Personal blog publicity
When is a good time to tell someone you blog? I realise I talk to a lot of people about blogs, as sources of information. I often recommend mommy blogs or parenting blogs, fun to read blogs, news blogs, food blogs etc. I also encourage people to begin their own blogs. Yet, apart from my husband and now my older daughter, no one in my family knows I blog. Even with friends, I've sent my blog url to 2 or 3 friends - one was polite to visit once, I knew the other two would simply not bother.
Recently, I was talking to a new acquaintance about my favourite food blogs. This girl loves to cook and experiment and also has a nascent food blog of her own. She in turn told me that I should blog too and that could've, rather should've been my moment yet I abstained from telling her that I do. I did feel like a bit of fraud for a while. And if I'm completely ok with random strangers landing up and reading what I write, why would I keep it away from someone I know. Guess I know the answer to it already - of being judged on what I write.
Same thing about my parents, if I send them the url, they would sit and read it like a book. Maybe comment, read between the lines, etc. So that would make me exposed, perhaps vulnerable, show a side of me unknown to them hitherto. But then my blog is not sum total of me, or all of me. By not sharing that I blog, I tend to keep a part of me hidden away. This is strange, but isn't it true for what we know about people. They only reveal a side of them they know which will be most accepted, least controversial, or easy to like and appreciate or engage in an area of common interest. When I was a student, I used to watch a lot of plays, and on the last day of our MBA course got to know that a girl in my group also enjoys watching them. Strange that we spent so much time together and we missed out on this bit. Both of us assumed the rest of the assorted group would not be interested in plays, though we caught up with movies very frequently together. From that perspective, social media and interest groups on them can be an interesting way of connecting with like-minded people.
Back to blogging, a lot of people share their blog post links on Twitter, Facebook, other groups and this gets them to a wider and diverse audience. I don't choose to do that too often either. I think it can be a bit of over-sharing and mildly irritating, especially if you're part of a bloggers group, follow them on twitter, or have subscribed to their blog feed. Then it is like receiving the same message 3 to 4 times around. Mine is not a case of sour grapes or anything remotely to that effect, especially since mine is not a widely-read blog at all, save for a few people who drop by once in a while. And since I am writing more for myself, and don't share any useful information, I am ok with that. (or maybe the small and very pertinent fact about the appeal, content quality and style? which makes me desist from publicity). Anyhow, not ready to be psychoanalysed on this :)
As of now, happy to have my blog be read by a small circle of people and via random searches on google, especially for this one, turns out to be my most popular post. What is your strategy to promote your blog?
Recently, I was talking to a new acquaintance about my favourite food blogs. This girl loves to cook and experiment and also has a nascent food blog of her own. She in turn told me that I should blog too and that could've, rather should've been my moment yet I abstained from telling her that I do. I did feel like a bit of fraud for a while. And if I'm completely ok with random strangers landing up and reading what I write, why would I keep it away from someone I know. Guess I know the answer to it already - of being judged on what I write.
Same thing about my parents, if I send them the url, they would sit and read it like a book. Maybe comment, read between the lines, etc. So that would make me exposed, perhaps vulnerable, show a side of me unknown to them hitherto. But then my blog is not sum total of me, or all of me. By not sharing that I blog, I tend to keep a part of me hidden away. This is strange, but isn't it true for what we know about people. They only reveal a side of them they know which will be most accepted, least controversial, or easy to like and appreciate or engage in an area of common interest. When I was a student, I used to watch a lot of plays, and on the last day of our MBA course got to know that a girl in my group also enjoys watching them. Strange that we spent so much time together and we missed out on this bit. Both of us assumed the rest of the assorted group would not be interested in plays, though we caught up with movies very frequently together. From that perspective, social media and interest groups on them can be an interesting way of connecting with like-minded people.
Back to blogging, a lot of people share their blog post links on Twitter, Facebook, other groups and this gets them to a wider and diverse audience. I don't choose to do that too often either. I think it can be a bit of over-sharing and mildly irritating, especially if you're part of a bloggers group, follow them on twitter, or have subscribed to their blog feed. Then it is like receiving the same message 3 to 4 times around. Mine is not a case of sour grapes or anything remotely to that effect, especially since mine is not a widely-read blog at all, save for a few people who drop by once in a while. And since I am writing more for myself, and don't share any useful information, I am ok with that. (or maybe the small and very pertinent fact about the appeal, content quality and style? which makes me desist from publicity). Anyhow, not ready to be psychoanalysed on this :)
As of now, happy to have my blog be read by a small circle of people and via random searches on google, especially for this one, turns out to be my most popular post. What is your strategy to promote your blog?
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I wish I had any tips to share! I enjoy reading your blog, btw!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Gauri, hearing that feels good:)
DeleteAgree, Vibha! I started off keeping the blog identity to myself but since I didn't start under a pseudo name, I had already exposed myself in that sense. Also, I did reveal to my family, and even advertised myself a bit on FB. Now, I have more family than friends who read me and yes it makes me uncomfortable and restricted to a lot more fewer topics. I've considered retreating into an anonymous name and starting all over too. As of now, I continue to write-less frequently and on very general topics :-)
ReplyDeleteSo, I hear you completely. :-)
Yes, I blog with my first name, but one can put two and two together. So I would recommend a totally anonymous name. But you have to be careful about the aspect of managing blog interactions and spillover to real life! I always felt strange about connecting with family or extended family via social media, especially Facebook, etc. It never feels real somehow.
