Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Where Did all the Bloggers Go?

I scroll down my Blogger dashboard to click on new and interesting posts, since I've got a couple hours and just want to blog. I visit a few. Not everyone, because let's face it, sometimes the opening lines don't appeal. Other times, if the title and first lines really intrigue me, I can't click fast enough.

After ten minutes, I'm already down to posts I hit yesterday, published 12 hours ago. What? Ten minutes of blogging is all I get?

I remember a couple years ago when it would take all morning to get through the new stuff. There was no way I could get to every appealing post of every interesting blogger I followed.

But now it seems like people are posting less frequently (I know I am), with more blogfests (not interested if I'm not involved), and perhaps we get too casual, (remember the intention is to attract readers, right?) maybe a bit sloppy about subject matter? "I just picked my nose and guess what happened......"

Which is why I'm enjoying my journey through the A to Z Challenge sign up list. I'm up to #300 and I've found a few really awesome new blogs to follow.  I don't comment on each one, or follow either.

What I look for is: a design that appeals (don't like too fussy or too hard to read or automatic music playing), and intelligent or entertaining or clever posts that 1. make me think 2. engage me somehow 3. have a voice I like and 4. subject matter I can relate to.

I'm not addicted to blogging, (I used to be but got over it), it's just that sometimes blog-hopping is what I do. And I need blogs to hop to! So if bloggers are disappearing or posting less often, one needs to find new ones to take their places, right?

The A to Z Challenge List has 898 blogs signed up, plenty for any discriminating blog addict reader to choose from. Only 600 more for me to look at! Away I go!




41 comments:

  1. At the moment, I'm struggling to keep up with all the posts. I looked away for a couple of days because I worked some extra shifts and there were loads.

    As for the challenge list, I'm planning to leave that until April, but I'm looking forward to discovering some great new blogs.

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  2. I noticed a drop-off in posting over the last few weeks, too. Maybe this means more writers are concentrating on their manuscripts; maybe some have come off the New Year's resolution high of blogging more; maybe... who knows? I take advantage of finding new blogs when my regular favorites don't share anything new. Looking forward to more of your posts during A to Z!

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  3. I think everyone is slowing down until the rush in April! I'm excited about the A to Z Challenge.

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  4. I see where your coming from Karen. I run another blog that I have been working on for years but it's for a game so it's always got updates but the feeling where the title isn't intriguing or it doesn't capture you it can get annoying.

    You can always check my blog out though because currently i'm working on a viewer feedback post regarding new topics.

    Anyways, you do an amazing job on this blog and it's always a pleasure to read it :)

    Keep up the good work!
    -Yadin

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  5. This week I worked on my manuscript and sent it off - 22hours of work; saw 14 clients - 14 hours plus going and coming - taught two classes (writing and psychotherapy) - 6 hours. As well, I visited my 91 yr. old; had dinner with some women; took care of my son's puppy (NEVER AGAIN) and now I'm having a break to look at blogs between washing and waxing the main floor because my sis is coming next week and I have to work all week. Man oh man, I am beat to snot. There. Now I feel better. I think I last blogged on Wednesday after I sent the sucker off. Once I get my next query packages off - I'll come back and be good. But now - no!

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  6. After 4 years of blogging, I have stopped posting to two of them but still have two other active ones. I'm glad I can get through the new posts of ones I follow each day.

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  7. I've noticed the blogosphere has been slow the past few weeks. A lot of the people I interact with on a regular basis have been quiet lately. Maybe they're gearing up for the A to Z challenge next month.

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  8. I find Sundays are pretty quiet - Mondays are mega busy and it tails off a little, picks up on Fridays and then tails off again at the weekends.

    I only post once a week cos I'm really not that interesting! LOL!!

    Take care
    x

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  9. I made a promise to myself not to post 'just to post,' and to try to give the reader 'value,' as I do with my fiction writing. This has meant about once-a-week posting, and it will be less if all I have to say is something of the nose-picking comment you mentioned. If you ever catch me with a "standing in line ready to get my café latte, thinking about what to blog about and coming up with nothing..." Please SLAP ME DOWN, Karen.

