Taking a moment to reflect
Wow!
That’s about all I can say after yesterday’s excellent interview with Barbara Swafford, which brought a deluge of first time visitors, commentators and e-mailers to BloggerDad.
To those of you who came back for seconds, thank you for sticking around.
Now the question I’ve been mulling all day is – how do I follow such a great interview? What do I do to turn you first time readers into regular readers?
Do I write a funny post? (well, humor wasn’t what brought you here to begin with, but it is a large part of my writing).
Do I write something inspirational? I’ve noticed that many of you write blogs on self improvement, but that isn’t my topic of expertise. I’m very much a BEFORE picture in any BEFORE and AFTER success based ad campaign.
Do I post another interview? No, that will come next week. Besides, I need to be able to win you over on my own. While I absolutely LOVE interviewing others, the whole point of blogging for me is to write content that you enjoy.
So, what do I do?
Rather than write a new post, I’ve decided to reflect on what this blog is and what I want it to become. For those who don’t know me yet, it may offer some insight to what BloggerDad is all about. For my regular readers, my future plans may be of some interest.
Seven weeks old
This blog was born seven weeks ago – still an infant (though it poops a bit less than a baby). I don’t really have a niche, instead combining humor, inspiration and thoughtful posts on a variety of topics. I also write a bit about being a first time dad to a 17 month old Energizer Bunny Boy. But this blog is more than the sum of those parts, I’d like to think.
It’s also about community.
The most surprising thing I’ve learned in my short blogging career is how many witty and thoughtful readers and fellow bloggers have welcomed me and stuck around to help make this such a great community. Thank you to all my regular readers and posters.
Here are some random statistics about this blog, which may help you get to know this site a bit better:
- I’ve posted 35 posts (including this one)
- I’ve received 422 comments (not sure how many are mine)
- Dave Fowler has been the biggest commenter to date, with 58 posts. way to go, Dave!
- Sean Platt is the first blogger I struck up a great working relationship with
- My most common tag is humor, which makes up 17 of the posts
- My least common tag is product reviews, making up one post
- I’ve conducted four Eight Questions interviews
- Two of the four interviews went longer than eight questions
- My most commented on post is yesterday’s interview with Barbara Swafford with 35 comments to date
- My most commented on non-interview post is about my most embarrassing moment
- There are three posts with zero comments, including my first one
- The post I am proudest of is this one where I talk about being a father and writer
- My least commented on humor post, which I thought was among my best written, is this one
- My best title for a post is, Your toddler is Full of Crap
- My most motivational post is the one where I asked what the history of your every day is?
My biggest regret to date is that I haven’t been more active on other blogs. I really do try to keep up with everyone who visits here and comments. However, at the moment, I must put most of my time towards searching for a job. I’ve been out of work since June and things are getting tight. Some might argue that I shouldn’t blog at all, but I NEED to keep my writing fresh if I want another writing job. I hope that nobody has taken it personally that I’ve not commented on their blogs more often. I hope to change that soon. Besides, I have a whole bunch of NEW blogs to read now!
I must learn to better balance my reading and writing time.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, I’m still refining what I want BloggerDad to be. I’m attempting to make the site more user friendly. I added some new WordPress plugins including a Top Commentator and Most Recent Comments features in the sidebar. I also added the option to go back and edit your comments within five minutes of submitting them, which will allow people to avoid typos or retract particularly incendiary comments (I’m talking to you, Dave Fowler!). If there are any other features that you feel will enhance your visit here, feel free to suggest them to me.
In the future, this site will continue to do what it’s doing. I will post certain items on a more regular schedule, as I do with Eight Questions on Wednesdays. I may also write a bit more motivational type stuff, though I haven’t determined if that will be a separate blog. Maybe you can tell me.
There is one change which will be coming as soon as next week. I’d tell you more, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Let’s just say it will be fun.
Well, I’m beat. Today has been busy. I don’t know how Barbara does it!
as always, thank you for reading,
Blogger Dad
(the end of this post has been edited. See my comment below for an explanation)
20 Responses to “Taking a moment to reflect”
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@Dave Fowler: You have an addiction. We might need to stage an intervention.
@Blogger Dad: Congratulations on your recent blow up. Now that you’re famous and stuff (hehe), don’t forget to get some bling.
(23.)
Mate, you’re only 7 weeks old! Don’t beat yourself up. Most people don’t get this much traffic in 7 months.
And look at that won’t you, I’ve morphed into two people on your top commentators list. Am going to have to alternate between the two now to catch up with Dave . . .
Matthew : LOL. I certainly have an affliction – not sure about an addiction.
Tara & Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk: *sticks tongue out and blows raspberry*
Hi BloggerDad
It’s nice to see a newbie doing well. Like you I am also very new to blogging. I started blogging only a few weeks ago and am in my 5th week. It’s sounds like you have received so much support and I have just browsed through some of your posts and they are interesting. So, count me as one of your regular readers from now on. I did not know of you until a few minutes ago, but am impressed with the progress you have made and your community attitude! Keep up the good work.
You’ve done amazingly well. You’re still getting to know your new baby and it’s a way to go before you even hit the weening stage!
I’ll stick around to see how you baby grows, for sure.
Still here after yesterday! It’s the underpants.
I didn’t get a chance to comment yesterday but it was a great interview and this post was very interesting. I liked reading back into your past.
