Where Are You When You’re Not at Your Blog?
A crucial element to the concept of reader appreciation is being available to your readers.
To show that one is available is to make a good attempt at some of the following:
- Have an About Page.
- Have a Contact Mechanism.
- Have Comments Enabled.
- Respond to Comments.
- Be personal (writing about yourself).
- Have a Picture.
- Display Your Real Name or a Suitable Pseudonym.
- Read each of these points in detail here.
But That’s On Your Blog…
Perhaps you have taken my advice and done your best to make yourself available. But then what? Is your availability to your readers solely based on the existence of your website?
It is a great (and generous) feat when a blogger shows a level of transparency and availability to their readers. But there’s even more that can be done!
So where are you when you’re not on your blog? And are you open to more “offline” communication with your readers?
Here are a few questions that could be answered in order to show your readers that you are available outside your website.
1. Do you have a Flickr account?
If you have a Flickr account, perhaps you can show some photos from time to time or embed your photo stream into your website.
A great way for readers to “discover” you is to see your photos.
2. Do you have Skype? Can I call you?
Do you have a Skype account? Are you open to readers chatting and/or calling you? Then perhaps you can list your Skype username and show your online status on your website.
I personally love talking to people on Skype, but I don’t always have my webcam on when on a call (not everyone is 100% their best 100% of the time).
3. Do you run (or are you apart of) a forum? If so, where?
Do you do other things besides blogging such as running or participating in a forum? Let your readers know where.
4. What other blogs do you write for?
Where else can your readers find your work?
I’ll be the first to admit that I have a wide range of writing styles. I can write technical one minute, humorous the next minute, and then turn on the political incorrectness for a personal rant.
If you let your readers know other places you are writing, then perhaps they will follow you there to read more of your work.
5. What are your personal interests?
What do you like to do when not blogging? Do you fish on the weekends or spend your evenings playing Guitar Hero? Let your readers know. Maybe you’ll get a challenge from one of your readers on X-BOX Live.
6. What social media sites are you apart of?
Where can your readers find you on social media sites? Are you on Facebook or MySpace? Somewhere else?
Why not link to your various profiles so readers can see more about you?
Where You Can Find Me
Taking my own advice, here’s where you can find me.
Yes, I have a Flickr Account
You can see some of my various photographs (not all are public) at my Flickr account.
Am I on Skype? Yes.
You can find me on Skype with the username “ronalfy“. I’m open to all (ok, most) calls, especially if you speak Spanish (I’m learning it right now).
Do I run a Forum? Nope.
Sorry. Been there and done that. I am a member of Jeff’s forum, but haven’t been too active.
What blogs do I write for? Lots.
I’ve contributed posts for the following blogs (higher frequency first).
- Reader Appreciation Project
- Ronalfy - Life is a Blog (my personal site)
- Weblog Tools Collection
- Devlounge
- All Tips and Tricks
- The Reasoner
- Inspiration Bit
I’m also apart of a weekly podcast called WordPress Weekly.
And yes, I’m open to doing guest posts. Just contact me please.
My Personal Interests?
I am a Christian. I like going to church and actually maintain my church’s website.
I love web development and custom programming (I prefer to keep it as a hobby).
I run about twelve miles a week and work out at the gym regularly. I am also studying the Spanish language with the hopes of achieving advanced fluency in reading, writing, and speaking.
Oh yeah, and I love Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Day of Defeat Source.
And Social Media Sites
I’m on Facebook and MySpace, although I prefer Facebook by far.
Conclusion
So where are you when you’re not on your blog? I’m sure you know. What about your readers?
If you have something to add (something else to show readers), please add it in the comments section. I’m interested in reading your input.
Sue @ TameBay says...
I think you need to make a decision first about how available you want to be. I’m not a blogger 24/7: I need to make money first before I can blog (my blogs make some, but not enough … yet
). It’s too easy to make yourself completely available for everyone, anytime on the internet - and that isn’t what most of us want. I can tell you any number of stories about my blog and people and things associated with it demanding my time and attention for NO GAIN AT ALL (not even a thank you).
Sue @ TameBay says...
Sorry - that came out a lot more negatively than I wanted! What I meant to say was - it’s better to be 100% commitedly available for two hours a day, than half-heartedly available for 16 hours a day.
Ronald Huereca says...
Hey Sue,
No problem at all. I got the just of what you were saying. If every one of the readers here chose to contact me at the same time, it would be impossible. However, some of the points I raised have to deal with offline bonding. It provides the “me too” effect.
For example, someone else reading this blog might enjoy running and learning Spanish, and if she’s single and lives in Alabama, she would ideally contact me.