DeleteI agree about the over sharing point - seeing the same link on different platforms, and then if it's good, it gets shared again by others :)
ReplyDeleteTrue Fab and resharing is often an obligatory thing to get some brownie points, a bit incestuous sort of cycle I think. I hope I'm not contradicting myself by saying really exceptional posts or relevant information ought to be shared and that can be a subjective decision, which brings us back to where we are:)
DeleteI do tell many people that I blog. Most are not bothered to inquire further! Those that do ask, I take a call...with most people I end up telling them its a pure mommy blog and may not be so interesting for them. A few, I do send the URL to - I feel they may appreciate the sentiments and the writing. But you are right - with parents etc, they do read it like a book and one feels exposed and vulnerable. In fact my husband says he got to know so many things abt me thro the blog :))
ReplyDeleteTrue, Mommy blogs can bring down interest levels for many people for a whole lot of reasons, and yet I read a lot of them!! How sweet and romantic is that, your husband reads your blog. My husband encourages me to blog to capture memories, regarding kids, etc (or maybe vent through my blog, so he is spared) but does not read it. Regarding parents, still a dilemma - to share or not. I do send it out for any freelancing assignments.
DeleteI have nevr promoted my blog..and I regret that I have told my family about it..its much better to write and tell your family..you can write freely..
ReplyDeleteRenuji, I also feel that it is best if family don't read your blog because they tend to judge you on what you've written, while you've moved on ...
DeleteI don't promote my personal blog much and i don't share it on my personal social media accounts as I don't feel very comfortable about being judged for my personal thoughts by my friends and family. Though later on I shared the link of my blog with lot of friends, who visit and send mail rather than leaving comment :) For my food blog, I share it on food related groups and photo sharing websites..
ReplyDeleteThanks for your views ZM. I meant personal blog, because food blogs or any other blogs which share info thrive on visitors. And even with personal blogs a lot are very popular in spite of not being actively promoted, so my post was written keeping my blog and my blogging preferences in mind.
Deletehmmm it is a bit dicy telling your friends and family that you blog , especially if you write about them. I dont do that, not many of my friends know , only a few close ones.
ReplyDeleteits because sometimes they read between the line as you mentioned and sometimes they might now understand what your thought process is when yo uare writng something .. this might get you in trouble :) he heh e
before i went away year ago, I did not have the need to promote my blog as I made so many friends .. but i find that when i was missing most people have forgotten me and dont remember me .. so now I think I need to promote myself or at least tell that I am back :)
Bikram
Yes, I get that Bikram. And find that an interesting dichotomy especially since family and friends are with whom we seek to connect on a deeper, more meaningful level. Good luck with your return to blogging, am sure you will get your followers back.
DeleteI worried about all these points until a few years ago until I realized that most people I know/am related to, neither want to know me nor care for other people's interests/skills etc. It hurt me quite a bit, but now I couldn't care less. The people who actually read me do it because they want to and not have to. That in itself is flattering.
ReplyDeleteI don't popularise my blog voluntarily. However, I never hesitate to leave comments on blogs that interest me, and they usually visit me back.
On a popular day, I'd get about 500 visitors/day, and that is a
whopper for me.
Nice to know how it works for you, LG. I for one really love your writing and humour too. And apparently lot of others think so too, wow, 500 a day is truly amazing.
DeleteCW, thank you. You are an ego boost to my soul.
DeleteBut no, 500 is not a big number in the general blogospheric scale, but it'll do very well for me. And will you believe me if I tell you, not a single of the 500, is extended family(my husband and kid read though)? Despite the fact that the all know that I blog and know the site. So, I wouldn't bother about relatives reading/not reading - They usually won't, either out of disdain, or jealousy or plain disinterest.
My point is, if you want people of like-mentality to read your blog, the best way is to visit theirs and leave comments. See, I would have never known of your blog if you hadn't stopped at mine, and now I am richer for knowing it. The world is full of people who share your wavelength. Go find them, and it is really very gratifying.
End of lecture !
Lol, yeah, it would depend if you really wanted extended family to read your blog. In my case, I am sure not. Regarding finding like-minded bloggers, I tend to do the same, read blog posts I like, leave comments when I choose to, no loyalty following.
DeleteThis is a quandary I have often been in too .. My readership is quite sparse and is only worsened by my irregular writing :(
ReplyDeleteI do not take any special efforts to market my blog.. The few times that I tried to gain readership, I found I did not enjoy it at all .. So I have left it at that ..
I just write for my satisfaction and continue discovering and visiting other blogs .. But I do often experience that 'low' when a post sits with no comments at all after all the time and effort :(
This comment is of no help and just a rant :)
BTW, I enjoy reading your blog and I assure you that you need not worry about being judged about the content and quality for both are good :)
I hear you Aarthy, I also don't blog very regularly or promote myself over social media, so even if you have readers who like to read your blog, your post pops up into their radar every once in a while. Contrast this with a blog which posts daily and aggressively promotes via diverse mediums too. Definitely they would get a regular flow of visitors. Thanks for the compliments, means a lot to me:)
DeleteI totally agree about not telling people I know about my blog; yet being comfortable about total strangers reading!
ReplyDeleteOn another note, dear Chatty, could you please change the background of your blog to a light colour? White letters against black do hurt the eyes! :)
He he, thanks for the feedback Roshni! I will work on a more pleasant background.
DeleteI don't share my blog details with my kith n kin either. Not wanting to be judged is one, i think i might not appreciate a comment on EVERY post from family, that would sound, well, fake to me :-/
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, my huband never reads my blog.
But at times, when i meet people who are in my frequency, I wonder if they have blog and feel tempted to share mine(not that I do)
Ha ha, I am also like that. I wonder about that with some people too and also go ahead and ask them that, though I don't always share my blog. And yet I sometimes give my blog url to some random acquaintance without a care. Seriously, wonder what goes on in my mind :D
Delete