To Subscribe or Not to Subscribe
RSS- Really Simple Syndication
I’ve been conflicted for a while. I tend to be an neurotic freak agoniser over my blog. It’s my way of clinging to the competitive side of myself which makes my life miserable interesting. There are so many ways of measuring the success or failure of your blog. Let’s go over a few which give me sleepless nights pause:
- RSS- Really Simple Syndication: Most blogs these days have a button or icon (like the one above and like the coffee cup in my right sidebar) which you can click thus allowing you to receive that blogs regular updates in something like Google Reader (or other…to tell you the truth, I don’t know what the other is!). Then, you can just go to your Google Reader account and view all the blog posts from all of the 9 million blogs you follow. Easy peasy, no? Well, no! I have a Google Reader account and subscribe to a fair few blogs but I can’t tell you the last time that I visited my Google Reader. In fact, I think I’ve been locked out! Some blogs have hundreds of subscribers. Some (like this one) apparently have 10! Here’s my conflict: whilst I am troubled that apparently only 10 people want to regularly be bothered by me, I know that people are reading my blog so why should I worry? And personally, I prefer visiting people’s blog DIRECTLY to see what wonderful things they have on offer. I love seeing blog design and many blogs have so much more to see than just one post. So, yes, I would love to have more subscribers (feel free to click now but come back to read the rest of this post) but I would also love it if you just FAVOURITED or BOOKMARKED my site and came for a nosey every so often. Actually, I would love it if you came maybe every day. Yes, every day would be great for me because you just never know when I may have an utterly boring brilliant post or vlog or another gorgeous picture of Little Miss. Well, then, if you’ll be coming every day, why don’t you bring some cake and a cuppa and well, just go ahead and subscribe while you’re at it. Got it?!
- SEO- Search Engine Optimisation: There are a million and one ways to get your blog noticed. It appears that if I put some video, mentioned fetishes and allowed all spam and nutbars into my site, I would be noticed a lot more. That’s not quite me though. This SEO business is confusing and boring and stressful. I try not to be bothered by it but it’s hard not to when you are trying to be noticed and visited by more than just your Dad (thanks for reading Dad, you’re great). I may have cracked the whole rigamarole however, as I have finally made it into the Tots 100- the Top 100 UK Parent Bloggers Index. If you scroll down…yes, keep scrolling…I’m in with a bullet at number 95! I’ve been blogging since May (I think) and this is the first time I’ve made it. I’m rather thrilled and am really liking the feel of number 95. I am very much hoping that the “only way is up” from 95 but now I’ve got the pressure of STAYING ON THE LIST! In no way, shape or form does the SEO or Tots 100 change the way I blog but it does affect my mood! Again, that goes back to the whole competitive me but that’s something I need counselling for need to accept.
- Blog Envy and Critique: I look at some blogs and I am amazed at how wonderfully they write; how beautiful their sites are; how seemingly effortlessly they succeed. I look at other blogs and wonder how the bloomin’ heck are they so successful?! But maybe this is a good thing? It makes me look at my blog; try to keep it interesting and readable; write good content that’s SPELLED CORRECTLY with PROPER GRAMMAR (I hope); keep the content fresh. Perhaps my envy has helped me to succeed? You tell me!
- Social Networking: Twitter has become a source of support, encouragement, promotion and happiness. Twitter has also become a bit of an addiction! If you don’t Tweet about your posts, if you lurk and don’t tweet, if you get in a cat-fight with another Tweep you lose your audience and followers. I have been amazed that since I joined Twitter, my blog is being seen by more people and I am finding more connections and interests out there than I knew existed. But it can also be a real distraction. It is nice to know that there’s always someone there to support you and new people to find you, however. If you aren’t following me on Twitter, you can find me @cafebebe (there’s a FOLLOW ME icon with a blue Twitter bird on it if you want to do it easily). I’m an entertaining Twit I think…you tell me?!
- Comments: I believe I am similar to other bloggers in that, if I write a post which receives only 1 or 2 comments, that post is a bit of a dud. But I don’t always comment on everyone’s blog posts. Sometimes I just have a quick read, nod knowingly or laugh appropriately (or inappropriately) and move on. To comment on some blogs is like trying to hack into the Pentagon’s computer system (not advisable). Maybe mine is like that? I’ve never commented on my own posts from outside my admin dashboard. Have you? I don’t want every spammer to be able to comment so I think I’ve put in a few features that make commenting slightly more than just a click but is it too difficult to comment on my site? Do you want to comment on my site? I rarely, if ever, go back to a site that I have commented on to see if the author has commented back to me YET, it’s considered good blogging etiquette to reply to reader’s comments. What to do?! What do you do?
So, let’s sum up.
- RSS- if you’d like to receive regular updates from Cafe Bebe, you simply have to click on the button on the top right of this site (RSS- strangely enough) or click on the coffee cup icon as well. You’ll get me straight to your door. What a lovely way to start your day!
- SEO- Well, I don’t know but I finally am on the Tots 100 so who cares…until next month anyway!
- Blog Envy- I think it makes me a better blogger as I want to be just as good as the next blogger. Or at least as good as number 94 and 96 on the Tots 100!
- Social Networking- come follow me @cafebebe! I’ll brighten your day after you read my latest post.
- Comments- to comment or not to comment…that really is the question. Please leave your comments below!
Thanks to all the lovely friends who support Cafe Bebe and keep me on the straight and narrow…I couldn’t do it without you!
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Well that was easy enough to fill in the comment thingy as it predicts what I’m going to write then I click on it.
