It’s sad but true, many bloggers may not be reading your posts. They scan your words, may (or may not) find something to comment on, and then click off.

Today’s Lesson

If you read the comments to yesterday’s post, Vered mentioned she had read (possibly on Skellie’s blog) that some bloggers are scanning our posts.

It’s true. The posts you’re working so earnestly on may be not be getting entirely read.

I’ll admit, I’m guilty of this. Not on the blogs that I follow and comment on, but on other blogs I read.

If the post is long, or the blog author has become redundant. I start seeing “blah, blah, blah”. I read the first sentence of each paragraph and decide if I want to read the rest. Sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I skip to the end of the post to get “the answer”.

On those blogs, I normally don’t comment.

It’s really no different than reading the ending of a book before reading the whole book.

And, let’s face it, some posts can be predictable.

I knew this was happening, and asked myself if it bothers me. It used to. But now I realize how little time bloggers actually have to spend visiting other sites, and understand why it happens.

Although I would prefer to have all of my words read, I’m just happy my loyal visitors are showing up.

Today’s Assignment

Do you read every word of every post?

Does it bother you to know some of your visitors aren’t reading all you have written?

A year of blogging taught me so much. It’s been a year of challenges, laughs, headaches, and joy.

The one thing I never expected was that my writings would be so well received.

As much as I can share all that I learned from my first year of blogging, I know for certain, I couldn’t have done it without the support of all of my loyal visitors and commenters. People who were strangers a year ago. People who are now cyberspace friends.

To all of you, I say “Thank You”

Thank you for your support, for your continued visits, for subscribing, commenting, and for the massive words of kindness.

I am humbled and honored to be part of your lives, and thrilled to be a part of this community of kind and generous people.

Although our paths may never cross in the real world, I’m grateful our paths have crossed in cyberspace.

You’re all awesome.

May you all find success in all of your endeavors.

That is my wish for you.

Again, I say thank you!

To recap what I’ve learned from my first year of blogging, listed below are all of the lessons, including a brief description.

Lesson One: Why blog?

Lesson Two :Commenting on blogs

Lesson Three: Importance of learning the mechanics of blogging

Lesson Four : Learning from your blog statistics

Lesson Five: Finding balance between blogging and life

Lesson Six: How blogging can be therapeutic

Lesson Seven: How bloggers are often misunderstood

Lesson Eight: The uniqueness of your blog and first impressions

Lesson Nine: What makes a blog/blogger a success

Lesson Ten: Give credit where credit is due

Lesson Eleven: Comparing ourselves to others

Lesson Twelve: Making money with blogs

We learn about blogging from many sources. We have access to many free services, software, plugins, themes, photos, and most of all, knowledge

Even before I went live with my blogs, I spent many hours pouring over articles written by other bloggers.

I was amazed at how others were so willing to share years of knowledge, all for free.

I did learn, through linking, I could potentially drive more traffic to their sites and build up their numbers and/or revenues.

With that in mind, the third post I wrote was titled: “Give Credit Where Credit Is Due”

It was all about gratitude, and I listed and linked to each blog/website that helped me get started.

I have continued this practice. If I add a plugin or change my theme, I write a post about it, link to and thank the author. I link to other blogger’s posts that may add value to what I have written, or ones that inspired me to write on a specific topic. I also link to new blogs in my NBOTW series.

Some will argue, linking to other sites may take traffic away from our site. It may. However, linking won’t necessarily keep visitors away.

Most visitors will come back and read what you wrote. When you refer them to great sites, you’ll soon be seen as an authority figure. Loyal visitors will continually return to your site to learn what you’re reading. Instead of fearing a loss of traffic, the opposite may happen, and your stats will show an increase.

Lesson Ten: This scenario reminds me of a fabulous post written by Jennifer, at Empowered Reader. It’s titled: Steps To Happiness – The How Tos of an Attitude Of Gratitude”. Showing your gratitude is powerful. We often hear the saying, “what goes around, comes around”, that holds true for giving credit where credit is due, too.

Equally important, if someone links to your blog or a blog post, blogging etiquette and common sense suggest a thank you is in order.

Today’s Assignment:

Do you freely link to other sites, even if the blog is similar to yours?

Do you show your gratitude to those who have helped you along the way?

Do you see traffic increases from others who link to your site (referral traffic)?

Do you remember to thank others for link love?

Today’s Lesson

I believe a good blog starts with a solid foundation. A foundation that is the result of research, a good theme, writing ability, knowledge of your chosen blogging platform, and a little bit of HTML code.

But soon after we start blogging, we want to “be found”.

We read how we should form communities, network, comment on other blogs, add blogs to our RSS feeds, join StumbleUpon and Digg posts.

All of that takes time.

Lots of time.

But we want growth, so we spend countless hours on these activities. Often too many hours.

What happens during this process, is we begin to neglect our own blog.

The rock solid foundation we built, begins to crack.

When visitors do show up, the “cracks” are apparent.

The great blog that was once a favorite of many, is showing signs of deterioration.

Soon our loyal visitors move on. Traffic and RSS reader counts plummet. Comments decline. Stumbles and Diggs soon stop.

We sit there, shaking our head, saying “What happened?”

What happened is that you didn’t set priorities.

For me, my blog comes first, just as yours should.

I answer my comments as soon as time permits, do maintenance behind the scenes, then proceed to work on my next post.

Usually at the end of the day, I have free time to visit other blogs, comment, and do some Stumbling.

With a full time job/home office, my blogging schedule often changes, but I try to follow the same order. If I run out of time by day’s end, visits to and comments on other blogs must wait.

There are exceptions to the rule. I visit my UK bloggers early in the day, due to the time change, and if I see a fellow blogger needs help, support or encouragement, I will change my schedule and pay them a visit.

Today’s Assignment

Do you find yourself spending too much time away from your own blog?

Do you have a blogging schedule you follow?

Do you have “old favorites” (blogs) that are showing signs of deterioration?

Today’s Lesson

Have you ever picked up a book, opened it to the first chapter and read the first line?

If it doesn’t grab your interest, you’re less apt to buy it.

Blog posts are the same

If your first line doesn’t capture your readers attention, they are apt to move on to a post that does.

In addition to gaining your readers attention, a second reason emerges for having a captivating title and first line to a post.

If your loyal visitors subscribe to your post in Google’s reader, they see one line listed for your post.

It’s the title, photo credits (if applicable) and the first 20-30 (+/-) words of your post.

I’ll admit, in most cases, if I’m skimming new feeds, that is what determines if I will read a post or not.

The more blogs you subscribe to, the more ways you will find to cut back on your reading time. Unfortunately, this is one method I use.

Today’s Assignment

Are you conscious of your title and the first line of your post?

Do you concentrate on capturing your readers attention within the first few words?

Have you ever looked at your own RSS feed in Google’s reader.

If not, subscribe to your own blog.