How to Get More Comments

The short answer: Blog about what you like and interact with other bloggers.


This past week I held an experiment to see who would comment --and who wouldn't. My plan was to repost links from the comments and generate some activity within the search engines. Don't ask me why, but Google loves my blog--or at least the links and keywords I provide.


While the last post only received 11 comments, many were from people who normally don't comment here. The other fascinating tidbit of information is that Stat Counter showed double, and at one time triple the amount of unique visits to this blog. No doubt the lurkers were curious as to who would step up to the plate.


Lastly, three people mentioned this blog by name and link. Kaz Augustin wrote an entire post about my post and commentary in general.


Call Me Catie has started a link-a-licious series where she posts the links to any helpful blog posts she saw that week.


And Marianne who hosts Reading, Writing & Stuff That Makes Me Crazy wrote a post asking for new blogs to follow. She followed up with her first blog hopping post here.


My thanks to those of you who wrote an actual blog post on the state of commentary, and more importantly fed the search beast with what it needs most--LINKS.


As promised here are the links to those who took the time to comment this week.


Sherri writes The Top 5 Reasons I Do What I Do: An avid reader and writer who discusses family, writing, and reviews the books she's read.


Sandra, who writes Dual Citizenship in SpecFic and Mundania discusses writing, her gorgeous little boy and a stuffed orca who seems to travel more than I do.


Roni @ Fiction Groupie is a book junkie who actually lives in north Texas. (Small world! Maybe we'll meet someday.) She writes a lively blog on writing fiction and her journey toward publication.


Angela Jamesā€¦well if you don't know who Angela James is, you've been living under a rock. Angie is an editor extraordinaire who writes Nice Mommy, Evil Editor. I had the distinct pleasure and privilege to have her as my editor for Touch Of Fire. Follow this woman. She knows her stuff--and she also posts great recipes too.


Kaz Augustin writes Fusion Despatches. Kaz is like an Asian Lone Ranger for social injustice. She's also a super genius when it comes to all things IT. This angel called me from the other side of the world and helped me get my gmail working again, even when the gmail help desk couldn't fix my problem. Kaz also writes for the group blog, Novel Spaces.


Damselfly, aka Deborah Kalin, author of Shadow Queen writes the funny and quirky blog about her life down under.


Marianne Arkins is a regular here and one of my favorite people because when she writes about her dog, Dakota, it makes me feel there is still hope for crazy puppy, Iko. Marianne writes about everything, from family life, to writing, to guest author interviews. She is a woman of many talents and obviously never sleeps.


Melissa McClone writes for Harlequin! She writes for her readers rather than other writers, and she adorns her blog posts with the cutest cat pictures.


Mike Keyton is one of my CPs who amazingly still talks to me even after I review his work. Mike writes Record of a Baffled Spirit another quirky blog (why am I drawn to quirky blogs?) that gives you little snippets of his wildly colorful life. Mike was a recent guest on this blog and in my emails to him I continually try to lure him back to the states in my devious plot to find someone who will teach me how to cook.


Dru writes Notes From Me. She's an avid reader and creates the most amazing quilts. I am surprised when I can thread a needle so you can imagine my rapt attention when she shows pictures of her quilts.


Marian Perera writes Flights of Fancy and her posts cover a wide range of topics, from publishing to writing. I especially enjoy her dissection of writing tropes. Smart and articulate, I suspect we'll be hearing more about Marian in the near future.


***


So what will happen on this blog? I think Markets may be going away. It's been getting harder and harder to find legitimate markets that pay a decent rate. With few exceptions I don't like to encourage markets that offer a token payment, or worse no money at all. Prudent Penny and the continuing saga of homesteading when you reach the age of decrepitude will continue. In between I will post any newsworthy posts that involve the publishing world. Writer or reader, we live in interesting times.


Thanks to everyone who commented. You gave me a lot to think about.

Comments

Roni Loren saidā€¦
Thanks for the linkage :) Looks like you found out some interesting things with your experiment.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Hi Roni! Indeed I did. It not only provided some hard data, but much needed inspiration. Thanks for stopping by.
Sherri saidā€¦
Thanks for the well wishes (and linkage) Maria! BTW my review will post on Friday.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Hey Sherri,

Woman, what are you doing on the internet? I thought you'd be smooching it up with your hubby and your new outdoor fireplace. :o)
Anonymous saidā€¦
Thanks for the link, M! "Asian Lone Ranger"! LOL Love it!
Shelley Munro saidā€¦
Hi Maria - I totally agree about writing about things you enjoy. I think it comes through in the posts.

Thanks for the links. I always enjoy checking out new blogs when I have time. Time has been a problem lately!
Mike Keyton saidā€¦
Thanks, Maria. One day, when we're all rich and famous, we'll have a big party - with hired caterers :)
Marian Perera saidā€¦
Thanks for the link and the kind words, Maria. :)

I forgot to mention earlier that I like your Prudent Penny posts, because even though I can't use a lot of the tips and advice in a basement apartment, I appreciate the reinforcement of another moneysaving perspective.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Kaz: I can see you now with your mask--and fists of fury. :grin:
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Hiya Shelley! Sometimes we get in a rut reading the same people. It's nice to spread out a little. Thank goodness for readers. I'd never get around to reading everyone without it.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Mike,

Ref: rich and famous.

LOL! Do you know something I don't?
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Marian: I think it would be kinda cool to live in a basement apartment.

It's a little Potteresque--perfect for writing.
Marianne Arkins saidā€¦
Okay... now I have to go blog-hopping some more.

And, heck, who needs to sleep? (except my DH who is currently snoring in the livingroom with the TV on).
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Honestly, Marianne, I don't know how you do it. And on top of that you home school!