Yes....I'm calling on you and you and YOU.....I've been wondering about the blog world recently. It'll be two years in May since I started this blog and I have to say, I love it. I love doing up my own blog entries, but I also love going around and visiting so many of you. Some of you I even got to meet in person this past year. Others I have plans to meet this year.
But today involves some interaction with you. I have some questions I've been wondering about and only you can help me out and answer them. So here goes.......
1. How many of you click the Visit My Favorites on the sidebar and actually go and visit some of the bloggers that I have listed there?
2. And do you ever go back to see if I've updated it? Because I do.....some blogs fall by the wayside and I delete them. I find new ones that I love and they get added. Actually, this is what "I" use pretty much on a daily basis to visit all of you. If you're there....be assured I visit you regularly. Makes it so easy for me to just click.
3. I recently had a complaint that my print was too light. I type in regular black print. Nothing fancy. I've contacted some of you privately and asked this question because in the almost two years, nobody has ever mentioned this. So now I need your help.....do you find the print dark enough to read? And how about the size? I purposely have gone with the larger font, because "I" find it difficult to read teeny, tiny, print all mushed together.
4. Out of all my categories listed......and yeah, I do have quite a variety.....are there any favorites of yours? Ones that when you come to visit, you'll hope I'll be talking about?
5. And how about navigating around Island Writer? Do you find it easy to get around?
6. When you leave a comment.....do you often return to see if "I" have commented back on your comment? What I'm asking is....do you feel when you leave a comment that it warrants an answer back from me? I admit, I used to do this much more before it got so time-consuming. And if you do return to check......are you disappointed that I haven't left anything in the comment section? And if you are disappointed......would a private email be just as good in relation to what you may have said?
I think that'll satisfy all of my wondering.....for the time being, anyway. So now I just want to thank each and every one of you that take the time to come visit here. And I do know many of you don't leave comments....but through my tracking system and stats, rest assured.....I DO know you've been here to stop by. And I very much appreciate that! And since I've turfed to you today.....if you have any special requests for entries (within reason) on particular topics, either leave a comment here or just email me. I'll see if I can fulfill that for you.
I'm glad you decided to make Island Writer one of your stops in the ever-growing blog world and I'll see you tomorrow......
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Terri DuLong
20 Comments
Reader Comments (20)
(1) I don’t normally visit a blogger’s blog listing or blogroll quite honestly. Some of them go on forever. I will most often visit someone who has posted a comment that has caught my interest while visiting a blog. I myself tend to read all the comments on a blog. I have noticed that often many people do not read all the posted comments by others. If you visit numerous blogs in your daily routine, I would assume you don’t have time to read what other responders have posted.
(2) See above
(3) I don’t have a problem with your blogs text presentation myself.
(4) Since I regularly visit the blogs I do visit, I feel I am pretty much up to date on their entries. I will only use the “categories” or “archives” if I am trying to find an entry they had that I want to read again for whatever reason. I use “categories” on my blog pretty much so “I” can find something on my own blog.
(5) Yes….your blog is easy to navigate for me.
(6) I “always” return to posts, sometimes several times a day, to see what folks have said or if the host has commented on my comment or even one of the other responders has commented on my comment. Many just view it as a direct conversation between themselves and the host. Once you respond, I feel it is a group conversation in a sense. On my blog, I tend to respond if I think a response will be of interest to the other posters. If someone’s question or comment is “off-hand” so to speak, I will not normally respond. And then there are times when a private email response might be in order. If another poster asks a seemingly serious question of interest to me, I do tend to return looking to see if the host has responded. On blogs where the host almost never responds, I don’t normally return in search of the answer posed by someone’s question.
I love to blog and to read others but I much prefer the concise, shorter ones.
I've told myself that I will quit blogging when I can no longer weave a short vignette from my life. I don't want to end up in the "what I did today" category...altho it works well for others.
Keep on like you are...I love your blog. Ginnie
I did go to your favorite list when I first came here but I don't anymore. I met Alan from your site....we met in the comments.
I don't think your type is too light.
I love the way your site navigates. It is one I can find my way around easily.
I don't really pay attention to categories much. I just know you are always going to have something interesting to write about. I would of course all ways expect you to mention your furry babies now and then. And how your writing is progressing, book signings and things. Travel. What is happening in Cedar Key. I think most of your categories are just stored in my head!
I like your blog! I wouldn't change a thing.
Sounds like everyone has different blogging habits. I notice some people tend to stick to the same group of bloggers over and over and sometimes I wonder why we bother with blogrolls! LOl.
I've used your blogroll to read other blogs from time to time,since I like to meet new people and this keeps one from getting stale.
I like your layout, font and design, it all looks great to me.
There are days when my eyes are really tired, on those days, the font on almost any blog can be harder to read.
That's when I hit cntrl+ (cntrl and the plus sign) and it will instantly enlarge the font on any given page. I use Firefox almost exclusively so I'm not sure if this works in IE.
Florida Cracker, over at Pure Florida almost always makes an effort to answer his commenters. Because some of the comments made by others are rather humorous, I find myself stopping by his site again to read his replies. That's a good followup policy as well. On the other hand, Janet, over at FondOfSnape almost always answers her comments via email. Whatever works for the individual blogger is just fine with me!
Not every comment needs a response, however.
I sometimes return to the blog to re-read the comments if it is a hot topic or if there were questions asked in the blog post for that day.
