51 comments

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  CoryOBrien

  2 years ago

  You suck!
  
  Just kidding :). I think that this is a great summary of the life of a blogger, as I've shared many of these same feelings during the time that I've been at it. I agree that taking a break form blogging helps sometimes, and also, remembering that it's just a blog, and with anonymity comes bravery (for commenters, not myself). If you can stick with it though, I'd say that the rewards definitely out weight the downsides. Keep up the good work.
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  I'm glad you followed that comment up with a real one :) Glad you liked this post. Anonymity is a two edged sword. I don't get a lot of comments, so I don't require a login to encourage folks to comment. But because of that, I do get those anon-shielded comments that bug me. Ah well!
  
  Thanks for visiting and commenting!
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  Rory

  2 years ago

  Ah, this is a wonderful post, Jason. I could read myself in much of it, and that made it very helpful. I liked the encouragement on No One Reads My Blog.
  
  And, that is good advice about writing blog posts in advance. I am finally beginning to use Wordpress as a text editor and write articles even when I don't immediately plan on publishing them. They are saved into the "Draft" list. It can be soul destroying to have the "blank page" day after day - so with several drafts on the go it eases the pressure, and they might only need a few tweaks to get them ready. If I'm really daring, I'll write an article, time-stamp it, and hit "Publish" even when it's in its incomplete form. I find in psychologically uplifting to know an article is going on on that day.
  
  Thanks again.
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Hi Rory, yes I find the Draft feature helpful - that's a good reminder to use that feature to get several posts lined up. I do get in a strange state where I have several drafts that never seem to get finished into a final post! I think the publishing thing might give that sense of urgency to get it done.
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  Aniela

  2 years ago

  The first one is always a killer, especially in the beginning. What about writer's block ? Ever had that ?
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  Rob O.

  2 years ago

  It's odd that some of our closest friends and co-workers almost never visit our site 2Dolphins, yet folks we've never even met or acquaintances who're half the country away seem to keep up with every single blog entry that Dede or I post. (I'll betcha $10 that my own brother hasn't read my blog in months.)
  
  Equally frustrating is that we receive very few comments even during high traffic times.
  
  But I guess the blogging and webmastering stuff is as much for my own gratification as anything else, so I do still enjoy it. I just wish more people would notice my efforts...
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Hi Aniela, oh definitely, I have had writer's block, but I think never bad enough that it made me want to quit. One way I've gotten around that is to do "series" of posts, as in I reviewed all the James Bond flicks, and I'm now hacking away at The Prisoner television show.
  
  Thanks for visiting and commenting!
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Rob O - I agree a big part of sticking with blogging (or a lot of hobbies) is self-motivation. It seems doing it for myself and the learning process helped me get through the initial stage of low traffic and comments. I'm sort of in a middle ground right now.
  
  It's worth remembering that even if you have a fair number of readers the percentage that actually comment is low.
  
  But hey I'll help you in your goal to get more folks noticing your efforts by subscribing to your feed...!
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  Rob O.

  2 years ago

  You're just entirely too kind! Hope you'll find something of interest with our feed. Still trying to get the hang of the whole RSS thing...
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  Ross McKillop

  2 years ago

  I couldn't agree more with your tips and suggestions. Here are a couple that I've found helpful as well -
  
  1. Delete the "you suck" comments. They serve absolutely no useful purpose. With that said, comments that are respectful but critical - leave alone, or respond politely and explain your stance and/or the reason for it.
  
  2. For bloggers who cover specific topics, don't go overboard w/ 'personal' posts. If you write a tech blog, your subscribers probably don't care what you had for lunch that day. Create a 2nd, "personal" blog, and use it for those kind of posts. I've unsubscribed from countless RSS feeds because for every one good/on topic post, the blogger has 20 posts about what he/she did last night.
  
  3. Acknowledge your comments, to an extent. If someone puts together a 'helpful' or well thought out comment, respond to it. Which you (webomatic) already do :) It helps build readership because folks know that you're paying attention to them (ego..).
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Hi Ross, those are great tips!
  
  For #2: I have found using Twitter a good way to offload those personal thoughts.
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  Eric Berlin

  2 years ago

  Really great piece, Jason. I think you've described the challenge of being a writer as well as a blogger, faced with the never ending prospect of pushing interesting opinions into the digital void.
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  SpragueD

  2 years ago

  I"ve enjoyed your blog in the past and this is why -- you write clearly and succinctly and your perceptions are dead on.
  