Thanks for weighing in.
John Hunter says...
Good advice, I especially like the top few: have a picture, use an about page, show your personality.
SP says...
Thanks for the post, however, I am much more guarded about profiles I consider to be “personal” in my case (this does NOT include LinkedIn though).
I think the amount of personality a blogger shows in their blog ought to depend on the topic they are are writing about and what audience they are targeting. People targeting a professional or even client or new employer audience may want to be careful about how much they give away about their personal life. Also using the Kathy Sierra case in point, if your topic is even just a tad bit controversial, you might want to think twice about how much information you give about yourself.
However, I will say I do tend to expose some of my political leanings usually in an abstract way through my blog posts, but hopefully not to detract from the original point of my technical posts. Therefore, I certainly convey something somewhat personal about myself in that way.
I am curious just how open people are with purely virtual “friends” or even just acquaintances. For example, do you accept friend requests on FB from anyone that just says “I read your blog and like it” or do you only accept after adding them to the Limited Profile access list. Alternatively, do you ignore if you haven’t corresponded with them at all previously or are there other factors you use to determine this?
I have personally *tried* to only accept friend requests on Facebook with my real world friends, where I do not worry about them seeing photos of me in odd situations or notes where I discuss personal details. I do have a five people on my Limited Profile, which are people I have communicated over email with, but haven’t met in person yet or don’t know particularly well.
I suspect my guardedness does limit the appeal of my blog and it’s content, but as others have mentioned, I am definitely not a full-time blogger (and not sure if I really want to be either even if I could - so perhaps this is comment is moot).
Each blogger will have different comfort levels in this area, so I am curious where others draw the line and what criteria they choose for various types of networks (Facebook, Flickr, LinkedIn, YouTube, IM/AIM/GoogleTalk, etc.)? For example, on Flickr do you make a point of limiting the types of photos you show publicly? If so, what are your criteria? I still haven’t made my own consistent policies yet!
Perhaps some of your have two profiles. One for your blogging persona and the other for your private life? Where do you draw the lines?
Thanks,
S
SP says...
BTW when I asked about policies on the types of photos to make public on, say, Flickr, I wasn’t thinking of obscene nude photos, but more would you show photos of (for example) your family on vacation or not publicly?
Simonne says...
For me, there are two completely different worlds. None of my friends uses any social media, nor do they blog, so almost all my online contacts are names linked to images, articles, ideas.
When I’m not at my blog, I’m usually sleeping. And sometimes I dream of blogging.
jayne d'Arcy says...
This is a tough one for me. I know, if I ever want to get beyond earning a few cents on my Zazzle stuff, and a dollar off Big fish Games, then I need to pay more attention to this “availability” thing. That also means being more social and socially networked than I’m comfortable with. (I have a panic attack social disorder and began using the computer because of being unable to deal with people.)
One thing I do know… I do NOT want people calling me. In almost 15 years on the computer and online, I’ve given my number to three online friends. And that’s the thing, we’ve got to be really good friends before I talk to you. I really don’t want customer type calls.
This is helpful, though. Thanks for the article.
Ronald Huereca says...
SP »
On Flickr I only have public photos that I wouldn’t mind the world seeing. I do have special albums that are family only, and some albums that are friend only.
On Facebook I usually only add people I know from somewhere, such as through this site or offline. Most people only see my limited profile.
You bring up a good point about privacy and how willing one is to put themselves out there. Sometimes I like to err on the side of caution and not make it too difficult for people to reach me.
Ronald Huereca says...
jayne d’Arcy »
For the amount of time I’ve had my Skype username out there, only two people have contacted me. One of them called me. It wasn’t too freaky. It was almost like taking a business call.
Thanks for the compliments on the article.
Ronald Huereca says...
@SP,
I’m not sure if you knew this or not, but my work filter blocked your blog as showing “Adult Content”. Damn Websense. Just FYI.
Jeffro2pt0 says...
Well let’s see here, I think I open myself up for contact quite a bit when compared with others. I’m always looking to create more relationships with those in the world of WordPress and what better way to do that than to be accessible via a number of different methods.
I agree with your stance on showing Flickr photos and the like. Doing posts like these lets your audience know that you are a human being and that your blog is not on auto pilot.
Of course, the amount of availability for contact is entirely up to the individual. As was mentioned above, too much availability could lead to not getting anything done.
All in all, good post with lots of points.
Gebäudereinigung says...
Hey, i find this comments very interested. Thanks and Regards from Germany
i want a six pack says...
as addictive as blogging is, some people need to take a break from it