Why are we bloggers always asking you to "Subscribe"?
When Companies look at working with us on reviewing a product - which most times end up as a giveaway we can offer on our blog - they look at our stats. Our daily traffic, facebook fans and twitter followers and a few other things. One of these is subscribers. Our regular audience. Our "reach".Our stats also make us eligible to get into certain directories and communities where we can find more exposure.
What's the deal with comments?
Most posts are ended with a question or statement of "share you story". For giveaways you are asked to "post a comment". These are all ways to get interaction going on a page. These increase stats, which increase a bloggers ability to get and provide things for their readers.All to say . . . post a comment! It's win, win for you and me. This is why I don't have the spam bot box or recaptcha enabled on my site. Sometimes I get frustrated and don't want to comment because of them. I know they serve a purpose and if I ever find myself needing it, I will use it - but till then, it is easy entry here.
How you can support:
I just downloaded an app on my phone today to allow me to read this way. I can now access it while I am nursing my little guy, on the toilet (come on we all read magazines while we are in there right? why not my favorite blogs), or perhaps waiting in a waiting room. Anywhere a computer would not be easy to access.
A Step Further:
The next thing is to "like" or "follow".I have no problem giving away my likes on facebook. Honestly, I can always hide a page and they still get the credit. Shhh, don't tell. Of course I usually only hide the blogs that are strictly review/giveaway/deal finding ones. The more personal, heartfelt I either like them or I don't.
You can also follow via Google+, Pinterest, Networked blogs, Google Friend Connect and a variety of other networking avenues. I try to remember to do these when visiting sites I enjoy. Though I do have "mommy brain" and discover at some point I have forgotten. But it is never too late!
Making it easy for you:
It seems that this month something went awry with google's feedburner. I am not even sure when it happened. I occurred to me just last week that I hadn't seen anything from myself in my emails. I had been wanting to set up a newsletter for a while, so I went ahead and took the opportunity. I've switched to mail chimp.
If you are already subscribed by email you should have received a summary of this May's posts - just to get you caught up. If you are not currently subscribed to receive new posts via email you can sign up here.
Do you want to get updates, but not everyday? Well you are in luck! I have also set up a Weekly Newsletter you can sign up for. It will be in your box at 3pm PST each Friday.
Why I do it:
I started blogging because I had something to share. I love writing. Composing. Relaying information I find valuable. Even though I sometimes feel a little stressed out - balancing the blog with children, husband and homemaking - it actually keeps me sane.The community of other bloggers and regular readers I interact with I have come to regard as friends. Albeit virtual, you are real. And I have shared real, personal, heartfelt moments with you. For a mom who has conversations centered around legos, petshops, cartoons and the playground, "online" friendships can be a lifeline. Especially when the women I have been able to surround myself with are like-minded, wise and Christ-centered.
So why care about the STATS?
If I am doing this because I enjoy it, why worry about "building an audience", getting higher numbers on facebook and twitter? Well, for me it comes down to my husband. Him finding value in what I am doing.Yes, he is supportive of me writing. He says he is proud and impressed with what he has read. But for him to allow me the time to, "hey, can you help the boy get dressed, I am trying to get this email out to someone for the blog" he has to see a tangible value. That's where the freebies and money come in.
When he comes home to a new item and gives me a look of, "Really? Did you buy something we can't afford?" And I can respond with, "It's for the blog. I didn't pay for it," all goes away. When I can get something for our kids, for our home, for my kitchen, for myself, for our health and I didn't have to use money my husband is out earning I feel like I am contributing to our monetary well-being.
So for me to out in the time, to keep it going, to invest - yes real money - I have to justify this with what it is providing for my family. There are a few things I do have to pay for. Yes, blogger is free, and I am sticking with it for now. But I have bought the domain (about $8/yr), access to the nicer linky for Weekend Whatever and other linkies ($24/yr), some graphics and the occasional cash giveaway for readers that I have put money in for.
This isn't even accounting for the time. I figured out the other day, a simple post, that takes me about three minutes to thoroughly read and you about a minute and a half to scan, most likely took at least two hours to write - even more if it is one like this.
I'm not complaining, or even pleading. Being on the non-blogger side of things, these are realities I never knew about. I have backed off with my time interacting on facebook (I've never really gotten into twitter), because I have chosen to purposefully spend time with my family. And we know what a time suck social networking can be. I feel absent, I miss the time - but I have to have priorities and with between myself and my blog-self its a lot with 3 little kids. So I am okay with my absence.
That's why we have support. Why I asked a few ladies to help host the weekly link-up. I love seeing all different perspectives, types of posts and blogs. I didn't want to stop hosting because I felt overwhelmed - just like I didn't want the blog to go dark after having the baby. I have the blessing of being able to be supported. And supportive when others need it!
As I said in the Newsletter Summary for May, I hope this finds you well. If not, know that this is just a valley in your journey and the peak will come as you continue forward.
The best to you,
Sara @ Your Thriving Family
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