A fellow blogger I subscribe to, Soldiering Through the Writing World, posted a very thought-provoking post, as usual. It was about her invisible audience, meaning the ghost-readers of her blog who read and run, never leaving behind a foot or fingerprint of evidence that they were there.
When I first started my blog, I dreamed of instantly getting hundreds (thousands) of hits on my site per day, having fifty or so subscribers to my blog, and comments galore from readers. I joined Twitter, and created a new Facebook page simply for my writing. I thought I’d be plugged-in, automatically at every nail-biting, foot-tapping, drooling reader’s fingertips.
Such is not the case. There are a few loyal readers out there, and to those readers, I say a big “thank you.” Is a writer with no audience still a writer? Yes, yes, of course, but a writer with an audience is a much more driven and accomplished writer.
As I learn WordPress more thoroughly-and read other’s posts with their struggles for readership-I hope to continue to collect more readers and subscribers.
You see, I’m a rather loose subscriber, in that it doesn’t take much for me to subscribe to someone else’s blog. If I like two or three posts, if they make me smile or laugh, I subscribe. I want to receive their posts the instant they are published, via e-mail, (even if it then takes me all day to get to that e-mail on my Blackberry) and I want to scan their new posts the way others scan the newspaper in the morning.
Am I too loose of a subscriber? Do other people feel the need to “know” someone before they subscribe? Am I crossing boundaries I don’t know exist? When it comes to being a reader, I know a good thing when I see it. Therefore, I have a long list of blogs to which I subscribe.
Anyone who has taken a writing class will hear the phrase, “cater to your audience,” which means tailor your piece to precisely the audience you want to attract. It would be important for the audience to first be identified, and then for the piece to be written for them. With blogging, there are two sides of the argument. Gather your readers in your apron like little chicks and hens, and write for them, or blindly write and hope that someone out there in the big bad blogging world likes your junk.
I’d like to find a balance between the two, but it’s really time I find that audience, and write for them.
So as my fellow blogger mentioned this, I, too, ask for feedback, and for those of you who may be a silent or invisible reader, please comment, subscribe, share, and “like” my posts. It wont take you very long, and it will keep me motivated to produce more magnificent posts, for you, my special readers!
Sarah said:
You are amazing! (I hope you know that.)
🙂
ElenaSC said:
The part that I love the most about blogging is getting feedback from the readers. I’m actually about to celebrate 1,000 comment so I’d like to invite all of you to drop by and leave me a comment. Share with me the power of sharing.
http://wp.me/pXsUB-Gy
Thank you so much!
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Thank you for reading, Elena! I am at 50 posts, and have already comprised a post about that. I can’t wait to hit 100… so a BIG congratulations on your 1,000 posts! Keep up the good work, and thank you for the comment.
planejaner said:
Ah, the eternal question: for whom are we writing?
For me…I decided to write…for me. I found that when I was writing about what I was interested in (and, as you know, it’s all over the map) I found I connected with more people than I did when I tried to focus more on only writing about gardening…or the food movement in America.
I think that, in the blogosphere, building your audience is really more…building friendships…it’s a community that is different than what I had originally imagined.
You just keep writing. And then, keep writing.
blessings,
jane
Gemma said:
I think you’re a great writer with a distinct voice. What’s the one thing you enjoy writing about most? I think focusing on that might help. Best of luck!
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Thanks, Gemma. I appreciate your suggestion. I enjoy writing about life, and that is primarily what I blog about. I try to write my posts from the point of view where readers understand, and can say, “Hey, that happenes to me, too!”.
Thanks for reading.
Caitlin
Pingback: At the Mercy | PlaneJaner's Journey
curiouseeker said:
🙂
keep ’em coming!:D
spindlespace said:
Hey Caitlin
Your blog is fab – funny and insightful (also took a peek at your God blog – really interesting). I only started my blog 6 days ago so I’m still trying to figure out how all this works. It’s encouraging to know that there are other writers who face the same joys and challenges of the written word.
You’re a great writer – keep blogging!
Rachel
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Spindle- welcome to WordPress! Definitely take your time poking around, and take the tutorials, they are very helpful. I LOVE WordPress, and the unique features you can use, the way that there’s constantly a fresh stream of new blogs to read. Good luck getting started, and thanks for reading! -Caitlin
Andie Newton said:
This post deserves a comment. You read my mind. I had 157 visits to my blog in one day and the only comment I got was from my dad-which doesn’t count. I know it was funny, or at least, someone other then my dad must have found it good enough to write a comment, but alas…did not. Here is to you Collective Disclosure! Prost!
