I originally had planned on writing this post on or for the first of August, my blogiversary. I waffled back and forth, should I, shouldn’t I. Eventually it was easier to let it slip by. This morning it was on my mind again.
After more than three years of blogging on a fairly regular basis, I have been brought up short by this question. Do you blog for yourself or do you blog for the people who read your blog? I know that when I started blogging it was to keep in touch with friends, people that I already knew, not the friends that I would make through the blog. That was a bonus that came as a delightful surprise. I enjoy the sharing of my photographs and the sharing of my knitting and spinning projects. I don’t have much experience as a writer and therefore fall back on imagery. I was trained visually, that IS what I do. My sister, nearly every time I speak with her asks me why I don’t have more comments. She asks me if I’ve pissed people off, or if I should / could be more interesting (probably, but what the heck does that mean). How do you answer that? The thing is this, everyone loves feed back, needs feed back. It helps us grow and helps us to improve. That brings me to this question: what would make this blog more interesting? Short of knitting more, that is what it is, what do you like to see most on this blog? As I go forward in my fourth year blogging, I would love to get some input. Help me make this blog better, because, the answer to my first question is BOTH.
I leave you with this picture from my garden, my illustrated analogy. A crop of squash presented in one package. The Siamese squash. AS I turned it in my hands, I counted nine little squashes, all in one. Such is my garden this year. Such is life.
Comments
45 responses to “going forward”
I like your blog just the way it is! I come here FOR the imagery…of your yarn, your garden, your projects and your insights into how (the above) relate to the way you see the world around you. Oh, and any technical information is always enjoyed…don’t change a thing..unless maybe you want to blog more often…
Wow, that’s one freaky squash.
As for the blogging question, my answer is both. I blog for me – to keep track of my projects and things I’ve knit and as a bit of a diary of what I’ve done. But I blog for you guys because I want to show you what’s going on and sometimes I need your help, too.
I think your blog is great just the way it is.
If you’re looking for comments, the best way to get comments is to leave comments for others.
You may not have a lot of regular comments, but you sure do have a lot of subscribers in Bloglines. I read, because I like what you write. Smatterings is one of those wonderful, contemplative blogs that provide a bit of calm in my stressful world. Don’t change a thing.
Oh, and that squash, is way too cool.
It’s terrible, really… I read you all the time, especially after we met (briefly, and doubtful you’d remember) at Rhinebeck last year (I was the quiet one with Cara & Ann). I enjoy what you write, love the pictures, of course, but I don’t know if I’ve EVER left a comment here — and I KNOW how important the feedback is and how nice it is to hear from people sometimes!
Happy blogiversary — and many more!
I think your blog is great the way it is. Love your images, love your dyeing, love the things that you say. I sometimes have thought it is an easy thing to get into about the comments. Like, why didn’t anyone say anything about “that”?
And I have my moments where I would like more feedback, or more interaction, but I guess for me I come back to the fact that the people I do get comments from, especialy the regular ones, give me thngs to think about, ideas/projects to explore, feedback on a question, and that is really perfect.
If you are not particularly happy with the blog you are creating, I say change it up, but if you are happy with it the way it is, keep-a going with it, it’s truly beautiful, and a lovely oasis to visit.
I like the pictures. Your world/weather/flora is so different from mine, it takes me into another place.
It is not yet 45F here, no pond, no fires in the near future, and I don’t grow squash, even by the single. And I love the pictures of your dyeing.
Comments? Fun? yes. Indicative of readership? no. Sometimes people will respond (like I am now) to direct questions, but mostly, people don’t think to comment when they’ve read, enjoyed and may even be inspired. They just smile, and move on.
There is no better blog than the one you produce, from your own inspiration.
Here are my thoughts on what I like to see in a knitting blog: regular, predictable posting dates and photos. When I follow a blog I find it frustrating if the blogger blogs every day for a week and then nothing for two weeks. I mostly read blogs for: knitting techniques, pattern ideas, & yarn ideas (pro & con). I’m not a spinner so I also like to see blogs that if they blog about spinning they also find something about knitting to blog about also.
