1. I don’t reply to comments as much as I should only because I don’t like it effecting the number of comments displayed. Yes, it sounds really silly but I can’t help it. I love seeing the number of comments go up in my entries but not when they’re coming from me. I will only reply if I feel like it’s necessary to.
2. I don’t do link exchanges because it feels contrived. I’m a firm believer of linking blogs that you enjoy reading and not expect anything in return from them. Link exchanges are primarily done so that you and the other person can potentially get more hits and page views, which is fine but I’m already satisfied with the current number of visits I get on my site.
3. I always check for broken links and inactive blogs because I have standards, man! I like to keep my links page active and working, so if I’ve removed your blog before it’s because you haven’t updated in months, and when you haven’t updated in months, I assume you’ve given up on blogging…like the rest of them.
4. When I do giveaways, I prefer them to be discreet and not to be shared with other networking sites. You know what pisses me off? When an entry gets 10x more comments than usual because they’re having a giveaway–it’s like, WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU WHEN THEY WERE JUST BLOGGING NORMALLY? I don’t often throw giveaways, but when I do, the only people who deserve winning are the ones who have already been visiting and reading my blog, not some random asshole who found the link shared on Twitter, and chances are, they’ll never come back to my site again.
5. When I make a list like this, I always like to keep it to five things because five looks whole and “complete”. The 5th one on this list also happens to come with a bonus picture of a friend’s kitty I once took (who is now much bigger and fatter):
i think once upon a time i blogged for visits which was weird bc i didnt have any ads on my blog. now that i don’t regularly comment (though still do read) at a lot of blogs i can see that my counter is decreasing rapidly
oh wells
what can i do
Reply
I think you were reading my mind….
I’ve been thinking about posting something similar to this, but regarding sponsored posts. For some odd reason, those have been driving me bonkers! It seems like all my favored bloggers slowly transition into ad hungry, following wanting, comment needing machines. Once they build up their “name,” all these annoying sponsored posts magically appear every other day, and of course there’s only ONE winner out off 1,000. Bleh.
*excuse my mini rant.
Reply
I like this list and I agree with number 2 and 3 also. On the other hand, I reply to a lot of comments on my blog, so I’m probably the commenter on my blog that has the made the most comments! haha.
I find Link Exchanges/Affiliates sooooo early 2000′s! Indeed it felt contrived, but I guess it’s because many people haven’t established online friendships.
Reply
I never reply to comments on my own blog for that reason, I like the number to be indivdual people, otherwise I feel like I’m conning myself.
It’s sad to see how many people have given up blogging! I keep remembering names and bloggers and can’t find them anywhere!
Five is a good list number. 4 just isn’t as structured. That cat has lovely eyes!
Reply
All of this is amazing, I never really thought about the giveaway thing, it’d always nice to see a fresh new look on the whole “social networking with blogging”, I don’t have much more than a blog, and I am pretty lazy at that even.
I have had 2 giveaways this past year, both ended with some random person winning, and no one reading MY blog, meh…rudey tudeys.
Reply
This whole list is basically me. THANK YOU! :’D Giveaway vultures piss me off to no end.
Pretty kitty has pretty eyes. ^_^
Reply
I always have the urge to reply to comments directly from my blog because well… it’s right there.
I remember doing link exchanges a few years ago.. oh man was that terrifying. It’s annoying to have to keep up with everything and everyone and having to feel obligated to post everywhere. X___X
That kitty has the prettiest eyes! Ugh I want one. :’(
&P.S. yes, Nguyens! I’m quite surprised there aren’t more of us out here.
P.P.S. I love multiples of 5… anything like 4, 9, 6, or x1′s really irk me. 5′s are perfect stopping points for lists.
Reply
I used to think the same thing about replying to comments on my blog but now I don’t mind it at all. I like responding to my readers, it makes it more personal for me. I just divide whatever comment number I have since I know I probably responded to half of them anyway lol. Everyone is different though, and that’s what keeps things interesting!
I’m a HUGE dead link checker and I don’t do link exchanges. Gotta draw the line somewhere
Reply
The only reason why I do a blogroll with blogs is because I’m afraid I lose some blogs that I love to read. I don’t mind the hits at all. However, I love comments
But I think every blogger loves comments?
