Hello? Hello??? Is Anyone Out There???
Last week when I asked ElectricVenom.com readers to vote, Survivor-style, on which blog I could cut out without disappointing anyone, I was really surprised how many people voted to keep ChubbyMommy.com.
Let’s face it: you don’t participate in comments much and, for whatever reason, many of you who run your own blogs haven’t linked this site. So, yes, traffic is fairly regular around here but most of the time when I post here I feel like I’m blogging into a great, big, empty, sucking void. How else (besides comments and links) should I have known that you liked this site?
Franky, I was furious about that until one commenter at EV pointed out that she didn’t feel the need to link this site because she knew she could get to it from any of my other pages. Now that is something I hadn’t thought about.
Fact is, the internet is built on links and we bloggers look to links and comments for validation that we’re doing something that other people actually enjoy. I look for those things and I’m certain that if you run a blog you look to them, too.
So I’m going to ask you to do something for me — and I’m going to make a promise, no, make that two promises — in return:
1. If you read this blog and run your own blog, please link this site and leave me a comment under this entry to let me know that you have. If yours is a diet, health or fitness site I’ll add you to this site’s blogroll. If your focus is elsewhere, I’ll either add you to one of my other sites’ blogrolls or I’ll make a point to link you at least twice in entries on one of my other sites over the next month.
2. If you’ve been a “lurker” here and haven’t commented, now is the time to reveal yourself. You’ve been reading about my weight struggle, my lack of willpower, my poor self-discipline when it comes to diet and exercise. Don’t you think it’s time you share something about yourself, too? I promise I’ll respond!
Until then, I have to be honest, the sites I’m running which receive more comments and links (which even my newest site, Blogging For The Money, gets more of than this blog does) tend to garner my attention. Who wouldn’t feel that way, after all?
After five years of blogging, I know there can only be one reason this site has yet to inspire readers to link and/or comment here: a lack of engaging content. Short of giving out custom printed calendars or other forms of bling-bribery, I can think of only one way to fix that: by asking YOU to tell me what you would like to read about over the next few weeks.
That’s right, I want your topic and article suggestions. I want to know if you’ve got diet, fitness, exercise and health questions that I can research and answer for you. I want to know what you want to know, if you’re brave enough to leave your ideas in the comment section. Tell me, and I’ll deliver.
But in the meantime, I’m growing rather frustrated feeling like I’m blogging in a vacuum that , if you know what I mean.
17 Responses to “Hello? Hello??? Is Anyone Out There???”
I rarely comment on blogs. I think the most commenting I have done on any blog ever is on ITTIB.
I just started reading this blog right before you said you were going to ax it. I read it a few times before, but I was not ready to face up to my serious need for weight loss. So, I stopped reading blogs that had anything to do with it. (You know, when you have a problem, denial is the best way to deal with it, right?)
I can tell you that the reason I have not linked is because I don’t have a weightloss blog. I did, but I stopped doing it.
I did just start a new one, though, but I have no links up yet.
I am not quite ready to announce to the world that I am fat.
I can’t speak for others, but that might be why you get fewer links. Linking to a diet blog is like telling the world that you need a diet blog.
I will link to you as soon as I get a chance to do a blogroll on my new site.
I do appreciate that you are going to keep doing this, though. I love your blogging, and I love having you in my virtual support group (read: feed reader). I need someone to remind me to “make peace with my body.”
I don’t think I ever actually read your ‘about’ page until just now, and it is absolutely lovely. Thank you for sharing that.
Charity’s last blog post..My Bloggy Giveaway Is Here
I have Chubby Mommy linked. I had to. You took the link off EV!
I’ve been fat all my life. A size 12 (as a teenager) is the smallest I’ve ever worn and that dress wasn’t fitted around the hips.
I’ve joined gyms, did the peanut butter diet, the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, hypnosis, had my stomach stapled (DON’T do that!) and more that I can’t even remember. I’m not sure yet that I’ve made peace with my body and I really hate watching my daughters begin their battles with weight.
I’ve recommended this blog to them, but I can’t even get them to read mine regularly.
My blog is more general interest (or reflective of my ADD) but I do blog fairly often about health in general. About the only time I’d blog about a diet is if I thought one was extremely dangerous. I may blog about bariatric surgery sometimes, but it won’t be friendly to the procedure.
So… even if I don’t always comment, you can be sure I’m reading.
Donna B.’s last blog post..$1.4 Million Buttocks
I’m here! I don’t comment much around here, but I have had you linked for as long as I can remember.
Amanda’s last blog post..Close Call
Like Charity, I started reading this blog juust before you were going to close it, so I was sort of waiting to see whether it would stay or go!
Whatever happens with it, you’re in my blogroll, and I’ll try to comment more often now that I know it’ll be around a bit longer!
Marianne’s last blog post..Good morning, sunshine!
Ya know I got your back
Trish’s last blog post..A Wonderful Day
I’m here too! I’ll add a link from my blog – which I admit I haven’t been posting to because writing “I’ve gained three pounds” isn’t something to be bragging about! I’m visiting family and eating well here is HARD. Hhhmmm, I guess I can write about that. Ha!
