Running on empty


Disclaimer

More waffle to keep things ticking along.

Background

I miss the olden days of blogging. When I say olden days, I don’t mean the days when I first started out blogging, as I felt, back then, that I was writing pretty much to myself. I could hear the tumbleweed rolling along the empty corridors of cyberspace after I’d posted another irrelevant post.

I used to picture myself sometime in the future approving comments, replying to comments and commenting on other blogs on a regular basis.

I’d fantasize that my daily visitor numbers would be reaching all time highs, and, on a couple of occasions they actually did. On a couple of occasions.

Nowadays, they are just about bobbing along just above zero.

I appreciate and treasure each and every visit, no matter how scarce they are.

I used to enjoy the search engine terms that were listed in the dashboard, that visitors used to find my blog. Now the list shows ‘other search terms’ or ‘unknown search terms’, without actually listing the terms themselves.

I used to poke fun at spam commenters, but now all I get is Japanese spam that I can’t read and (being honest) can’t even be bothered to translate. In fact, I can’t even be bothered to delete it.

The thing is, I’m feeling somewhat deflated at the moment.

Possible solutions

I don’t want to take another break from blogging, as it is very hard to get back into the swing of things once again. Each time I’ve taken a break I’ve found it harder and harder to get back into being creative. So, that’s now not an option. Completely and utterly out of the question. Cutterly, in fact.

I’m reposting older posts because I feel that’s the only way visitors will actually get to see them. I couldn’t, shouldn’t and wouldn’t imagine a new visitor wanting to search through my entire history of posts since 2010 to find something that I had a little fun with back then, and on the same side of the coin (or the different side depending on how you look at things) I wouldn’t expect regular visitors to remember anything I’ve written years down the line either… I’m really not that up myself.

I’m only hoping that the posts I do repeat are as ‘entertaining’ as I think they are.

A blog isn’t really a place to entertain, apparently, but I’d like to know that anyone who calls by here, however they get here, has a little fun while they are here. Even reading stuffy old waffly posts like this. If I have to resort to (urgh!) social media to promote works such as this, then so be it. Or not, as the case may be.

I’m also my own worst enemy. Time constraints restrict me visiting other blogs and commenting there, as they also mean a delay in my replying to comments here. When I get chance, I visit, comment / like / comment and like as appropriate. Rather haphazardly, inconsistently, and seemingly without reason. No excuse… that’s just how it is at present. I really should work at improving this.

Moving forward

Well. Here’s what’s going to happen. Theoretically.

I may revert back to my original Me! Me! Me me me! blog title. The blog isn’t all about me, but sometimes it is. And if there’s only me here it gives off a nice echo effect anyway.

I may use another theme (again!). One of the boring ones, which will make what I write simply shine. That’ll prove the old saying that you can make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

I may pay for visitors from one of those pay-for-visitors sites. I don’t know of any, but if needs must it’s an idea. It would have to be a cheapo site though, as I need any spare cash I have to keep this Mansion and all the surrounding Grinds running. And pay for the staff. Not that I see any of them either…

I may advertise the blog on the side of a bus… or on TV. I don’t actually mean on a bus, or on TV, rather surreptitiously sticking post-it notes where any chance passers-by may see them. Telephone boxes. Post boxes. Shop windows. Advertising opportunities abound when you start to think about them.

I may write serious posts. Ha! Ha! Ha ha ha!

Finale

To get me back on track, blogging-wise, I’m going to have to seriously prune my reading list. Chop off those I haven’t visited in an age to allow me more time to get reacquainted properly with the ones I really do follow. The pruning shears are quite sharp, so I may chop off more than I intend to… ouch! For that I apologise now.

My links page will, as a result of said pruning, get a complete overhaul. But hey, I think that page was last visited in 1978 anyway. Check it out while links last! I really should be in advertising.

Afterthought

I’ve recently watched the movie ‘The Best Western Marigold Hotel’ (or whatever it’s called!) and one of the lines of the film spoke to me:

Everything turns out good in the end. If it isn’t good, then it isn’t the end yet.

