Thanks to all of you for responding to my recent set of questions about blogging. So what did we learn, ladies and (lone) gentleman?
1. Relationship between time/energy into creating a post and the response to that post:
- 64% of you say there’s no relationship between the energy you put into a post and the response it garners.
- 31% reported a direct relationship (more effort = more response). Kami and Heather.pnr said that flow and passion were often lightning rods for attention.
- 3% reported an inverse relationship (more effort = less response and vice versa).
Bottom line for me and the other oddball: don’t try so hard.
2. Comments, giving and getting:
- 3% of you admit you get more than you give
- 21% consider yourselves even-steven
- 55% say you give out more than you get
Nancy notes, “But I also don’t want someone to comment JUST TO comment…their comments seem less sincere in the long run since nothing prompted them to comment, except for the plain fact of wanting to comment.” Good point.
See anything peculiar about these numbers? There is a vast disparity between the net getters and the net givers.
Where are all the extra comments going? Into the unexplored reaches of the blogosphere? Contributing in some way to huge carbon footprints? Gathering above Oprah’s head?
What’s your best guess?
3. Journaling as a precursor to blogging:
Statistically insignificant between who journaled before blogging (51%) and those who didn’t (49%). Malathion Man claims that journaling is a chick thing.
It is in my house, anyway.
4. Which comes first: title or post?
56% tend to start with a title and write the post from there.
44% write the post and then label it.
“I have a bunch of draft posts waiting for titles to fit them,” says Niobe, “and a bunch of draft titles waiting for posts to fit them.”
Ohhh, to be as prolific and as consistently on the mark as Niobe.
Thanks for the indulgence. Now — please send chocolate.
4 Responses
I freaking love statistics. And the fact that you summed them all up is awesome. I need to do that! I run all sorts of polls and I take all that info and run it through my brain – but I keep it there. I never thought of updating everyone else. I must do that.The whole comments thing (who gets more, me or the people i give them to?) has me intrigued. I think it comes from the aspect of being active on a public message board. I used to type there A LOT and because of that, girls “knew” me and would reply to many of my posts. Yet I would see a new girl post something, not get the # of responses, and then cry about it – saying “no one likes me here! I’m leaving!!!”. Oh lord. Can you hear my eyes roll? I want to stand in front of her and say “do you know how many times I’VE posted and have gotten no comment? I just simply post again. And again. People expect too much without any work too. Just posting doesn’t get the replies you “deserve”. Reply to other people. Show that YOU CARE. Nothing drives me batty more than someone who will be asking for support left and right – but NEVER give the support they think they so rightfully deserve.Okay, I look a little crazy now. Kinda went off there! ;0
On the commenting disparity — it does make a certain amount of sense, since the people who don’t comment or receive more comments than they give are probably less likely to have responded to your queries than the net givers.
I think the new profile pic actually kind of looks like you, but I miss the one armed push up baby.
Niobe — and you’re good at math, too!?Nancy — seems to be one giant game of “what goes around comes around.”MM — That arm was getting tired. We’ll see how long I can hold the mojito.