Based on the responses from my first A.S.K. (Answers Sharing Knowledge) series, it’s obvious we all want to see comments and build an online community of like minded people on our blogs. Let’s face it, we yearn to be part of a group and we desire to be heard.
Today’s Lesson
Some bloggers do it right. They begin building a community even before they have their own blog. Scott’s doing it, Hunter did it, and I’m sure many others do the same.
Needless to say, I didn’t.
I didn’t put myself “out there” I didn’t work on expanding my community. I didn’t go past my comfort zone. I only commented on blogs of authors who commented on mine (with a few exceptions).
What changed?
I changed.
Even though I KNEW I was blogging for YOU, I was locked inside of my blog. I forgot to open the door, venture out, tap you on the shoulder of new bloggers and say “Hi! Can I help you?”
Realizing this, I threw away the lock, jumped into blogosphere and began my “New Blog Of The Week (NBOTW) series. THAT was the beginning of growth in my community.
I look back and realize, I was blogging for YOU, but I didn’t let your know.
Today’s Assignment
Do you feel imprisoned by your blog?
Are you spending so much time on your blog, you’re forgetting to reach out to others?
What advice can you share with other bloggers who are trying to find their way in blogosphere?
Photo Credit: Dazzie D’s photostream
I am 100% passionate about the brilliance of blogging communities, Barbara.
In my opinion, having a healthy audience around a blog propels it through the blogosphere.
Engaged and enthusiastic readers are the lifeblood, with the blogger at the heart.
The reader is an equal with the writer. There is no other media where this is true.
Coincidentally, I am writing an article on this very topic as we speak 🙂
“I was blogging for YOU, but I didn’t let you know.” – I love that line!
Often bloggers have a hard time building communities. There could be many reasons for this: they don’t know they’re supposed to, they don’t feel comfortable approaching people online who they don’t know, their time is limited, they can’t figure out how to comment on Blogger, etc.
I feel a conflict of interests here. I think the best thing I could do for my readers would be to focus purely on my own blog–all my readers see my posts, but only a few people see a comment I leave on someone else’s blog. On the other hand, (1) that won’t get you new readers, and (2) I don’t want anyone to think that I don’t appreciate their support and that I’m not willing to reciprocate.
It’s tough, but I think the first step is simply to decide that you want to build a community. If you keep that intention in mind, you’re bound to make progress in that area while you also work on your own blog.
Thanks for the link! 🙂
Hunter Nuttall’s last blog post..Is Writing For Search Engines Killing The Web?
I like how you turned your learning into a pattern for results. It’s a win win. You find a new blog and the constellation expands.
Hi Davina,
I hear you. Case in point, tonight I’m trying to visit other blogs and I have run out of time and energy.
Adding a new blog here and there is a great way of building a community slowly. Mine took many months before it started growing, but it grows at a pace I could manage. For me, that is the key.
Hi Scott,
Great minds must think alike, hey?
I like how you worded that, “the reader is an equal to the writer”. That holds a lot of truth. We learn from each other, even if the writer is considered an expert.
Hi Hunter,
Thank you, and you’re welcome for the link. I still remember you commenting on my OM blog. It seems like so long ago.
You’re right, bloggers may face many issue while trying to build a community, but like you said, if they make it their intent, in time it will happen.
Hi J.D.
Thank you!
That sounds poetic, “You find a new blog and the constellation expands”. 🙂
Hi Catherine,
Yes, Scott and Hunter had an advantage over us.
Thank you for sharing such superb ideas! C and D are especially true. I’ve been on blogs that have great communities, but I don’t feel welcome or feel they’re a “fit” for me, so I just move on.
I was laughing as I researched for this post. I dug through my archives and looked to see when I really started getting comments. A lot of times it was you, Ian , Asako, Natural, plus a few others who would show up now and then. I looked at one post and saw it had two comments, but instead they were two trackbacks from me linking to them. 😆
It makes me happy to know the NBOTW series is working. There are so many great blogs out there and it would be a shame if the authors quit, due to lack of comments.
Hi Barbara. I spend a lot of time visiting other blogs and commenting on them. But I find that by the time I get caught up with the new posts in my reader those blogs are posting again. I love them all! And so the cycle begins again. 🙂
Today I managed to break out of the circle and visit a couple of new ones, but I find time is too short to do it all the time. I’m going to have to forgive myself if I miss a few of my favourites to enable me the space to check out new territory.
