•9:01 AM
Once again, Pezmama (who is Jane Austen's newest fan, I'm thrilled to report) has come to my rescue with a topic for the ongoing extravaganza that is the Scavenger Hunt. Here my assignment for the day:[Post] on blahhhhing: the sometimes subtle difference between blog posting that is "for clicks" and those that are truly an endeavor by the author to engage the reader... and how to tell the difference between the two.
Posting for clicks? Whaaaa?
My reaction upon reading her suggestion was the same as the one I had when I first learned as a poor, innocent child about the 'facts of life':
People really do that?
Subtle difference, indeed. Or perhaps I'm just not as discerning as I had thought; I have never noticed this posting-for-clicks thing happening before. But maybe there's a whole dark, secret side of blogging that comes under the heading of Too Much Information. Maybe it's happening all around me, every day. But I can't bear to think about that.
I have heard of commenting for clicks. This I understand, sort of.
There seems to be a need on the part of many bloggers to widen their circle of influence (or at least awareness) through random commenting on the posts of the more popular sites; maybe posting for clicks works the same way. But surely not on the blogs I read.
I am picky, picky, picky about the blogs I visit. It's not that I'm a snob; it's just that my self-allotted time on Planet Blog has to be short. I read the blogs of those with whom I feel a connection; when I comment, it's to let the blogger know that what s/he's written has resonated with me in some way. Of course I hope that the blogger will visit me and find something of value at my site in return, but I've been around long enough to know that many blogcrushes languish unrequited.
And that's okay by me. You all are at least as busy as I am. You spend time on what you really value, just as I do. Let's all resolve to be secure enough in our various and unique blog personas never to post or comment purely for clicks.
Say it with me, friends: I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!
20 comments:
I also have never heard of that- I wonder if I've ever seen it and not recognized it - what would that post look like? Like you, I have limited time and my love of all things bloggy comes next in line to many, many other things!
I can't even figure out how that would work.
I've noticed two different things with commenting - those people who comment because they appreciated your post and could relate on some level, and those people who comment out of obligation. It might be to increase their readership, or it might be because of other reasons.
I can't wrap my head around posting for clicks, but I sorta get commenting for it. You feel less alone when you look at your site tracker ;)
You read my blog - you really do love me! ~sniff sniff~ I have to confess, this is a foreign concept to me too. Unless you count those days I put up some pictures since I haven't got anything profound to say. =)
I found my way here by Google-searching "posting for clicks." Since that wasn't the purpose or intent of your post, I'm now trapped in a Paradox Vortex.
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
Although I just noticed they have those little barbecue sauce covered hotdogs and a ready supply of colored toothpicks here in the Vortex, so maybe I'll be okay.
I don't know if I've heard the term before, or if I coined it myself, but posting "for clicks" is something I wonder about often. VERY often. (And maybe "posting" was not exactly the right term because it isn't always that cut and dry.)
All sorts of carnivals and memes exist whereby one must, by the rules of participation, include a link back to the originator's blog. Blog "awards" are particularly questionable. (Some of them quite laughable I dare say.) I often wonder if the creator really wanted to honor someone or if it is just another creative way to bring more traffic to their own blog.
I'm also reading an ongoing saga on one blog right now that has certainly kept my interest... and has also kept me clicking over to see if the next installment has been posted. I don't believe I'd read the blog for any of the other content. But the saga I am interested in is now 20+ installments long, and it does not look to be ending any time soon. The feeling that I am being used to up someone's stats gets stronger every time I read another "To be continued..."
I think it's everywhere... though I will say that I think you, Luisa, have much more discerning tastes than I do, so I have no trouble believing that you have escaped all this silliness in your blogging about.
I haven't heard that phrase before ... does it refer to posting on an easily Googlable subject in order to gain lots of random hits? Or does it mean posting a kind of blah post just to keep readership up? I've never done the first (in fact, I get kind of annoyed by the hosts of Googlers that sometimes get pulled in by apparently innocuous references), but I sometimes do the second - if it's been awhile since I posted, I feel some (self-imposed) pressure to put SOMETHING out there ... and usually as soon as I hit "publish" my bloggers' block dries up and I'm full of ideas again.
Isn't NaBloPoMo a huge posting-for-clicks fest?
