Update (8/17): The blogger at Media Lies gave me one of the best compliments I could ever receive as a blogger:
“But you, my dear, are a phenomenon. Unique, refreshing, stubbornly principled and amazingly fearless. I read you every day but don’t get to comment nearly as much as I should. I can count on one hand the number of bloggers who truly amaze me routinely. You are in that list.”
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I read a rather depressing post yesterday by technology writer and blogger Nicholas Carr, whose blog I read through Bloglines. In “The Great Unread,” he writes about the disillusionment “long tail” bloggers feel. Be sure to read the comments, which are more optimistic than the post.
The long tail is a statistical distribution model like the bell curve. Wired Magazine editor Chris Anderson wrote an entertaining and informative book on the subject called The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More. It’s a niche world out there, and the Internet is responsible for weakening the “hit” paradigm and opening up a marketplace of almost unlimited choice. Anderson’s book is a must-read, and I’m not being paid to say that.
In the context of the blogosphere, the long tail refers to the vast majority of bloggers who aren’t on the A-list and will never generate lots of links or readers. At the “head” of the curve are the Malkins, the Instapundits, the Daily Kos crew, and others. In the “tail” is everyone else. Some of these bloggers get a few thousand readers a day; others a few hundred or a few dozen.
Carr calls blogging an “innocent fraud,” a reference to a book on economics of the same name. The term is a euphemism for “lie,” and Carr believes the assertion that blogging is “open and democratic and egalitarian” and different from mainstream media is an innocent fraud.
I’m linking to the post because I think a fair number of bloggers feel this way. Speaking only for myself, blogging is open and democratic and egalitarian in the sense that starting a blog is free and non-discriminatory, and relatively painless to set up. The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it, but you have to be realistic.
Bloggers who feel disillusioned with blogging are probably the ones who e-mail bigger bloggers for links but never get linked, or those who make no effort to generate interest in their blogs (by trackbacking to and commenting on other blogs, participating in blog carnivals and round-ups, communicating with other bloggers via e-mail, etc.), or who constantly compare their blogs to others.
There is no affirmative action in the blogosphere, and for that I’m glad. People link to bloggers they like, bloggers who share their views and write good posts. It’s voluntary. There are no government quotas to fill or entitlements to hand out.
Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for blogging success, and success is relative anyway. Sometimes the planets are aligned just right (figure of speech, Christians!), and things come together for a fortunate few. In my case — which can be considered an example of “success” — it was a combination of an edgy writing style, unorthodox political views (because of my race), and dismantling the Christian-as-doormat stereotype. I’m not easily intimidated by detractors (particularly the ones too faint-hearted to use their real names) and loudmouths, especially intellectually, and I dare to think differently. My sex, race, and faith helped me stand out in the crowd.
Last year, Joe Carter at Evangelical Outpost wrote a helpful series called How To Start a Blog: Tips and Suggestions for Launching a Successful Blog. Check it out.
Beyond that there are no guarantees. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: Blog because you like/love it, not because you want to be read and linked by “A-list” bloggers or to be paid or to change the world. If you want to be linked by others, link to them. If they have a linking policy, read it and follow it.
(Good news for Blog*Spot bloggers: Blogger is finally updating and adding features.)
Addendum: Independent Conservative notes that Blogger.com still has no trackback feature. Uncool, indeed. The link back feature, or whatever it’s called, won’t cut it. What’s the deal? Blogger was one of the first platforms out there. Owned by Google now, it should be cutting edge.
Unrelated Update: Pictures that lie.
Update (8/17): Interesting response to Carr.
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{ 28 comments }
I’m part of the long tail and I don’t care. Several times during the past few years, I’ve gotten as many as one hundred people showing up daily. Other times I will go for weeks with no visitors at all.
Who cares, it’s a hobby, I enjoy it, and blogging keeps me out of trouble. I could be doing something stupid like running for public office.
Well said, well put, well argued, Ms. Barber, but you left out the one thing that makes you successful. And that is, you’re beautiful, because you speak the truth.
Blogging is an outlet. For writing talent, angry frustration, or a desire to be seen and heard.
Some can make a living in this outlet. Others will not, and will inevitably drop the hobby that simply isn’t lucrative. They didn’t find the need that wants to be filled.
For the rest of us, it’s a lovely world of people to meet, places to go, and sights to see.
Your Corner is all of those. Thank you.
