Now I must state that the number of followers you have does not actually mean as much as the quality of engagement you have with your followers. You can have a thousand followers who stop by one time and never again. That's not really useful for you as an author.On the other hand, you can have one hundred followers that will tweet, facebook, and blog on your behalf at the drop of a hat. Followers become great marketing tools when you know them well enough that they stop by often, comment often, share your news/posts with others, and are happy to guest on your blog or vice versa.Just to be real clear, followers are people not statistics. They are opportunities for engagement. If you don't engage, the number of followers you have means nothing.
But because it is an easy number to monitor, we are going to look at my follower numbers to show how much a blog hop can change the opportunities I have for engagement. As I schedule this post to run, I have 331followers. Let's see where we are at the end of the month, shall we?
How have your followers jumped since you started this blogfest?
69 comments:
I enjoy blogfests. Most of them are great fun.
wow, you number already jumped up by 10! I love blog hops but don't sign on unless I'm sure I have the time!
I don't do a lot of blog hops, because the main point is to read and be read. If I don't have time to read and comment I feel like I've wasted everyone's time. Great point about having followers who participate.
So far mine have jumped by about 6, which is pretty sweet. I expect a lot fo bloggers to unfollow after the month is up, and that's fair enough. The ones who stick around are thye ones I'm going to get to know and become friends with, and that's what really matters.
Jamie Gibbs
Fellow A-Z Buddy
Mithril Wisdom
I've gotten one, but am hoping for more. I'm always thankful to get new followers. I'm so afraid though that I won't be able to keep up if I get too many. I guess that's a good problem to have.
Well put! It's not the followers, it's the friendships that matter. And you've already gained ten new followers since putting together this post.
I love meeting new people, but I feel bad that it's now taking me almost two hours a day to stop by and leave comments for all the people I follow, the people who comment, and just the handful of new blogs I visit daily. I could easily turn this into a full time job.
I like it! Quantitative evidence! I actually love bloghops because they give me a topic to focus on and they are fun. And A-Z feels like the 5K of bloghops. But I'm curious what you think about the idea that, as writer's we're 'preaching to the choir' - that our followers are other writers like us and not necessarily our 'audience.' I've heard this argument a lot (against blog hops and blogging in general.) My first thought is, 'duh, I buy, read books too.' But do you think there's a kernel of truth in it?
When I first started blogging, I had no idea what a blog hop was and was so confused when everyone talked about it. But now, I love to get involved with the writing community in various events...when I have the time.
Agree Laura (I always agree with you LOL). When we write a blog post we should have our audience in mind and I hope that I meet my followers' (friends') interests.
Ah so wise!
Jumped by Nine already!
Good point Laura. Blogging requires effort and investment--the follower number may not reflect that.
I've gaine a handful of new followers already because of the fest. But I absolutely agree it's about cultivating relationships, so I hope to get to know these followers. I always go through and follow back, and then make a point to get around to their blogs every couple of weeks. Lots of work, but definitely worth it.
My followers have only gone up by a few, but it's probably because I have been visiting the blogs I already follow. I already know so many amazing bloggers and writers. I am excited to meet new people this time around, though.
Great post, Laura - and oh, so, true! Blog hops have been one of the best resources I've found to meet and intermingle with other like minds. Too bad I've lost Google Friend Connect and the over 400 friends there - not only was it a great way to see some of the great followers of my blog, but it was easy access for me to click on their picture, to get to their blogs! Sadly, now I have Linky Followers and a whole whopping 4 peeps! :)
Either way, it's what you make of it, right?
I really enjoy blog hops. It's always fun to get to meet people who enjoy the same things you do :)
It's going to be interesting to see how many followers we gain through this month. I like to interact with as many people as possible. That can be hard because it's time consuming. People who interact back are usually the ones I stick with and build a relationship with. I hope to add quite a few new relationships :)
You hit the nail on the head with today's blog challenge. So far the follow number on my blog has not changed, but who knows by the end of the month. I am certainly having fun discovering sites, I'd never have found otherwise.
