Nov 16 2007 at 1:31pm
If a tree falls in the forest… (or why I blog)
I’ve had about 4 posts in a row now with no comments. No, I’m not really counting but it does tend to get discouraging. If I’m writing this blog, and nobody reads it, does it matter? Should I even bother writing it?
Sure, getting comments isn’t a true sign of readership, but I think it’s at least an indication that people are finding my posts to be interesting. But I don’t know if it’s really about that for me. If nobody was reading, would I still write?
To be honest, that’s not the main reason why I started this blog. Sure, its nice to share knowledge and insight with others. But it’s also good to get things off my chest. Sometimes I tend to over think things and can’t get them out of my mind. Writing them down, even if nobody is reading it, gets it out of my head. And then I don’t have to think about it anymore.
But don’t get me wrong, I do really appreciate and value any participation I get here. It’s amazing to think that there are people out there who are interested in what I have to say. And I do really want to engage with you, if you’re reading. Thank you for being here 
I could take a different approach with this blog, and write more linkbaity type stuff, although I tend to save that sort of content for A Padded Cell. I don’t really want this to be a place where I’m just trying to get more traffic or more readers or more comments. I want it to be authentic. I know I need to try to draw out the readers more than I do. I also should be linking out and participating in discussions more than I do now. Maybe those can be my goals for 2008.
So that’s why I blog. For any bloggers who happen to be reading, why do you blog?
Kimberly Blessing November 16th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Megan, I’m always reading! However I mostly follow via RSS, so that I can download lots of blog posts to my reader and then read them during my weekly commute. Since I’m offline for most of that commute, I rarely comment anywhere… and I’m awful at remembering to check out a site later to comment. I will say that I found your pre-installed fonts article very useful!
Like you, my blog doesn’t get much comment traffic — however I’m finding that people sometimes e-mail me privately in response to a post instead of commenting. Does this ever happen to you?
As for why I blog… I guess it feels like a requirement these days for anyone involved with the Web to have a blog. That’s a lame reason, I realize, but at least it forces me to participate in the community!
Fredrik Rubensson November 20th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Hi Megan,
I have been reading your blog for quite some time now – and I really like your style. (I try to remember how I got here in the first place but no – it is not in there.) I have been blogging since 2000 or so (when blogger.com first appeared) and have never had any traffic whatsoever. My last effort is together with a former colleague which makes it much more fun – and at least we occasionally comment on each other…. And then there are some friends that comment verbally when we meet.
Megan November 22nd, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Thanks for reading, both of you
Tadek Chávez September 14th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Hi Megan I just found your blog a week ago and really liked it! And for you to keep blogging and stop thinking nobody reads you, let me say I just purchased a domain for my personal website and right now I’m designing it, so thanks for the inspiration!
Really nice to meet you here and thanks for all your posts, really helpful most of them.
Tadek Chávez September 14th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Sorry for my english, I speak spanish! (mexican)