  I agree with everything you say except about the nasty comments -- the ones that provide nothing but invective. I drop them faster than a hot rock -- here's why: I'm the editor of my site and treat comments like a "Letter to the Editor (and other readers)" deal. I see it as my responsibility to maintain the quality of the reading experience for my readers. They don't benefit from worthless comments, so they're edited out.
  
  Can't wait to see the Prisoner posts -- I'm a big fan from way back. Number 6 rules!
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Hey SpragueD, thanks for the kind words. Admittedly, I haven't had too many nasty comments that were directed right at me, so I don't have as much experience dealing with them. I see your point though, and I'll keep it in mind - your observation regarding the content perhaps being offensive or real time wasters for readers is a good one.
  
  Heh, as for the Prisoner I got stuck on the fourth episode, but did posts for the first three, if you haven't read them already. Yet another series of posts I want to write but haven't had the time!
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  Quizzical Demon

  2 years ago

  Great post. I empahise with your points. What I didn't appreciate before I started out was the amount of time that you have to invest into "blogging". Not only from the perspective of writing posts but also the time needed for maintenance and improvements of the site. Many thanks for the suggestions, I’ll be adopting a number of them.
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Hey Eric, I nearly missed your comment in there. Yeah, I think you can definitely relate as your pace and quality with Online Media Cultist has me impressed... write that novel!
  
  Quizzical Demon - the time committment is definitely more than I estimated as well. I nearly forgot about all the technical tweaking. I guess it's because I found that aspect rather entertaining.
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  Rebecca

  2 years ago

  This is a nice post (I had to really struggle with the temptation to insult you, but since I don't even know you ...)
  
  I must be doing something wrong. I have only had one "I disagree with you?" and one "do you have some kind of disorder?", never a "you suck". But I did almost throw in the towel in the beginning. Never having even read blogs before I started mine, I didn't know anything about blogging or finding readers, or even finding blogs writing about topics of interest to me.
  
  Fortunately, writing daily has proved to be fun, maybe too much fun. And thankfully it isn't about the money, because I'm not making any!
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  Sugar Mouse In The Rain

  2 years ago

  I was about to quit too, but I didn't because of some very few faithful readers of mine. I don't blog for money, and I'll be happy if someday, someone was inspired with something that I wrote on my blog. Thanks for this encouraging post.
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Rebecca - what's funny is often people use the fact that they don't know us bloggers to insult us.
  
  It seems many of us didn't realize how much work this would eventually entail when we just started out. But I'm finding the motivation to continue in all kinds of unexpected ways. At this very moment, it's how this one particular post has garnered some attention! More comments than "Who's a Cylon?"...
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  noemi

  2 years ago

  it helped that I had a blog purpose which was a platform for my advocacy (grief support). So the hits, comments, traffic was something that came by as months progressed. It just got better and better as I provided more content.
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Sugar Mouse, realizing that there are readers out there is a good place to look for more reasons to continue - it was definitely a revalation for me to realize someone was actually reading this blog.
  
  Noemi that is a good point, as I still try to juggle several subjects (tech, movies, music, television) and I think if I were to start all over I would just pick one and focus on that niche.
  
  Thanks for visiting and commenting!
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  Remi

  2 years ago

  I must be a fool!
  
  I've been running my blog for a year.
  
  I now mostly just repost content from Digg on kokyunage.net. I find my content interesting, but apparently no one else does.
  
  I assume the value of the content is its unique arrangement. You can read lots and lots of story's on Digg, but my website is like a collage using Digg stories as my medium. I'm like the Michaelangelo of Digg, I suppose. I just need to help others see that... or maybe change my style.
  
  I have thought about calling it quits, but I just can't get myself to do that... plus I signed up for hosting for a long time; it would be a bad business decision.
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  Rebecca

  2 years ago

  BTW, I like that you are in the comments. I do that too and some of my favorite people have commented just because it makes it like a real conversation.
  
  I flat do not have time to read blogs where the author doesn't respond at all!
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  bulut

  2 years ago

  Oh, amazing post, i've been in this kind of situations many times, thought about quiting many times, at the same time i was thinking don't be so weak. And there are your readers who have spent their time on your writings. So don't quit, you should always look to toward the front. ( by the way, you suck ;). Thanks your time for this good article.
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  Lifuchi

  2 years ago

  This post is really great, it's what I need on days I feel like it's just not worth it. I'm a Techie by profession and all I know is IT. I really get frustrated and want to quit on days when my blog has no visitors or it had a few visitors but no one clicked my adsense. Thanks for the motivation to forge ahead.
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Hi Remi your blog looks cool, but after checking it out, maybe you can try different strategies if the traffic isn't working. Lots of good tips out there.
  
