I'm curious.
Since I started blogging, oh, close to four years ago, my blogroll has increased substantially. Some blogs have disappeared, others are still hanging on even though the bloggers don't post but once in a blue moon, but most of the blogs I read are updated very regularly.
And I keep finding more blogs that I like, and I keep adding to the list. But lately, I haven't been deleting any blogs. That means I've got a fairly large list of blogs that are updated regularly. Since I added the blogroll on my blog that automatically updates when a blogger has a new post up, I can keep pretty good track of everything. I tried Google Reader and just didn't like it, so this new method works well for me.
I visit the blogs on my list whenever they're updated. I almost always leave a comment. But here's my question. Do you ever get to a point where you stop adding blogs because your blogroll is getting out of control? I really don't want to do this. There are so many blogs out there waiting to be discovered!
How about you?
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All right. Enough with the down-in-the dumps posts. I realized that I had way too many of them in the past few weeks and I am bumming myself...
Melissa - for real - this is a serious problem of mine too. Unfortunately I don't stop adding and I am at an ungodly number right now. It's why I end up posting comments once a week sometimes even if I'm reading them all on my google reader. That extra time it takes to get out of reader and then make a comment is time I don't always have. Sigh. But the problem is like you said - too many great blogs to read!
ReplyDeleteI'm already having trouble keeping up with blogs. I don't have time to visit them daily, but I stop by all of them at least twice a week. So yes, I have stopped adding blogs to my blogroll. I've got my faves (you're one!) and I'm sticking with them. A friend who subscribes to Google Reader told me she has over 200 posts to catch up on. 200 posts! It's insane.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, an agent blogged about this very thing last week:
http://dglm.blogspot.com/2009/01/miriam-goderich-blogs-on-blogs.html
Ell - I think my problem is that I feel I have to visit every day and I have to COMMENT every day, too. Not sure why, either.
ReplyDeleteChristine - Great article. I think I'm more addicted to individuals' blogs instead of Salon or anything like that, but that's probably worse because there are SO MANY blogs out there. And thanks for including me in your faves. :-)
I've started to delete those that don't return the favour. i.e. If I'm not on their blogroll when they can see lots of stats going through to theirs from mine (and if I can see them, so can they), I stop commenting, stop visiting and stop publicising their site.
ReplyDeleteAs I'm often reading from work, I don't often get time to post a reply, but when I get the chance, or if I'm burning to say something, I'll do it or I'll go back and do it later - if I sign on from home, for example. But if I don't get chance to sign on again, then I feel guilty and try and comment the next time I'm coming through.
The one thing I do try to do is respond to everyone that posts a reply. I think if they've taken the time to actually say something in response to my drivel, then the least I can do is thank them, in my own little way. And it does frustrate me when other bloggers don't do that, even with a blanket "thanks guys" if they're really that pushed.
Please don't feel obliged to comment every day on mine. I can see everyone coming through, so I know they're interested and still reading.
Oh, and my blogroll doesn't always update - sometimes it doesn't update for HOURS - so I don't always know there's been an update on the blog, and I don't have it coming into my inbox as others do.
ReplyDeleteDiane - I try to do the same. If someone stops by and comments on my blog, I usually try to make it to their blog and leave a comment, as well. I've found some of my favorite blogs that way. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to visit everyday and you don't have to comment everyday! I used to feel that way and because there are many I enjoy, I might skip a day or so here and there. I try not to add too many more--but will deleted some that I don't read often.
ReplyDeleteDo what you are comfortable with cause it is work.
Big dilemma! I rarely (if ever) delete blogs from my blogroll, unless they've just shut down, but I do use Google Reader instead of checking blogs on my blogroll and I am not necessarily subscribed to every blog I have listed -- and I am subscribed to quite a few blogs that I haven't made the time to list! As far as commenting, I have cut down on the number of comments I leave, simply because I don't always have anything to say! Then, there are some blogs I read every day and I've never left a comment. Usually they're literary blogs or blogs that get a huge amount of traffic, so I don't really feel like I have a relationship with the blogger, like I do with say...you. Then there are some bloggers where I comment every now and then just to let them know I'm still reading and they comment now and then at my place and that works pretty well. If I do decide to leave a comment on a blog for the first time and it's not returned or acknowledged within a week or so, I probably won't comment again, even though I might still keep reading. Strange social dynamic out here, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteTerri - I'm slowly adopting that mindset, where I don't necessarily comment every day. Sometimes I don't feel I add anything to the discussion, but am just commenting for commententing's sake! (say that five times fast!)
ReplyDeleteLisa - Agree with you on lots of points. Some blogs I read I don't have that "relationship", either, and usually don't comment, but sometimes I'll be brave and throw in my two cents.
Since I am very new to this bloggin stuff and never ever thought I would do something so difficult I have a different perspective of it.
ReplyDeleteI love the blogs. I have a very very limited area that I view regularly. Melissa, yours is the first non-papercrafting blog that I have decided to follow. I am enjoying it immensely and do try to comment. I love the comments myself.