Thank you for spending time here, PB. - Admin
Thanks for the compliment, Gawain.
Patch, I remember when I was getting 300-400 readers a day, and I was very grateful for those readers. I thought I’d reached a peak and couldn’t believe that many people wanted to read my opinions. Even if 10 people read your blog every day, that’s like a small study group. A hundred a day is like a freshman college class. You influence those people with your ideas; they in turn influence others.
I don’t know nuttin’ about blogging or what goes on inside the bubble of the blogger’s world.
Neither do I know why talk radio works for some program hosts and is only a pathetic attempt for so many others.
As an active blog reader and talk radio listener, I realize that there must be an “authenticity” factor to attract my attention and to hold it over time.
Sometimes, when LaShawn goes a few days without a post, I wonder if she has burned out. It must involve a lot of time and attention to keep a successful blog going.
I am not surprised that there are main-line blogs and myriad mom and pop blogs. There are “Crystal Cathedrals” and pop up churches in strip mall storefronts, too.
The difference between aspirations of “success” and the realization of success is an age old conundrum. It is not unique to blogging.
It’s not a compliment, which is flattery, Ms. Barber. It’s a complement, which is sincerity.
Notice the folks at Google/Blogger never give their users an easy way to manage trackbacks. Very uncool.
Personally I don’t know if being the “most popular” is a good thing. Long tail bloggers have less pressure to please the ears of the masses and can simply say what needs to be said
. The “most popular” have to consider advertisers and other business relationships that bring the weight of political correctness. People like Dr. Michael Savage break that mold.
To me there is “John McCain” popularity, where you say what might please the most people. And then there is the Tom Tancredo popularity, where you say what is true and are the “most popular” in the circle of people who appreciate hearing the truth, but you know you’ll never be the “most popular” overall. Which is probably why Tancredo is in the House and McCain in the Senate.
I have a similar view of blogs. And of course I am commenting on this blog because it’s great
. La Shawn is a respected voice in the Congress of blogs 
.
Helio, business - not burnouts - usually keeps me from updating this blog every day; I blog for clients during the week, too. Blogging is in the blood. Even when I’m tired of it or disgusted by what’s going on in the world or in the blogosphere, I blog.
IC, I try.
Another thing I appreciate about Blogs is that I can judge what’s there more by content than by appearance or sound, as in television or radio. Somehow, a truer voice comes through. Of course, I’ve been wrong before!
Ya know, you are the ONLY ‘big time’ blogger I have ever talked to about a link swap, the ones you named aren’t even on my everyday ‘read’ list…
But I DO have some Pajamas Media types linking in one of MY blogs and blog rolls… That was a bit of a surprise…
And on that note, I will engage in some ‘crass’ advertising…
Reject the U.N., my new blog and Blog Roll…
And La Shawn, you KNOW I love ya…
I’m a good example of a tail blogger: I blog about a narrow subject, with some departures, but I really enjoy it. I didn’t get into it for the numbers but because I want to express myself in ways that I can’t do elsewhere. Also, I’ve gotten an endorsement from a popular language blogger, so I feel honored, even though my numbers aren’t like his.
The blockbuster blogs have been featured in the media–on TV, radio, or in articles–so those appearances have enhanced what they’re doing. And some of those bloggers have written articles and books elsewhere, and since their blog is mentioned, people go to it.
I’m sure if I were to write some articles, I’d get more readers, but right now I don’t have a reason to do that. It’s just very satisfying to blog.
I’m fairly new to the “blogosphere” - started reading MM as as result of the “save the towers memorial fracas”. Before that, I read a couple of newsgroups regularly and had interracted regularly for a number of years. One of the attractive things for me is the absolute equality of the internet - one can be old, young, fat, skinny, abled, disabled …_anything_. The only relevant fact is that you can present your ideas, and those ideas will be accepted, rejected and/or disputed. You can have - through various newsgroups - an interest or hobby that is shared by a few dozen people in the whole world, but you can connect with them through the internet, whereas before, you would never have known they existed.
I like the political blogs because I feel like the “silent majority” need be silent no longer. I always felt like odd man out…the MSM was so liberally oriented that I felt completely alone in a political world. No more!!!
I like the milblogs because the going is tough, and it’s especially tough if the MSM is your only source of info because they’re so negative. I need to hear the _good_ news - it keeps me going.