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Thank you, Andie- for reading, and COMMENTING! My mom commented on my FP’d story… which (you are correct) doesn’t count. It’s so difficult when you see the traffic, but don’t see comments. On the other hand, how many posts do you (and I) read, but not leave comments? It’s a two-way street, and I have started commenting more, in order to let bloggers know I’m there, I’m an alive, active reader!
Thanks, again! -Caitlin
bhartilegros said:
You are a great writer. I think when we write, we have a need for recognition, not only from ourselves, but from our peers and “admirers.” And when a comment is left, it gives just that, recognition. I’m still learning wordpress, bloggging, tweeting and just plain writing, and I have a ways to go. I hope to achieve the following you have soon.
Best wishes!
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Bhartilegros- We all have miles and miles left to learn. Once that is all learned, there will be miles and miles more of freshly paved road for us to conquer. I love WordPress, blogging, and writing in general. I started with poetry, and refused to leave its comfortable walls for years. Now I’m dabbling in the memoir style. I think what I write is memoir… who knows if others would say that. Anyway, thanks for reading! Send some of your writing my way. -Caitlin
reneenomore said:
I too am a loose subscriber, but ashamedly I admit… sometimes a ghost reader, I have been reading blogs for a while now, but have ony just created one… and realised.. I should be leaving comments!! After all, its so nice to recieve feedback, Im aching for someone to read my post, (nobody knows its out there yet!) I really relate to your posts, I love your style, and yup… I subscribed!! Thanks for being out there!
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Renee- (Or, should I say, former Renee?) Thanks for reading! I love WordPress because I am constantly introduced to new writers. It’s truly like opening a window and the world rushes in. Comments are great feedback, and I wouldn’t mind even getting constructive criticism. Thanks for taking the time to comment! -Caitlin
Serena said:
LOL! Oh how very true! I long for comments to be left on my blog, and hey, for other bloggers to add themselves as followers. But it doesn’t happen quickly at all……………
I too must admit to ghosting my way through other blogger’s posts, many of them so very well written. I must remember to leave comments more often. Your excellent (and almost plaintive) post touched me though, and so I leave you a comment and will add myself as a follower! Happy blogging, blogger friend. I would be overjoyed if you visited my blog…………………………………………..
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Serena- Thank you for unghosting yourself! It’s a big step, but as I’ve mentioned in a few other comments, everyone wants that recognition… doesn’t it feel great to receive it? I will make my way over to your blog. Thanks for reading and following. -Caitlin
Reggie said:
I feel exactly the same as you, Caitlin. I always wonder who my mysterious readers actually are – and why the stats on some posts keep climbing, without anybody leaving a trail. Is it the same person going back again and back again, because they’re lost, or forgot that they’d read it before?
Well, I should think that being Freshly Pressed for your ‘on hold at the library’ post would have caused your stats to sky-rocket! Congratulations! Nice synchronicity, isn’t it? 🙂 It’s how I found your blog, by the way. I’ll have a peruse around and perhaps even click on that ‘subscribe’ button. 🙂
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Reggie- Being fp’d sure has helped! What I love about WordPress is that I constantly have a new selection of blogs to read. The best thing (for me) about being fp’d is that I am now aware of so many more bloggers, and have a very large selection on my “to-read” list. Thanks for reading! -Caitlin
Ed Williams said:
I have only been blogging daily for not even a month. I have been “ghost-reading” while pressing the occasional “LIKE” for the same amount ot time. YOUR post here has totally hit home with me and has actually “twisted my arm” to “subscribe” to my very first Blog. Congratulations and I love your style!
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Dear Ed- Congratulations on starting your blog! There is a big transition period for the first few weeks. I went from wanting to be completely anonymous, to wanting to be “out there” with my identity fully disclosed, and now I’ve balanced somewhere in the middle. My writing has gone through a similar transition. I find that reading other blogs and posting comments has helped me solidify my identity here, since I take responsibility for what I leave on other blogs. Best of luck as you get started in your wanderings and writings! Thanks for reading! -Caitlin
pegoleg said:
This is the perennial lament of all bloggers, at least in my limited experience. Some days you wonder if anyone is catching the words you toss out. I have a hard time getting my own family to comment! But I assume most people mean well – they’re just busy.
(For example, I barely even noticed that mine was the ONLY comment on your library book post that didn’t merit a reply comment. :))
housewifingaround said:
What a succinct explanation for us bloggers who love to not only write, but to share. You express yourself in an addicting way. I’ll make you a deal, I’ll read yours if you read mine lol. At least check it out. Every blue moon I have something if not brilliant, ridiculous to say.
http://housewifingaround.wordpress.com/
CollectiveDisclosure said:
Housewifing- I’m in! Thanks for reading!
Caitlin
housewifingaround said:
Virtual High-Five!