Like many bloggers, I have a hit counter on my page to measure the traffic. Hit counters are a great thing since they let you know how many people come to your blog, where they are from, what hours receive the most traffic, and it helps you identify trends. And while I get a special thrill from seeing a new high on my daily count or watching my average daily hits trend upwards, it is the dialogue that comes from your comments that makes blogging really special for me.
In my blog travels I see a lot of blogs with post after post with no comments and I wonder what keeps them writing. While they may have thousands of hits, where is the reward of feedback that comes from a comment that lets you know that your post has inspired... or resonated... or even angered?
I know for the "big" blogs, commenting and responding to comments may be a burden. Hell, it is time-consuming even for this little missal. But to me, creating a community is what blogging is about. I make a special effort when I go to a blog with very few comments to find a post where I can leave a comment, because I remember how special it was to get a comment when they were few and far between. And when people take time to leave a comment on my blog, I always try to answer quickly, trying to hold up my end of the cyber-conversation. And I appreciate when others do the same. I am often disappointed when I ask a question on a blog and it seems to go into a black hole. While commenting and responding to comments does take time, even the more famous bloggers (Ruhlman!) realize the importance of keeping the dialogue alive. After all, if all blog readers wanted was to read, they could look at a book, or magazine, or column.
So for those of you who visit and comment... Thank you! It is what keeps blogging interesting not only for me but for other readers, and I will respond in spades to you. And if you stop by (not only this blog, but others), take a moment and leave a comment. Blogging is meant to be more of a contact sport than a spectator sport!
Comments
BTW - my stress food is homemade chocolate chip cookies. Baking them is part of the therapy; eating them is just a bonus.
Megan
Sara- You are right! Blogging is a lot of work, like any relationship, but worth the trouble, in my opinion (I at least start by tracking back to any comments I have gotten!)
Margaret- Constructive comments do help you fine tune your blog and its contents!
As one of those blogs with not-so-many comments, I was very happy to see yours on my blog this morning.
I really don't mind if folks don't comment. My reasons for starting the thing were to keep in touch with family and friends, as well as to keep writing, cooking and snapping photos. One of my mentors once said, "Real writers write every day." So, if blogging counts as writing, I know that I'm writing at least regularly, if not every day.
Thanks again for stopping by. I really like your blog.
we had a similar post and we got more people responding to that than any of our food post. I think food blogging is a bit different. I usually comment when I have something to say or maybe ask a question.
So when someone does comment on a food blog I think we appreciate it all that much more.
Deb- You are absolutely right! That was one of the things that was the impetus for my blog- doing something just for me- comments are a bonus!
C'tina- I am not sure why some comments are screened. I have only thrown away one and that was because it said something a bit controversial that did not add to the dialogue. Yet others end up with spam posts!
Mooncrazy- Even though the focus is food- I am often surprised at how controversial and opinionated people can be about food! While it is not religion or politics, food is integral to people's lives and their feelings are very strognly held and personal. I love it when people share their own family or personal food experiences.
ps: getting comments are definitely a perk for me too.. hope this one brightens your day as yours did mine =)
Susan- I always try to let someone know if I have made their recipe because I know I enjoy hearing that someone has successfully tried one of mine.
Thanks for visiting my blog, and I sooooooo agree with you that Comments and feedback is what keeps us bloggers running!!
I like your blog, will surely be back for more!!
-Mansi
http://funnfud.blogspot.com