I also like the discussion. I don’t think I could blog…and I don’t think I could be a writer. I’m just not original enough. I’m good at editing, and like to discuss what others blog about, but without a whole lot more free time than I have, I’m limited to responding. Don’t know if free time would make a difference but it’s irrelevant till I get it anyhow!
I appreciate those of you who _do_ blog, though. Absolutely.
Thank you!!!
Ah, the Conundrum. Blog for love, or blog to be successful? Ideally both, but of course, its always the first reason we claim. Would I like to be monetarily successful? Yes! I would much rather blog or write for a living than work, but I’m not that great of a writer. Just look at my blog and see.
I just wonder if the “tall dogs” aren’t more grateful for the “tail” than the media lets on. I believe that the tail wags the dog. We link to them and we read them. If we stopped linking and reading, they too would disappear. There must be readers for writers or the whole new edifice will come crashing down. There are exponentially more readers than writers and those of us low on the link chain will either quit or be happy with the occasional link or mention in a better read blog.
Ahhh…
And I thought I was the only one who felt this way.
Nice Read.
But I write mostly for myself…. I have a few places where I can stir interest…and I do o.k. on the search hits from the big search engines.
I accepted a long time ago that I would never get high traffic.
One thing I have to mention… I don’t think of all big blogs as “A-List”, just because they get a lot of hits. That shouldn’t be the measure of a good blog. Because there are a lot of huge blogs (or “A-List” blogs as Ms. Barber would say) that are really crappy in terms of quality writing, quality subject matter, etc. I won’t name names, lol. But there are plenty who fit that mold.
Blogs should be judged by quality of content. I’ve seen several blogs of the “long tail” variety that are great…much better than some of the larger sites. I’m one of those long tail bloggers. And based on quality, I do pretty good.
One big problem for long tail bloggers is that we don’t have the resources that the larger sites have in terms of being able to generate and manage traffic, advertise, etc… That takes money.
But then again, I never meant for my blogging to get a lot of traffic & never wanted to get involved in advertising or being too commercial. It’s more therapy for me. Never meant for it to be a “job”. I already have one of those.
But I can understand how it could be extra frustrating for someone (like the subject of Ms. Barbers article) WHO DOES want to generate a lot of traffic, but finds it impossible to do so, and defines his blog in terms of traffic.
A few things that I noticed right away when I got into this earlier this year was that:
1. Many of the larger blogs started a few years ago, when blogging was in its infancy, and they were able to establish a strategic position/advantage in the sphere by carving out a large audience at a time when competition was low. Over the years, those readers stuck around.
2. Another way that larger blogs are successful is because of access to money and net resources, like I mentioned above.
3. Larger blogs make good use of name recognition. Someone like Huffington for example, a well known writer, was able to generate a lot of interest in her young site. It quickly became a Goliath.
4. A combination of the above… like Huffington…who just poured money into putting together a large site…. she knew some of the other “big” bloggers, knew a lot of big time journalists and celebs who could guest blog for her, and through that kind of strategy she was able to generate a lot of hits.
As a result of this, there has been sort of a Class System (or really a Caste system) that has developed in the Sphere. Larger “elite” blogs have created this monopoly on the sphere and they protect their territory….(mostly through site rules, and not working with smaller bloggers….and by their arrogance). Not all big bloggers are arrogant in this way…. Ms. Barber is one example…or one exception. However, the majority of them are pretty arrogant.
It kills me though that some of these big bloggers are held up as some sort of authority, expert, etc, on the subject matter that they cover, when they are nothing of the sort. There are many smaller bloggers who have just as much education/experiences as the larger bloggers (in some cases more), but aren’t sited nearly as much….because we haven’t been on FOX news, or we don’t have Huffington or Malkin as a sir name.
It’s really all about name recognition…and who you know…. and how much time you want to devote to it. Someone like Kos for example….does it full time. That was never the plan for me…
I’m o.k. with a limited audience. There are a few advantages to being smaller (if that’s what you want & what you accept when you start out).
I didn’t have huge expectations when I started…. I started it as an experiment. Therefore, there aren’t too many things that get me down.
I’m new at it and lovin’ it. Got tired of throwing soft things at the TV and repeating myself to family members! I’d love to develop some sort of regular following - it may come in time.
