That’s the theory, right? You set up a blog, type out the deep secrets of your family-life, the inner-workings of your soul and thousands of people around the globe will flock to read your wit and wisdom.
It didn’t exactly work that way for me. I’m currently having a hard time getting more weekly hits than Chris’s old blog archives. So how do the Finslippys, Dooces, Fluid Puddings and Very Moms of the blog world do it? Where do all the readers come from?
First, every one of those women is a fabulous writer, with great insight and often amazing humor. So, start writing like an amazing professional and you may eventually be able to quit your job and blog for a living. Um… if I can’t even take my own advice, I’d better come up with some better tips than that.
Here are a few ways that I’ve met the awesome readers/friends that I’ve found through my blog.
1. Blog on a semi-regular basis. The more consistently I post, the more my readership grows. There is a certain level of awesomeness which you can attain where people will keep coming back every day or keep you on their bloglines just waiting and hoping for a morsel of your dulcet prose but I’m definitely not there yet. Whenever I take a break, it takes me a while to remind people that I exist.
2. At least once a week write a post that doesn’t consist of whining about how much your life sucks, how gross your kids’ bodily functions are, how insensitive your husband is and how all your friends are jerks. Sorry. Pet peeve.
3. Unwittingly create a scandal. If you don’t remember this, I’m not linking to it here. (Oh, and it only works if you create the scandal by accident so good luck with that.)
4. Read and actively comment on other blogs. I found one of my favorite blogs when I left a comment for Alice and Surcie followed the comment link to my site.
5. Register with various blog listings and directories. (Okay, I don’t believe this really gets you any readers but it’s a good time waster and they look so pretty all in a row on your sidebar.)
6. Make the summer end so the internet comes alive again. (Please don’t do this until after August is over.)
If you have any great ideas to get more readers, please leave them.
Also, please delurk and let me know how you first found my blog. I think this will give us all a good idea of how in the wide web we REALLY find each other.
I just found your blog today, after following a link from Wishful Thinking, which I found through a link from Creaturebug. I found your blog quite entertaining and love, love, love your name. (As you’ll see if you happen to visit my site, I am not quite so clever. It’s a long story but I never really intended to become a blogger when I started my blog and thus put no thought whatsoever into picking a name. Now I’m debating whether to come up with something interesting or stick with what I’ve got because I’ve already used it for two years now).
I will follow your sage advice to the letter, o guru. After all, you have twice as many subscribers as I do, so you’re obviously doing something right! Making us laugh for one. Blog on.
Umm, I think I found your blog originally because of that “scandal” and I was led here by a post in your defense. And, I often read you via bloglines, so you don’t see my stats (btw – you have 52 subscribers via bloglines if that makes you feel better!)
Considering you get more comments every day than I get visitors, I have no tips for ya.
I must, however, correct your statement here: There is a certain level of awesomeness which you can attain where people will keep coming back every day or keep you on their bloglines just waiting and hoping for a morsel of your dulcet prose but I’m definitely not there yet. Oh, you are SO TOTALLY THERE. At least for me. Before I discovered bloglines, I think I checked your page at least 5 times a day (Did she post yet? Did she post yet?) When I discovered SiteMeter, I was mortified – I was sure you took me for a cyber-stalker, what with my constant checking of your site and hours-long frolicks in your archives. But, alas, I think I’ve read all the old ones, so now I have to wait for the new posts like everyone else.
I first happened upon your blog from the Baby Talk magazine article.
A friend recommended your blog. I’ve been hooked ever since, although I rarely comment. Sorry…
(hangs head in shame at sucky commenting habits)
I think I found you with LDS Women Blogs. And HELLO, you have 53 subscribers at Bloglines! Yet you still want more. 🙂
The more visiting and commenting I do, the more comments I get. I love reading others’ stuff too (unless it’s too good – then I bounce between jealousy and shame).
I also came by your blog through the scandal as reported on by another totally random blog that I have never been back to since. But you, my friend, are hilarious. I love your blog and hopefully we send a little traffic your way once in a while
Keep it up!
I found you blog by peeking through the links on other blogs…I think the big yellow house was the first blog I read…
I’ve been wondering how to get people to visit my blog…
People other than my mom, who never leaves comments…
If you want even more traffic, you might want to install you blogging chicks blogroll code and join our weekingly Carnival 🙂 (hint, hint)
I found you through Chris when she was still the Big Yellow House, but I don’t comment as much as I should. Will you forgive me?
