Tuesday, October 23, 2012

To blog or not to blog?

I have been blogging a little over a year now and am feeling a little plateaued. I love this wee little blog and have loved reading what everyone else has put out into cyber space. I feel like my teaching and instruction has improved 200% and have learned invaluable information about creating documents and feel much more advanced technology wise. 
There are some downsides to this though...
I feel like I have so few followers compared to other people who have been blogging for as long as me. Granted, this is mostly my fault because I don't put in enough time for consistent posts. I tried to create a linky party and that was a giant disaster; no one entered! Ugh, that made me feel like a loser.


Lately, no one has commented on the last few posts I have written. I am honestly not even sure if anyone is reading this blog anymore. Sorry for the pity party... I guess I need some advice on how to make this more successful. I don't want to be the one who starts and then stops a blog because no one wanted to read it! Any advice would be much appreciated!

19 comments:

  1. I read your blog when I have time to sit down and read blogs! I love your blog! You should definitely keep blogging!! Are you pinning onto Pinterest? Have you done giveaways? I'd be happy to pair with you if you decide to do one. Also, do you have your blog on Facebook? Are you doing linkys? These are all the ways I have gotten my followers! Let me know how I can help! :) Keep it up...don't give up!!!

    ~Mimi
    5thGradeRocks5thGradeRules

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    1. You so sweet, thanks Mimi! You have given me so many good ideas. Thanks so much for the offer on pairing up with a giveaway, I will definitely take you up on that when I think of one! Thanks again!

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  2. I read!!!! I'm terrible about commenting though. :)

    I say, "Don't give up...there are people who are reading, but just don't comment!"

    Join in some giveaways to get your name out there more.


    Live Laugh and Love to Learn

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    1. Thanks Lisa! You are right and I am guilty of it (reading and not commenting) too. Thanks for the pep talk!

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  3. I agree with Lisa. There are people that read but don't comment. Yesterday I pinned your cute bulletin board!

    Diane
    Fifth in the Middle

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    1. Thank you for pinning Diane! I love the totem poles that you did with your classes by the way! So creative!

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  4. I read your blog. Don't worry about numbers or comments. My bloggy friends say they don't get as many comments as they'd like.

    Pin your stuff on pinterest, that's where most of my traffic comes from! Join in on linky parties, and comment on other blogs :)

    Journey of a Substitute Teacher
    Endless Pinabilities!

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  5. I hear you... I've been feeling that way about my blog too. I've tried some linkies and it's pretty depressing when you can't get anyone to join up. I wonder how some people seem to grow so effortlessly!

    And I got your message at my blog - email me and I'll send you my lesson file!

    freelauren21{at}gmail.com

    Lauren
    Life in Middle School

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    1. Hey Lauren! I just discovered your blog the other day and love it! Linkies are so tricky because if not many people join, the less the word gets out so it's a catch 22. I am going to email you right now! Thanks!

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  6. I LOVE the image you found to express your frustration! FYI-I have way fewer followers-33! I guess I am in it for the writing and reflection. I wanted to show my students that just as I expect them to write-I do too. I also thought it was kind of a cool way to document what is happening in my classroom for parents to see as well as just to look back year after year! Don't give up! Hang in there and take on a different perspective as to why you are sharing what you are!

    BTW-I will be checking out all of the above blogs! I am always looking for other MS bloggers to check out!

    -Erin
    http://mrsbeerslanguageartsclass.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks for the advice, Erin! I'm glad you were able to discover some new blogs. All of the ladies above have fantastic ones!

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  7. Don't worry about the comments...I hardly get any on my posts! I know they are being read by the amount of views I get. The way that I approach blogging is that I am doing it primarily for myself, it has made me reflect on my teaching.

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    1. Thanks Kelly! You are totally right, it does make you reflect on your teaching. Why teach it if you can't blog about it?

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  8. HEATHER I LOVE YOUR BLOG!! Chin up!

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  9. Hey Heather!! I actually just found your blog today so I am a new follower ;) I understand how you feel with followers but we will get there! Your blog is adorable, hope you can check out mine sometime!

    Laura
    http://lovetoteach123.blogspot.com

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  10. Personal advice-

    blog because YOU want to. Do it because you enjoy doing it. If you are doing it to get comments, impress people, or just keep up with the in crowd....then STOP.

    If you enjoy reflecting/venting and feel like you are learning as you journey in the blog process, then keep on keepin on.

    DO it for you! :)

    Always A Lesson

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  11. I read, but I suck at commenting! I also kind of suck at reading at this point, too, because my google reader is up to +1000. Yikes! But I went through this exact same thing, and I think every blogger does.

    I just stopped blogging for like a month [except for Farley's Currently Linky], and when I had something I really wanted to write about, I wrote! If no one commented, I'd be a little down, but it didn't bug me as much as before, because it was something I really wanted to write about. I was writing because I wanted to write, not because I felt like I had to get a post up. Ya know what I mean? =)

    Meg
    Third Grade in the First State

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