Excellent point - quality not quantity (although quantity seems to impress agents etc!). I have gained two new followers so far.
I just hit 100 today! I do wish some followers did include links to their blogs on their profile, though. I'd like to visit their sites as well!
But I love blog hops, as it gives me the chance to find new blogs to read.
Having time to do it is important. I've made the mistake of signing up when I didn't have time and that flopped and wasn't fair to others. It's definitely fun meeting all the new people!
I try to limit my blog hop involvement as well. Then, when I do sign up, I really try to make sure I engage and meet new people. I signed up for this challenge because it's been awhile since I went out and met new bloggers. Having fun now!
Yes to both of those points. Some people may never unfollow but may never visit again. I have been real careful this time to only follow blogs that I think I will truly engage with. It just seems like a false statement to "follow" on people I will never return to and I am trying to build relationships, not numbers.
I feel the same way! I look at these people who get 100 comments a day and say yikes! But I'll deal with that as the time comes, I suppose.
And that's 10 potential friendships!
Me too! I was up way to late just reading new blogs. I couldn't stop! I need to get a routine going and that will help. Good luck to you!
Oh, I love that topic. There's certainly truth to it and I don't disagree with either side of the argument. My thoughts are that blogging for other writers can't be your only platform. You must, when you have a book coming out, anyway, have other vehicles to build relationships with non-writers. Places where readers are attracted to come and are not put off by all the "writer" talk. I'm going to start blogging more about that in this next month. I've not addressed it too much since I'm not there (yet) myself!
Thanks for the engaging comment!
LOL! That sounds like me. I wish I had tons of hours to do just this. It's totally fulfilling.
You do, Sue! At least you meet my interest ;)
*blushes*
Love it!
So true - the follower number is the most visible number, though not necessarily the most accurate. But we'll work with it :)
I do feel a little anxious about whether or not I can keep up. It's meaningless without commenting, following back and responding. Right?
I found the same thing - I don't think I have time for new blogs and my old blogs so I'm trying to work out a method to balance it all. I haven't quite figured it all out yet. LOL!
That's so bogus about GFC. But it's only a number. You'll get it back. :)
Me too! I'm loving the people I've met so far. :)
Ditto every word you said. :)
Me too. And the number will change as you engage with others.
Yes, it's a visible number so people look to it. I think that the number says, this blogger has the ability to go out and find people. It doesn't say anything about keeping up relationships, but it is one aspect of building a platform.
I have a post about that linking issue coming up, but not for awhile. It is disappointing when you can't follow back easily. Congrats on 100!
Good advice. I gained some followers before the challenge, lost a couple the first day and have gained a few new followers. It's interesting how things like that change.
I agree with Jay Noel. Not all followers have links to their blog on their profile so it is hard to visit them.
Susanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER
I love that you include your address. I need to start doing that. It sure made it easy to find you!
Great idea! I look forward to seeing the results. Experiments are fun, especially when the information learned benefits me. :)
I like bloghops but I don't participate in many because I never want to let people down by not joining in wholeheartedly, and that includes taking time to visit others.
As far as the A to Z goes, I've followed a couple of new sites that I really liked the look of, but most of them I've bookmarked in a new A to Z folder, so that I can visit them every day, then decide whether or not we 'fit'. There are very few sites around where I'm listed as a follower but don't visit. That's not how it works for me.
LOL, I totally feel the same.
That's a great idea! I did make an A to Z folder but I haven't used it yet and I am truly not following blogs that I know I will never return to. I like your use of the folder. Thanks for sharing!
I'm really bad about looking at numbers (must be brain exhaustion from teaching math!) - but I think I gained 2 followers yesterday :)
Yay! It's not the biggest idea to follow numbers, but it's a nice little indicator.
