As I’ve mentioned a couple times, I recently had a guest post on literary agent Nathan Bransford’s blog. (Very exciting!) I’m still keeping up with the discussion in the comments, and yesterday Donna asked an interesting blogging question:
I’m what could be called a “Lurker”. I lurk in blog-land, reading the advise and posts, sometimes having a thing or two to say. After reading everyone else’s posts, whatever questions or comments I might pose have been answered. I’m satisfied. So, I wouldn’t know what to do with a blog of my own, or if someone actually made a comment about what was posted on the web site.
I gave a short answer in the comments, but here is a long one:
1. Stop lurking. Every question you’ve ever thought of has really been answered? Even then, I know I appreciate the fourth “thank you, I really needed this today!” as much as the first. In fact, that’s one of my favorite comments to get.
I know I used to feel reluctant to comment, and often still do, especially on big blogs where I don’t know the blogger. But comments are the currency of blogging. Bloggers love (non-hateful) comments. Most of us won’t bite your head off for commenting; we’ll be too busy loving you forever.
2. Find something to say. Blogs are always stronger when they have a focus/niche/topic. The topic of this blog is fulfillment in motherhood. The topic of my writing blog is the art and craft (and business!) of writing. The topic of my work blog is Internet marketing news.
Or, you can phrase it more like an argument: you can find fulfillment in motherhood, this is how you should write (the argument is a bit more complex than that, of course), you should use Internet marketing (and do it thusly).
Don’t have a message to the world? You can sometimes garner a following just posting interesting stuff—research for a novel, travel information, etc.
3. Get out there! I’ve attended a few industry conferences in Internet marketing and publishing. While the subject matter is vastly different, I can attest that you get a lot more out of conferences if you take the opportunity to talk to people. Yes, it’s hard—I’m very shy (I don’t like calling the pizza parlor, or even my friend sometimes!). But so are lots of other people out there. You never know what might happen if you’re willing to take that first step.
And here’s your chance! Whether you’ve commented here once or one thousand times, introduce yourself in the comments and let’s chat!
Photo by Sofie
15 replies on “Advice to lurkers”
I’m fairly new at lurking your blog, but I guess that still makes me a lurker! I met you at the Goldsmith Co. Jewelers event. I worked there for a few years and then became a mother and took the option to stay home. They call me back in when they need some extra hands and I can work when I have my own clients to bring in. (They’re such great people to work for!) Since meeting you at the event, I’ve been going through the list of bloggers who came to the event trying to figure out which one was yours. Something about your personality was intriguing and magnetic. Finally found your blog and was happy to find out that you do mentoring! I’ve been wanting to get into the blogging scene, but don’t really know what people want to read. I have a lot of ideas, but know that I need a niche and not a haphazard collection of ideas. Lets chat.
Hey Laurel! Welcome to the blog. Glad you found me! I’ll email you and we’ll chat.
Hi! My name is Crystal and I’m a lurker.
You could call it preoccupied, insecurities, or plain laziness. Either way, I am a horrible commenter. Every once in a while, I will drag myself out of obscurity and say a word. (Like now) But, unfortunately, it’s never really anything important… much like my blog.
Great post!! Thank you for sharing!
Crystal
Great post. I hope all your lurkers come out and comment for you!
I actually rate my own posts based on how many comments I get. I find myself trying to compose posts that will get as many comments as possible. If I get less than 4 comments, I feel like it must have been a boring post and maybe no one even read it. If I get more than 6 comments, it was interesting. and if I get more than 10 comments, I’m SO EXCITED!!!! I was shocked to find out how many people subscribe to my feed when I only know of about half that many who EVER actually comment. (and I mean EVER– not just my regulars). Isn’t it funny how a little more than a year ago I was just starting my blog and now I’m composing posts days in advance in my mind?
Comments really are the best. I usually don’t think that there is any point to using internet marketing on my blog because I don’t want to clutter it up with annoying advertisements. We shall see. Sorry if you think I’m a lurker. I follow lots of blogs and I try to always comment, but you know how it is. 🙂
Thanks for commenting, everyone! I love to see the new commenters/longtime readers as well as my old friends.
Nice to meet you, Crystal! I understand about being a horrible commenter; I can be, too!
Some great insights…keep ’em coming! Found you when searching for how to transfer a Blogger blog to WordPress…you were the #1 hit!
I’m a lurker too! Sometimes I half compose a comment and think that it’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever written and just back away and don’t comment at all. I know -I- appreciate comments SO SO much, so I’m not sure why I do that. Maybe it’ll be my goal to press “SUBMIT COMMENT” more often!
@Scott—glad you like them!
@mub—I do the same thing! I’ll decide something is boring after I write it and just close the window. Sounds like a good goal!
It is very tempting to lurk, especially for those of us who are naturally pretty shy. But I have been so amazed that by and large the blogging community, esp. “mom-bloggers,” are so friendly and accepting.
Love your blog by the way!
I’m a lurker! I’ve been reading your blog for a long time. I think I used to comment occasionally. I find that I usually don’t have, or just don’t take the time to comment on the blogs that I read, since I often get just bits of time through out the day to read in between taking care of my two little boys.
@Alicia—Thank you! I’ve found the same thing in the mom blog community.
@Richelle—I totally understand—we’re all busy. (And I do remember you. It’s when people comment for a while and then stop, I wonder if they’re still reading, you know?)
“we’ll be too busy loving you forever.” Yep…I feel the exact same way. 🙂 Hi from Bake at 350!!!
Great points in this post. When I was a beginner in blog-land (just last fall), I was in a blog bubble: posting my own stuff and only visiting a blog here & there.
Now my circle has expanded, I visit many more blogs and my circle of blog friends is growing. It’s a big world out there, but with blogs we can still find kindred spirits and pull up a virtual chair & chat. Love it.