Saturday, February 5, 2011

My Readers: More Friends than Followers

I have noticed something recently; I have been falling really behind in my blog reading!  If you look at the list of blogs I follow, you'll see why.  I'm not inclined to trim my list, because there are so many wonderful, beautiful blogs there, many that focus on specific subjects in which I'm interested.  The other thing that most of them have in common are the bloggers who produce them -- mostly vibrant, intelligent, humorous women who provide a lift for my day.

I'm not giving up my long list of favorite blogs, and will continue to monitor the newest posts and visit when I can.

But I want to make a promise to a group of people that give me another type of boost.  In the blog world, they're called "followers".  I choose to call them my friends. Most of them are also bloggers. I am not a person who claims 500 friends on Facebook; neither do have have thousands of followers on my blog.  I know that I never will and am content with that.

My blog is one of those who is visited (as expressed by one of those funny ladies who makes my day better) by "tens of readers each day."  Actually, make mine "tens of readers each week", on a good week.
The advantage of the smaller numbers is that I can actually consider these readers friends.  They are more likely to get to know me, and through their comments and my visiting their blogs, I can get to know them.

So this is my promise to my blogger friends (aka "followers").  I will visit your blog (if you have one) at least twice a week.  I won't wait until your latest post appears on my reader, which will lessen the chance that I'll overlook it.  I will comment sometimes so that you'll know I've been there, but even when I don't comment, you can know that I'm in the background, not lurking, but interested in what you're doing and what you have to say.

That's what friends are for.  I couldn't do this if I had 5,000 friends, but since I have a (much) smaller number, I can.  I'm happy about that.

Annie

p.s.  If you happen to read this post and are not a friend/follower, please don't consider it a ploy to add to my numbers.  If you feel a kinship or like what I've written, please add yourself to my circle of blog friends.

9 comments:

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Annie. Good post. The thought of you lurking out there made me smile!! I agree that the smaller number followers means that it is much more intimate and you do get closer to people. Please feel free to lurk around my blog any time you like. LOL!

Joanne said...

I am happy to leave a comment because I have so appreciated you and your interesting blog and kind interest in others.
You have blessed me and made my day in so many ways.
I treasure you and want you to know that!
Thank you kindred spirit!
I am in agreement that it is easier to maintain a blog with fewer comments:)
Blessings!
Joanne

peggy said...

Hi Annie, I feel the same way about my blog friends and I don't like to miss out on anyone's posts. I use the dashboard but still some get by me and I don't always comment if I don't have anything to contribute. I'm hoping you will have some book suggestions soon. I'm reading The Outside Boy. Have a happy Sunday.

HolyMama! said...

confession: i do not understand the 'followers' thing. Not "What's the point?" But I really mean from a technical standpoint, WHAT? What does it mean, and how does it work and all of that... i took awhile off blogging and maybe this development occurred in my absence...? I just don't get it! It seems to be a very worthwhile part of your online community, though, so i'm especially intrigued.
(I'm not very technical! Can you tell?!)

BECKY said...

Sounds like a great idea to me, too, Annie! My blog friends, are my FRIENDS! And I can't get to all of them all the time, either. I spend way too much time blogging as it is! :)
Hey, I thought of you when I saw all that crazy snow in the Okla City area!! Wacky Winter!

Olive said...

Hi Annie, I seem to have a circle of commenters I keep up with and I do not think I could keep up with more than that. If I had much more I would be on the computer all the time and I just cannot do that. It is all about balance. ♥O

AnPhibian said...

Thank you for being so kind and supportive of your fellow bloggers! As one whose blog also has "tens" of visitors daily (sometimes), I can tell you that I appreciate every visit you make -- no matter how infrequent, and no matter if you comment or not. It is hard to keep up with them all, I agree -- but we appreciate you trying!

Mollianne Massey said...

I agree. I feel like I have made a few virtual friends and I think of them as true friends, even though we've never met. Although, with you, we have met and even share relatives. I always appreciate your kind comments. I always enjoy reading your blog.

Sonny G said...

Evenin Annie Joy...
I was a follower long time ago and happy to be..
Thank you sooooooo much for coming to see me and leaving such a kind comment.. You made me cry in a good way... I bet ANYWHERE you are is OZ and oh how I would love to be moved in and settled so I could talk to you for a few while you're in AZ...

hugs and happy thoughts
Sonny

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