Monday, May 11, 2009

Did I Not Get It?

Oh my gosh!! A new follower told me she went back and read my first post. So of course, I had to go back there too--July of 2006. A long time ago. ( I need to have a blog party this summer.)

So I started reading and reading and then I started checking comments and you know what?

There really weren't any for nearly a year and a half. I wrote for only myself for that long! What on earth was I thinking about? Didn't I even know to check other blogs?

Apparently not. So there's a lesson here--if you want to be heard--you have to listen as well.

Hope you had a great Mother's Day. Looking forward to a productive week for all of us!

24 comments:

Billy Coffey said...

That's a great lesson!

Jessica Nelson said...

LOL Terri! Very true. :-)

I like to go back and look at mine too. Boy was it exciting when I had just one comment. LOL!

Wonderful lesson. I think you summed it up so well.

Jody Hedlund said...

I like the way you put that: if we want to be heard we must learn to listen! That's so true! In fact just last week I heard someone complain about no one reading her blog. So I went to her blog to encourage her; but I never heard back from her. Lesson: if you want friends, than be friendly!

Chelle Sandell said...

So true!! I used to visit alot of blogs but was too intimidated to comment. I've met so many great friends by just jumping in and taking a chance. Hope you had a beautiful weekend.

Eileen Astels Watson said...

So very true. And you learn so much when you listen and gain such great cyber buddies! Definitely worth the effort!

I can't wait until I can attend a conference where some of my visitors will be, too. It would be really neat to meet you all in person some day.

Yolanda said...

Absolutely correct.

Sowing and reaping.

Giving and loving and allowing to be loved back upon.

Bless you and tons of love,
Yolanda

Janna Leadbetter said...

I think it takes a certain amount of time to find direction and voice with a blog - I know it did for me. You finally found your focus! Keep up the great work.

Melissa Amateis said...

I love going and reading my archives - amazing to see my life back then.

Kristen Painter said...

I don't think I've ever really gone back and read my old posts. Would be interesting, I'm sure. lol

Andrea said...

You are sooo right.

Blessing and continued prayers,
andrea

Susan Storm Smith said...

I have found on several of my articles and blogs there might not be any comments, but have had lots of people read them.

Sometimes people see blogs and articles as newspapers on a screen, we don't comment on a newspaper :)

I read some of the "large" names in blogging and find they don't have a huge number of comments either. For a very particular reason, mommy blogs have lots of comments, but that's more in line with new or young mothers who really do communicate in their spheres of community.

So I don't take it personal as long as I still have followers, the stats show that people are coming and their isn't a big bounce rate.

Thanks, as always for suggestions and interesting tidbits!

love and hugs,

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Terri -

You've come a long way with 81 followers now. When I started, I had one regular commenter. If she didn't show, it was verrry quiet around my blog.

I read somewhere that it takes a good 3 years for a blog to build traffic. I'm finding lots of friends as I travel the Net and on Facebook.

I like to think God observed all my early ramblings even if no one else did. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Angie Ledbetter said...

Terri, more proof of your blossoming! :)

Cindy R. Wilson said...

That is so true! I can't believe you've been blogging that long. I didn't even know what a blog was until about a year ago :) Yeah, I'm slow.

Carmen said...

I can't begin to tell you how encouraging that post was to me! You must have done it solely for the love of writing...because it is so nice when people do comment. I'm just starting out and really haven't found my voice yet...but now I feel encouraged to keep it up. Thanks!

Tracy said...

FANTASTIC LESSON! Now I have so many blogs I read, love and learn from, I seldom have time to leave comments regularly, but I try to hit everyone once in awhile. Like you, my friend! Once again, I'm so happy I started blogging and visiting others, because so many times it's like going to church everyday. And the cyber-friends are amazing (present company included)! Blessings!

Great Grandma Lin said...

blogging with comments is like dinner without dessert...

Jill Kemerer said...

Too true! Even if nobody comments, I'm happy to post, though. It's still writing! Congrats on the success of your blog...may you have more in the years to follow!

Ginger said...

So true...I don't think I understood the blogging process for a while! Such a great lesson in what you pointed out!

Alleluiabelle said...

Hi Terri,

When I first started posting, I had maybe one or two commenting. You are right, if you want to be heard, you do have to listen...from the heart and comment from the heart.

I love your site dear friend.

Hugs,
Alleluiabelle

Greg C said...

Did you say blog party? When and where? I am coming. I would love to meet the next time my family and I travel down your way.

Amy DeTrempe said...

That is so true. I am new to blogging and am still discovery blogs I enjoy reading. It took me forever to get up the confidence to actually post a comment, let alone write my own blogs.

Robin Lambright said...

Really old saying "God gave us two ears and one mouth because he wants us to do twice as much listening as we do talking."

Blessings
Robin

Deborah said...

I learned that early on from one of those blogs that teach how to be a better blogger. The other thing is, responding to comments people leave...making it more like a conversation. One blogger I visit never fails to respond to each individual comment...and she gets a lot of comments! She is one of the most encouraging ladies I've met while blogging. I go back just to read her response to my comments! You can find her on my side bar...(CONNIE)