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  10. I've noticed it too, but I can't complain since I didn't post for nearly three months!! :) Blogging definitely comes and gos for me. I wish I was more consistent. I do love A-Z and am very excited for it to start!

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  11. I appreciate it when bloggers let their followers know if they're taking a break, because sometimes people will disappear for weeks or even months. In the meantime I'm not sure if I should stop following their blogs, because I don't know if they're coming back. Then they'll pop up again, but sometimes they disappear again for long periods of time. I admit that I sometimes disappear for a few days, but never longer than a week. And I try to post regularly now.

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  12. I've noticed not just the drop off in posts, but a large number of discontinued bloggers deleting their accounts altogether.

    Curioser and curioser.

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  13. Weekends are always lighter, so I guess I didn't notice. (If there's not a hundred new posts waiting tomorrow from my blogger buddy file alone, then I'll wonder.)
    As soon as my tour is done I will start hitting the A to Z list. I confess, I haven't had time yet!

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  14. alex, My luck is when i've got the time and interest to hit blogs, nobody's active, and when i don't all kinds of awesome new posts show up.

    Donna, That is strange. Altho the recommendation is to delete a blog rather than leave it idle to collect a bunch of spam comments. I can't imagine anything worse than having one's idle blog in control of spambots.

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  15. I've found the same, but can hardly complain since I haven't posted for about a month.
    Started a post tonight, but haven't uploaded photos yet and it will be no good without. Now 12.54...bedtime!

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  16. And I think a lot of bloggers have simply switched to Facebook (or something like that), and forgotten about their blogs.

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  17. I've noticed a decrease in posting, too, but I'm struggling just to keep up with those. :) I have only been posting once a week because of a family crisis, but hope to get back to normal when it's time for the A-Z challenge.

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  18. You're amazing Karen! I can't believe you've gone through 300! Wow. I just signed up the other day and now I've had to send my laptop off to Repair Land - colour me overwhelmed! :)

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  19. Karen, Oh how I feel your strain! So many blogs I followed are just gone, or only posting every few MONTHS! And it applies to the 3 genres I follow; writers, soapers and farmers. Granted it does take time and committment and sacrifice to blog. I for one, gave up housework in order to blog consistently.
    How dedicated am I ?!?!

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  20. Awesome that you are making your way around already and finding new blogs to follow from the A to Z list. I can't wait to get started! We finished our A to Z video this weekend...what a kick. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

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  21. Interesting thoughts on blogging. I'm one of those bloggers who has a set of blogs that I will visit whenever I'm online or am blogging. They are like my home base and my favorite people. But sometimes I stretch out and 'meet' other bloggers and I'm always pleasantly surprised to find a blog that I enjoy or want to revisit.

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  23. Hi Karen .. I can comment - thank you! I've been more discerning and not commenting on every post.

    Like you I can't do blog-fests .. I'll do the A - Z Challenge - but I enjoy interesting, stimulating blog posts .. I am erratic in my posting - and would like to get to twice a week - and will get organised to be that way!

    If someone's got two blogs - I struggle .. as it's double posts .. - Celery Tree is fine = as I understand why ..

    I started on the A - Z list - then something cropped up .. but must get back to it - I like your approach .. it's having value - the blog must be interesting and stimulating ... otherwise I'm not interested.

    Actually I see Rob's comment - re FB .. but I don't like that chit chat .. I expect the balance will be found. I perhaps should take on Donna's modus operandi - forget the housework?!

    Blogger has arbitrarily stopped sending me comments to my gmail - and that has taken me aback .. as I could keep a track of interesting posts - eg here .. and check in to get updates or ideas ... I'm now trying Atom feeds - but would rather they didn't go into my reader .. that will muddle me I think ..

