list a few reasons why I haven't updated recently, and perhaps you could then advise on whether I should:
a) stop the blog
b) make it change direction or focus
c) carry on regardless
So here's why I'm despondant:
1) I like updating on Twitter - more immediate and fast response. And very easy to follow a very wide range of views and opinion
2) I'm very frustrated by the way Blogger doesn't display comments below the post (is this just me being thick?) on the main page - only on individual post pages
3) Generally I think visitors perhaps don't realise how easy it is to comment - it's not clear how you do it?
4) I hate the way when I send out an email of the blog post, it always sends out the full blog post, so those receiving it can read it all in email, rather than having to click on the link to go to the blog
5) I'm worried that I'm concentrating too much on the trivial banalities of cycling, giving little that's new to folk
6) To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed by the traffic to the site, had hoped for more (though thankfully we are seeing a steady increase)
all of this adds up to existential blog angst. I'm trying not to sound whingey - just interested to know what you guys thought, and which direction I should go in next ... KC
PS I've just thought of the irony of what would happen if no-one commented at all ... we'll see.
14 comments:
I'll be the first to comment as a friend has just emailed (Oh God, that problem again!) asking if really it's just a midlife crisis. Well, I haven't yet bought a motorbike, grown a pony-tail or taken up surfing, but perhaps that's now inevitable ...
OK, just had another email (!) from a friend, saying they like getting the blog post as an email, as they can easily see it on the train or on the move - and not to worry about comments, she likes reading the posts anyway. I'm feeling better aleady. Notice how I'm translating emails into comments ... wonder if there's an industry in that somewhere!
I look in weekly and read your blog but I haven't felt any need to comment until now.
Does that help? :0)
I'm not much for commenting either but I do like checking in periodically and would miss the blog if it went away.
Also, I like the photos and vids you take during your commute.
Thanks Billy and anon, and to those who emailed me ... appreciate you taking the time and trouble to comment. Thinking that I will keep going, but may have to re-think the way I use Twitter and the Blog, and maybe there's a happier marriage to be created. Feel a bit more invigorated about it having gone through the doubts .. we'll see what I can do!
I have no internet connection on a computer during the day, only an iPhone, so I like reading blogs via email - but obviously that means you don't know how many people actually read your blogs using this method.
If I think about it, I'm much more likely to read and keep up with a blog regularly if it's emailed. How lazy of me!
Please keep your morning Twitter updates - they're fun and do make me more mindful of the "cycling community" on my commute.
Looks like i'm a bit slow out of the blocks on this one, probably need some new tyres. Anyway I read every fewdays in an old-skool fashion, no twitter or Email - I just click on the bookmark, and it's normally well worth it.
Keep going!
You'll find that only about a maximum of 10% of your visitors will ever bother to comment, but that's not to say they don't read.
It takes a long time to build a blog up and to get a loyal following. My advice would be that if you enjoy it, keep going (ask who you are doing it for - us or yourself?) Original content always helps too; photos, local news, videos etc - anything that is new and local will prove popular.
I read most weeks, but don't often comment as often I don't have the time.
Oh, and be sure to comment on lots of other people's blogs (go for the big ones!) to drive readers back to your own.
I enjoy reading your blog. Even if I have nothing to comment.
Keep it up.
Thanks everyone - I appreciate the support and tips. Very good point Mark about enjoying it - that's the key! And commenting on other people's blogs is also key. I'll bear these points in mind, and keep going!
Keep going. Stay honest. Have fun. The numbers will slowly grow...
I agree with everyone else KC. Don't give up! We all feel like that sometimes but there are lots of people out there that would miss you if you stopped posting.
Thanks John and Nat - it's all encouraging me to continue and I appreciate the sentiments. I'll carry on, but beware - I may try some odd experiments!
Once again, thanks everyone for the encouragement, I really appreciate it. KC
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