This was good to read, as it is easy to get discouraged… (if a tree falls..) but I think I scored one or two good ones this week and it went through the roof and on to other countries. Made my day - so I won’t get discouraged.
I think I may find some new favorites in this comment column. You are already on my blog roll, so I’ll stay tuned.
Thanks for the feature.
Count me as at the tip of that “long tail.” Writing–good writing–is as much craft as ideas and I consider my blog the place where I practice my craft as well as try out my opinions. I can tell how well I’ve done by the number of comments I get and how often I’m linked to. The epitome was a link by Michelle Malkin and a shout-out by you, Ms. Barber.
Writing is a lonely art and a blog helps provide instant gratification and feedback.
La Shawn! It’s been a while!
Anyhow, great post here. One of the reasons I haven’t commented lately is because things have been going so well for me. I know what you mean when you cite the “long tail.” I was certainly a part of that for a LONG time. Then, I caught a hint. I decided to scale back on the Bush-bashing and opinionated screeds on national and international issues. I’ve concentrated my site now on local stuff and I’ve found quite a following. I’ve been averaging about 2000 hits per day and about 1200 unique visitors for the past two weeks. I’ve found that “getting out there” is the best thing for a blogger. I go to meetings, political rallies, and talk to local and national politicians about “stuff.” Turns out that my local focus has worked. My site and I were name-dropped in the local newspaper two weeks ago by that paper’s lead columnist (and they provided a link on the paper’s online edition!).
I’ve never had so much fun in my life. I go to political events and people say THEY READ ME. It’s quite gratifying. I was once thrilled to get 100 people a day reading my site. Now that things keep going up, I don’t quite know what to do with myself.
Hope you’re doing well!
I originally started blogging as an alternative to talking to myself but at times it’s been just about the same thing. I’ve only been at it since April but I’m finding that the key is to stick with it, even on those days that very few readers show up, because I know from experience that I lose interest in blogs that are only updated every few days on some kind of sporadic “schedule.” When readers learn to expect something new everyday, even if it’s only two or three posts, they will check back often.
What I enjoy most is that I’ve built a little community of a few dozen regulars who in turn are contributing to the growth of our community by telling their friends about the site. I don’t expect to ever be one of the big-time sites, and I’m not sure that I’d like that to happen even if it were possible. But I’m enjoying myself and I’m having a great time watching the site slowly grow from month-to-month…and I don’t feel like talking to myself anymore.
Well, I liked that Blogger didn’t have trackbacks because of all the hoaxes and fake trackbacks.
I’m still new and very ambivalent about the whole thing.
I’m surprised I’ve kept mine going for 4 months now.
Does anyone else feel this way: ….that you really don’t want anyone else to read your blog?
It’s not a self-confidence thing; I like my own writing…I just get embarrassed, at times, to think that the whole world could see.
I think it’s like a stage fright type of thing.
You like to perform….you just don’t want anyone looking at you.
Strange.
But that’s the false security of having no comments or links……you lull yourself into thinking nobody’s reading, and nobody’s gonna see it.
A false sense of privacy.
I just like taking a blank canvas, starting with nothing….and creating something.
I’m really not in it for the popularity; and, I’m wondering if Bloggers that are big, ever wish they could go back to the days when they were relatively unknown, and the comforts of anonymity.
There is a price to be paid when you are that popular.
—the increased scrutiny/loss of privacy etc.
Excellent post La Shawn (and hello!). I said some very similar things in comments on a post elsewhere just yesterday.
“At the “head†of the curve are the Malkins, the Instapundits, the Daily Kos crew, and others.”
Being more than a little modest here, aren’t you? Some bloggers are “big” because they got in early, before the wave. Others are “big” because they were big in “real” life, so people were drawn to their blogs. A few bloggers are “big” because they have something truly interesting to say and they say it in compelling ways.
The rest of us (or at least some of us) blog because, if we didn’t, we’d explode.
But you, my dear, are a phenomenon. Unique, refreshing, stubbornly principled and amazingly fearless. I read you every day but don’t get to comment nearly as much as I should. I can count on one hand the number of bloggers who truly amaze me routinely. You are in that list.
I think I’ve always been a blogger. I just needed the technology to catch up to me. Used to drive my then-husband nuts that I would always cite the source of the interesting info I would tell him.
I don’t understand the bloggers who have trouble coming up with enough things to blog about. I always find more material than I have time for. It’s like antimedia said, if I didn’t blog, I’d explode. Readers are the icing on the cake. Commenters are the cherry on top.