I thought Nablopomo was more of a challenge to see if you could keep posting - I know I've learned from it, and I know I'm burning out a bit.
The posting for clicks concept is new to me, too.
Hmm.
Well re the blogging-and-commenting-for-dollars or clicks or whatever it is thang: as an occasional 'anon' and/or 'what's my line?' commenter here, my only motive - that I'm aware of - is to leave a comment for YOU. Period. Said comment might even relate to something you've written in a post.
That noted, I do have a blog now. At some point, I'll share the address with you. But I'll send it via e (something I would have done anyway, but my motives would surely be suspect if I left it here right now).
Thanks. I really try to do things for myself, but I sometimes get caught up in the numbers. It's ultimately not about that for me and I needed this reminder.
Well- here is my take on it.
Friend has blog. Friend blogs once every week or two. Friend finds out about payU2blog. Friend now posts 5+ times a day about products I **MUST TRY NOW**** because the more people who visit her blog the more things she can advertise.
Friend is posting for clicks, and friend has lost my interest. (Even though we're IRL friends long before the invention of the internet...)
I don't read blog to find out about products that the blogger is being paid to talk about. I read blogs to find out about people's lives that I care about, learn about worldwide events, to be given food for thought, or to be entertained.
I don't mind and even enjoy the occasional product endorsement from something that will change my life- or at least make it a little bit simpler/easier. But if the product endorsement is paid I'm less likely to try it because I just don't believe it's sincere.
So- that's my take on blogging for clicks.
How to recognize it? Usually they have a product disclaimer on the side stating that they are 'paid to blog and endorse products'. Generally they post with 3 or 4 links to random products in their posts.
This is just to let you know today's post resonated with me. (grin)
Well, if I WERE posting for clicks, apparently this is the topic to choose. ;)
Karen and Thalia's Child--thanks for visiting!
Kimberly, my love knows no bounds.
RaJ, help yourself to the hot dogs; there are plenty.
Pez, I hadn't thought of memes and carnivals and awards. Duh. That could make sense, although again, with the blogs I read, they seem sincerely intended.
B&P, I refuse to entertain the idea that you might ever be blocked. And perhaps I'm naive, but I began NaBloPoMo with Jen's intent in mind--it's all about the stamina and the bond with others. Like a marathon would be. Not that I'd ever try one.
Jack, I owe you at least one email in the worst way.
Good point, Amber (you know someone who gets PAID to blog?!?)
AV--That's what I'm here for, babe. ;)
You're funny. I cleverly disguise my blocks by just posting anyway.
I've never done NaBloPoMo, but I had the impression that it involved all kinds of secret groups and mutual support and inter-visiting - kind of like all of you move onto your own planet for a little bit and then rejoin the rest of us in December. You mean you're just blogging as usual, only more often? ;(
Secret groups? Mutual support? Inter-visiting? I must have missed the memo on that...I've just been blogging as usual, only more often. ;(
Ohhhhhh! Mouse clicks!!!!!! Duh! I was reading all this and thinking everyone was talking about cliques. Couldn't fathom how that would work, seeing as blogging is so totally uncliquey.
I had no clue you could blog for money. How weird is that? And how ginormously time consuming.
"blog crushes"
love it
I was contemplating leaving such a comment, but thought it would have been cheap. As long as its out in the open I'd like to leave a comment so you know I have entered this world. Probably would have entered sooner if i didn't fear your intellectual judgement, but as you say you are very picky I now have nothing to worry about
blog crush?
your nablopomo endeavors have resonated with me for most of this past moth.
I'm honored to be one of your chosen few...:)
I don't post for clicks, but I sometimes title or tag things to make them easier to find for people searching on that subject.
I didn't know people commented to get others to come to their posts. I comment to build a relationship with the person whose blog I am visiting. I know people have visited my blog when I have made comments. I had many writers come from your blog after I commented on the cut and the backyardigans band aid you posted on. I think they were sorely disappointed to find I have a few sentences once in a while that appear to be genius, but it sometimes gets lost in my everyday writing. This was a good post, and something to think about. I like to visit blogs for the value to me and the relationship I have with the person. There are a lot of great blogs out there, but like you said, there is just so much time in a day.