And I don’t know what the scandal was, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you did not link to it so that we curious readers would go through your archives, read all your stuff, fall in love with you and become lifelong DYM devotees.
That’s good. Very good. I’ll have to try that one.
DYM I found your Blog after reading about Blogging in the BabyTalk Magazine article. I am a big fan of your writing and check your blog daily, if I am abl;e to get online. I did start my own blog after reading the article too, and I don’t have many readers yet, but anyone who visits my Blog can get to yours because yours is linked from mine under my favorite Blogs to read. Keep up the great work!And I only wish I had as many readers and comments as you do! 🙂
I found your blog from Chris at Big Yellow House. I don’t have a blog yet because, even though I’m addicted to reading them, I’m afraid I’d spend even more time on the computer if I had one!
you’re on my blogline, I learned about you from tales, and BABYTALK mag hello???!! but what is the scandal, and how can I get some on my blog?
I found you via The Big Yellow House/Notes from the Trenches. I’m still relatively new with the blogging thing (only had mine since May) so I’m still working on snaring people :).
I think the best way that I have found thus far (or that has brought a fair amount to my blog) is to leave comments on other blogs that I read. Although I always worry that I’ll leave some fabulous well-written comment, someone will come to my blog because of that and then wonder where the good writing went :).
I found your blog, because I gave birth to you and have been seriously stalking you ever since!
Do not relax. I have spies everywhere. Anything you do not tell me, I will find out through the underground sibling network.
You cannot run. You cannot hide. You are mine! Bwahahah!
BTW I Love you!
I found you before the scandal was a scandal. Then everything turned scandalous.
Poo poo on scandals.
I should really comment more but you know, it’s the summer and the internet is hibernating. Either that or it is at the beach.
I found you through the scandal – on “M’s” site. I read her every now and then and when I saw how bad she was bagging on mormons that was it! And you were “in”. 🙂
I first found your blog through The Big Yellow House–now Notes from the Trenches. I have been checking in on you every once in a while since then!! I enjoy reading your blog and will try to comment more often!!
It’s all about perspective, Kathryn. I remember one day thinking, “Man, it’s no like I wanna be like Dooce, but couldn’t I get 20 comments a day like DYM?” That same day I talked to a friend and she said, “Jeana, I’ve been reading your blog and you’ve hit the big time! You get around ten comments a day, and I’m lucky if I get 2!” (and those were the glory days, back before summer hit)
You know how much I love you, right???
And the people who are still visiting my old blog, they aren’t smart enough to update their links folder do you really want them reading your blog 😉 Just kidding. I love them too. All of them.
I’m not sure… it’s been a while. I think I found your blog through someone who was digging up such interesting links and posting them in his blog which was liked to the Mormon Archipelago.
I found you through the scandal. Someone I read through RSS feeds mentioned it and quoted from you and I was so impressed, I came to look. Now you’re on my RSS feeds too. So I read you whenever I’m reading, if you’ve written something.
Since I read almost all the blogs I read via RSS, I will say that I keep inactive blogs on for several months. I only put blogs I really enjoy on my list and so I think it’s worth it to wait and see if they repost.
I used to be waiting for Mirabilis to start posting again. Now they are. But I am still waiting for one or two other blogs to repost.
The good thing about using the RSS feeds and waiting is that sometimes bloggers who said they weren’t coming back, do. And then you can find them immediately, as opposed to waiting around for someone else you read to say they’re back.
What a great, timely post since I just switched over to Blogger this week and am looking for some fellow Mom bloggers!
Back in my MSN days, it really helped to leave comments on people’s sites and before long, you were linking them and vice versa. I’m trusting Blogger works the same way!
I found your site off of an LDS blog search…
Hi! I love your blog. I origianlly found your blog thru the Parenting article on Mom’s that Blog. Needless to say, I now have about 50 various blogs that are on my Bloglines.
Delurking after many months – I haven’t EVER left a comment because I don’t want to come across as a giant dolt 🙂 Apparently, today I’m okay with appearing to be a giant dolt, so here’s your comment! I looooove reading your blog, and will continue to read forever, and ever, or until my giant dolt-ness fades into old age 🙂
I have no advice on how to attract readers, I just wanted to delurk because you asked us to 🙂
Errrmmm… I forget how I first found your blog. You were linked to by someone somewhere. Yeah, helpful, I know. But now you’re in my bloglines, so, that’s that.
