Matthew MacNish asked Why Follow? on his blog post last Friday. It's a great post, If you haven't seen it, I recommend reading it. This post made me think about a related topic I have been considering posting on. How I follow. As part of the Platform Building Campaign, I have started following new blogs (and have picked up new followers here-- welcome all!,). But what does it mean when I follow your blog?
I follow several blogs (posted on the left side here) without expecting to be followed back (although I am grateful to all of you who do!). When I visit a blog (either following a link from another post or stumbling upon it another way) I read a few posts and look around. If I think it is something I will be interested in following, I look for the follow button or RSS feed button on your blog (if you don't have one, you should so I can follow you more easily.), then add you to my Google reader. And here is where the magic happens for me. Every time you update your blog, it appears in my reader. I will click on the link and read your blog in the bubble that opens (sometimes I have to go to the original item as the entire post doesn't show.)
For everyone I follow -- I do read your posts. I just don't always comment on them. I can't. With working, being a wife and mother, and writing, I don't have enough time to. But, I do read them, and will comment on ones that peak my interest, or when I have something to add to the conversation going on in the comments.
How about you? How do you follow?
Thanks for the mention, Mary! I love your take on the subject. It all depends on what you want to get out of blogging, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI follow in fits and bursts. I tend to neglect the visiting and following aspect when I'm wound up in writing or editing or real life but then once I've sent things to query, I try and take advantage of my free time by visiting and following more.
ReplyDeleteIf it weren't for you, I never would have discovered Google reader!!! You rock
ReplyDeleteI read all, comment on few. So many blogs, so littlel time. . .
ReplyDeleteFollowing is easy; it's the following through that takes the time. Congratulations on doing what you do.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Campaigner, but not in your group. Just stopped in to follow and say hi.
Thanks for sharing your method.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone follows me, I follow back unless I see something troubling on the blog. When I first blogged, I read a few before deciding. But then I decided it's less about reading every single post than it was being part of a community. So I try to read as many blogs as I can, but not as often as I'd like.
I've just been using Google Reader for a month or so. Which is amazing considering that I've been online since 1992 and have been following some blogs for several years. Thanks for sharing your technique for following.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone that is not using RSS on their blog. You are missing out on MANY loyal readers. It just makes it so much easier to keep track of the blogs you are following.
I'll follow anyone who follows me. Period. I've met so many great authors/friends from simply stumbling across their blogs, but I only have time to spend in the blogging world about once a week, sadly. I try to go through and catch up on everyone and everything in a couple hours, so if you update on Thursday it's likely I'll stop in. That's not to say I don't pop in occasionally from twitter, facebook, or just for kicks and giggles, but life can get SOOO crazy.
ReplyDeleteI should clarify--I do follow those who follow me-- I meant to say when I follow a link to a blog I look around to see if I want to follow.
ReplyDeleteI follow someone if they follow me. I keep my loyal followers, plus a few others on my sidebar for easy access for me. I try and visit everyone on my list at least once a week. When pressed for time, I only do return visits. I do the best I can with the time I have...sometimes I even write. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI follow a lot of blogs. So what I do is I go through and only read the most interesting posts and I comment on those. Sometimes I don't comment on a post that I read because someone has already said something similar to what I was going to say and I don't want to look lik a moron. LOL But if I follow your blog and your post are interesting, rest assured I'll be commenting soon but other demands (work, school, kids...) hinder that sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI follow many, many blogs since I've been blogging for 3 1/2 years now. I can't possibly keep up with them all, but I do glance through my reader every single day to pick up on things that catch my eyes. Also, close friends and people I talk with on a regular basis are the ones I read and comment on the most faithfully. Sometimes that's all I can squeeze in. Life gets so busy!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to find your blog. :)