Blogs for me are a serious dependable resource. I am tired of spending my hard earned dollars on magazines that only have one to four pages that I really really am interested in. The blogs take care of it for me.
Great question! I've stopped adding "Blogs I Dig" to the sidebar on my blog, but I keep adding more to my "follow" list. I'm like you; I keep finding more blogs and voices I like. And how does one say no? Where do you draw the line?
ReplyDeleteI totally have this problem! And I don't want to give up any of my blogs, although I am a little picky about the blogs I add. For example, I rarely, rarely, rarely add a blog that has a partial feed. I need to reed it in my reader, or I won't click through to comment.
ReplyDeleteIf the blog has no feed, then no go.
But other than that, I seem to find the whole world interesting. :-)
Like others here, I "follow" favorite blogs and try to comment on new posts. If a blog isn't kept current, generally after awhile I drop it from the roll. I know some say you should post on your blog daily, but for active blog readers, it's hard to keep up. So I update my own blog every 2 or 3 days. It's easier on me and hopefully on my blog friends!
ReplyDeleteShelly - I am so glad that you enjoy my blog! Thanks so much. :-) And I know that I always click on yours when it's updated because I can't wait to see what you've created next! (For those who don't know, Shelly is an AWESOME card crafter! Very talented! Visit her blog to find out more!).
ReplyDeleteJanna - That's what I'm trying to figure out - where to draw the line? So far, I haven't been able to answer that question. If I figure it out, I'll let you know, though. ;-)
Spy - I noticed that you had a lot of blogs in your list and I'm glad you chimed in with how you manage them all. I have never been one to do the "feed" - for some odd reason, I need to actually visit the blog itself instead of reading a feed. I know, I know, I am WEIRD. :-)
Joanne - I was posting only two or three times a week, but I've returned to doing it daily. Sometimes it's a bit of a chore to come up with something, other times, I have so many topics I'm not sure what to blog about. :-)
ReplyDeleteMelissa, great post. (And have I mentioned I love your background? I feel like I'm writing on blue velvet!) I have the exact same goals/likes you stated in the post. I'm wondering what's gonna happen to my growing Rockin' Blogs roll since I've only had my own blog for 4 months now...that roll might have to go on a diet before it explodes. I prefer reading from my sidebar vs. the reader. I'll go through once a month and remove any blog favs that haven't updated in weeks, but that's only happened once so far! :)
ReplyDeleteAngie - Glad you like the background! :-) And you've got such a great following even though you've only had a blog for 4 months. I'd say you're doing something right. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm brand spankin' new to this and I can already see why that would be a problem. I swear that I find a new one I'm interested in every day. Let us know if you find an amazing solution!
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem. I love finding new blogs and of course once I find a good one, I'm keeping it (unless they stop blogging). The only thing I do is "try a blog out" for awhile to see if I really want to "commit" so to speak. But my list is already getting too long!
ReplyDeleteHmm, well, never say never is my motto. I'm cutting back on what I add, but will never put in place an outright moratorium.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I've cut back drastically on blogs I visit these days. Hope to find a way to bloghop more regularly again soon!
Jenn - A solution, maybe, but perhaps not amazing! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHeidi - Good point about "trying it out" for awhile. Might have to do that!
Tess - Hope you find more time to bloghop, but you're a busy gal with the new job and school. :-)
It's a dilemna for sure! I just added a few to my blog roll and it is easy to get overwhelmed feeling like you have to visit and comment daily. I just do the best I can!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Love your new blue background!
Linda - Glad you like the background! :-) And yeah, it is very easy to feel overwhelmed. I've finally started to accept the fact that I don't always have to comment every day on every blog I visit.
ReplyDeleteI admit it. I'm blog-addicted. I feel the need to go through my faves every day, or at least every other day. Because I might miss some vital thing that I can't live without! :) Truth is, I know no other writers in my "real" life, so your blogs are where I go to touch base with this world I love so much. Just knowing there are so many others like me out there, makes all the difference. And I've made wonderful friends.
ReplyDeleteI do have trouble catching up sometimes, because I keep adding as well. But I do it anyway because each person seems to have something so unique to bring to the table. Okay, I mentioned I'm obsessed, right?
Sharla - I've made so many great friends through blogging, too! It's such a great way to meet people. I doubt I'll ever stop searching for new blogs. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've stopped adding to my blogroll, though I encounter so many good new blogs per week. It is hard to keep up AND maintain one's blogs. So, I visit each blog monthly. My links on my sidebars are out of control. In my wordpress blog I have added pages of links. These need to be revisited every month or so to make sure the links are still life. Ah, the life of a blogger. I wouldn't trade it. Great post.
ReplyDeleteVic - I agree - definitely hard to keep up with everyone else as well as your own blog. But I love how I've connected with so many people around the world. :-)
ReplyDelete