Well, I think I found you because someone told all their readers that we just had to read your blog, and being the lemming that I was, I did.
Then I thought, “What a great blog title! What a funny writer!” After reading some of your archives and laughing quite fully, I then thought, “I could definitely have drinks with her and not feel like an idiot.”
But then I found out you were in Washington and there when that fantasy. I still say you would be a great relax friend, but you would have to move closer or move that blogmeet to Colorado.
For now, I have my coffee with you via Bloglines.
Oh, and I’ve commented before, but only when I felt that I had something of essence to say, which you can tell hasn’t been that often. But the day you wrote back was the day that I felt I had “arrived.” Yeah, life is good.
And Jeana hit the nail on the head. I think life would be good to have half the number of hits that YOU have. I’m not planning on taking the blogsphere by storm, but I would settle by being showered a bit by the bloggers of the world.
Keep it up, Kathryn. You are one good read.
Okay, this is just ironic… I finish posting on you and immediately this pops up as a comment on my blog”
“I just found your site off of DYM’s and what a great find! I especially appreicated your latest tip because I am so anal about buying everything as fresh as possible!”
Does God have a great sense of humor or what!
Hi Kathryn,
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now. My husband actually found your blog listed with Chris’s at notesfromthetrenches.com in a Babytalk magazine while we were in the dr.’s office. I check for new posts everyday, and my little boy love love loves the video of Magoo learning to walk. Thanks for great posts, I make my husband listen to them all the time!
I found your blog when you were in last Aprils issue of Babytalk!
What do you mean you need more hits? you a ton! I get like 20…maybe! LOL. I think you are great!
Alright – delurking initiated. I came across this blog from Squishy’s blogroll, read a bit, laughed like a psycho and I’ve never looked back. Well, to be fair I have a few times, like when I need to shoulder check or examine the chaos in my wake.
This blog is in my top 3, and I be tellin’ no lies.
A SCANDAL, you say? So THAT’S what I need . . .
Our good friend BoB introduced me to you, and it was love at first sight. How could I not adore your lovely floating head? (I nearly wrote “lovely GLOATING head,” which is funny but inaccurate.)
I started blogging about the same time of the scandal. I think I did a search for LDS Moms and there you were. I stayed because you made me laugh. I commented because you asked for opinions and I have lots of them. And then you said you were going to make an appearance in my area of the world and I had to meet you, because you became my idol.:) I loved the fact that your parents, some siblings, and even your hubs (at that time) were blogging too.
I found you from the unmentionable scandal – and I am so glad I did!!!! My advice as to how to keep readers (not that I would know as a blogger, but a commenter) is to NOT DEMAND COMMENTS. If you blog to get comments but don’t get any, something’s wrong with what you’re writing. It’s not comment-able.
Oh yeah, and scandals are GREAT for getting hits! I had one with the chylud-furee people and my hits were over 100 one day, and over 60 for several other days. Unfortunately, that’s not exactly the type of people I want reading my site. 🙂 No worries, though, they haven’t stayed! I’m back to 30 hits a day if I’m lucky, and while I would love more, I’m not going use my blog to determine my self-worth, so I try not to spend too much time thinking about how everyone else is more popular than me. 🙂
Oh, and the fact that you replied to my comment and even commented on my site made me feel very special.
Oh wow, someone found you through me! I too, wish I could get my traffic up. I don’t remember how I found you, but I’m sure glad I did. I’m sure I followed a link from someone else’s page. I was here before the scandal, though. Still makes me mad to think about it, so I’m going to stop.
I have to agree with Jeana, though. It is all about perspective. I would LOVE to get 20 comments on a post like you do. I am a happy girl when I break 4 comments.
But then again, I’m no DYM. 🙂
What has brought me the most traffic? Have a baby and live-blog the labor. Worked for me.
Of course, that can take a while to pay off if you’re not currently pregnant.
The next best way is to write on a controversial subject and let it be known to those who disagree with you. It’s like DYM’s Create a Scandal tactic, except you do it on purpose and you really mean it.