Or words to that effect. It obviously doesn’t apply to this blog, because this place is ruddy brilliant!

Second afterthought

And see… what a good ending! No cliff-hanger. Apart from who’s for the chop…

Mwahahahahaha! That’s real evil laughter, that. Meant in a good way, though. Obviously.

36 responses to “Running on empty”

  1. Andra Watkins avatar

    Tom, I miss the good ole days of the Great Blogosphere, too. I will continue to say it isn’t anything you’re doing. Or not doing. Competition between Facebook and Google (where Facebook makes you pay to be seen by people who’ve already said they want to see you and Google keeps changing their algorithm every few weeks to rejigger who’s going to be homecoming queen of the internet) has caused this decline…….along with the sound-byte usage of Facebook and other social media sites that encourage easy “interaction” for people who really don’t want to do anything beyond skim and click a button.

    I can go back through my stats and see peaks that correspond to specific changes online. You’re right……it’s very frustrating to play by the rules to build momentum, only to have the rules change. And change. And change. I’ve built and lost an audience multiple times now. I used to get over 1,000 views a day on my site. Now, a good day is over 300, and those are unusual.

    Like you, I’ve decided that I cannot read every blogger who follows me, as much as I’d like to try. I spent several months on that hamster wheel, and it was some of the most unproductive time of my adult life. That’s not to say I didn’t meet some interesting people, because I did. A few of them became diehard fans.

    I’ve also paid for things like StumbleUpon (no return), Facebook promoted posts (virtually no return) and other things. All those sites will say I get no return because I don’t generate ‘quality content’, but they make white lists with bigger players in advance, and they give those entities more weight.

    Therefore, I’ve decided to focus on the people who matter to me, to write about what interests me, and to spend as much time as possible facilitating relationships with people in real life. I’m traveling to shake hands with potential readers of my novel and coming memoir. I give numerous speeches every month. I’m using old-fashioned PR tactics to promote my work. That’s not to say I won’t continue to use social media, because I will…….BUT people are digitally exhausted. They cannot process thousands of sound bytes a day. The people in my networks know I have a published novel, and they have all decided what they’re going to do with it, pending some other big development. To find new people who might like my book, I’m branching into other networks, both on-and-offline.

    I’m sorry to write a novella on your post. I’ve followed your blog practically since you started writing it and have grown to view you as a friend. I hope something I’ve shared here will help you, and I will continue to visit.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Andra… and no worries about the novella! 🙂
      As usual, whenever I write a post such as this, you come along with a helpful reply and explanation to what is going on in the cyber-world around us. It is frustrating that we are affected by these heavyweights such as Facebook, but we have two choices… we can either stop or we can carry on.
      I intend to carry on, me against the world and all that! Or so it seems… I will have to make some changes, which is why I posted this regarding cutting back on the blogs that I follow (although I feel that if we all did that, we’d all be in the same boat anyway!) – not meaning to be disrespectful to those bloggers, but to allow some sanity back into my head (I love that hamster wheel analogy!)
      Thanks for sticking with me, Andra… and likewise, I view you as a friend also.

      Like

  2. I used to be indecisive avatar

    I agree with you about Search Terms and Spam comments. There is no fun to be had in them any more. I’m also finding it very hard to find the time to visit and comment on all the blogs I would like to follow, which is why I am campaigning for an extra few hours in the day (not work hours of course!).

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      More time would be appreciated, Elaine. Keep up the campaign!

      Like

      1. I used to be indecisive avatar

        I will. I think we could all benefit! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Visionkeeper avatar

    Hey there TL….Do not think you are alone. It sounds like you think this is afflicting only you. Au Contraire my friend. The frequency of the world right now is on hyper drive and it is going so fast it feels like it is weighing people down. Everyone is exhausted by the continual drama playing out and nothing being done about it. In the states anyway don’t know about across the pond but I would imagine it is much the same. It is a time for introspection anyway, for healing the wounds, contacting our true beings and figuring out where we are going. The Govt led dramas are meant to distract us from this process and keep us on edge but we cannot go there. It will be up to us in the end( and it is quite near now) to bring forth the new world, therefore we must store up our energy by taking things slow right now. We will be greatly needed!