    Cheers - catch you later .. bye - Hilary

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  24. I have definitely scaled back my postings, as blogging had become a bigger priority over my writing. Trying to strike a better balance these days. It seems like I'm not the only one. Like you, I noticed my blogroll has more blogs with no new postings in several weeks than recently updated blogs. Nice to catch up with you, though!

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  25. I am guilty of this. I can write or I can blog. It seems I am unable to do both. I suffered from a touch of blog burn out after last year's A-Z. So I am not sure I will take part this year.

    Love the new look Karen!

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  26. Ach I know the feeling. I feel like part of it is that a lot of people have wound down on their blogging. I think those people tend to have better posts when they do post, so it doesn't really bother me. And less daily "oh god what do I post" posts mean less for me to sort through.

    I do like the occasional blog fest, but mostly because I am a flash fiction addict, and it's only fun when it's a blog fest or blog hop and other people are answering the same challenge.

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  27. I'm with you, Karen! I've noticed people posting and commenting less - and I include myself in this. I'm striving to regain more of a balance, and I find Twitter and FB easier to interact quickly with people. I enjoy blogging as much as ever, but it's much more time consuming and less immediate than other social media.

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  28. Shew, wee! You go, guys! I'm having to skip the challenge this year. Too much writing/revision work. But it is true that some of the older bloggers (are we older?) have cut down. I think it's just the way it has to be.

    I do a weekly post unless there's something extra I've agreed to do. I think that's OK. Even if a post's 12 hours or a few days old, it can still resonate with me.

    Best~ :o) <3

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  29. Leigh, Talli and Callie (it's like a little rhyme)-- Sometimes I wonder if blogging will go the way of the dinosaurs....just too awkward, big and clunky for our modern social media culture.

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  30. I've been keeping up with checking the A to Z Challenge list. I've visited every blog (well, there were a few for some reason or other I couldn't), and am now following some of them. I've had plenty of posts everyday to read, so I haven't noticed any slow up of postings. I really think it depends on what blogs each person follows. I'm currently posting about once a week, maybe twice a week, until the challenge. Then after the challenge I will probably try to stick with twice a week.

    Susanne
    PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER

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  31. 898 blogs? Whew! That's a lot. And very exciting. ;)

    I've never really blogged everyday, because I need the time for my kiddos and my writing. But I'm always so happy when I do. I love connecting with other writers. ;)

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  32. Ha! I thought it was just me! Like putting up a post on how to cut back and then well, everyone cut back ;)

    I still haven't attempted the A-Z list yet. It's on my to-do list :)

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  33. I'm still on the fence about the A-Z, sounds fun though.

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  34. I've been blogging for six years now and many of the older bloggers have faded away or quit altogether. Lately my Google Reader has been a little lower than normal.

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  35. Go to this link for a post of mine from earlier today which is viewer feedback and a new segment called Feedback Friday :)

    http://yadinbromberg.blogspot.com/2012/03/shadows-in-night-and-new-segment.html

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  36. I still think there has been some weirdness happening in the blogosphere or on the internet. I'm still posting on my regular schedule but my commenting has gone way down. Then Twitter hasn't been helping that either.

    Lee

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  37. People have phases of activity and times when life gets in the way I guess

    RJRdaydreamer

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  38. I think more and more people are being selective about the amount of time they spend blogging. In a way it's a good thing because too much of anything saps time away from the other important stuff in our lives.

    Jai

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  39. Hi Karen,
    A crazy think happened. I am a very new blogger, and have been feeling rather down on myself as all the other bloggers that I have "visited" have tons.... well, OK, hundreds of followers and I wondered to myself."How do they do that??" I decided to blog hop through the A-Z list and the first one I stopped at was yours. How incredibly fortunate b/c it seems you (and your followers) do indeed have all the answers. Thanks and keep up the good work. Drop by when you can.

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  40. I'm a relatively new blogger but have an almost daily posting habit- it's only short and it's a combination of a writing and attitude exercise so it is easy enough to do. Not been very good at visiting other blogs and the A-Z Challenge has been brilliant at coaxing me out there. Have learnt a lot!

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