The Evils of the Public School System or Submitting To Your Husband are good places to start. Some people get awful hot about those topics, and they’ll spread the word for you. And your titles don’t even have to be that incendiary. Ask me how I know.
🙂
BTW, hubby found your blog for me when he was trying to tempt me into the world of Blog Addiction. It worked. I wake up every morning looking for my next fix.
I love your blog!!! I truely can not remember how I found it but I love love love it!!!
Oh wait I remember, Chris’s The Big Yellow House. It is hers taht I don’t remember how I got there.
I found you through my friends on the cosa mofstra. Most of them have since joined your des mamans circle.
I’ve found that you get way more hits on days you actually say something because readers are actually coming back to see what other people are saying. “you” meaning general terms. not saying I have access to your person sitemeter or statcounter or whatever.
I don’t even remember how I found you, but even though I’m a non-blogger, non-mom, non-LDS kinda woman, I am one of those people who throw you site meter off by cruising by several times a day when I should be doing, well, work. (Now THAT was a long sentence!) You are absolutely hilarious and I keep coming back for more. (And you have some pretty darned funny commenters, too.)
Well, now I feel like such a follower adding a comment, but I will anyway. I have no idea how I found you–or if you found me first? Or maybe we found each other through Heather? Anyway, I’m glad it worked out that way. And I’ll echo everyone else–I would love to have the number of commenters and subscribers you have! But, of course, shouldn’t we always be striving for more? And I agree with you on the near-futility of signing up for blogging link sites. The visitors who do stop by are usually only doing it to earn points or whatever, and rarely comment. Those whose blogs I visit via those sites rarely reciprocate visits when I leave comments. That said, the number one way I’ve found to increase blog readership is by visiting others and commenting! Then, of course, revisiting them after they comment, to remind them that you’re still there, just in case they haven’t already blogrolled you…
Maybe when I have a kid and qualify as a mommy blogger that’ll help those stats. Better get started. I want bigger numbers! 😉
P.S. I LOVE your mom’s comment!
I found your blog by linking from either Gabriela (Living Lavida Loca) which I found from linking from one of my best buds, Naddin J (What on Earth is that Smell?).
My question on blogs doesn’t seem to be hits, which friends and family seem to provide, but comments. I guess I naively thought that people would actually read and respond, you know sort of like communication! LOL
Okay you’re up to 44 comments now…sheesh…I’m a lurker…I admit…heh
i don’t remember how I found you though…perhaps through Shannon?? Who knows?? I’ve been reading for a couple months now..I’ll be better about commenting I promise 🙂
How DID I fidn your blog? (I did wonder if it was through the Babytalk article, but it couldn’t have been. ‘Cause when I was reading it, I had to show my husband thta I was so cool because I had been reading your blog for a while already.)
I think I followed a link or one of your comments at Tales from the Crib. But it could have been stalking you through Notes from the Trenches.
Wow, my memory has gone.
Regardless, I haven’t looked back since I enjoy your blogging so dang much!
First off, you are entirely too kind to put me in a category with Finslippy, Dooce, and Very Mom. I believe I have you schnookered.
I honestly believe the blog thing is SO hit and miss. When I write about bacon and brown sugar, I get a ton of hits and comments. When I write about my life? Not so much. It’s a strange world out there. (I’m still coming to grips with the fact that people love bacon more than they love me. I smell good too, damnit!)
Then again, I don’t think the traffic and comments are as important as the actual exercise. I’ve made this analogy many times before, but I think it bears repeating: It’s a crime for children to participate in poetry contests. The important thing is that poetry is being written. And some of it is completely amazing. The gold medals and certificates don’t mean a thing, and if a lack of recognition makes one child stop creating, well, it’s a travesty.
Anyway. Bacon!
I don’t think DYM “needs” more readers, either, but I think lots of her readers would appreciate tips on how to grow readership. Alas, I have none. Except maybe that people who you read and comment on have a much greater tendency to read you back, just because they want to see who is reading them. If that makes sense.
i am pretty sure i found you from a comment you left on someone’s site. i think that is THE best way to find new blogs and readers. by commenting.
I followed one of the “links we love” from Tales from the Crib. Now I subscribe to your rss feed (unless you tell me to take it away) so I can get a nearly-daily daring dose of funny.
If I remember correctly, you called me up and said, “Hey, I’m a blogger! Read me!!!”