Defining success is important. I have probably one of the least read blogs in the universe. But I enjoy it anyway. Writing a decent post clarifies my own thinking. In some ways I relate to Glamchild above, who said, “Does anyone else feel this way: ….that you really don’t want anyone else to read your blog?”
I’m a professional pianist, but my love is classical piano. Nobody much wants that, so I play dinners, churches, weddings, funerals, etc. I’m background music. As a music teacher, very few students “want it” enough to do the work. But still I labor months on something like a Bach Toccata. It’s worth doing, so I do it for myself, and if someone hears it and gets something, that’s a bonus. There is a freedom in that.
LaShawn, this is a great post! I found your blog via the link from Michelle Malkin’s blogroll. I regularly visited her site BEFORE she transformed it into a blog, as did many others. I’m sure that carry-over played a big part in making her blog popular. Sometime last year I blogged extensively about the “A-list” bloggers and the curve and all that. Who cares! If 3 or 30 or 300 visitors drop by my blog, I’m happy! I’m a blogspotter using Haloscan for trackbacks along with blogger comments, linkbacks AND Haloscan comments, figuring if anybody does want to comment I’ll make it easy for ‘em.
Any bloggers reading this please remember most people aren’t going to comment or trackback, and those counters you use aren’t always accurate. You may never make the A list, but it’s easy (especially on a blog setup like LaShawn’s ) for people to engage in dialog— I love the way it works here, and it’s something I wish I could entice MY readers into doing!
Hmmm—I’ve got an idea! LaShawn, As soon as I submit this comment, I’m going to start climbing up your comments list, I want to visit every blogger that’s taken the time to leave you a comment or trackback on this subject.
It’s nice too when those with different points of view are allowed to comment and offer input. A lot of bloggers edit them out, ban them and some (like Michelle Malkin) don’t even give the option for readers to comment! Thanks, LaShawn, for all of your wonderful posted articles and stories, and thanks for letting us other folk put our little two-cents in!
I’m back! I just finished visiting all of the blogs listed in the comments above mine (#29)… It was fun! While visiting blogs was easy, in some cases it was downright impossible, if not frustrating, to try to leave comments! I’ll bet this is why many readers don’t even bother to attempt to comment! A lot of folks don’t have time to “register.” A lot more aren’t going to stick around and wait for Haloscan to be “contacted” so it can display any comments! We need a better system!
Well, my very first visit over here. I have heard a lot about you (positive of course) and I understand what people like about your blog.
Well, I do participate in memes/themes and I get the hits I first was looking for. But now and then I ’sneak’ in a personal post and people still read…
What a refreshing find you are Ms. Barber. I have just stumbled upon your blog (or some might consider it serendipity) and am utterly smitten with your degree of informed detail and impassioned voice.
I need to be disciplined though and revisit when I have more time. Although I do not subscribe to many aspects of a conservative ideology, I do respect your poised rationale and your real-world pedigree. Your openness blows me away.
Though I don’t necessarily share some of your political views, I can’t help but feel connected to you (as a black American woman who also has graduate degrees in English and Law).
I’m linking to you, not under any quid pro quo premise, but because of your distinctive and enlightened perspective with which I’d like to become better acquainted.
Thank you for this article. It was informative. And encouraging for a “tailer” who just needs to keep honing her writing skills and to be reminded of her “true” motives for blogging.
I wish you all the best and will visit often.
Yasmin
This is a very good post. I have to be honest. I love blogging. I love it because it is fun. I ALWAYS viewed the “long tail” and A-list bloggers as folks to be respected and watched but not my cup of tea. I played the game (using the word “game” in regards to a system…not to minimize) and I know that I could generate a LOT of traffic if I kept up working the system.
But that’s a lot of work! I fully respect those who can do it who aren’t selling out and adding to the cultural conversation instead of being a thought vampire and gaining notoriety off of other people’s hard work.
I blog because I love to and have issues I want to talk about. I have a regular readership but it certainly isn’t on the scale of Instanpundit or the legendary La Shawn ;). Even so, it is a quality community and people I care and pray for, even some I cherish.
Blogging isn’t a lie but it does follow the rule of all humanity: Leadership = influence = communication = relationship. If those four elements are in place, your blog will be successful if you have a handful of readers or millions.
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