Blog hops is a great way to find interesting new sites to read and look at different designs. Participating in doing the A to Z is definitely a challenge! I hope I can keep my pieces interesting enough so readers will peruse my site and make return visits. It would be nice to increase my followers by at least one a day through this.
That's a decent goal. Good luck!
So true. It's quality--not quantity. Now you have 342. I jumped about 20+.
That's great, Theresa! I bet you've been visiting a lot of blogs as well.
Yes, Laura, I have seen my numbers jump in just one day...I've added ten new followers and I'm a "baby" blogger since I've only been blogging since last December...lol...
Good luck with the challenge!
Donna Martin
www.donasdays.blogspot.com
Good for you, Donna! You deserve it:)
I totally agree about quality is much preferred over quantity in the follower number. Great post.
Thanks, Carol!
Hi there! Another A-Zer here. :-)
Well, I have a handful of new followers, but that's it. I'm hoping to pass 300 by the end of the month, but we'll see what happens.
I love your blog - you have some really useful information about what works, how to go about marketing, etc. I think you're probably a better self-promoter than you think you are. :-)
You make a really good point about a follower being a person and not a statistic, and how a few engaged followers are much more valuable than a number of "fake" followers.
Thanks!
I have, let's see. exactly 38. And I'm not sure how many of them drop in on anything like a regular basis. I'm certain of only about four.
I must agree with you about people not being stats. I have found blogs where the follower numbers are low but the comments are high and engaging. I've also found huge numbers with barely any comments. I love blog hops for the great people/blogs you find! I also get a bit overwhelmed because there is so so much great stuff out there. I love Sarah Pearsons organizing idea. Thank you Sarah and Laura
I really love bloghops/ fests. They're a great way to meet new people, share experiences and make new friends.
Thank you, Ishta. I'm only a good self-promoter because it's all online and pretty faceless. Thanks for reading my past posts, too. Hope it's helpful!
LOL! I remember those days. It grows if you build it. :)
That is so true about how some large number blogs don't have much engagement. I see it when I have some guests on my blog that have a huge number of followers but they don't come over to read the guest posts. Other times I'll get a lot of visitors for an "unknown" blogging guest. Engagement counts.
So true.
Excellent advice. I try to enter as many as I can and I do so with all good intentions. I feel like Sarah; I hate to let people down. Often when I sign up for a bloghop, I seem to have time to fulfill the obligation, but with my line of work that can change in an instant. A plea bargain can turn sour on the morning of trial and then I am in a jury trial for a week without any time to do the bloghop. I just have to work harder on finding a balance.
I think people can tell who's invested in bloghops and who isn't. If you end up not participating, you just won't grow in followers and that's fine. There are people in this Challenge that I have gone to their site and seen that they haven't posted since February. So I don't follow them and don't leave a comment. It's all good. Something came up, they couldn't participate, they forgot - whatever. No harm to me. You know?
I'm a new blogger and I absolutely love it! I only really starting blogging this year even though I started in 2011. When I entered the A-Z Challenge that's when I consider myself to have become a blogger!
I started out in 2011 with 5 followers. During the challenge I gained 50 new followers and I felt great about it considering how much blogging and commenting I did!
I concur with everything that you've stated about blogging, Laura! It's a great way to connect with people, to make friends and it is a wonderful resource! You do have to eventually narrow it down to just a few bloggers, get to know them and make that a continuous feat at your own pace; otherwise it can be overwhelming as I initially found it to be.
Great "B" post!
I became a blogger in 2011 however, I don't really consider myself to have become a blogger until 2012 when I entered that A-Z Challenge! During the challenge, I met a lot of people and gained a lot of knowledge! Now, I love blogging! It's fun, challenging, informative and a great way to connect all over the world!
In 2011 I was just gaining an understanding of what blogging was all about. I had 5 followers for about a year; mainly because I really didn't devote time to blogging. After the challenge I gained 58 followers in addition to my initiall 5! I was thrilled about that!
http://betty-alark.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-type-of-character-are-youhanging.html
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