I like your blog but probably don’t comment as much as I should. There was one knitting blog that is quite popular that I still read but the blogger reprimanded me for making a comment that included a suggestion that she thought she didn’t need. The blogger sent me an e-mail telling me that I should have researched her blog more before making an unnesessary suggestion in a comment. So I really reduced the number of comments I make on the blogs I read because of that negative experience.
I don’t think I would change a thing about your blog, I love the way you have it set up. I don’t comment on every post, but I am reading!
Happy Blog Birthday! I think everyone blogging has this question and I think we all wobble back and forth with the answer! THEN when we don’t get response we wonder…that is the key that we are writing for our readers. I’ve always enjoyed your blog..your beautiful pictures -I agree with Carole I’ve found that if I leave comments and click on the comments on my blog I find a wonderful array of bloggers. (or even others comments…for instance I will go through and click on your comments and see others blogs 😉 kind of fun when the bloglines are short for that day!
I like your blog just the way it is also. I have been reading it for quite a while, but I never comment. I am guilty of that on many blogs that I enjoy. A lot of the time it is a not enough time in the day thing…I read a lot of blogs. Your spinning, which is awesome, is what brought me here in the first place and I’m still here. I also met you briefly at the Tolland S&W. So anyway…. hi 🙂
Oh that that squash is freaky!
I’m terrible about commenting, but it is more a factor of trying to use my time in a manner that is most effective at not putting me over the edge. But that is my issue and it is unfortunate that it ends up affecting lovely bloggers like you, who don’t get any feedback from me.
I’m pretty visual, and what attracts me to your blog is the photos. I’m a sucker for good photos. And they are always big. Love that.
Something that I would find very interesting would be more discussion on how you do things. You are obviously a talented and knowledgeable spinner, knitter, dyer, gardener and many other things. I’d love to know how you do these things and why you’ve chosen a particular way. Hope that helps! I do love your blog!
I like reading your blog and do try to comment every time I stop by. You write very well and your pictures are always excellent.
Love the squash.
I think the biggest thing that keeps people from commenting is that they don’t know what to say. Sometimes it’s hard to think of something to say that doesn’t sound stupid.
If you want to place a reader value on your blog, get a stat counter. It will give you an average hits per day so you know that you are being read/heard. If your average stays the same or goes up, you’ll know that you have regular readers who like your blog, but don’t know what to say or have the time to comment, but want to “hear” from you anyway.
You’re wonderful. Don’t change a thing…unless you want to. It’s your blog, and we come here for YOU. I think it’s important to remember that when one starts to worry about stats and comments and such.
I’ll also agree with Sara that comments are not indicative of readership. I think there’s a certain kind of blogging that encourages conversation, and you can choose to do that or not. Response is gratifying, but I for one feel guilty when I don’t have time to respond to every comment, etc. I also suspect that the patterns of commenting are changing as the knitblogosphere grows. Whenever you get linked to by a widely-read blog, there’s this uptick in stats and there used to also be an uptick in comments. The last time a widely-read blog linked to me, I *didn’t* get the comments, but I did get a bunch of emails, and then a bunch of emails from friends who told me that someone mentioned my blog to them, forwarded it, etc. I thought that was interesting. I think now that our little world is so big, it’s harder for people to comment on blogs of people they don’t *know*. I also think more of us read more blogs, use bloglines more, and communicate on the backchannels a bit more. This is just an observation, and it may not even be accurate outside of this one situation from which I am drawing conclusions, but it interests me. I don’t think comments have ever been a true indication of readership (just try offering something for free on your blog and see how many people you’ve never heard of email you), but I think they are even less so now than they were.
Anyway. Doneverchange. Mwah! Happy blogiversary!
Don’t change anything. I love the pictures, I love your knit/spin/dy6 chronicles. It does it for me.
Commenting IS changing in the blogosphere. It’s a function of more and more blogs, people spreading their reading thinly. It’s all an evolution. I don’t think it’s about you.
Happy blogiversary! Of course.