Tsoniki’s last blog post..After One Day – New Skincare Line
I’ve had you blogrolled since I started last summer. Dunno how much traffic I send your way since I don’t get much, but I know my mom found this blog from mine.
As for article ideas, I have two which should/could provide ongoing blogfodder, and hopefully some food for thought (pun intended).
1) – Recipes. Everybody likes recipes, recipe submissions, ideas of yours, substitutions for this or that, etc. (Case in point – I sub low-fat plain yogurt for sour cream in everything that calls for it because I can’t eat sour cream.) Recipes that take specific dietary needs into account are always good – if you have a severe allergy to peanuts, what can you eat that avoids peanut derivatives, for example?
I’d be willing to guest-post on that one, certainly.
2) – Effective shopping for food, feeding a household on a budget, etc. This one’s near & dear to my heart for obvious reasons because of where I work. I got to thinking, however, when I was reading Megan McArdle’s post and Tom McGuire’s response about how much groceries actually cost, and how many people would/could actually feed a household on Food Stamps or similar programs if they had to. How do you make $1.80 per meal last for a month? Do you know? Could you do it?
wg’s last blog post..Camera blogging, and how to be frustrated.
I read all of your blogs. I love your writing style, your wit, everything. I admire your skill and can’t seem to get enough. So yes, I read all of your blogs.
I read this blog because I know you are struggling and that helps me put life for myself in perspective. We are all struggling with something whether it be weight, work, finances, etc.
I have faith in you, Kate. I know you can put your mind and body behind doing what you want. You’ve done that with your blogs (making money, gaining an audience) so I have faith that you’ll be able to take care of your body, too.
Besides, I love reading about your cooking. Gives me ideas. Post more recipes and cooking experiences on your diet. The food you eat is healthy and that is what my family is looking for.
Chelle’s last blog post..Urgent! Family Needs Your Help!
OK, I admit to being a lurker. I don’t have my own blog and wouldn’t want to because I realize that I am not that good expressing myself and I would probably forget to update it enough to keep even myself interested.
At any rate, being slightly (well, maybe more) overweight, I do enjoy reading your trials and tribulations about keeping the weight down, trying to get some hope for my own ability to loose the fat.
Keep up the good work.
I’m one of those blog voyeurs. I just read and rarely comment. I admire those who blog copiously. Don’t know how you find the time, but I’m glad you do because I just started reading this blog. It attracted me because I’m a Chubby Mommy too. Just started a new lifestyle change ( not calling it diet anymore) so I need the motivation. I’ll keep reading if you keep blogging- and maybe I’ll comment once in a while-it does keep my hands busy and out of the refridge!
I am glad to see you are not going to close this one down. I think you are fun to read. And I will be adding you to my blogroll just as soon as I update it…..which shouldn’t be too much longer. I been doing stuff like that…got side tracked a little with having to completely reinstall my system but now I am back at getting my little list of stuff done and doing the blogroll is on that.
Annie’s last blog post..A different kind of Monday
I admit I’m a lurker. I don’t have a blog and I don’t usually comment, but I really enjoy reading all of your blogs. You are witty and I get a kick out of reading everyday. I will try to comment more. I’m overweight. I haven’t always been that way, but the last five years, I keep packing on the pounds. I’m 37 and have a 9 year old and a 15 month old. I just ordered one of these: http://thane.com/products/fitness/orbitrekelite/orbitrek.php
Have you heard anything about this product?
And I can totally sympathize with the night eating. My little boy has been getting up again around 1:30-2:00 am and I’m always eating at this time! I have to stop! You definitely aren’t alone. Everyday is a struggle.
I will try to comment more often. Thanks for keeping this blog!
I added you to my links!
and as for posts, how do you have the time to do 5 blogs!?! (although I guess that wouldn’t go on this site, but still, how do you fit it all in?!)
Well well well… this is my first time here EVER and I feel the need to drop my two cents.
Is it too soon?
I don’t link blogs until I’m sure I like them enough to read them. Hell, I don’t even like reading my own scribblings half the time. But, in any case, I had a poke around and I think it looks good here. Also, I’m new to blogging and I see a link as kind of an endorsement. Is that the wrong way of seeing it? OK, now I’m just rambling.
But, I keep a personal blog of sorts pretty much scribbling on about stuff a few people care enough to read about.
Well, I ran out of stuff to say so I guess this is it for now.
I’ll be back!
-Jillian
Jillian’s last blog post..Waffles
Also, I checked out your other blogs and they are great as well
Jillian’s last blog post..Waffles
Yes, we all need links and to know that what we’re writing is actually being read and liked. Thanks for writing that. I love your blog and so I am linking it to my site and letting you know that my blog is about being a shade of green and more earth friendly, healthy, happy and in as natural as you can be while being sexy and sassy! Fun! Thanks!
sommer’s last blog post..Entertaining the Kids While Working From Home
Wow, folks, THANK YOU for the encouragement. I was obviously rather downhearted about this blog when I wrote the entry above.
You’ve all definitely cheered me up.
I really do appreciate it! (Check the blogroll if you don’t believe me.)