I think it is a good idea to build community before starting a blog. But for myself I’m content to build my readership gradually.
Davina’s last blog post..My Turn To Be Seen
Hi Barbara – Scott and Hunter were smart weren’t they? Like you, it took me a while to fathom it all out.
I think the main advice I would give to people is a) look at commenting on other people’s blogs as a way of building community. b) encourage people to participate in your community – by asking questions.
c) don’t flit from blog to blog hoping to catch people’s attention. comment on blogs you enjoy and get involved in communities you enjoy being part of.
d) look to build genuine relationships. don’t do things like link to a particular blog and tell everyone it is your favourite when it isn’t. the blogger will know you’re being insincere and so will everyone else.
There’s heaps more Barbara. But i just wanted to point out that your blog has helped so many new bloggers. When you and i started blogging, we didn’t build our traffic, or communities half as fast as some of the new bloggers who are awarded NBOTW now. They have been lucky that you found them.
I think the best advise I can give, and this is coming from someone who has just begun the journey, is to always write as if you have a HUGE audience. Envision this audience while you write and try to speak to them and reach them the bast you can. Otherwise you will be fishing for a comment or always trying different things to get more people to show interest. This may sound like a good thing but it can result in you loosing focus on what your blog is all about. I guess what I am saying is that no matter who’s reading, write from the heart.
Actually Barbara, I have slowed down on how often I post because:
1. i need a break
2. it gives me time to visit and comment on more blog. i actually do find this as enjoyable as writing on my blog. i’ve found some great blogs out there, information and as a result have brought in some new faces to my blog.
if i’m not tied up posting and commenting on my blog so much, i can go out there and support others. i can do more and build a community.
That is soo me! I spent two years more or less blogging to myself. Within a month of opening up, my traffic has gone through the roof.
And to make sure I don’t go back to my old (slightly introverted) ways, I’ve started including other people in my blog as well as spending several hours a day commenting.
Cheers,
Alex
hi Barbara,
Right when I started blogging I made a committment to myself that I wasn’t going to *use* commenting on other blogs as a way of building my own blog. That didn’t mean that I didn’t want to read other blogs or leave comments, only that I would do so if I was really interested in the blog, felt I had something to add or say or wanted to add support and be part of that community. In short, I wanted to blog with integrity. I knew it would take me a lot longer to build up and I don’t have a long string of people who come to leave comments just because I’m the next *hot* spot, but I have a community of like-minded wonderful great people that I adore. For me, taking the time to search out blogs that I really enjoyed instead of hitting just the quick *flavor of the month* has been very rewarding. I still try to keep on the search for new blogs that I love and you are a huge resource for that!
or is your blog so much about reaching out to others that you are failing to take care of yourself.
PS I love the blog title – that’s exactly what I try to teach when I encourage people to rid themselves of Somedays.
My advice to new bloggers is to look for fairly new blogs to comment on – then you can support each other in your early days.
NBOTW was an absolutely fabulous idea. In fact, you’re so chock full of them that I’m waiting for your ebook (no pressure!).
Agreed – it’s so easy to get caught up with our own blogs that we forget to venture out to the rest of the blogosphere. I have to say that’s where I got the most personal growth from.
Al at 7P’s last blog post..Why Should I Help You?
Sometimes I do get caught up in my blog and forget to reach out, but this usually lasts for a short time. What usually triggers me to visit new blogs is a really good comment on a blog I like to read or a comment from a new reader on my blog.
I’ve also been writing more posts that link to other blogs. Sharing the link love is a great way to give back to the blogosphere and open new connections.
I don’t know that I’ve been doing this long enough to be handing out advice, but I’ve found that commenting on other blogs is a wonderful way to meet others and hear what they’re saying.
Hi Barbara. I don’t feel imprisoned by my blog. Like others have mentioned above though, time is my issue.
I am subscribed to a lot of blogs but at the end of the day, I just don’t have the time between owning a business, writing my blog, 2 young children, my wife owns her own business, dealing with customers, networking with other businesses, etc.
You know what I might like to see here on this blog, how to speed read LOL. Maybe there’s a guest speaker you could find? I need to figure out how to read faster. I skim, but then never soak up enough information to feel confident enough to leave a comment – maybe I’ll say something the author already said which I skimmed over.
