I don’t want to bitch about getting more readers for my blog (I love you all, I really do), or when someone posts a link to my page on their Facebook wall. Cuz, well, that would be the biggest sin in Bloggerdom. These are great things, and I enjoy seeing the random spike in hits, particularly since I haven’t posted too many posts that I’m proud of these past four months….but something must be said about the posts that never die.
What is it about hating or loving something too much that attracts people’s attention? This, this, this, and (Oh GAWD) this post in particular just never seem to die. What is it about lists that make them so easy to read? I got sick of Cracked.com‘s list style ages ago. Why do so many people either love or hate Taiwan? Can’t some of us just be indifferent to it?
I can tell you, if it were me, I’d want to read the more in-depth posts that actually talk about something like this one or this one. I spent a lot of time on those posts! That last one has only been viewed 26 times in all of forever. That’s ridiculous! I’m disgusted with this unspeakable outrage and I insist you read it. Right NOW. And then comment. A lot. Do it. Come, just do it. Come on. I know you want to, I know you do.
For those inquiring minds out there that really want to know what living in Taiwan is all about, then may I just recommend this post? No? That doesn’t excite you? How about this one then? No? Ladies, what about this one? Aw come on. Go ahead. There’s nothing like getting harassed on the streets of Taipei to brighten a girl’s mood.
For the record, this has now happened, not once, not twice, but three, yes three times. I just wish they all had such good lines. Maybe I should have gotten that first guy’s number? Who knows what sort of adventure I might have gotten into then. It might even have involved a deep dark creepy basement and dirty stained mattress somewhere. OR maybe I could have a sugar daddy right now. Sometimes that doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Kidding. Or am I?
Still no, huh? Ok then, what about the quirky things about Taiwan like this or this? Annoyances? I’ve got some of those too.
How about it, should I write a Part Two list on things I love and hate? Should I write shorter and snarkier posts with less emotion and depth? Tell me, honestly, cuz sometimes I’m tempted to just go off. What better place then a public blog available to all 6+ billion of us, and that will follow me for the rest of my life, right?
I can’t think of a better, more daring, and smarter idea right now.
What are your thoughts?
It’s all just so very random. Who knows why some posts get read more than others? Some posts I’m really proud of because of the words or pictures but get minimal response. Others that I think are weak do well.
Maybe if I put the words “Justin Bieber” in the title they would draw more attention? Who knows, maybe I just increased the SEO of this post by using those very words!
haha thanks for that. I know its random, its just frustrating sometimes, you know? I mean, what goes wrong with those deep introspective posts? Did I just tag them wrong or sth? How irritating!
you know i am always game to hear about what you hate- reminds me of the good ol days =)
Dude I miss you so much! Where’s my long e-mail???? I gotta hear from you soooooon.
Yeah it is random luck. I divide my blog posts in popularity based on Google searches and WordPress popularity. I got 7000 hits on my blog post titled the Election day drinking game right around you guessed it, the election day.
Others its not so cut and dry. I’ve spent hours and hours on posts writing short stories only for a few likes and that’s it. The post I got freshly pressed on took me maybe an hour to write.
Doesn’t that just burn? I mean, really..doesn’t it?
Yes it does burn. Its why I cry myself to sleep and why I drink.
It more or less bugs me, I compare it to trying to figure out the correct formula for winning the lottery. Its never going to happen.
Also you’re right about List format.
It does get old, but its way more popular so that’s why I use it so much.
What about the post of “I bought my ticket to US!”? When will that post be up…soon, hm?
no Mish you’ve been there done that, it’s time to explore the rest of the world.
Yes it is. Yes it is. February will give me a chance to do that
Having the best blog in the world is like having the world’s biggest zit.
I’m pretty sure its not like that at all.
Mish! Thanks to this post I realized I had missed one of your earlier posts! The one about blood types! How could I? I thought I had read absolutely every one of your posts… Weird… Anyway, I left a comment there too;-)
You’re still my biggest fan. No worries
I enjoy all of your posts, but the thoughtful ones especially!
Honestly I have never figured out why some posts make freshly pressed and others don’t – it doesn’t seem to be about the quality of writing or the photography. I suspect it’s largely about timing – not only what is currently a ‘hot topic’, but also when you post. I seem to get a lot of likes to posts that I post at about 10-11 PM EST. Don’t ask my why. Probably people who should be sleeping are trolling the internet at that time.
Also, blog readers are the lowest common denominator. As in, the more people understand your posts, the more people will read them. At some point it becomes quality vs. quantity – how many lists (easy to understand and read) are you willing to do to get a larger audience, vs. writing about what you feel deeply about?
I’d encourage you to keep writing whatever you feel like writing – the blogger audience is fickle.
Thanks! I agree its seems to be random and I should just write about whatever comes to mind. I’ve never been good at following a standard format anyway. This ol blog hasn’t actually been about “travel writing” in ages and ages. Who wants to write about just one topic anyway, right? How boring.
It is a bit disconcerting when you really take the time to think out a post and put some real effort into it. You make it flow, it is clear what you are writing about and it has thought and emotion put into it, and what do you know, next to no one reads it. My somewhat ranting style seems to get the most views for me. I do like that WP has added the number of viewers as well as the number of views in the statistics now though.
Keep up the good work, I like reading your posts. I may not get to them as they are fresh but I do try to catch up when I have the time sit down and read them out.
-Mark
Thanks Mark! I’m glad they added that too. I sometimes think that people only want to read light and funny posts on WP and maybe that’s what attracts all the attention. Who knows? I like writing the other ones anyway because that’s stuff that I actually care about.