I enjoy it as is as well. I am guilty of not leaving as many comments as I should on all the blogs I read, and find myself specifically asking my “readers” questions when I want to hear feedback in the comments because I know I usually comment to blogposts that ask for the commentary.
If you’re super interested in “what to change,” you could install a sitemeter and/or statcounter (both .com) and “watch” your readership– where are they coming from, what google searches are leading them to your blog, etc. and try targeting the tried and true with the content they’re already searching for; that may bump your readership (which according to bloglines is pretty good #wise :)) and garner more comments.
But like I said, I like it. 🙂
I write for myself but I keep the people that read my blog in mind(by trying to go not too long between posts)–I wouldn’t change how/what I blog based on my readership.
I read your blog every time you post but I don’t comment unless I feel I have something significant to say(I usually don’t like to chime in with a “yeah, that’s great post”)–I’m like that will all the blogs I read.
I say change or don’t change–it’s up to you; I think your blog is fine just the way it is.
I just want to mention that you have almost 200 subscribers and that is just with Bloglines. That has to say something!
Cathy in MN
i think you’re doing just fine. i just came over from jenla and i’ve been blogging for over 2 years and i don’t have 200 subscribers. nor do i get as many comments. should i be worried that i’m not interesting now? 😉 seriously though, i think you need to be true to yourself. blogging is supposed to be fun, and as soon as you start worrying more about whether or not you’re interesting to others, then it won’t be fun anymore. sometimes i come up with stuff that i think will be hilarious and should get comments. and when it falls flat i’m a little disappointed. but it still makes me giggle.
i agree with many of your commenters too — there’s so many blogs out there and only so much time. to comment with a “nice sock” seems superfluous when there are 30 other comments before you saying the same thing.
also, i love it when bloggers respond to my comments, so i’m always sure to do that when i get a comment. if i read a blog and the blogger doesn’t engage me back (within reason) after awhile i’ll stop commenting.
Just came ove rfrom JenLa, I am loving your yarn for sale, and wonder how to order? Also wonder about the Maple,is it sold? I think I will come to know you thru your blog, I have alreday bookmarked you
I don’t have 200 subscribers and I don’t get many comments, but I dont’ worry about it much anymore. I read your blog all the time. I have for over a year. I have commented, but mostly I just read and marvel at your visual gifts. Words are power, but pictures tell a story with color and form.
I started my blog after about a year of reading everyone elses. I wanted a place to be able to connect with other knitters and it’s also been great to keep track of what I’ve knit. This is my first time reading your blog and I really like so I will certainly be back.
judy, i love your blog just the way it is, and you take THE most beautiful photos! happy blogiversary 🙂
Holy crap, I have squashes just like that this year, too. That is rather frightening and to me suggests something environmental, that we both have it happening. Bleh, I don’t want to think about it.
I echo what Carole said on the other subject. I mentioned this to you that day we hiked, too. Your blog is plenty interesting and beautiful — you don’t need to change a thing. But it is true that in order to get a lot of comments, if that’s what you want, you have to leave a lot of comments to others and answer your comments.
From my perspective, I lose interest after a while if it’s a one-way conversation. I’ve had it happen a few times where I habitually leave comments to a person (not you!), over and over again — and get no response and no return of the favor. It’s like talking to a brick wall, or makes me feel as if that person feels too important to respond and/or is not interested in me as a friend, so I lose interest. I don’t always respond to all my comments, either — sometimes I just can’t due to time constraints — but I try.
I know that that is probably an issue for you with dialup — both from the answering comments perspective and the reading lots of blogs/leaving comments aspect.
AND: Your sister should understand it’s a lot of work and a huge time suck and she should stop being sisterly critical. Geesh! 🙂
Happy bloggiversary!
Hello for the first time:
I was sent over here by JenLa blog and love your beautiful photos. I blog for myself as a journal of my knitting and when friends or new people stop by it’s very gratifying but not why I do it.
Hope you keep with it!
