5 Reasons I’ll Read Your Blog
June 10, 2010 at 5:42 am (Author Info) (blogs, commenting, facebook, links, readers, reading, top 5, twitter, writers, writing)
You hear it all the time. There are so many good blogs out there (and just so many blogs period) that you just don’t have time to read them all. I love reading blogs and adding comments and going back to find out if someone has replied to my comment. I find it far more satisfying than Facebook though it is a toss-up whether I prefer twitter or blogs as my online social media of choice.
I love blogs. They share so much fantastic information and there are so many writers (published or not) that are sending out so much good advice and sharing their thoughts. It really is a case of so much to choose from, how do I decide?
That said, how do I find the blogs I read and how do I decide which ones to read. Here are my top 5 reasons for landing on someone’s blog.
1. You commented on my blog. Yes, I visit every blog of every person who comments here. Even if only for a moment before moving on. Usually I find something really interesting to read. Sometimes I realise I’ve already been to your blog (and you were in point of fact returning the favour from my comment) but then I see you have a new post and I have something new to read. I’ve been playing blog tag with a few people for awhile now. The only time I can’t do this is if the person who has commented hasn’t left a blog address for me to go to.
2. I follow you on twitter. Usually this means you’ve just tweeted about your latest blog post and I’ve hit the link. Interestingly, most the people I elect to follow on twitter are people who have blogs that I’ve visited that have a follow me on twitter badge. This is all getting very linky.
3. You’re listed on a blog that I visit regularly. Yes, I read blog rolls on blogs that I really enjoy and I occasionally randomly click on names on the list. I like blog rolls that tell you when the blog was last updated because then I know if there is something recent to read.
4. I was searching for something on google and somehow the key words I was searching for have found your blog. This one doesn’t happen so often and I don’t tend to stick around these blogs for as long, though occasionally I find a gem.
5. The readomattic feature from WordPress. Anyone who has posted onto a WordPress blog using the tags I use will come up in this list (when it is functioning) and I can read the first part of their post to see if I’m interested. I’ve found some very good blogs this way.
So there you have it. My top 5 reasons for visiting and reading your blog. How do you find the blogs you read? How did you find this one?
29 Comments
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Cassandra Jade in the Realm 
Arlee Bird said,
June 10, 2010 at 6:06 am
How did I first find your blog? Maybe it was when I was doing the A to Z Challenge, but all I know is I’m apparently subscribed and get notices when you post.
I always try to visit the blog of someone who has commented on mine. I will also sometimes visit someone who has made a particularly intriguiging comment on a blog that I read.
I don’t twitter yet.
Like you I might find one because of something I’ve googled. Often they are inactive blogs.
I’m on blogger– don’t know what the readomatic feature is. But I do look on my Google dashboard to see what new updates are made.
This is an interesting topic that I’ve wondered about– I mean, without spending hours visiting other blogs and making comments, how can you get more people to flock to your blog posts because it’s a destination they absolutely must visit. I still have to learn that technique.
Lee
Tossing It Out
cubbageg said,
June 10, 2010 at 6:44 am
I picked this blog up because of a comment on mine, I remember, and it’s on a few of my other regular-reads’ lists as well. The Google results point in particular makes me glad I’ve been blogging about search engine ranking and internet presence recently, though!
Corra McFeydon said,
June 10, 2010 at 10:01 am
I do a lot of blog-hopping: I comment on someone who commented in a blog where I’m commenting. 🙂
Also, I’m a fan of Google Reader. I have it set to ‘alert’ me to blogs that talk about the topics that interest me. (Kind of like Readomatic, which I would use if I ever remembered it was there.)
🙂
– Corra
the victorian heroine
Cassandra Jade said,
June 11, 2010 at 5:49 am
I used to use google reader a lot but I haven’t really looked at it in a while. I guess that happened when I moved from blogger to wordpress.
Elizabeth Spann Craig said,
June 10, 2010 at 10:24 am
Great post! I do the same. 🙂
Laura Diamond said,
June 10, 2010 at 11:03 am
Neat list!! I’ll have to check out WordPresses feature!
laurelrainsnow said,
June 10, 2010 at 11:08 am
Good to know! I always do wonder how I get traffic…I usually figure out that the ones where I comment will sometimes return the favor.
I also see interesting blogs while playing memes, and if one especially appeals to me, I subscribe, or if it’s Google, I put it on my blog list. Then I scroll down regularly to see what topics are showing up that might appeal to me.
Mason Canyon said,
June 10, 2010 at 11:43 am
Great post. I find blogs in pretty much the same way you do. It’s always fun to find a new link that leads to an interesting place to visit.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
AlexJ said,
June 10, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Guess I need to start posting my blog links on Twitter, too. So much to learn!
I have no idea how I found you, Cassandra. You were one of the first blogs I followed, though.
Cassandra Jade said,
June 11, 2010 at 5:50 am
It is strange how you don’t remember the first time you found a blog but now you read it all the time. It seems like something you should remember.
Lynn Rush said,
June 10, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Nice.
I like viewing the blogs of those who follow me as well. Don’t always comment, but I like to know the people following me. I might see comments on other blogs that interest me, so I’ll click the commentor’s link…I find tons of blogs that way.