    How about writing a page every week of an ongoing story and then get feed back from everybody. I love your stories so much but always feel sad I will never get to hear more about it other than that one post. You have the definite talent to draw readers in to the stories and offering an ongoing saga will hook them even more. Just a thought.

    I pray I am not on your chopping block. We have gone through to much TL! Stiff upper lip ol’ Chap…Have a cuppa tea and a scone and put your feet up and have some ‘ME’ time. Something will come to you….It always does. Our imaginations are alive and wanting attention from us…Take care….VK

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Hi VK! I think it’s safe to say you’re safe, chopping block-wise! 🙂
      I know these dark times aren’t only affecting me, but sometimes the frustration feels so overwhelming I just feel like ending it. THE BLOG, I mean, ending the blog… but then, whatever message I’m trying to get out (or whatever message is trying to get out through me) wouldn’t be shared with anyone. So I keep on. And I like keeping on, so it’s all good really!
      I like your page a week idea… I just need to come up with a good enough story that will be able to keep the interest, keep me going, and be able to fill the space om a weekly basis. I’ll see what I can come up with. Well, my imagination anyway!

      Like

      1. Visionkeeper avatar

        I loved that one you did about a year ago? where the people were traveling and found themselves at that border crossing…I can’t remember it all but that kind of thing is good. I wanted to know so much what happened next but it never came to pass…You don’t have to necessarily know what the story is, just add on each week from your imagination for that day. Might be more fun. It wouldn’t be as demanding but people would be waiting to touch base with you again…. Worth a try. Keep breathing my friend and don’t forget the fun of searching for tree creatures in your photos….VK

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          That sounds like my Road to Meringue tale… I’ll see what I can do, VK! Thanks.

          Like

  4. Let's CUT the Crap! avatar

    I feel a shift in the blogosphere as well. I’m not sure what its source is. At first I thought: summer but it wasn’t like this last year or the year before (I don’t think). I do agree everyone is exhausted (me too). I keep saying I’m going to unplug more to get to the writing I want to work on but somehow I don’t. I AM time-managing a wee bit better but not enough. Is EVERYone out there rethinking / dusting and cleaning?
    Hang in there, Tom. Somethings bound to change, but what?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Tess… things certainly aren’t as they used to be, but some will say ‘well, that’s progress’! I think we’re all frazzled. Too much cyber activity and all that. However, I don’t seem to have enough time to have spent too much time here. If we keep on keeping on, something will change for the better – I’m sure. Things can’t stay as they are, that’s for sure.

      Like

      1. Let's CUT the Crap! avatar

        That’s the one certainty we can all depend on is constant change. The question is if it’s going to be for the better? Finger’s crossed. 😀

        Like

        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          Of course it’s for the better, Tess. So they say. 😉

          Like

  5. Diane Henders avatar

    What a fabulous line: “If it isn’t good, then it isn’t the end yet.” Love it! And I like your post-it note advertising idea. Maybe I should give it a try. 😉 Looking forward to watching your evolution, as always…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Diane. If you decide to go with the post-it idea, make sure you have a good pen.

      Like

  6. Jo Bryant avatar

    I love that quote from the movie…it struck a chord with me instantly. Blogging has its own way of evolving in to what we need at the time. I just today reposted something [a thing I said I would never do], but after being pointed back to the post I realised that it was too good not to share with new readers who will never scroll back through over 800 posts and therefore may miss it. Where ever you go with this blog Tom I shall follow and be enthralled as always.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I shall be back to read your post, Jo. I tried earlier but that old arch enemy of mine, Time, got the better of me. And thanks for following. It is appreciated.