  Rebecca, obviously I am reading all the comments! So far I haven't had a prohibitive number so I can still do the personal approach.
  
  Bulut thanks for the comment, and I'll check out some other Decemberists albums - I know where to get some.
  
  Lifuchi, if you're just starting out it can get better fast with effort. I should do another post with what I did last september to gain momentum.
  
  Anyhow, thanks to everyone for visiting and commenting!
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  hacker not cracker

  2 years ago

  I totally agree with the "quality content" point. In the past, I've tried writing a post once a day but that proved too difficult what with my job and school. Now my goal is to write at least 2-4 times a week of quality content. It's been working pretty alright so far.
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  RoCarre

  2 years ago

  Thanx for all good advice. I've just started in the "Wide World of Blogging" and since I want to do it right, I've been reading a lot more than I've been writing. My main problem is figuring what to write about. I'm one of those "Jack-of-all-trades, and a master of none." I know what you mean with the problem of daily posting. A lot of what I skim through seems like a teenager's phone conversation written with poor grammar and spelling. Seeing mediocre blogs is what nags at me and I question myself of "should I continue?" I think your idea of writing posts in advance and time stamping them is the best of advice. It will help to keep an even keel and the wind at your back.
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  Egil Meihack

  2 years ago

  Very inspiring :-)
  
  I'm quite new to writing, and english is not my native language, - so I feel I sometimes use to much time on details then I write anything, - but hopefully I can increase my number of posts to almost once a day in future.
  
  I already know lots of my friends and also ppl I dont know enjoys my travelstories and photoes on my travel site of Asia (http://www.meihack.org) , and that feedback gives me stamina to now start writing more again, after comming back home to little old Norway.
  And I also plan to write more on a new blog (http://www.meihack.com) about economy, which is kind of a intrest/philosofy of me as well - although I was very hessitationg about using time on this one before I just told meself : "Go"
  
  Reading your post really help me wanting to put in some effort...
  
  thanks
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  This Eclectic Life

  2 years ago

  Absolutely what I needed to see this morning! Thank you so much. I've just bookmarked you, so I can come back and read more...after I'm done hit and run blogging for the morning!
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  Vileboy

  2 years ago

  A very insightful post chock full of valid points a good tips. I've just hit a dry spell myself and your post has given me food for thought and inspired to start posting again. So thanks.
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  Mark Boudreau

  2 years ago

  I burned out about a year and a half ago when I committed my self to 5 original posts a day, 5 days a week to my blog The Rock and Roll Report. It was too much for me. Once I realised that the point of the blog was to scratch my creative itch and have fun, I jumped back in enthusiastically. I know spend less time worrying about hits and revenue and all that stuff and more time listening to music and writing about it, which is the whole point.
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  webomatica

  2 years ago

  Hi Vileboy, glad this off the cuff post helped inspire you to get back in there. We definitely need more comic book geeks online...
  
  Mark, that is pretty amazing. I was trying to do three posts a day and I felt that was pushing it. I can imagine 5 a day would be overwhelming!
  
  Thanks for the comments and giving me some new blogs to check out.
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  Kuanyin

  2 years ago

  Excellent post! What I do is take mini-vacations, and then I'm rejuvenated and ready to blog again. Thank Goddess my livelihood doesn't depend on blogging.
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  Paul

  1 year ago

  blogging definitely takes a lot of work and determination. Most people think that they can get into it for the long haul with the sole aim of making money in blogging. And to top that off, they want to earn the money right now. Now, some folks with very good industry contacts can start an extremely profitable blog very fast. But those are the exceptions. It takes a lot of passion around your subject area to stick it through the lean times in blogging. You just have to love what you are blogging about. Good post.
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  Vanessa

  1 year ago

  I stumbled up on this blog. Glad I did. This is one of the best posts I've read I think because its from YOU. It wasn't just rolled out. These are things I thought about before getting back online a month ago. Easy to think about, harder to implement everyday. The only thing I'm committed fully to right now is appropriating changes when I think I need to.
  
  Thanks for being transparent...
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  Donna Nicely

  1 year ago

  I don't have my own blog, but I recently was a writer and commenter on another blog. I know it takes time and effort to run a blog, and it hurts when few comments are made.
  
