I am still very new to the blogging scene, but hopefully learning fast enough in order to keep up and be able to make a “proper” contribution. A lot of it has been very confusing but I’ve been loathe to ask questions for fear of looking like a complete fool. I have now reached a point though where I do need to ask questions and I’m hoping that you will be able to help me 
- How do you decide who to include on your blogroll?
- If someone adds you to their blogroll are you obliged to include them on yours?
- Should you comment EVERY time you read someone’s blog or is it ok to lurk just sometimes?
- I often read about “stats” and where you are found on Google searches etc – how important is this? How do I up my “rating” if it is important?
I hope I get some answers from my intelligent blogging friends so that I can also start to understand and enjoy this whole experience the way it should be done.
A Flower to Brighten Your Day
The blogs on my lists are the ones I read and comment on regularly. Personally, I don’t think its necessary to reciprocate with links- but thats up to you.
With commenting… I comment on 99% of what I read. I have found that I can’t not comment, and if I read someone regularly I will stop in and read *everything* I haven’t read- and probably comment on it all too! But thats just me.
As for the stats… I like knowing how people found me, especially in terms of my ADHD posts and links. And I love seeing the search terms people found me with, even if just for a laugh!
I am very bad at keeping up with all the blog that i would like to at the moment. I do think that if you read a blog often and they read yours it is cool to do the blogroll thing. i can also be really bad at updating mine and it is nothing personal to the people I have not put on.
As for comments I do usually try find something to say that lets them know i have been there and shared that little bit of their life with them
Very interesting questions and thank you for asking them!
I’m answering these questions as someone who doesn’t have a blog (yet)…I need to sit down and finish setting up mine, but I’ll give these a go!
1. People who add to you as a photographer and who you can learn from. People who contribute and support.
2. No.
3. I think commenting on every post makes you a blog-stalker. Comment when you have something to say.
4. Stats are important yes, it’s helpful to see where your traffic is coming from and after a while you can see what works and what doesn’t. It’s no use spending time on a channel that you think is going to provide you with business when in reality it’s not.
Thanks Andre, Jessica & Jeanette I value and appreciate the input a lot. Jeanette any input and advice you can give will be most gratefully received. You’ve been at this a lot longer than I have and have way more knowledge about managing this than I do. If you are prepared to share what you have learnt I’m a willing student
Ask away, I’ll add to what Andre has said:
1. Ditto to Andre. On my photog blog I only link to other photogs that I like, and on my other blog I link to other bloggers. You don’t have to use a blogroll though, a lot of people use them just because they don’t have a RSS/blog reader to keep up with the blogs they read.
2. Nope
3. I only comment if I have something to say
4. It is important for your blog to get profiled. Blogs are more easily ranked in Google than websites because the content is fresh. I’ve got ALL my clients via my blog without doing any other marketing, so stats is a good way for me to tell what people are looking at and how they’re getting to me.
There are a number of ways to get your site hits up, let me know if you want me to send you an email about how to do it.
Also. I should really proof-read my comments. Soz for all the typo’s.
I’m also new to the blogosphere and I’ve been thinking about these questions as well…
1. I include people on my blogroll that I have got to know through Twitter, or who’s blogs I enjoy reading.
2. You don’t need to include people on your blogroll that you don’t want to. If you enjoy what they write and think your readers will enjoy what they write, then include them.
3) Comment on people’s blogs when you have something to say. Don’t just comment so you can comment…
4) I have absolutely no idea…
Hopefully I helped a little…
Always proper, nê?
My 50 cents:
1. Include blogs that you would recommend to others. It’s your taste in blogs, on display. Making it a tit-for-tat game makes it meaningless for everyone.
2. No. See 1. above. It means THEY think you’re worth recommending.
3. Fine to lurk. Sometimes. Some posts defy comment. Also comments can fall into two categories. Comments on the post content, and comments that just let the writer know that you’ve stopped in and still care. Thanks for the coffee and biccies, in Wenchy-speak
4. Stats can tell you a world of stuff. How popular your blog is, who comes regularly, what crazy search terms ppl use to find you (or stumble onto you), how you rank amonst other websites for a particular search term. Stats are cool, but if you write for you and and your friend, not so important. If it’s a business or you’re chasing traffic for some purpose (good or bad), stats are the report card for your blog.
Hope that helps. As always, just my opinion…:)
4.