The kitty is cute :3 I love kittens!
Reply
i don’t like replying to my comments either with the same reason as you.
i absolutely agree about the giveaways thing; i find it so weird!
Reply
I like your blog philosophies. When I replied to comments on my blog, I usually edit the person’s comments and add “Nancy replied: [...]” so that my comment number stays down.
Link exchanges/”affiliation” was a big thing in sites for years. Though recently, that has been dying off slowly. Checking for broken links and inactive blogs means you like to be on top of things! Keeping your site and its connections as updated as possible.
I had a domain giveaway last month and my goal was to basically have 2 subdomain users win… Even though the goal was achieved, there was this one person with a domain who went overboard trying to win. All I can say is… Eh.
Your friend’s kitty is so cute :3. Sometimes, I wish cats can stay as kittens forever and never grow up because they’re usually more adorable that way.
Take care c:
Reply
haha, I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels the same as #1. I know the comments count shouldn’t matter, but I feel bad inflating it with my own replies. I typically only reply if someone asked me a question.
I accept link exchanges, but I don’t apply for them. I feel like if 2 people follow each other, they’ll just naturally link to each other anyway. It’s good that you keep up with your links list though! Broken links are annoying to run across.
I don’t do giveaways, but I agree with you on them. It seems like the people who deserve the prize are your regular followers, not some random person who came by once. I can see why people do them to increase traffic though.
Aw, your friend’s kitty is so cute!
Reply
1. I do the same thing as of recently, because it peeves me to see twice as many comments as there actually are from other people.
2. I don’t do link exchanges anymore. Ever so often I’m asked. Or like when I’m tweeted that a person linked to me on their site, I feel like I’m obligated to link them back, but I don’t anymore. I have my list for me, mostly. It’s more convenient than subscribing via email to blogs, because I tend to have a very horrible habit of not checking my email for a few days and/or not reading some emails for weeks…
4. This makes sense. I have, however, found new bloggers via a giveaway I had in the past, and now we’re somewhat close as far as blogging buddies go. :p
5. Cute!!
Reply
#1 >> I’ve never thought of it that way ever! LOL.
#2 >> This I don’t get with some bloggers. Like why will you link up a certain blog? Because you love reading the inane, funny, entertaining stuff a blogger posts. So yeah, I also kinda despise requests for link exchanges. Whenever I get one on my comments box, I delete it immediately.
Reply
Haha, and here I thought I was alone about not wanting to boost my own comment count — I still, however, comment to my readers because I like the interaction, I just wish there was a way to NOT include my own to the count.
By the way — did I read on twitter that you are seeing Lady Gaga? I hope we see photos, if so!
Reply
For some reason, it’s stuck to me that comments are not to be commented on, so even if there are questions in the comment I don’t usually answer them. Which is somewhat rude, now that I think about it. D:
I used to do link exchange… But a couple of times now my site … uh died… and I didn’t have time to notify bloggers I had link exchange with. So now I don’t do it anymore because it’s just embarrassing if my site died again and I didn’t notify them again. I know how annoying dead links are.
I sort of dislike rafflecaptor. Ever since that thing was created almost every giveaway requires you to “tweet this…” “post that…”
The kitty looks so innocently adorable =w=
Reply
Haha, my philosophies match all except for #4, because I’ve never done a giveaway. However I see where you’re coming from. In fact, I never comment on giveaway entries because I’m usually not interested. I did notice the comment numbers JUMP in many cases.
I actually HATE it when I reply to too many comments. I wish WordPress wouldn’t count comments posted when you’re logged in, aha.
I try to make my lists with only five, but sometimes I go over because there are too much to cover. For instance, my entry about the rude shit that people do.
Reply
” I assume you’ve given up on blogging…like the rest of them.” LOL, this made quit dragging my heels and post my blog up. Haven’t blogged/read blogs since last summer.
Reply
I don’t do link exchanges, either. If I love someone’s blog, they’ll know – I’m always reading and commenting whenever I have something to add to the conversation. I remember way back when (like 2005?) when affiliate exchanges were all the range and you’d swap buttons to include on your sidebar, and if you didn’t comment on the other person’s site regularly your button would be dropped. Gosh, that seems forever ago, and such a silly way to do things.
Reply