Welcome to 2012! WordPress kindly sent us an annual report for this blog, including lots of stats on readership and writership. One of my favorite things to learn about was the top commenters in 2011. We appreciate all of the comments our readers leave for us. In fact, comments are the lifeblood of this little blog. They keep us writing.
I think folks who don’t blog themselves tend to not understand what a measly little comment can mean to a blogger. Blogging has very much become a one-way street: you write, putting all these things out there, and supposedly people read what you’ve written, but you rarely hear from these readers. It’s like a conversation where you blab on and on, and then the other person stares at you blankly. I’m sure everyone can relate to how awkward that is in real life, and it’s kind of the same in blog life. When we write something, it means the world to us to get a response. Silly maybe, but it’s true.
A lot of people have told me “I don’t have anything good to say!” Trust us, even a simple “That’s so funny” or “I like that idea” is like gold. So I guess this is my pathetic way of encouraging (asking? begging?) you to help make this a two-way conversation in 2012. Let us hear from you! I know it seems like a lot of work when you’re speeding through a million websites at once. I’m guilty of being a lazy commenter on other blogs for that very reason. But it makes us happy, and the more we know people are reading and interacting, the more we want to write.
In return, I promise to be a better commenter in 2012. Mike doesn’t really read blogs, but I read a lot of them, and I’m going to do a better job of taking a second to let people know I’m there, I’m reading, and I want them to keep writing.
And with that, I’d like to say a special thank you to the four people who left us the most comments in 2011. You gave us the motivation to keep this little blog alive!
1. Daytime Night Owl with 36 comments.
2. Nanette with 22 comments.
3. Kate with 8 comments.
4. Angela with 7 comments. (This one didn’t have a link, but I think I know who this is!)
Thanks to all of you! I wish we had some special prize we could give you. Our undying adoration?
Happy new year everyone!
shanandmike
Shannon
Mike
I completely understand what you mean about commenting.
Happy New Year to the both of you! Wishing you dreams come true this year.
Awww, thanks for the shoutout!
One of my goals for 2012 is to be better about blog commenting. I blame Google Reader for making it too easy to just skim and move on.
I’d also like to thank you for being such a great commenter on my site, too!
xoxo
I am one that reads your blog (both of them) and rarely (never?) comments. I am so horrible about commenting on all blogs I read, but I love “hearing” from you each time. I don’t have a blog, but one of my “goals” for the new year is to let bloggers that I adore know it by commenting on posts I love.
Okay, I’ll comment more on your blog if you comment more on mine
I think it is obvious by my lack of commenting but I always forget that you have this other blog! I’ll do a better job of reading and commenting in 2012.