I’m a bit of a lurker at times, can’t think of a witty comment so have a good read and move on. Still new at tweeting and feel I’m barging in at times!
Wish I could just forget about statistics etc and just enjoy my writing but hard not to look at others and compare.
You’re on my reader list so you’re always read here.
This is a fabulous post. Totally interesting to a non-technie like me and I have definitely learnt a lot from reading it. I’ve clicked on the RSS (still don’t know what it is) and added you to my new blogroll.
Keep up the good work.
CJ xx
interesting post. I do use my greader most days – i also use igoogle ( google home page with gadgets and so on) where i can see my facebook, twitter, greader,gmail and more all one one easy page and i use it as my base, always open, and open other tabs as needed.
I subscribe! I’m a google reader fan, and particularly love the fact I can carry it around on my phone – not all blogs are that accessible on the move. But I am reading more and more posts through people publicising them on twitter these days (like this one) – I often am quite behind on google reader, and therefore twitter links get noticed in a more “timely” fashion.
But then it is irritating when I get to the post in Reader and I’ve already read it…
Oh I do have blog envy!! I like the pink & swirly ones!! With lots of pages & widgets & photos & niceness!
I tend to comment on a fair few but I’m not sure I get the ‘follow’ on blogger – I happily click to follow quite a few – but where I follow them from remains a mystery!! I seem to either click links from Twitter or see a name & suddenly think “ooooo haven’t visited there for a while” & pop over.
I seem to get reasonable number of views about 2600 since beginning of December but actual subscribers….. About 10!
I use feedburner on New Mummy not sure if thats any different to RSS (it might be the same). I do subcribe to blogs some through email, some on google reader (though I forget to check)or as a follower on Blogger.
I sometimes get blog envy, some look so good and the writing is great, I often have the ‘I wish I’d thought of that’ moment.
I love being in the Top 100 and I get excited every month but once that intial thrill goes I stop worrying about it and just write from the heart. If you try to hard to get readers or comments by writing what you think they like, they will see through you.
I don’t always leave a comment, often because people have written what I thought. I don’t always get comments on my posts.
keep writing and doing your thing and stop worrying too much x x
Well, I am in good company then, aren’t I?
Thanks for commenting! 
Thanks Carol…appreciate your comment!
I think your blog is fab now, just not sure about the slidey thingy which makes it a bit annoying when you’re trying to work out which is the latest post. Maybe that’s just me tho…
I know what you mean about the Tots. Every month I have that awful thing of ‘oh my God what if I’ve dropped’ and then I remind myself why I’m doing this and give myself a good talking to. Not OUT LOUD, obviously. That would be mad.
I am always behind on my Google Reader and usually have to sporadically ‘Mark all as read’. I’m more likely to read a new post if it’s tweeted or comes up on Facebook (like this one did), though I do use Google Reader to browse blogs on my phone, as most blogs are slow to load up and have to be zoomed in on and so on. I’ve also recently gone back to taking a quick peek at my blogroll and clicking through to a few blogs. I had missed seeing the blog designs and the like, too.
With comments, I almost always go back to check for a response if I’ve left a comment (though sometimes I forget everywhere I’ve left a comment), and am quite miffed if I don’t get a response. To be honest, I’m less likely to go back to blog that doesn’t respond to comments, unless it’s one that gets hundreds of comments, as I do realise that they simply wouldn’t have the time! I love to get comments and try hard to respond to them all (new baby has got in the way of that over the last few months, but I’m gradually getting back on top of it).
I am dutifully replying to you then!
Thanks so much for your input…I appreciate you stopping by or finding me on Facebook. It is nice to see a pretty blog but then that gives me troubles with my blog envy! 
Talking to yourself…no!
I never do that! HA! 
I’ve done it all!! I’m following/tweeting you/RSS/clicking through
I catch up with EVERYTHING via my G.Reader and click through to leave comments. It means that I can interact at work and at home.
I can’t offer much advice – i’m pretty clueless with all that stuff, and have been a pretty sloppy blogger/commenter lately too- have been reading though!!
Speaking of, i moved my blog again
it’s now here: http://lifewithlittledude.blogspot.com/ if you fancy a peek/re-following, and i’ve added you to my page of blogs i love, hope that’s okay? xx
Oh Leslieanne…it’s always ok for you to add me! I appreciate the love and will update your blog on my blogroll! Thanks sweetie…;)
I’m a lurker, mostly, but I’m here and subscribed but will check Twitter (I’m not very good at Twitter, I get too distracted by it!)
Thanks Ella…you’re sweet to stop by! Twitter is fun but it is distracting…an addiction!
Well, here I am, 4 days later, catching up on my Google Reader feeds. Won’t get through them all, but I try and look twice a week to catch up.
Had seen this post on twitter this week and wanted to read then, but think I was busy in and out of bra fittings, and never got around to it, even though it looked interesting.
I tend to subscribe to email thread if I’ve commented anywhere – if I was interested enough to comment, I’ll be interested to read what other people have written….
I’m a newbie, and still working out what works for me!
Keep it up tho, we all like what you do!
Thanks TJ! Looking forward to meeting you at The Baby Show…keep coming back for more here at Cafe Bebe. I know Twitter is the key, isn’t it?
i’m such a klutz that i cant’ even work google reader. i have to just rely on my memory to click on blogs i want to read. or i click through from comments on other people’s blogs when i like the sound of the name/post title.
i follow blogs when that’s an option, but that’s about as techie as i get. and i am commenting more and more.
i agree though, i’d rather read the post on someone’s blog than in a reader format….
Well, thank you very much for finding me!