Like a lot of others have said, it’s hard to find something smart to say besides “Me too!” sometimes, especially after previous posters have said it very well. I’d say tell your sis to make all the changes she wants to HER blog (what? she doesn’t have one?) but leave yours alone. It’s your creation, and it’s wonderful just as it is.
I check this blog out every day, Judy, and enjoy the pics AND the writing. It’s a nice way to stay up to date on what you are doing when we don’t see you at Su’s. I know I have been terrible about blogging lately myself, and I don’t make comments an awful lot due to time constraints, but hopefully an update will come soon. I am still sorting out my Scotland pics as time allows. There were a couple hundred that I took, plus Liz is sending a CD of her photos and other people’s as well. Once I have that, I will choose some and do a little writing. Words will be difficult to find that express how deeply I was moved by North Ronaldsay and Unst, but I will try to capture it somehow. Missing you, so especially glad you are making the effort to blog. Keep on keepin’ on! Much love, Paula
I have your blog bookmarked, and get to it once or twice a week, but I usually don’t do much commenting on any blog I read. First of all, I usually read late at night (or VERY early in the morning, depending on your point of view), and being that I’m a nurse, I work long overnight hours, and spend my days sleeping, or taking care of my family. I’ve barely had time to post on my own blog this summer. I get a fair amount of hits myself, but nearly no comments, and I guess maybe people read more than they comment these days.
I don’t have a blog (perhaps one day?) and often wonder if anyone would be interested if I did! I’m a sporadic reader of most blogs, but come back to yours time and again. I love your photos, feeling of the countryside, and come away with sense of serenity from your writing. And your dyed yarn is beautiful. Perhaps there aren’t more comments because people are just feeling fine after visiting. Thanks for being the way you are.
I don’t have a blog (perhaps one day?) and often wonder if anyone would be interested if I did! I’m a sporadic reader of most blogs, but come back to yours time and again. I love your photos, feeling of the countryside, and come away with sense of serenity from your writing. And your dyed yarn is beautiful. Perhaps there aren’t more comments because people are just feeling fine after visiting. Thanks for being the way you are.
I don’t have a blog (perhaps one day?) and often wonder if anyone would be interested if I did! I’m a sporadic reader of most blogs, but come back to yours time and again. I love your photos, feeling of the countryside, and come away with sense of serenity from your writing. And your dyed yarn is beautiful. Perhaps there aren’t more comments because people are just feeling fine after visiting. Thanks for being the way you are.
That is one funky squash! Happy Blogiversary!
Hi Judy! first of all, happy anniversary! I have been subscribed to your blog for the better part of a year now, and how many times have I commented? I’m not a chimer, and just how many ways can I say “Wow, what amazing pictures!”
Seriously, I suck when it comes to leaving comments. Know, though, that every time you post, I read. You ARE getting through, and have a faithful readership.
I like reading blogs, including yours, because they make me think about things I wouldn’t think about otherwise (e.g. humorous squash). I like your blog the way it is, but one way of ‘improving’ is to look at blogs that you like reading and figuring out what it is they do that you could incorporate.
I really enjoy your blog, and think you should change it only if YOU want to. Are you in the service industry with your blog? Do you really need to cater to your readers? Did I wander back into high school without knowing it? (Sorry, the whole “blog popularity contests” thing is a pet peeve.)
I love the slice of your life you choose to share with us here, and the pics are absolutely fantastic. I marvel at the beauty you experience daily, and am so glad you share it with us. I say change it up if you want to, but I wanted to put in my two cents for the wonderfulness that you’ve shared so far.
I love the photographs! And the fact that I met you before I started reading your blog. I guess I was the NON quiet one with Vicki at Rhinebeck, but it was great to talk to you about photography and stuff.
Ultimately I write my blog for myself. Readers and commentors are the icing on the cake for sure, and I’ve been able to meet and befriend some fantastic people in the process of writing my blog, but in the end I do it for myself.
Oh Man!!!! Look at all the comments! Thanks for sending me the link back to your blog I looked through what I thought was all 200+ blogs on my bloglines to find it and just couldn’t!