Maybe my problem is I don’t consider myself a full time blogger? I can see why many A-list authors don’t comment on many blogs, there’s just not enough time in the day. It really sucks! LOL
I don’t know how you guys do it?
Thanks for this converstation Barbara – and the same to all the commenters.
I am finding that blogging is a great way to build new e-relations (yes I coined the term :-), but it can become a word fest also. As I value silience, the conflict is obvious. 🙂 I really enjoy visiting other blogs, and need to add more, but I read so many now that it seems like too much talking to keep expanding.
I have done what seems to be the unspoken tast though…I have deleted many blogs from my feed that after reviewing for sometime, I realize I just don’t fit in “that” community. I think we have to respect our time and efforts enough to know that, and wish people, albiet silently, a kind farewell.
Harmony’s last blog post..Silver Medal – Golden Effort
I agree about finding a “fit” with other bloggers. Blogs that have a resonance for me help me keep energized. It’s nice knowing others are out there doing, feeling, struggling, and succeeding in their own ways.
Writing my blog is still a great deal of fun, but I sure wish the tech and “blog building” stuff was much easier. Sometimes I get caught up in making comments, and I have to stay away from posts that would pull me into arguments, but I find reaching out in comments can be as fulfilling as reaching out with a post.
SpaceAgeSage’s last blog post..Self-Knowledge
Hi Eric,
You’re right, writing for an audience make a difference. One thing I found was that even if no one commented, I “believed” someone was reading my words. It kept me motivated in those early months when I didn’t have a community yet.
Hi Natural,
Cutting back on posting is a great way to help build our communities. It’s something I’ve kicked around as my Google reader has so many great blogs I want to visit, work takes up a lot of my time, and writing is time consuming, as well.
Hi Alex,
Thanks! The blog title is a phrase I’ve used many times as the kids were growing up. 🙂
Introverted? That seems to be a common trait many bloggers possess. Building community is a great way to become more social.
Hi Al,
Ebook? Maybe….someday.
I agree, within blogosphere there are tons of sites where we can get self help/growth ideas. When I look around the BWAB community, many of you are helping others by making your readers think and become better people. Your blog included.
Hi Wendi,
You are on target as to how to grow a community of like minded people. Like you said, joining the community of the latest “flavor of the month” gets us no where, if we don’t feel at home or if it’s a blog that doesn’t interest us. It sounds like the slow growth is paying off and your community has become like a second family.
Hi Karl,
That’s right! Linking to other blogs is a great way to build our connections. Even though many are afraid to link out for fear a reader will leave us and never come back, it usually works the other way around and that same reader keeps coming back to see what other great finds you’re linking to.
Hi MizFit,
Good point! Reaching out needs to be on our list BELOW taking care of that which is important to us. If we don’t take time to build our own blog, we’ll have nothing to share when readers do show up.
Hi Writer Dad,
Yes, commenting on other blogs does help us to meet people, and it also exposes us to others in blogosphere (and they can find us).
Hi John,
Oh yes, that time issue. We have our priorities, which are usually our daily life issues, and blogging often takes a back seat. Most days I can’t fit in all of the blogging activities I would like to either. When I look at my reader and it shows I have over 200 unread posts, I have to start picking and choosing, skimming titles, marking some as “mark all as read” and hope for the best.
I think most bloggers realize the time crunch everyone else is under, so if they don’t comment, it’s not because they aren’t supportive, but they’re busy.
Hi Robin,
That’s fabulous advice. Other new bloggers are in the same boat and often a friendship develops as each of you grows your blog.
Hi Harmony,
You’re welcome.
I like that “e-relations”. 🙂
Deleting blogs from our readers is often tough to do, but like you said, if we don’t feel we “fit” into the community, it’s time to move on.
Hi SpaceAgeSage,
Yes, we all have our own “battles” with blogging, and finding what works for us individually is the key.
The tech stuff get me, too. Plus, it can be VERY time consuming. Those who are technologically smart, have half the battle won.
Hi Dr. Cason,
I love your Medicine Mondays posts. That is a brilliant idea, and like my NBOTW series, it takes awhile to catch on. Just keep writing from your heart, and it will become a huge success.
Hi Ellen,
That is a good point. As our community grows, our free time lessens.
