This little tidbit today is more of a discussion than a blog. That’s right damnit, I want you people to actually do something rather than just sit there and have me entertain you! heh, just kidding.
I want to ask some questions of all you bloggers out there. And readers of blogs too, I need your input.
I’ve been blogging for a long time. In just a couple years back in 2005-2007 I had an incredibly large following on MySpace. But then I let that kind of die out and took a break and tried to start up a couple different times. I have a decent following, but hey I wouldn’t mind a ginormous following in hopes of one day pimping my books and monetizing things. So, my question is for those of you who have ginormous followings… how did you get there?
Yes, yes, I know all the basics. But at what point did you jump up to thousands of followers?
I’ve read all the articles. But there is a lot of stuff I just don’t want to do. Such as…
I can’t stand being an attention whore. Ok, I don’t mind ya’ know, being the center of attention but just like to write about how fabulous I am and go all over the internet saying how fabulous I am just seems… annoying. Do you believe the hype? Do you get roped in because someone touts that they are hot or funny or a top blogger?
Next, I can’t stand f*cking contests. No f*cking isn’t a verb there, it’s an adjective. Giving away stuff seems so cheesy. I’m one of those “keepin’ it real” broads. Hell, I got into radio in the 80s because I was all about the music. I got out of radio in the 90s because I quickly found out it was all about the money, and DJs had no input or creative license whatsoever. True to my art, man! So, um yea, do contests help? Do readers think they are cheesy?
What about Twitter? Do any of you have tens of thousands of followers? How did you get there? I have just over a thousand. How do you become a Mega-Tweeter? And Facebook likes? How do you amass thousands?
Is it all about begging people to share your stuff? Is it about content? You hope your stuff is just interesting enough that people will pass it around? Honestly, that’ s kind of been my plan, other than pimping my blog on Twitter, FB, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.
Thinking about trying some YouTube videos. I’ve been told I have good comedic delivery and a very expressive face. But I don’t want to be one of those A-holes that sits there and rambles and has nothing really prepared to say. I want to prepare something good and have my hair and makeup did first.
So, let’s hear it bloggers and consumers of blogs… what creates a gigantic following? See, I’m a bit of a pain in the ass because I’m not like other people. I have a very particular sense of humor and I only want to read blogs that have an extremely clever wit. I’ll check out what’s popular, just to keep on top of things but honestly I don’t find much that I love. Sorry kids. But I try to check everyone out! I just can’t use my thought patterns as a gauge, ‘cuz well, like I said, I’m a pain in the ass.
Please tell me your thoughts…
You really are a pain in the ass. But I like that about you. I honestly haven’t figured any of this out yet either. I think there may be a secret handshake that we just don’t know to get us into the thousands of followers club.
You say the nicest things, Jon.
Well….I’m no help. I hate all those things too. Plus, I blog so sporadically that I have no following left..not that it was so much to start with. I hope you find the key to a large following because you deserve it. Good luck.
You have a very nice following, Darlene! Come on!
Well, Ms. Madgilicious, I don’t think there is any room in this cyber world for politeness with regard for collecting readers. I believe THAT my dear is more akin to guerilla marketing. I’m beginning to understand that the people with high readerships put considerable time into reading and adding and then going to other people’s lists and adding from that. I think they put out an excellent article once in awhile that everyone reads and then several that no one does. And they do it all often. Personally, I scan the sites and if it has tons of photos, gadgets, widgets and the like I pass and I often add sites I wish I didn’t because they write often and it isn’t worth reading so I delete. This is where I think the paid service might come in handy for those of us who just want to supply good content without the frills. But then again, I haven’t had a following since myspace either…there’s a thought. It worked once???
You have me following you, now! Yea, I’m thinking if we did it once… But I agree about the people putting in a lot of time trolling other blogs and making friends and all that.
Don’t know how people find time to have 1000s of Twitter followers. Back in days of Myspace glory, my subscription page was filled with new posts each day and I read them all. Took an hour or so every day. You can’t keep that up.
I know, I know!
Wit, interaction, relevance, intelligence….those are some of what makes people come back for more. Just my humble opinion mind you.
Hmmm, I’m screwed then. lol
I don’t think so, not at all.
I can’t answer the “why am I popular” because I’m not, I’m much too terrified to let anyone read the drivel I write (this is my first time commenting with my actual link btw). I love other blogs but have few I read on a regular basis. I get annoyed by little things and delete people from my favorites for stupid things, mixing up your and you’re, having an annoying blog set up with snippets of the blog post so you have to click to read more. Crazy I know. In my search for new blogs tonight I found yours. Anyone who uses twat in a post is worth a try in my book. When funny bloggers turn media whore I usually tune out also. It’s happening to a few I have read for quite a while and I’m very close to hitting delete. Maybe that stems from pure unadulterated jealousy but I tell myself it is because they are no longer as funny when they have to write to the masses and make their advertisers happy.