Blogging, it’s a funny thing. Sometimes I get a lot of hits and a lot of comments, and sometimes I don’t. It especially bugs me when I think I’ve posted something so funny or terrific that people just HAVE to read and comment because it was such an inspired and hilarious post! But, no, and that’s ok. I really started this blog for family all over the world that we have, but somehow other people started reading my blog, and wa-la! Comments from other readers.
And, I like your blog JUST the way it is. It led me right into buying 12 skeins of Atlantic silk/wool! I wouldn’t change it – tell your sister you got all these comments and PURCHASES and you’re good to go.
Now, where did you just go on vacation? I think I missed that part. Looks like Colorado somewhere?
Oh Judy. You know how much I love you – just the way you are. Think quality over quantity. I don’t have time to strew comments everywhere or run contests to hook in more readers – but I do have time to read the blogs that strike a chord with me.
Popped over from JenLa. I like to read. I sometimes comment. Mostly I like to read. Comments make me happy, but they don’t define the number of people that are regularly reading my blog. If I have five loyal people who check on me each day. I’m happy. (I hope I have five people that like to read my blog.)
I write because my head would explode if I didn’t. (Ok, maybe I would have a severe headache.) I like to put up tidbits of me. I don’t feel a need to impress or tell the tiny details of my day, but I get to share a bit. It’s like having a group of pen pals, only better because its faster.
Well….I decided to be comment # 39…my age ….lol. Guess you have many more readers than you know. Congrats and keep on blogging!
I check your blog everyday and always read your new posts. I enjoy them very much. I just started my own blog about two months ago and know exactly what you mean about not being a writer. I’m definitely not a writer but I think of my blog as a kind of diary. I know some people have visited because they have left me kind comments. I’d like to have more visitors I guess, but that also means that I have to keep coming up with new content.
I have a list of blogs (your’s included) that I check every day and I get frustrated with those who don’t update very often. But then again, I’m guilty of that myself. I keep telling myself I must update it every day but when I sit down in front of the computer the words don’t always come and before I know it, a week has gone by.
Anyway, keep up the good work. I would miss you if you quit blogging. By the way, will you be a Stitches East?
I enjoy your blog but rarely comment because I try not to post “me too” comments. Any changes you make should be done to please yourself.
I’ve been enjoying your blog for the better part of a year, I think. Part of what drew me in was seeing this glimpse into your lifestyle, with gardens and vegetables and flowers and nature. A window in for this city girl. I also enjoyed your knitting, and especially enjoy your dyeing photos, and like Purly, would love to know more about your process. You have a unique world and I enjoy seeing and reading what you share, all the more since meeting you (and your sister). Like others, I don’t always comment, but I’m here reading. Too many blogs, not knowing what to say, etc. But when something does strike, I do try to say something.
Dude, funky squash!
I can’t even tell you how thankful I am for your blog. The beauty, the talent, the inspiration… thanks for being around, Judy. My blogosphere is much the better for it.
I love your blog too. It is one of my favorites. I read it as I do most blogs: sometimes daily, sometimes not for a month, bu tI always come back. I appreciate the mix of knitting, dyeing, garden, etc.
I agree that you do not need to change anything, unless you want to. I also understand how it is to be putting words and ideas out to the world (or a corner of it) and not hear back on what people think of it.
I don’t recall if I have ever commented here before. I try to only comment when I have something relevant or insightful to say. I try to keep the “me too”s infrequent.
You ask very goood questions. I think, all I can say is just keep doing what you want. I too have a blog, and I don’t get as many comments as I’d like. Perhaps it’s because I don’t put up enough interesting material, or that I don’t post too often enough. I’m trying to change that, though. I recently changed my blog look and it’s so much nicer that I’m actually inspired to post more. And I’ve recently set up a Blogline account so that I can keep up with all the blogs on the list using NetNewsWire (it has a built-in web browser, so I can just open the blog on its own, or have it open in Safari). I’m finding that I’m leaving more comments because I’m able to read through new posts faster (always been a speed reader but it does get rather slow opening each blog via my blog list in a new tab and then mousing over to that blog).