I like viewing publisher/editor blogs as well. Even though I already have an agent, I still view many agent blogs as well. They are all useful. I’ve learned a lot about the industry through reading them.
I love blogs that are fun, short, and make me laugh. I love music, too. So that’s always fun to find a blog about that.
There are so many blogs out there that do interviews, book reviews, and such…while I find those interesting, I’d rather laugh, interact, and have fun with blogs. But then again, that’s just me.
Thanks for this post. Have a great day!!!!
catwoods said,
June 10, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I don’t remember how we hooked up. Most likely from one of the reasons you posted above, as that’s how I find blogs too. I usually have to visit a few times before I subscribe or add to my blog roll.
Interesting post.
Alex Willging said,
June 10, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I started following your blog after reading your comment on mine (which was significant for me, since I didn’t think anyone read my blog except for a few relatives and friends). When I read what you were posting here, I thought, “This looks very promising…”
I do follow one or two other blogs, usually to do with other writers like Matt Stover, one of my all-time favorites. And I’m starting to follow (thanks to your retweets and other posts) Elizabeth Spann Craig’s blog, too.
Cassandra Jade said,
June 11, 2010 at 5:53 am
Elizabeth has some excellent information on her blog.
I think I found your blog through the readomatic one day and I liked it so I kept going back.
Tooty Nolan said,
June 10, 2010 at 7:11 pm
I noticed something in your writing style that suggested that you don’t suffer fools gladly. I’m glad: It means that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, I’m not a fool.
Mike Cowell said,
June 10, 2010 at 9:16 pm
I found your blog because you commented on mine!
I’ve only been blogging for a week or two, and already I’m reaping the mental and emotional benefits. I share your love of blogs; discovering more about someone than I knew previously. Posting is rewarding as well, especially when someone you don’t know personally ends up reading and commenting on it. Such an action is a rare compliment to those such as myself.
Hope to read more from you in the future!
milkfever said,
June 11, 2010 at 3:34 am
I ticked 1,3,4 and 5 as reasons I visit and comment on blogs. I always visit anyone who pays my blog a visit and if I like what I read I’ll add them to the blogroll (although I’m a bit incompetent with the more technical side of things so occasionally someone I thought I added might glitch or something?}
Anyway, I don’t twitter, simply because there’s just too much time taken up with the blog, and I am supposed to be finishing the next novel. Pressure!!
But I do love the great posts, the interesting blogs and the wonderful people out there.
doggonedmysteries said,
June 11, 2010 at 5:43 am
I go by 1,3,4 & 5. I don’t twitter so that’s what killed #2 for me. Another thing is where a blog pops up on my post as a possibly related post. I have to check those out.
Cassandra Jade said,
June 11, 2010 at 5:54 am
I really should check those out but I never seem to get around to it.
Hart said,
June 11, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Ha! And the first reason you listed was how I ended up here! So there you have it. I am now ALSO following you on twitter, though I am a much less active tweeter… I will need to add you to my side bar to remember to pop in… (Commenters, followers, and my sidebars, and then RECOMMENDED blogs–if I read someone’s blog and they talk about a fabulous one for this or that topic) tend to by how I find them…
Cassandra Jade said,
June 11, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Thanks for the follow on twitter. I am too active sometimes on twitter and need to cut my time down a little.
Ryan Lynch said,
June 11, 2010 at 1:52 pm
You commented on mine – needless to say, I’ll enjoy going through your archives!
MTC said,
June 11, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Thank you, Jade, for your comment on my blog this morning. As your post above points out, comments DO provoke visits!
You’ve given me something to think about, too. I’ve resisted Twitter, though I’m on Facebook. So far, though, I’ve kept my blog anonymous. (Not much of a markting tool, then, is it?) I’ve only just started, and I want to develop a voice before I go public.
Best wishes to all in the blogosphere.
Smitha said,
June 12, 2010 at 10:00 am
I think my reasons for reading blogs are quite the same as yours 🙂 Although I have to admit, I haven’t been able to check out the WP generated posts for a while now, but yes, I have come across some amazing posts through that in the past.
Lori said,
June 12, 2010 at 10:34 pm
These definitely work for me – you’re
on our blog roll now thanks to your comment on our site (and, of course, your most excellent blog!).
Lori
Cassandra Jade said,
June 13, 2010 at 2:49 am
Thanks for that.
Writer Links – Characters, Characters, and More Characters « Leith Literary said,
June 14, 2010 at 12:26 pm
[…] Jade dishes up a buffet of goodness, including: ♥ the importance of character mannerisms, ♥ the five reasons she will read your writer blog, ♥ another look at Bowl of Oranges’ hilarious ways to annoy a rookie writer, ♥ what […]
Glynis Smy said,
June 18, 2010 at 7:30 am
We met via Twitter. I have now got you pinned down on my iGoogle. I kept losing your blog link. grrr.
Lucas J.W. Johnson said,
June 20, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I first found your blog when you commented on mine (thanks for that). Then there was that flood and I stopped checking for awhile and since have been trying to catch up again.
Mostly the blogs I read are ones that have been linked to from other blogs I read, especially ones whose topics interest me — writing, the changing face of publishing, transmedia. It’s been said, but these are exciting times for writers on the Interwebz.