  However, whatever happened to "art for art's sake"? Have we become a society of immediate gratification, only caring if we get stroked?
  
  Matisse directed his assistant to put up "shapes" on the wall when Matisse was bedridden and could not longer draw.
  
  Great post. You are a good writer and have some good insights into blogging and the emotional content of it all.
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  webomatica

  1 year ago

  Art for art's sake is a good question. However if one just liked to write with no regard for an audience or readers, I kind of wonder why you'd have a website. The biggest reason to have a website to make the writing public so anybody can view it.
  
  The truth is, the more I stick with blogging, I find I'm really doing it because of the interaction with readers via comments or what they write on their own blogs. That might sound a little cheesy like some singer saying "I do it for the fans". But really, the Internet is a communications medium.
  
  It's different from gratification since some comments I get are critical of what I write or disagree with me. It's more like putting your ideas out there and seeing what people think of them.
  
  Thanks for visiting and commenting.
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  Donna Nicely

  1 year ago

  Yes, I agree. I'm only saying that when comments lag, don't get discouraged. You have a message that you believe warrants communication. Take solace in that. Go forth, even when those around you don't support you. In other words, it is important to communicate, but don't get upset if others don't agree or validate.
  
  In your case, you are a good writer and have proven with your links others find you worthy. So, you don't need to worry about comments. They will come. Continue to be yourself and you will be successful. Put out your message with the honesty you have demonstrated.
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  Urbanist

  1 year ago

  Holy [insert explative] ... I've been reading Webomatica for a while but had never come across this post until I just now noticed it in the 'most commented posts section.' Almost problem-for-problem this is exactly what my experience has been and reflects common pitfalls I've seen other bloggers stumble on. People think they'll add some content, slap on some AdSense and be the next John Chow. Digg seems great, until you realize you get only 50 subscribers (maybe) out of 50,000 visitors :) I'll be referring anyone who asks me about blogging here in the future lol
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  Simon Ward

  1 year ago

  This article is really great. I feel your pain about starting out. I guess you are on the other side of the hill in regards to getting comments and hits if this topic is anything to go by. Although I see it was written some time ago. + RSS Subscriber :)
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  Alex

  1 year ago

  Please comment!

  
  No Way!
  
  Ahahaha... just kidding ;)
  I like "Please Comment" text above this comment box. Really. But more than that, I really enjoy your wonderful post. So inspiring to me. Motivating me to keep blogging 'till the time is trough... :)
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  T

  1 year ago

  Great post! I found your post when searching for advice on what to do with an inactive blog - delete it or leave it - because I was thinking it might not be worth it to keep blogging. But instead you gave me some good reasons to keep at it. Thanks!
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  m07

  1 year ago

  be persistent.i would say.focus on quality and earning will follow
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  Sherly

  1 year ago

  I think to overcome those reasons we only have 2 keys...Persistance and hard work.
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  rick

  1 year ago

  If anybody is quitting blogging, please contact me. I will pay a good price for your blog.
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  Boodiba

  1 year ago

  I think blogging is easy, but then I don't worry about quality of content. I worry about karma and people aversely affected within my yoga universe. Profit isn't even a consideration (there isn't any). I've been at it for three years, maybe three and a half. I'm trying to find good reasons to stop!
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  Jamie R Lentzner

  1 year ago

  Hmmm, thinking about it right now - just too many other pressing projects and the readers do go up and down AND the lack of comments is a killer. I do intend to keep it up, and will continue to improve my writing and I enjoy sharing information with others like me (entrepreneurs, mostly mom's and women). I never looked at it for profit - a book someday....maybe, but not the end result. The compromise is that I won't post as often. Thanks for the post - just what I needed today!
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  Zenmental

  1 year ago

  I am just starting out on my blogging mission and I am glad to hear very good advise that is not designed to feed the need for most to only hear what they want to be told. This was straight forward, honest and helpful. I have hopes of my blog not necessarily making me a boat load of money but I would like to join with like minded individuals and learn how to and hopefully create an organization. With that in mind I personally do not have the need to grow quickly for hopes of wealth but instead grow gradually with meaningful patrons. thanks for the information, advise and encouragement.
  
  
  James Henley
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  Free Conference call

  8 months ago

  really great tips to be follow... it is most helpful to the blogger.... but it is looking like the history of the blogger... anyway great work.....
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  Emily

  5 months ago

  I know that you posted this almost 2 years ago, but I just read it and was so glad! I really had this on my mind (more than usual) - and this was really helpful. So, thanks!
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