Dave’s 59 is too funny. You’re doing amazing things in a short time. Even without our relationship, you’d have one of my favorite blogs. Often, I save your posts until the end because I know I will enjoy them. I can’t wait to see where this takes you; I’m sure it will be far. I totally feel your pain about commenting. I was great to begin with, but it’s getting near impossible to maintain. I don’t know how anybody does it. You are a great writer, and you made my words with our Wee-Book better.
P.S. I love the idea of the timed edit plugin. I should do that too.
TO ALL – The last line in this post said, “How many of you will stay beyond the interview is still up in the air.” That was originally part of another paragraph during a first draft and not meant to be used to close the post. It was, in fact, meant to be deleted, because it didn’t go with what I finally decided to write. However, sometimes when you backspace over selected text, it fails to delete. So, just a quick note to let you know that I was not intending for this post to end on such a grim note.
Dave – LOL.
Matthew – Nah, fame is not what I’m seeking. Are cookies considered bling? Because I’d really like some.
Tara – I wasn’t intending to talk down my accomplishments, as I explain above. As for you morphing into two Tara’s, I thought that was funny. I guess it means you’re so cool, you’re too much for just one woman.
Rarestone – Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate becoming one of your regular reads!
Mom/Mum – Thank you, I appreciate the support. The weening stage, eh? Can I keep my blankie, at least?
Betsy – LOL! Maybe I should wear my underpants like that in real life, also? Thank you for coming back.
Jen – Thank you for your comments. I appreciate them.
Writer Dad – Thank you, I appreciate the kind words and it’s been great getting to know you through the blog and our conversations and projects. Yeah, the timer thing, I got from Barbara. It totally rocks. I feel bad when people make a simple typo which I know they would’ve caught if they had a chance.
Blogger Dad, I think you have done such a fantastic job in such a short space of time.
You are funny as hell.
You’re also good at gluing all the words together in a way that is appealing to read.
I think your strength lays in your ability to delivery a wide variety in your style of writing but always being faithful to your Blogger Dad voice.
It’s been great to watch a community grow around your work here.
For me your best post is The History Of Every Day. I liked it so much I stumbled it!
I’ll be watching your progress with great interest.
You da man!!
Hey BD, I Just checked. You’re on Alltop. Congrats!!!!!!!!!
I’m with Dave (and allot of the others commenting) in that you’ve well-ahead of the curve in figuring things out. What you’ve done in 7 weeks took me more than 7 months.
I tried this and that trying to give it identity, I tried to monetize it, I read ProBlogger cover to cover. I tried to hook up with the A listers – basically I just plain tried too hard and sacrificed the blogs true identity in the process – Me.
And then, quite by accident it started to click. I found myself writing on what was important to me and what I cared about in a tone fitting to who I really am. Despite needing income being that I’m laid off, I opted to purposely not monetize it, and I blew off the notion that it had to cater to some niche. Basically, damn convention and do what you want.
After that readership went, the quality of my content got better (but not my spelling), and I started getting comments from really cool readers (other than my family). And I started making connections. Before this, I was basically just a poser.
I guess my point in all that isn’t to draw attention to myself, but rather to put some perspective to the fact that you are doing this now. For you to be where you’re at in 7 weeks is a credit to you. Kuddos.
Dave – Thanks! That means a lot coming from you. I appreciate the support and the stumble! Also, I got an email from Alltop saying that thanks to my email, they checked out my site and liked it. I had no idea who emailed them. I went to the site when I got the email and didn’t see my name anywhere, so I dismissed it as an error! So, thanks to the mystery emailer who pimped BloggerDad.
CK Lunchbox – Thank you for your perspective on this issue. I appreciate the kind words and wisdom you shared. Thanks for being here.
Well, Blogger Dad,
You did the impossible…you followed up an interview with the incredible Barbara Swafford with a blog I wanted to read! You sent me to other blogs of yours that I had never seen before!
I think it’s time to face the truth…you are NOT so new as a blogger. You have become seasoned. You have your own voice. And people LIKE that voice!
Carry on, BD, carry on!
Rita
I am back for seconds…so it’s gotta be good (ha! ha!). My advice…just be you! When you stick to what you know…that’s real. Real is good. Gosh in 7 weeks you have created a great blog! I’m hooked! You’re on my blog roll now
Hi Blogger Dad – Thanks again for the kind words.
As to what you should do. Write from your heart, just like you’ve been doing. Be yourself, and enjoy every minute of writing. Don’t worry about the stats, how many comments you get, or if your blog grows. When you follow your heart, everything will fall into place just as it should. You’ll be a success. I’ve not doubt.
You are already a success. And no, it ain’t bling unless you can hang it around your neck.
I loved reading about the past seven weeks. It was very inspiring to me. I love your writing and the subject matter you address. Of course, being a dad of five kids would certainly draw me to someone who relates so well. I look forward to what’s up and coming.
Well, since you asked for suggestions … would it be hard for you to add something like “older post” and “newer post” or something like that so when I’m 2 weeks behind on reading I don’t have to keep going back to my reader and opening your next post. (ok, so maybe I’m a little lame for using My Yahoo, but it works for me!
Erm, Writer Dad – you too please, pretty please
And if I’m just really blind and it’s already on your page could you just lie to me and say you added it???
Thanks! I love reading dads’ perspectives on parenthood!
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