Speaking only for myself, no, I could not care less about my readership size. The blog is an outlet for me to say something, or point out things of interest, to a small group of friends. I welcome outside readership (hey-Dan Drezener linked me once!), but I have no ambition to try and propel the talbot.typepad.com empire to the A-list.
Strictly my 2¢.
I spend my professional life trying to figure out what people want to read; so for me, the blog is about what I want to write ... no matter how mundane or stupid. Cause really, who cares what I had to eat for lunch? The fact that a few close friends (mostly you and buzz and prurient) read it is a bonus.
I end up going back and forth a lot on this issue. I was nervous when I moved my blog because I was afraid I would lose some readers. I'm pretty sure I did too, but I try not to let it bother me that other bloggers get two or three times as many hits a day as me, or that some people can post a picture of their kid siting on the floor and get 35 comments.
I try to remember that I really am blogging for myself.
I started my blog as a way to keep in touch with friends in the far-away city we left behind. Making new friends with it was an unexpected bonus.
I think I lost all my yearnings for blog fame in March, when my first "my-husband-thinks-I`m-fat" post written as a retort to MIM`s notorious "False Advertising" post was widely pilloried throughout the blogosphere along with MIM`s. My daily hits went up by a factor of ten -- no joke, and my Technorati ranking jumped a whopping 20,000 places in a matter of weeks. And everyone hated what I said, and overall, I wish the whole thing hadn`t happened.
But now I`m back to my normal small audience, and loving it again.
Well, yes and no.
First off, I dodn't check out your Disney Shuffle, but only because a. my 'puter is acting like an asshole and 2. my kids despise all things Disney EXCEPT for DisneyLand or World or anywhere they'd get to go rides and c. I like you here, just the way you are.....
That being said, I don't think good writing=lots o' readers. When I began my blog, it was with the sole purpose of documenting my children's lives, and all of the mundane crap that goes along with it. I wrote as I journaled, mostly for something for my kids to go back and read. But then more people started reading, and I got on a few blogrolls here and there, and then the subject matter would sometimes become more heavy, but it did so as I started to open myself up to an audience ( of about 12, but that's neither here nor there). My blog is and will probably constantly be evolving.
I like visits, and I like comments, but I know if write a particularly boring post ( ie, all about the way we spent our day at the dentist) none of my readers will comment because there's nothing to say other than *yawn* But someday, that post will mean something to my kids, for whatever stoopid reason, say they got a strawberry shortcake doll when we left....THEY will always remember that, but my readers won't, nor do they care, and I certainly don't expect them to.
Does all that unorganized rambling make sense?
I can count on one hand how many people read my blog, but whatever...
It's just a way that I can rant about things that I've blown completely out of proportion, and post some of my still work. (and maybe a few short stories here and there.)
I am entirely entertained by your blog and love your rants. Hearing about your adventures with Basil and Petunia often brings a smile to my face.
I look at the blog as a way to let everyone know what I'm up to. Since I'm on my own island seperate from the DC/California/Chicago/PA group of friends I have, it's the best way to keep everyone in the loop and that's why I read other peoples blogs as well. If I wanted to read about politics or hot button issues I would read a newspaper.
I've never cared how many people read my blog or post comments. The only thing that has ever made me think about what I write is when I found out my mom reads the blog, but then again it allows her to see a side of me that she doesn't get during our weekly conversation.
And I think that's a great thing about personal blogs, you have the freedom to say what you want and let me people see a different side of you without so keep the post coming.
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