tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post7635738832842064595..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: Read me! Read me now!Jim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-9101067140489067282009-10-14T19:15:48.613+01:002009-10-14T19:15:48.613+01:00Thank you for the stumble, Brady, all stumbles gra...Thank you for the stumble, <b>Brady</b>, all stumbles gratefully received. Yes, you're quite right, who am I to tell anyone what to do? All I can do is show what I've done and where it has worked for me. I visit a lot of good sites and I know for a fact they're hardly being read and the simple fact is that you could stumble around for your whole life and never run into any of these sites unless someone, somewhere along the line pointed you in the right direction.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-82223281617106856802009-10-14T16:20:54.393+01:002009-10-14T16:20:54.393+01:00Good write-up! I stumbled you, Jim. The best part ...Good write-up! I stumbled you, Jim. The best part about this post is that it has a very personal tone to it. You tell us what you know and what you aren't too sure about. This isn't a road map, but a tale of your own personal journey and I find that so much more interesting to read. Is it because we've known each other now for over a year, and because I want you to succeed as much as I would like to, if not more so?<br /><br />I'm not sure. What I do know is that I find myself much more interested when I see a bit of the writer in the post. You were there, Jim, and I thank you for that.R. Brady Frosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16926505633531944151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-43999187884945829872009-07-20T09:39:01.287+01:002009-07-20T09:39:01.287+01:00The thing is, Scattercat, there is a market for ev...The thing is, <b>Scattercat</b>, there is a market for every product. I read two of you flash pieces today – the one about the angel and the one about the birds – and that was enough for me to immediately subscribe to your blog. You now will have weeks, if not months, to keep my interest before I'll think about cancelling my subscription. And that's all it takes. How did I find you? I didn't. You promoted yourself by probably the most effective means as far as I can tell, you made an interesting comment on my blog. The fact is, and I imagine this is true throughout the blogosphere, as soon as we see a new name appear in our comments we click on it. And from that moment your blog is auditioning. I always check several posts before I subscribe but the point is you've snagged my attention. If I hated flash fiction with a vengeance then there is no way you're going to keep me but then you're not looking for people who aren't interested, you're looking for those who are.<br /><br />Your point about social networks is well taken and accurate. With most their net is too wide but they do yield some readers. As do the blog directories. It's a question of determining what the return is in proportion to the time invested. I devote 30 minutes to each blog. I have a routine established and that's it. It wasn't that long ago I was delirious if I had 12 visitors believe you me but probably the most important figure that Google Analytics provides me with is the percentage of return visits. That's creeping up bit by bit. That's what I'm looking for. <br /><br />Oh, and to save me having to make a separate comment on your blog, I really meant what I said about that bird story and I don't think my reading is that sheltered. I'll be interested to see what you come up with over the next wee while.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-68796723337426906292009-07-19T16:59:59.948+01:002009-07-19T16:59:59.948+01:00I've tried some lackluster efforts at self-pro...I've tried some lackluster efforts at self-promotion, personally, but I always feel a bit silly when I do. I mean, my little writing exercise (it's not even properly a blog) is by my own admission a niche product of dubious quality. If I thought I had Deep and Worthwhile Insights I might be a bit more aggressive. All I have is some nanofiction that's a bit too precious for its own good.<br /><br />I have to question the utility of a lot of those social networking sites. It seems like they mostly work when they're smaller, when everyone involved in them is buying into the concept. Once they get big enough to attract notice, they end up flooded with would-be hotshot marketers desperately trying to achieve the next slam-dunk viral success story. The signal-to-noise ratio increases until anything useful they could produce is drowned in the flood. That may just be my inner introvert/misanthrope talking, though.<br /><br />I was struck by the similarity between sites of the flow of ups and downs in traffic patterns, even to the very jagged swings back and forth. Mind you, my Google Analytics page averages 12 visits a day rather than 110. I wonder if there are any studies about the days most people visit blogs...Scattercathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302815654553659644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-71704349581746540202009-07-04T10:46:43.248+01:002009-07-04T10:46:43.248+01:00I have to say, Ani, I too was surprised to see you...I have to say, <b>Ani</b>, I too was surprised to see you on the list. Obviously you have a link or two to my site and maybe you have have more readers than you realise.