For me, it’s a matter of setting priorities. My blog comes first, answering comments comes second, and visiting others is third. I do the best I can every day, and what doesn’t get done, waits. (kind of like housework or laundry). 🙂
Hi Jennifer,
To me it sounds like whatever you’re doing, it’s affecting and helping others. Keep in mind, if any of those bloggers would meet the “less than four months old” and “quality content”, criteria, you can nominate them for the NBOTW series, and I’ll help you get them some recognition.
You might also consider adding a series or some type of promotional “gadget” to your blog to showcase their work.
It’s rewarding helping others, isn’t it?
Hi Marelisa,
Thank you for referring that new blogger to BWAB.
**smiles** Do we ever stop learning? I know I don’t.
That is pretty neat when we see familiar “faces” on other blogs. It reminds me of seeing a friend in the park or a store. Blogosphere is actually quite small in some aspects, isn’t it?
I think that what I’ve done with Medicine Mondays but it still is slow.
I really want people to hear the heart of a doctor. The judgment and criticism that people have comes out of frustration. I work hard to remind everyone that we’re human. If I do that enough times maybe it’ll catch on.
Dr. Cason’s last blog post..Thanks for Listening
Hey Barbara, you’re stealing my material. Kidding.
I find that commenting on other’s blogs takes a lot more time than spending time on my own blog. Probably a third to two thirds more time.
You can actually spend all your time doing this.
I like supporting other bloggers, because like you say, it’s a community and not just about your blog. And sometimes yes, I guess we get locked into our comfort zones, or too busy, or what not. It gets overwhelming and sometimes I’m not sure how to go about it. Like for instance, the bigger the circle of community, the more time it takes to comment on that ever expanding circle. How do you do it?
Hi Vered,
I was hoping you would show up. For leaving comments around blogosphere and building a community, you’re the best. I remember when I would frequent other blogs, I ALWAYS saw you had been there, leaving your words of wisdom. Finally, I had to find out who you were. That’s when I came to your blog and introduced myself. I’m so happy I did. 🙂
Hi Urban Panther,
That’s a great idea to make it a goal to meet someone new each week. It not only gets you “out there”, but pulls someone into your community. I’m sure when you find a new blog, they’re always thrilled to meet you.
Barbara, It’s funny you wrote this today. I just got bombarded with emails today and yesterday from people who evidently like what I’m writing and want to be my friend. They have been so generous offering to selflessly help me promote my blog. They have excellent blogs and I want to help them succeed as well. I wish I could devote all my time to helping others promote their blogs. Maybe I need to rework some things so that I can do a better job of that. So to answer your question – yes, sometimes I do feel imprisoned by my blog.
Hi Barbara: To tell you the truth I had very little experience with blogs before I started blogging. I had been subscribed to three large blogs (zenhabits, dumbtlittleman and pickthebrain) for about four months, and then I just started. I had no idea what to expect and just starting learning as I went along (which is basically what I’m still doing).
I ran across the comment of a new blogger at menwithpens this weekend asking for pointers on how to get people to comment on her blog, and I left a comment on her blog telling her to come over here. I think it’s definitely important to have a blogging community as soon as possible after you start because it makes you feel like you’re communicating and not just talking to yourself.
When I find a new blog and I see comments by people who visit my blog and whose blog I visit I think: “Oh look, someone I know!”
I can’t imagine my blog without the community. Sometimes I look at old articles that I wrote when I just started, and while many of them are pretty good, something is missing: the interaction.
My advice: do just what you are doing. Read other blogs and make comments when appropriate. It’s not just networking, or a good way to build a community around your blog: it’s just plain fun.
I didn’t read and comment on blogs before I started blogging. This whole blogging thing was foreign to me until brother Alex said it would be an excellent way to share my stories. However, right from day one I headed out to see what other people had to say. I LOVE what other people have to say. There are so many fascinating stories and opinions out there. I also love engaging in dialogue, and am very open to changing my opinion on something. As a matter of fact, if someone changes my opinion on something I’m thrilled, because I’ve just learned to view the world slightly differently. In the beginning, I made it my goal to ‘meet’ one new blogger every single day. I have had to temper this goal somewhat, simply due to the realities of time constraints. But I certainly try to meet someone new each week.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..The cost of relationships
Popeye used to say: “I am what I am.”
With that said, just be “you!” Be personable…be transparent. Be a friendly blogger.
Building a community isn’t about spamming the blog-o-sphere to collect back-links through comments like: “Great post!”, “Nice post. Thanks!”, “Great information. Thank you!”
