Friday, November 8, 2013

The Death Of My Blog?

                                                           

Dear Readers,
I have frequently given serious consideration toward ending this blog.  I have probably written as often, if not more, than any blogger out there today.  I've done so in an effort to promote my blog and cultivate a significant number of loyal followers.  However, it has become increasingly difficult to promote my blog with social media or on other internet sites.  On November 7th Craig's List made my efforts even more difficult when they re-designed their boards to prevent the embedding of a site link to blogs or for those who desired to promote their business.  Many other sites likewise ban the posting of links to blog sites and I simply don't have the expertise to market my blog as others have.

Frankly, I had hoped that my Kindle Giveaway contest (http://justcommonsense-lostinamerica.blogspot.com/2013/10/kindle-giveaway.html) would spur a revival of those who sign up as followers and email subscribers to my blog.  While I appreciate the few kind folks who have signed up, the numbers are so small that I feel like I'm writing for myself, or for a very small audience of readers.  That is essentially "talking to oneself" which can lead to insanity...or something like it.

I am not killing the Kindle Giveaway contest.  So I will continue to blog until the date of the contest drawing and will award a Kindle E-Reader to one of my loyal readers who are so deserving, having loyally followed my blog for most of its life span.  

However, after the drawing, if I have not seen a large increase in reader followers, I will terminate the blog on the 3rd anniversary of its beginning.  I doubt that it will be missed much, given the thousands of blogs out in the blogosphere today.  

My blog has been therapeutic as I worked to win my fight against cancer.  It has afforded me the opportunity to share my life with others, especially my children who now have a written history of their extended family, as I have written about family and friends, and love and fear and death, and all manner of things.  I would guess about two-thirds of my blogs are politically or socially related with a good third of them about people I have loved and respected and places I've lived and loved.

Many of you have become dear friends.  When I lose a reader, when months or years go by and I do not hear back from them I mourn the loss of their friendship.  Perhaps death or sickness has taken them away; folks like Jo, and Pammie Jean, and recently, not hearing from Rebecca leaves me sad.  For those of you still with me, those who take the time to comment or praise, or critique, you have been the oxygen that breathes new life into my efforts.  It has been for you that I have risen each morning, looked around at the world, and wrote about it.  It was always with the intention to touch your heart in some way.

So, let's get through the holidays, let's see what develops in the next seven weeks, but I suspect my "followership" will not go much higher than those 35 dear souls who have seen fit to sign up so far.  So, I fully expect this blog is in the last couple of months of life.

Meantime, I'll be writing about national issues, about meaningful Christmas experiences, about people who make our lives richer and meaningful.  And I'll do my best to make it interesting or humorous or heart-touching for you...until that last day when I write the last word, "Telestai...it is finished."

Thanks for reading.


18 comments:

dirtblack said...

That sucks. I do enjoy reading your blog with my coffee every morning.

Carol said...

Please don't go! :(
I sooo enjoy your writings. I do not take the time to read much these days, as I'm busy building my business. HOWEVER, I always take the time to read your blog!! My husband actually told me about you. He found you in the boat forum.
In hopes you'll change your mind.

A Modest Scribler said...

Dear Carol, one of my earliest and most loyal readers. You are so sweet and I much appreciate your thoughts. I checked your profile long ago and so admire you getting into such a natural and healthy business. We've exchanged comments now and then and I always appreciate your comments...how something I wrote correlated with something in your own life...those are the most meaningful.

We'll see, dear. I've gotten several emails this afternoon from folks who say they read me, but have not registered as "followers" so I am miles and miles behind three year old blogs such as mine, blogs that indicate as many as a thousand followers. If I could get one fifth of that I'd probably soldier on...still have two months left..with an open contest, so we'll hope for the best...Please thank the hubby for me for the referral. :)

Ralpheboy said...

You can't stop now. It would not be fair!

Unknown said...

I hope you carry on with this, as I feel the message you bring is valuable, you've the ability to articulate what so many feel and believe. Your blog has fostered many a discussion or debate with friends and family for me. And these are the talks we need to be having in America now. It's a mess and men like you offer strong and concise arguments for the conservative right.

Robert said...

please don't stop!! Your blog is one of the best.

Anonymous said...

Please don't go... Your blog is the voice of sanity in a country led by a megalomaniac community organizer with no real world experience.

Even now I can see this Ponzi Scheme melting down on its way to complete failure and complete collapse, but not before destroying too many people with the loss of their good healthcare insurance policies!

You need to help keep the light on this incredibly stupid fiasco! Keep up the good work!

A Modest Scribler said...

Anon, if you support my blog, please join my "followers" group.

Unknown said...

Hate to hear this after I just found you. Your blog is a shining light amongst the mass garbage of pop culture and misinformed "experts" blogs. It's rare to find someone using logic before they speak anymore these days.

A Modest Scribler said...

hang in there Trevor..it ain't over till the fat lady sings. :)

Unknown said...

I hope you don't. You touch so many people with it.

Unknown said...

I hope you don't. You touch so many people with it.

A Modest Scribler said...

Thanks Tammy.

Rebecca said...

I am still here; been crazy crazy - maybe I don't comment, but I'm here.

Rebecca said...

I am still here; been crazy crazy - maybe I don't comment, but I'm here.

A Modest Scribler said...

Whew! So glad to hear that Rebecca is alive and well! Hand not heard from her in a long time so feared she was ill. Don't scare me like that, People! Drop a note once in awhile just to let me know you're okay.

Rebecca said...

You can't go, absolutely not. Yes, there are a lot of blogs. However, there aren't many good ones. You quitting would be a huge loss to me and too many others I'm sure.

I joined your blog when you asked specifically in a post. I think perhaps there aren't a ton of joiners is because it's not that easy to join. I had to go reset my google password to do it. Who knows their google password? I have no less than 20 passwords, work systems, credit cards, banking, etc. it's difficult to keep track of what is absolutely necessary, let alone optional stuff.

It's kind if funny actually, there is so much "security" now for the Internet. All these passwords must contain certain characters and change ever 90 days. I keep my passwords on a sheet of paper hanging on my office wall, where they are "secure". :-)

Rebecca said...

To many others, not too.

Every 90 days, not ever.

(I'm not completely illiterate!)