<br /><br />Do I care who reads what I write? Yes and no. I would like what I write to be read by the kind of people I have in my head when I'm doing the writing. I was desperate when a young poet to connect with others but I was also very backward about going forward. I think the Internet is the greatest thing since sliced bread but it's not perfect. Just because I write great content (and, yes, I do agree that content is king) that is no guarentee that I will connect with the right readers. So I use every method at my disposal. Bit by bit I'm making decent connects but it has taken me a lot longer than I expected.<br /><br />Talking about "the kind of people", the whole point to this post was to highlight to people out there with blogs they want to promote what I've gone through and what I've learned. I'm no expert but I have more experience than many in this area and so we pass it on. That's what we do. We share.<br /><br />And, <b>Buraot</b>, thanks for the feedback and for all the traffic. I know I've not been too kind to Entrecard in this article but the fact is I have made some decent connections through it. And I still check out the new Writing and Book blogs every now and then to see if some quality site has decided to give it a go but it's been a while since I've got very excited over anything. But we live in hope. It was a good idea but people will be people. We all want people to read what we've written (hence the title of this post) without necessarily reciprocating. But that's not how it works unless you're someone like Ron Silliman.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-9046115422353649782009-07-04T09:01:44.027+01:002009-07-04T09:01:44.027+01:00hi jim, actually i am a regular reader albeit a lu...hi jim, actually i am a regular reader albeit a lurker in your site since i discovered it from entrecard. <br /><br />so when i decided to build my own entredropper script, i added your site on the list, hence the traffic. but unfortunately so as the bounce rate. but the bounce rate is kind of endemic to entrecard.<br /><br />there are lots of ways on promoting a blog. still, like what i have found in yours, content will still be king.<br /><br />cheers.BURAOThttp://www.iamburaot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-24735821011350729882009-07-04T01:48:12.652+01:002009-07-04T01:48:12.652+01:00I think it's really funny that I'm on your...I think it's really funny that I'm on your list at all, Jim. I don't use StumbleUpon or Reddit or any of those sites (I used delicious for awhile and quickly got bored of it). In fact, I think looking at blogstats just creates needless anxiety. You were going to write what you were going to write anyway, right?<br /><br />I honestly don't care who reads, just that someone is reading, I think. The only way of finding people to connect with I've ever felt worthwhile is word of mouth (or the online equivalent: clicking links from people I already know and value). Blog catalogs and search engines rarely provide meaningful connection of the human variety, just numbers. The sites I like you'll find me linking to (a lot of the time on Tumblr). Just that simple and no more time consuming than it would be otherwise.Ani Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02139009026964141906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-64695901712704419942009-07-03T19:32:58.280+01:002009-07-03T19:32:58.280+01:00To be totally honest, Dick, most of my time was sp...To be totally honest, <b>Dick</b>, most of my time was spent in trying to find out about sites like these. What I'm starting to realise - and this is the real point I'm trying to underline - is that most of these are hardly worth the investment the return is so small. There are too many people hawking their goods out there that no one is wading through blog directories looking for that gem of a site they just know is out there. <br /><br />When I began all of this I spent weeks (literally!) going through blogrolls convinced that there were tons of great literary sites out there for the finding and I was <i>so</i> gutted when I realised that there aren't nearly as many as I imagined or if there are then I've managed to step over most of 'em.<br /><br />As for the time I spend promoting my blog I have things set up so that I can have it done in about a half hour.<br /><br />I am serious though, Stumbleupon does seem to be the only place out there that makes an immediate difference in the stats.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-65435137107022254292009-07-03T06:21:47.610+01:002009-07-03T06:21:47.610+01:00Absolutely fascinating, Jim. The science of bloggi...Absolutely fascinating, Jim. The science of blogging. But where do you find the time for such focussed activity alongside the encyclopaedic posts?Dickhttp://patteran.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-64910568012869601042009-06-29T13:16:53.794+01:002009-06-29T13:16:53.794+01:00You're quite right, Sorlil, and I do that. Not...You're quite right, <b>Sorlil</b>, and I do that. Not as much as I used to do I admit. And there's a reason for that. I got tired trawling through blogs where all they wanted to talk about were they day-to-day lives. Not that a bit of that isn't interesting but that's not what I'm looking for. Maybe I'm a bit of a snob in that regard which is why my blog link list isn't longer. I've been to sites where there are dozens upon dozens of links and who has time to click on them all? Better to have a few quality links and that's what I have.