Who Loves You, Baby?

Who reads you? Do you ever wonder?

Most of us know some of our followers to one degree or another. Some read me daily, others weekly, and others even less frequently.

Members of my family occasionally read me, which always surprises the heck out of me. Writer-friends, of course read me because we all started in the same gelatinous goo of publishing purgatory. But I also have homesteaders, dog lovers, gardeners and book lovers who read me.

And then there's a huge chunk of traffic from people who come here strictly out of a Google search for some topic I've covered somewhere along the way.

The raisin remedy for arthritis is a big draw here as are many of the Prudent Penny topics for saving money or homesteading.

But the ones who really surprise me are the readers who occasionally post comments here, people I didn't think knew me, let alone read me. This got me to thinking about all the blogs I peruse daily--particularly the ones where I only comment occasionally.

I mentioned on Tia Nevitt's blog that a blogger has to get my attention within the first paragraph just to get me to read their post. And if they want me to comment, they then have to ask my opinion or say something so outrageous that I need to comment.

I rarely comment for book giveaways or prizes. It's not that I don't want to win, but I figure someone else could use the book or freebie more than I could. I don't want to deprive someone else of their chance.

Which reminds me... I once commented on a BIG, BIG blog and I did win something. (Amazing because I was one of over 300 comments.) It was an entire set of books from this author, whom I won't name because she NEVER delivered, even when the host of the blog contacted her.

Why would anyone offer a prize and not deliver? I did give her one more chance thinking she might have gotten sidelined, but this time she just ignored me. Guess whose books I won't be buying now?

A good blogger has responsibilities to his readers. And part of that responsibility means when you promise something, you should deliver or at least give an apology when you can't.

Good blogging also means good content or at least an interesting story to tell. You have to make it worth a reader's while.

I'm really grateful for those of you who stop by, those of you who read me regularly, and especially those of you who comment. Especially those who comment. Because when you comment, then I know you're out there and I try to follow you too.

I'm not an elitist in any way. Blogging to me is a lot like hiking. You never know who you'll meet along the way. And I'm the kind of person who is interested in everything. Truly. If you read this blog, chances are good we probably have something in common, and I want to know who you are so I can follow you too.

But here's my question to you. How many times does someone have to comment on your blog before you'll stop by his and comment? It usually takes me a couple of comments from people I don't know, that way I'm sure they're not fly-bys but rather people who have really taken an interest in this blog.

So who reads you? And do you read (and comment) them back?

Have you ever been surprised by who reads you?


PS Stop by Wednesday. I'm going to be visiting Patricia Altner and sharing a real life ghost story.