Add something valuable to the conversation. We all have a different opinion. Share it! That’s much more valuable than just a general back-link.
The second thing is, “don’t come to the party empty-handed.” Successful bloggers are successful because they practice one thing well: “Generosity”
They give and they give and they give… Ultimately, give and ye shall receive. It’s a guided principle that has helped many a blogger build a tight knit on-line community for his/herself.
Ricardo Bueno’s last blog post..Solve. Don’t Sell! Be Personable. And Respect Others.
Yeah, that’s about how it works for me too. But I still find that I work harder at commenting than the other two previously stated objectives. The other first objective, like most writing projects, is mainly in my head for awhile.
You know, this has given me a knew idea for a topic. Something with a crown…hehehe
I have no strategy with blogging so I have mostly written my stuff, made friends and hoped for a community. I enjoy comments more than anything to be honest. Sometimes I forget that there are other people reading who don’t drop in to say hello.
So, I’d like to know what IS the best way to build a community? I visit lost of blogs but don’t always comment because I like to have something worthwhile to say. I stumble lost of posts where I don’t comment, but maybe people would prefer if I commented.
I do have a lovely little community over at SHE-POWER, but a few more regulars would be nice. Maybe I should have a strategy…
Kelly@SHE-POWER
Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post..The Marbella Money Shot
Barbara –
I wrote something similar to this earlier today – “It’s all about connecting.” And that’s truly it. If we can leave the door open, it allows us to build new relationships and strengthen old ones.
@Cath – great points! Thanks for those. 😉
~ Annie
I don’t feel imprisoned by my blog because I love what I do and have cut down on writing so that I can interact on the blogosphere. While the interacting part can be time consuming (because the list of friends just gets longer and longer), there are other benefits like joy in having connected with someone new. It’s great hat I not only have offline friends but a whole bunch of online friends who have views that I’m keen to know about!!
There are blogs out there that started the same time as I did and I have witnessed their community expand exponentially. I pretty much figured out how to do it but I currently don’t have the “time” that I need to grow my community.
Blogging is like raising children. If you want your blog to grow and be vibrant, you have to spend a lot of time nurturing it and exposing it to the wonderful world of the blogosphere.
Barbabra – My dilemma at times is to keep up with reading other blogs and comment. I enjoy doing that. You have put my dilemma in clear words with these lines, “didn’t put myself “out there” I didn’t work on expanding my community. I didn’t go past my comfort zone. I only commented on blogs of authors who commented on mine (with a few exceptions).” — very true.
Shilpan
Hi Ricardo,
You hit a nail on the head by saying “be transparent”. That’s extremely important, isn’t it?
You’re right on both of your other points, too. Spammy comments don’t cut it. That’s a great way to build a poor reputation in blogosphere. And yes, when we give, we receive. Life is way to short to live it selfishly.
Hi Ellen,
I’m so happy I inspired a blog post for you. I’m waiting to read what it is. 🙂
Hi Annie,
Yes, connecting is SO important. Without it, we could get very lonely.
Hi Evelyn,
Cutting back on posting does give us more time to connect. I’m trying that concept this week. We’ll see how it goes.
Aren’t online friends great?
Hi Chris,
Yes, growing a blog is very much like raising children. They need a lot of care. And as a child grows, so does our blog.
Hi Shilpan.
It’s tough, isn’t it? We all have so much to do, and not enough time to do it all.
Hi Annie,
That’s great advice you’re sharing. I agree, it’s very important to be ourselves. That’s what makes our blogs, US. 🙂
Hi Kelly,
Different people use different strategies to build their communities, but the consensus here seems to be, visit other blogs you like, comment regularly, and more than likely those blog authors will becomes a part of your community.
I know you have Stumbled some of my posts, and I love to see the traffic spikes, but honestly I would rather see your smiling avatar and read your opinion.
Hi Ajith,
**smiles**. Your comment would have made a great blog post. I like your bullet points. Good content is still the most important thing, isn’t it?
Yes, we do need to do a lot of reading. All we need is to find enough time to do it all. THAT is the challenge.
Barbara –
Forgot to mention . . .
Do you feel imprisoned by your blog? No, I don’t feel imprisoned by my blog. For me, it’s simply an outlet. Sometimes it’s more personal related and others, it’s more business oriented.
Are you spending so much time on your blog, you’re forgetting to reach out to others? I’m getting better about this. I’ve been reading several blogs for a very long time but only recently really started commenting anywhere.