<br /><br />The real point to this article is not to recommend all the things I do but to point out - and maybe I could have said this more blatantly - that there are no easy (or quick) ways to get an audience. Stumbleupon does have a measureable effect but I have no way of knowing how many come back for more. The same goes for Ron Silliman's blog. I've had nearly 300 readers come via his site this month. I know for a fact that one has become a subscriber because she told me so. That's worth the time it took to e-mail the guy. I just don't want to take advantage of his good nature.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-88356838758874072842009-06-28T21:16:42.561+01:002009-06-28T21:16:42.561+01:00I would have thought the best way to gain 'rea...I would have thought the best way to gain 'real' readers would be for you to continue to search out similar literary blogs and comment on them. I not sure all the advertising is going to get you many of the kind of readers you're looking for. I know the poetry world's a lot smaller but I tend to read new blogs that have been linked to by poetry blogs I already read. <br />You don't have a huge blog link list on your sidebar, if you link more people they tend to respond in kind.Marion McCreadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657757253873577465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-84649310765480367502009-06-28T09:29:16.525+01:002009-06-28T09:29:16.525+01:00First of all, Dave, I've never explored any pa...First of all, <b>Dave</b>, I've never explored any paid options when it comes to promoting my blog. I have my doubts about whether the money would be well spent considering what I've read. Secondly, the underlying theme to the post is that, for all my efforts, there is very little return for my time apart from two sources, Stumbleupon and Ron Silliman and, of course, Ron is only interested in posts concerning poetry. It's not that I get no feedback from all my other efforts it's just that I question whether the ratio of time to visits is worthwhile. Which brings me to my questions at the end, basically, <b>What the hell does one have to do to get read around here?</b><br /><br />I am surprised you've never hit 200 visits in a day. You certainly get a lot of comments which leads me to believe that you have a greater proportion of 'real' readers as opposed to itinerant clickers who you might never see again. It's certainly a challenge. I don't see Entrecard as being a source of quality readers. In fact, and I've talked about this before, I seriously wonder how many stay on the site any longer than it takes them to locate my widget and click on it. It <i>seemed</i> like a good idea at the time but I think it may well have had its day.<br /><br /><b>Art</b>, I can really understand your attitude. I feel particularly aggrieved on your behalf because you have an awful lot that is very interesting to read and I cannot believe more people have not run into your site by now. I have a blog coming up where I talk about one of your photos and the poetry it inspired again taking the opportunity to highlight your site but I can only do so much.<br /><br />The charts and graphs all came via <a href="http://www.google.com/analytics/" rel="nofollow">Google Analytics</a>. There are other sites out there that provide statistical data but this is the one I've stuck with although I do check my <a href="http://www.alexa.com/" rel="nofollow">Alexa ranking</a> quite regularly too. <br /><br />You are quite right – and everyone agrees – and content is king but it's how to attract people in the first place that's my question. Once they're there hopefully they will subscribe and your content will keep them there but content on its own will not attract them. <i>That</i> is my point. I never check what's on at the movies. I <i>expect</i> to be told what's on, usually by an ad on the TV but increasingly by ads on my PC. I need to get my site in front of people's faces but where are the kinds of people who would want to read my site looking? That's the $64,000 question.<br /><br />And, <b>Jennifer</b>, yes, the selling of books. That's a whole other issue. The primary reason for setting up my blog in the first place was to promote my writing but the number of books I've sold has been dire. I also monitor the clicks on my website and I average no more than 2 a day. 6 was my maximum which means that many days I have no visitors at all. Again, how does one persuade people to investigate your writing further, people who already have too much to read? I don't have the answer. I have my second book coming out in a few weeks – late I know – but it's hard to be excited about it because the only market will be those who have read the first one. <i>Maybe</i> I'll get someone who'll but both books IF I have a special offer but books are expensive. <i>I</i> don't buy new books. There are too many on Amazon Marketplace for 1p + postage that I've not read.<br /><br />I can see why 'When are you due?' was popular. And that's the key word – popular. To get visitors you need to write about what people are interested in. I'm sure a post on the quality of Michael Jackson's lyrics would get me a few extra clicks right now but I wouldn't know where to start.<br /><br />What I hope is that we all start stumbling each other's posts. The more we promote each other the more chance we will attract readers ourselves. The bottom line is that marketing is a part of the life of the 21st century author whether he's traditionally published, self-published or just scribbling away on the Net. No one is going to read us if they don't know about us.