Friday, August 22, 2008

If You Blog It...They Will Come...

Okay, I have a gripe. I've been blogging for about two months now and I try to post something new every 3 or 4 days (or so). I also try my best to at least have the main subject of my blog, no matter in how many tangents I go off, to be martial arts related.
It is getting tougher.
Since I am newer to martial arts, I don't have all these wise insights yet. (I know occasionally, something terribly profound comes out, but it's usually a fluke, but not always!)
Over at the Aikido & Judo blog http://www.mokurendojo.com/, blogger Patrick Parker gives kudos to 3 other m.a. bloggers who have great blogs but haven't posted in awhile. I commented, telling him I thought that was a great idea. (Although these bloggers weren't major offenders like some I've seen on TopList. I actually believe some of them have decided to no longer blog for whatever reason.)
So, here's my gripe (and yes, also finally my point)...I joined TopList of Martial Arts Blogs when I started MAM in June. I was the last blog listed - number 96 at the time. Now I'm 101! And I blog regularly and I don't think the things I write are that boring or lame that I can't even beat out the bloggers who haven't posted since December of 2007!!!!
Hey, I'm not asking to be number one. Or even number twenty. I just want a respectable place amongst my blogging peers...peers that post more than once every 8 months! So, I emphatically beg you...RATE MY BLOG...PLEASE!!!!! (oh, yeah, and I hope you won't just rate it, but actually READ it sometimes as well!) Thanks!!!

15 comments:

Perpetual Beginner said...

I can do that.

Also, don't worry too much about being profound. A lot of my better posts have come out of general musings about a class, or a particular student, or some such. Write first, worry about profound some other time.

Perpetual Beginner said...

Done! I had completely forgotten about that site! I signed up for it ages ago - a year or so, maybe? I'm feeling pretty good about being 21st, since my blogging has been somewhat sporadic over the summer. I would guess, based on what I'm seeing, that once you get up higher, dropping down the listings happens pretty slowly.

Anonymous said...

Rose here. How are ya? Boy oh boy do I have stories for you since school started! It's been pretty hectic too. I missed the last night too and was pretty bummed cause I really wanted to do the gauntlet :) I love wearing my pink! Class will come soon and you will feel better. Sounds like you got a lot of pent up energy that needs to be spent - sparring anyone??? hehe Sorry to hear about your mom - poor thing. She is having a rough way to go. I saw you out in the moonlight the other night hehehehehlol :) and I voted for your site (gave you an A plus :) What is this about a job interview? Did you ask them if you could practice karate in the bathroom, lunchroom, and at your desk??? hehe Cheer up - not much longer to wait till class. Do you know what the Tuesday night session is going to focus on?

Slop -n- Goulash: Dinner of Champions! said...

Rose - no Tues.night session yet this coming week - only Thurs. and then we start Tuesdays again the week after that.

The new job I will be the only one in a huge office by myself many days so I would imagine I could do alot while working! Wish me luck!

Steve said...

I don't put a lot of stock in those sites. Your RSS feed can hide viewers from you if you aren't tracking it. For example, I have about 160 subscribers to my blog many of whom don't give me any page hits because they read my blog through their RSS reader.

If you want to know how many readers you have and whether you're building a readership, I would recommend going over to Feedburner and following all of the instructions for setting up your RSS feed so that you can keep up with who has subscribed to your blog as well as who is visiting your blog.

RSS is great, btw. I usually don't actually go to the blog unless I'm leaving a comment.

You have a nice blog.

Slop -n- Goulash: Dinner of Champions! said...

I know, Steve, it's very superficial on my part, but it's kind of a Sally Field said, "They like me...they really like me". Just reaffirming to hear it. I don't even know what an RSS feed is, but if you've read my blog, you know, I'm self proclaimed "Research Girl" and I'll find out! LOL And thanks for the compliment. It makes me feel good because I respect your opinion - both MA wise and blog-writing wise!

Michele said...

I enjoy reading your blog. You have good insights and perspective.

I started using Feedburner a few weeks ago. I am now adding subscriptions to my reader. I have been blogging since Dec. 2007 and I still feel behind the times. I am slowly navigating my way through the blogging world.

Anonymous said...

MAM,

As the of the world's top-ranked martial arts bloggers, I feel qualified to say that every spot on that list is a respectable spot.

I am not necessarily the Internet's most skilled martial artist, and certainly not the best writer. I took first place ranking through overwhelming effort--more than one hour of blogging work every single day. Frankly, my martial art has suffered for the time I spent blogging instead. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Slop -n- Goulash: Dinner of Champions! said...

Chris, I sure hope you don't think I was slamming anyone - you especially. More of a "why me?" kind of thing. But as people comment, I feel better and better and care less and less if I move lower and lower on the list. Thanks for commenting! (And I read your blog all the time and I agree- you do a great job!)

Anonymous said...

Here's something that may make you feel better. I am an RSS reader. I've never commented before. I am a 50 year old widow who is 60 lbs overweight (used to be 110 lbs!) and I used to practice Karate in my 20's. I left it because of a back injury, two small children and a divorce. And I got fat over the years and very out of shape. Recently I found your blog and have found through your blogging the inspiration to get back into karate. I am training slowly and losing weight and plan to have my black belt by the time I'm 70! (See- training very slowly- LOL).

Anyway. Thanks for being a really cool inspiration! Who cares about the ratings. You are at the top of the list in my opinion!

Slop -n- Goulash: Dinner of Champions! said...

Oh, Peg - you've made my day! An inspiration - me? Whodathunkit? Thanks so much for commenting! I hope you do so more often! The reasons you stated you read my blog is my "honorable" reason for starting the blog, but I have to admit that my "selfish" reason is to indulge my obsession with talking about m.a. all the time! PLease keep us posted as to your journey!!!! YOU GO, PEG!!!

Perpetual Beginner said...

Hey! What's wrong with talking about MA all the time, I'd like to know?

Way to go, Peg! To quote my grandmother when my mother said she was too old to go back to school. "And how old will you be in ten years if you don't go back to school?"

Slop -n- Goulash: Dinner of Champions! said...

Perpetual Beginner - There's absolutely nothing wrong with talking about MA all the time...if you're one of "us" LOL My mom is sick of hearing it, my husband is sick of hearing it, my son who takes karate is sick of hearing it, but just maybe there is a glimmer of hope that my enthusiasm has sparked yet another fire...my 18 yo daughter says she wants to join the beginner adult class this Thursday! So, we'll see...

Anonymous said...

Don't let it get to you. I'm a veteran of this internet stuff (since the mid-90's) and have managed several blogs in the past. There are almost as many blog ranking and directory sites as there are blogs. Don't worry about how you rank in any one. Stay on topic, write with passion, and people will find you.

Slop -n- Goulash: Dinner of Champions! said...

m.a.l.s. (him)-
The passion? No problem. Staying on topic - just as of late - tougher, but I'm trying. Thanks!