Blogging is a Relationship
July 11, 2007 by kishner
Yesterday, Noctule wrote in the comments section, “I just HAVE to say that I find it hilarious how every new article is spawned from the comment section of its predecessor lately.”
There, Noctule — you’ve provided me inspiration for today’s post!
I do read every comment, and if it were not for your comments and your love-advice questions, I would have little to write about. This is a blog about relationships, and I am a Seventh House person (Sun and Venus), so it is a natural expression of my personality to be in dialogue.
I started this blog when I realized that many people enter search queries like “How do I make my Aries man fall in love with me?” into google, yahoo, etc. I figured that writing about this subject matter would bring me lots of traffic. However, after a few months, readers started asking for insight into their relationship problems, so I created a form for that purpose, and started to answer my readers. Meanwhile, a core group of commenters contributed to the discussion, and started to influence what I wrote about.
All writers need readers, but I may be more dependent on you than a typical blogger, because your participation fuels my mind.
I will offer you a window into my writing process: Every weekday, I commit to writing for this blog. If I am inspired by something written in the comments section, I will continue the conversation in a new post. This offers a sense of continuity in the blog.
If I am not moved by recent comments, I look through the love advice questions (there are over 200 unanswered questions as of this writing!). I will address a reader question on the blog, unless I am too burned out or just don’t feel like it. (This ain’t my day job, you know!)
My third and final option is to revert to what initially inspired this blog, which is to look at my traffic statistics program to see what google search queries brought people to this blog. Hence, you occasionally see me write posts like How to get even with an Aries.
There are probably other topics I could write about, such as celebrity couple compatibility profiles. (Two websites that cover celeb couples are Celebastroblogy and AOL Horoscopes.) But right now, they don’t interest me!
Like any satisfying relationship, you’ve got to please yourself as well as your partner, without being codependent. I’m going to only write what interests me, but I also want to make you happy (I want you to derive benefit from this blog), unless doing so makes me feel that I’m giving much more than I’m getting. It’s a fine balance.
In conclusion, it’s not “hilarious” that new articles are spawned by comments from the previous day — that’s exactly how I want it to be! Keep them coming! I love your comments, and trust me, I learn as much from you as you learn from me.
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I like how you take from comments and blog.. it makes this blog a little more personal.
Im sure the commenters appreciate it too.
and celebs? Oh please, not here.
I love what you do, we all need a little inspration!
“200 unanswered questions” Jeeeeez………..
Jeff, the fact that you’re ABLE to take comments from previous posts and develop them into posts of their own is a testament to the high quality of your commenting audience. (Kudos, thoughtful comment writers!)
The sense of constant dialogue is welcoming to new (and quiet) readers. I subscribe to dozens of blogs that sound like hoity toity business types trying to out-jargon one another (even better when they get in a buzz-wording contest about the uselessness of industry jargon). Yours is on my list of daily indulgences, and… the messages actually stick with me better throughout the day.
Thanks, all of you.
“I figured that writing about this subject matter would bring me lots of traffic.”
How very practical-minded of you, Jeff…
BlahBlah, there is a good reason Search Engine Optimization consultants get paid so much. Some bloggers like to have readers.
Yes, I’m in marketing and I know there are a lot of businesses out there that start with market research first (basically what SEO is), but it all still seems very practical and calculated to me, considering the “product” that’s being offered in a blog is someone’s thoughts/opinions.
I’m sure you’re aware of what people do with market research, too, right, Jeff? They modify the product/service to fit the needs of the “customer” (in this case, readers), which is nice in theory. But where would you draw the line of how much the “product” will be modified for customization and optimization purposes for a blog? The appearance of the blog? The features offered? The content? The thoughts you express?
I don’t mean to be antagonistic. Your original comment just got me to thinking in slippery slope terms. And the bottom of that hill in my imagination scared my “free creative expression” sensibilities.
BlahBlah, I wouldn’t worry too much about that. “Free creative expression” is what feeds me, I have three friggin’ planets in Pisces and a Moon in Aquarius! I’m simply using the tools of the trade so that people find me. Beyond that, I’m not a terribly “calculating” person.
I actually can do the math (or I can manipulate someone to do it for me!), and I know how long it would take, if you tried to answer one question every day.
Ouch.
I’m impressed.. and good luck!
Oh, by the way – do you have a “natal” chart of this blog?
I understand what you’re talking about Jeff.
Makes sense to me–this blog(to me anyway) is a really good mix of creativity,sensitivity and good business sense.
btw–re: celebrity relationships–no, please.