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-70998874104497114372009-06-28T03:40:18.956+01:002009-06-28T03:40:18.956+01:00At this point, I find all the promotion somewhat e...At this point, I find all the promotion somewhat exhausting, especially since I have so little to promote. Perhaps if I had a book to sell that would be different. If I did have a book to sell, I'm not sure my current blog would be the place to do it. And now that I've decided to give freelance food writing a good go, I really don't think my blog is the place to promote myself. But I like my little blog and my little blogging friends and I don't want to give it up completely.<br /><br />That said, this is a very useful list, well worth stumbling. I have one post that has gotten tons of StumbleUpon traffic: <a href="http://www.writingtosurvive.com/files/when-are-you-due.php" rel="nofollow">When Are You Due?</a> Not sure how I feel about that one.Jenniferhttp://writingtosurvive.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-53608777747724970182009-06-27T20:00:27.746+01:002009-06-27T20:00:27.746+01:00It's interesting to see such charts and summar...It's interesting to see such charts and summaries. (How does one generate them? Are there existing tools on blogspot, or did you go hunting?)<br /><br />It's hard not to be passive about much of this, rather than active. When I've been active in self-promoting, it hasn't seemed to make much difference: a loud lack of response has been the norm, regardless of what I do. So it's tempting to just keep doing what I do, and have no expectations that anybody cares, or should. It can feel like shouting down a well, sometimes, and getting no echoes back. You and I have a bit of an ongoing dialogue, here and there, for which I am pleased and grateful. I'm always grateful to NOT feel ignored—but I expect to be ignored. There are a lot of fish in the pond, and it's very hard to get noticed, much less responded to. (That's why I'm curious about the charts. I have no real idea who actually visits my own blog, or where from.)<br /><br />So I agree that content is what matters most. It may be ALL that matters. One can write, and build a slow following, just over time, as long as one strives to keep a high quality in one's content. One can keep doing the work, without a lot of expectations, and focus one's energies on the writing itself, rather than on whether or not it gets noticed.<br /><br />That's what I try to do. When I do get responses, I treasure them.<br /><br />Of course, I would never turn down riches and fame! LOLArt Durkeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07463180236975988432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-55713230421037862742009-06-27T10:57:37.788+01:002009-06-27T10:57:37.788+01:00A really useful post with a lot of valuable info&#...A really useful post with a lot of valuable info', I am sure - though I will need more time to inwardly digest and think about what you say. My chart looks a lot like yours in that it, too, peaks after a post, as you would expect, and dips to fiftyish after a few days. The difference is that it has never risen to 200. Somewhere around 150 is my all-time best. But then I do not do nearly as much to promote the blog as you. I tend to rely on Entrecard and my own browsing. You have made me think, but I guess the crunch question will be how much time (or cash!) can I afford to spend on promotion. Many thanks.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-69762920911113606272009-06-25T21:02:16.366+01:002009-06-25T21:02:16.366+01:00You're quite right of course, Conda, content i...You're quite right of course, <b>Conda</b>, content is <i>the</i> most important thing for all of us. I think I manage that but I'm also well aware that the length of my articles can be offputting. I'm sure if someone was going looking for information on, say, <i>One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich</i> then my review would be a good place for them to start but would they be inclined to look at any of the other articles or bookmark the site? I doubt it. I do get about 20% of my readers coming back for more but that's 20% of maybe 3500 visits a month. Now, how we we get that up to say 7000 clicks with 25% coming back for more? The audience is there - lets face it there's 6.7 billion people one the planet - but how do I get my ad in their line of vision?<br /><br />Titles are a problem. I tend to go for quirky titles hoping that these will pique interest. Perhaps I should go more for it-does-what-it-says-on-the-tin kind of titles.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-58171073927039666412009-06-25T16:53:45.273+01:002009-06-25T16:53:45.273+01:00Thanks for all the great info, Jim!
Well, Jim, I...Thanks for all the great info, Jim! <br /><br />Well, Jim, I visit your site for it's literary content. I visit other sites for that reason as well, Dave's Pics and Poems for example. Some sites I visit for the artwork (Dave's for that too). Some for the "biz" content, like Helen's Straight from Hel. And some just for fun, for the great stories.<br /><br />As far as promoting my blog, I try to have useful content with useful words in the title. My time is limited as most goes to my "real" writing.Conda Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12972790965426924941noreply@blogger.com