What advice can you share with other bloggers who are trying to find their way in blogosphere? Hmm . . . I don’t think I have anything to add that hasn’t been mentioned already. Except perhaps – be yourself. Don’t try to be perfect or be something you’re not.
~ Annie
Too much time on blogging? Hmm… As bloggers, we end up doing a lot of roles (webmaster, moderator, editor, programmer, sys admin, seo master, marketing mgr, ad guru, writer etc) the role of writer being the most prominant one. Definitely, it consumes a lot of time. On top of that, in order to be part of a community, the blogger needs to read and participate in a lot of blogs. (S)he has to do a lot of research for digging out topics to write on. So you know where the time goes.
Do I feel imprisoned? Not really… Some amount of planning will help anybody.
Advice to budding bloggers, well I myself am a budding blogger though I had contributed to the web content 10 or 12 years back itself. The following would be my bullet points.
. Focus on writing good content
. Collaborate well with your readers as well as prospects
. Read much more than you write (90-10 allocation)
. Prioritize your goals
Unfortunately, the current system blends a lot of unnecessary technologies (thanks to giants like Google, Yahoo etc) with publishing that the bloggers are under a lot of pressure. So if you can be a good blogger only if your time management and ability to prioritize is really good (i.e. assuming that blogging is not your primary career option). If your career is blogging itself I guess there are NO issues!
(Sorry for the long comment, I guess I should have posted this on my blog itself :lol:)
Cheers,
Ajith
Ajith Edassery’s last blog post..MVAV Media – CPM Paid-To-Promote Network for small blogs
Late for the party, again! Like so many others, time is the biggest problem for me. In an ideal world, I’d love to be able to read all the blogs who comment on my blog (which really is relatively small in comparison to many); search for new blogs I enjoy and keep my blog up to date. Unfortunately, with a new job taking 20-30 hours of my week, 3 children to get ready for school and giving quality time to my kids after school, my blogging time is getting less and less. For example, it’s taken me 3 visits and about 2 hours time to read this blog and comments. Eventually I had to stop reading comments and start skimming. I’ve got 50 other posts in my reader and it keeps growing by the minute. Some people post 3-8 times a day! I can’t keep up with that.
I started blogging for many reasons, but mostly as a way to meet people. I have met some wonderful people, but somewhere I have to draw the line. I’m going to be writing a post very soon on this very subject and making some changes to my policy. I may lose some readers because of it and I’m sorry for that, but it can’t be helped. Often I feel like a fish out of water here at BWAB simply because my blog is mostly a “mommy blog” I get a lot from you and your readers, but I’m not sure I’m what they are looking for. I hope people will stop by on occassion to read about my family’s antics, but some may just consider it fluff. I would hope that people would at least stop by on occasion, especially on Tuesdays to learn a little more about Down syndrome and relating to people with special needs. If I accomplish nothing else, that is my hope. Everything else is just “gravy”. I’ve made a lot of great friends on this journey and hope to make more, but I’ve realized, I’m not going to get rich blogging and my community will problably always be on the small side.
I’m impressed by the approach Hunter took – and Scott too – if he ends up developing a blog of his own.
I think the ideal would be to immerse oneself into the blogosphere prior to starting ones own blog.
That way, when they start – they will already be quite knowledgeable and will make it through beginning stages more effectively. That’s powerful.
Hi Debbie,
I think you’ve underestimated yourself. I don’t know if you had a chance to read the part in my interview with Lorelle where she spoke of personal bloggers and how they are leaving a legacy behind, for future generations. That, is what you’re doing with your blog.
Although I don’t always have time to comment on your posts, I do read them. I love when you show Peanut’s progress and your Down syndrome posts, as well. I’ve learned so much from your blog, and even though it becomes an enormous task to maintain (I can’t imagine how you do it all), your blog holds tons of value. Never forget that.
Hi Bamboo,
Isn’t that brilliant how Scott and Hunter did that? Knowing more about blogging before we dive in would have such a huge advantage.
I have found that my blog takes a lot of time and attention to get it to where I want it to be. But, I don’t feel imprisoned. Really, I feel liberated. I’m liberated because I can share my viewpoints, and get honest and heartfelt feedback. And, part of the “fun” of blogging for me is commenting on other blogs, and really developing a new connection with another blogger. Like you, Barbara.