Last, but not least...I don't have a particular category favorite of yours, I like 'em all! :)
2. Again I haven’t in the past but I will be sure to now.
3. I’m quite happy with it I don’t have a problem though I am 20 and if all else fails I just use the magnifier on windows that’s what its there for lol
4. I tend to look at Thursday 13 and the Scavenger hunt because they are the ones I do too. I will try and pay more attention lol it’s funny how you spend lots of time on your own blog and you wonder is anyone actually reading this or am I talking to a brick internet wall
5. Two Words Easy Peasy lol
6. I don’t mind – It is nice to have a reply because then I know personally that you might feel grateful for the comment but I would understand if you didn’t reply because you might be busy with something else, do you get me lol I do tend to ramble and not make much sense half the time!!!!!! Try again
It’s nice if there is a comment but it doesn’t bother me if you haven’t because it might just mean you’ve been busy or only had time to reply to the first few on the list or something
1 - I love to follow the links of my favorite bloggers' favorites. I trust their judgment implicitly, and have discovered many of my own favorites through them. Short answer: yes, I follow yours...you have great taste in reads!
2 - Every visit. I dread the day I drop off of your list.
3 - I have no problems reading your site at all. For folks who do, I suggest they spend a little time learning how their browsers can zoom into a page (View | Text Size in both Firefox and IE).
4 - I read 'em all. It's your style and overall philosophy of life that keep me coming back for more.
5 - The first few times I visited, I had to remember to click on the entry headings to find your most recent blog postings. I find it easy now, but it's a little different than most blog-related navigation. Might want to look into it to ensure new readers don't get lost before they find the good stuff.
6 - I don't expect bloggers to respond to comments I've left. It's always a pleasure when they do, but I know how much time it takes to maintain a blog. And commenting on comments would merely add to the overhead. I know you're reading: I know you're writing. That's good enough for me.
7 - (Yes, I'm adding one...) Feel free to e-mail of Google Talk me if you'd like any additional thoughts. I have tremendous respect for you as a writer and a person, and I'd be happy to help if you have any questions.
All the best, Terri!
Carmi
http://tangledupinlheurebleue.blogspot.com/
because I liked the blogs I saw with that format and it makes any artwork/photo pop.
http://tangledupinlheurebleue.blogspot.com/
because I liked the blogs I saw with that format and it makes any artwork/photo pop.
I find youyr sight very easy to navigate.,..I think almost immediately I discovered that clicking on Journal would take me to your latest post..The TYPE is GREAT for me...it is a good size and dark enough for me, too....I have a lot of trouble with teeny timy print and colors that don't stand out well against black--Not a problem here, at all! Your content always interests me Terri, because I am attracted to your writing---whatever you write about so I don't have any special subjects that I wish you would write about, I like everything and anything you feel like writing about...I look at your blogroll about as often as I look at other people's blogroll...and like you, I use mine to get around to visiting everyone...As far as questions in the comments...I don't expect you to answer any questions I might have in your comments because the chances of my coming back though certainly possible, are slimmer than I might want want, because of 'time' constraints...BUT, I love getting an answer in an email...!
I think that covers everything, but if I left something out--do email me, my dear! (lol)
At my first visit I did go take a look at your favorites as I thought that if I liked your blog I might liked those you pointed to... as if I plan going back I don't know, I guess so.
Your font is quite tiny, but I don't really mind.
I do come back to check the comments on posts I have commented for, but not really expecting an answer but checking what other's have to say.
Anyway, keep it up it is a really nice blog!
I do use links, especially if the blog name sounds inviting.
I often visit a blog more than once a day. The last few weeks have been busier than usual, but when I have time, I check back.
I have a make text larger thing so text size is never an issue. Your font is easy and the ledding is good. Usually, they say serif fonts are best for reading, but your sans serif font is fine.
My one frustration is that when I click on the link at my blog, I get an intro page and have to click on the right to find the latest entry. No big deal, but since you asked.
2. Sometimes I check to see if I've been added to someones favourities. It's always an ego boost to know that they like your blog enough to consider visiting you regularly. So yes, I will look for opportunities to stroke my ego. LOL ;)
3. I think the print is fine
4. Nothing particularly for me but I'm fairly new to your blog
5. Yup
6. I don't look for or expect comments back unless I have asked a direct question, in which case I hope that you will answer in my blog or in an email. There are a few blogs that I read that consistently respond back to each comment - the responses are short and quit witted - they are humour blogs so I do go back to check what they responded to my comment for those ones only.
P.S. I am using bloglines now to track the blogs I like to visit. It is making my blogging time a little more manageable because I can see if there are new posts.
You wouldn't think that clicking on each link in a sidebar would take that long but it adds up. I highly recommend it if you want to see if and what your regular reads have updated and you don't even have to go to their blog to see the post unless you want to comment on it.
Now where are those favourites... I'm going to hunt for them again to see if I'm on the list hee hee
P.S.S.S. So I found your favourites and I'm not on it :(. No matter, the way you do it is very time consuming because you put a nice little explanation of what the blog is about. I use blogrolling to show the blogs I visit on my site. It is very effective, in fact I have a different blogroll to capture various categories (daily reads, as often as I can reads etc.)
As mentioned above, I use bloglines to know if new people have posted. The nice thing about bloglines is that you can add people to it while you are deciding if you want to make it a regular read and then delete it later if you change your mind.
Good questions, I hope you get the information you want and helps you to manage your blogging time better.