1. I don’t think of my blog as a “product” that I need to promote.
2. I sometimes go for days without checking how many hits I’ve gotten.
3. I don’t stick to one main topic.
4. No one who is related to me, other than my husband and kids, knows I have a blog.
5. I subscribe to over 200 feeds on Google Reader and read them all every day.
6. I am a very fast reader.
7. I don’t know how to make widgets or do anything fancy with HTML.
8. One reason I started blogging anonymously was so that I was afraid if my friends found my blog, I wouldn’t be able to use my “material” in conversation with them.
9. If I can’t say something nice, I try not to say anything at all, but I don’t always succeed in that goal.
10. The best thing about blogging? Connecting with people all around the world, whom I would never have met otherwise.
September 11, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Well, you’re way ahead of me. . . .
I check my blog stats every day. Sometimes several times a day. That’s because I care whether or not people are reading what I write (and maybe also because I’m fairly new at this, so I like to reassure myself).
I don’t promote my blog per se, but I do enjoy finding like-minded bloggers. Leaving comments, which I enjoy, ends up being self-promoting.
It takes me a long time to read the blogs I subscribe to (and it’s not nearly 200). I’m a slow reader because I don’t seem to focus very well these days (no, I’m not talking about the eyes!).
Sometimes, I don’t say nice things. I try not to be too divisive, but . . . what can I say?
I totally agree with #10!
September 12, 2007 at 7:59 am
I’m with you on all of the above. I wish I had instituted #8 though when I started blogging. Not being anonymous means I have to self-censor, and sometimes I would dearly like to rant.
September 12, 2007 at 8:15 am
That’s so funny about testing material off-line with friends. I’ve run onto the same issue with the people in real life that read my blog!
September 12, 2007 at 9:17 am
I’m afraid I’ve stolen this and memed it. Sorry!
September 12, 2007 at 9:17 am
[...] 12, 2007 Posted by (un)relaxeddad in blogging, personal. trackback Yogamum didn’t write this as a meme but I’m adopting it and changing her confessions into questions – it was too good an [...]
September 12, 2007 at 10:25 am
How do you keep your kids quiet? I’m with Charlotte, but, my boys run to their classrooms to tell their teachers whenever they’re on my blog. I’m amazed that you read them all — everyday! I’m with you on number 9. Several times I’ve wanted to post a complaint and whine, but I figure, this is my blog — it doesn’t need negative energy.
September 12, 2007 at 12:53 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with all 10 points you made.
I’ve also always resisted getting into the stats thing, and haven’t ever checked that out. But, I do really enjoy comments on my blog for the conversation and insights.
I can see how some blog authors might seek to entertain and so they’d get into stats. But I think that many of us just like to work through our thoughts and share ideas.
For me, honesty is the most important element in my blogging, and so I also have limited how many people I tell about my blog, because I don’t want to get in the mode of self-censoring.
September 12, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I almost never check my hits: usually it freaks me out.
September 12, 2007 at 8:29 pm
GF — I’ll admit to leaving comments on blogs where I think lots of other readers might be attracted to click over to mine! Okay, I promote a little!
Charlotte — I’ve become more lax on revealing my “real” identity but I’m still careful that this blog isn’t associated with my real name in a Googleable way (I hope).
Cody — It sucks when you tell someone something and they say, yeah, I read that on your blog!
(Un)relaxeddad — Copycat!!
SusieJ — My kids know I write something on the internet, but they’ve never asked to see it or read it. I guess they don’t care what crazy Mom is writing about!
Mysoremum — I do care that people are reading and that I’m having some sort of effect on people (even if it’s just momentary amusement). I just try not to get hung up on the numbers.
Zee — Me too — you can get wrapped up in why one post was popular vs. another, how to increase hits, etc. rather than just writing what you want to write. Nothing wrong with going for the hits, I just would rather blather on obliviously.
September 13, 2007 at 7:43 am
[...] Confessions of a Blogger Jump to Comments This was invented by YogaMum, who posted it as Confessions of a Blogger, and taken up by (un)relaxeddad, who turned it into a meme. It’s the perfect thing to post [...]
September 13, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Yes, in my experience blogging is a favorite topic.
And my blogs name was NOT a marketing ploy, but it does put me at the top of your list
September 13, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Oh, and I agree completely with #9, except for the occasional comic effect of someone who doesn’t read (e.g., the crazy lady post from a couple weeks ago) that I can resist.
And I didn’t tell the kids, or I wouldn’t be able to write about them. But I expect in the future they will be glad I did.
September 13, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Tim — my blog is always at the bottom of everyone’s list!
I do slip up and say mean stuff, but not too often, I hope.
September 13, 2007 at 10:50 pm
200 feeds? Wow, you really a fast reader, yoga mum. =)
September 15, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I initially found this blog via a Google news search, so you must be doing something right in the promotion, or SEO, or uh, whatever department! (I barely know this stuff myself.) : )