      Like

  7. prenin avatar

    No worries Tom! 🙂

    I am seriously considering giving up Facebook because of my mother’s ongoing interference and censorship.

    I let her in as a friend and she’s now aggressively monitoring my output and Instant Messaging me if I say anything or do anything she doesn’t approve of! 😦

    Apparently my mentioning my dad trying to prostitute me when I was a kid is either a lie, delusion, or both and my poems are not the truth because if it had happened she’d have stopped it. Etc.

    So my tormentors, who confirmed these events, are either liars or delusional and the scars I carry and the broken nose are just illusions and never happened…

    Yep: Looks like it’s goodbye Facebook… 😦

    God Bless my friend and don’t go far – you are often missed!!! 🙂

    Prenin.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I don’t think you can do any wrong by giving Facebook the old heave ho, Prenin, speaking from personal experience I’ve never missed it. Use it as a tool if you need to, to your advantage. I found it became too intrusive for me. And the fake friends annoyed me, so it had to go.

      Like

  8. The Writing Waters Blog avatar

    You’ve written about similar thoughts I’ve had. Dedicated blogging takes a lot of time and like any endeavor, without guaranteed results. Well, I’d like to visit more because I do like your blog, but I’m way behind over here and should visit a few others to make obligatory comments….

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      It is a time-consuming pastime, Rebecca, blogging. It is fun, however. There’s always catching up to do!!!

      Like

  9. europasicewolf avatar

    It’s summer! People are spending less time at their computers etc and probably spending all their phone and tablet time either checking F/bk or checking the footie updates! lol 😉 Personally I’ve just been having a lot of trouble getting my connection to hold and have had to grab the odd moment when it does to catch as many blogs as I can…the phones are no better refusing to have a signal at all…unless it’s for F/bk or twitter…neither of which I am generally trying to get to! Reposting is a double edged sword to me. Great way to entertain newcomers and handy when creative ideas are at their typical all time low 😉 Something of a necessity in my case given the state of unreadability of some of my transfer from Spaces Live posts! Not that I have done anything about it yet… I worry no one will read them this time around!! I think I’d do fine if I posted nothing but mythology occasionally and left the blog to run itself since the same very old posts keep coming up in the stat’s without any additional new ones at all! So one way or another you’re not alone…though if you prune me out of your friend list you might feel the sharp end of my Wolfie fangs!!! Just saying… 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I wouldn’t dream of pruning you, Icewolf! Have a look at my new and improved links page – and there you are! There’s an old saying that goes something like ‘when you post, they will come’. Even me, eventually!!! Repost for me as well, for there are bound to be posts I haven’t read before!

      Like

      1. europasicewolf avatar

        I thought you got loads of visits actually 🙂 You get plenty of comments and it’s a great blog…it’s the only one I hold onto all the back log for when I haven’t got to visit anyone for days. I’ve learned to delete all but the latest ones unless any particularly catch my eye or I become a disillusioned slave to W.P, don’t get to do anything else all night and never have time to post any of my own! But in your case the posts are just to much fun and too unpredictable to miss if it can possibly be avoided 🙂 And I must get my paw out and look into creating some reposts…but first I msut check out ME ME ME lol on your new and improved links page! Oooooooooooooh!! 😉

        Like

        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          No, I do get visits and comments, Icewolf, and appreciate every single one of them, it’s just that I’ve noticed things are quieter of late (for want of a far better way to explain it!)!
          Thanks for liking this place, by the way… it’s comments like this that make blogging even more worthwhile!
          The links page is newly improved… pretty much similar to the old links page, only with better pictures and the added bonus of linking to the Gravatar profile as well. The latter was an accident, but hey… it’s quirky! And did you notice… you’re still there!

          Like

  10. Amy Reese avatar

    Oh ouch, I hope I’m not on the chop block, Tom. But, if I am, I understand. Anyhoo, it’s a tough one. I’ve only been blogging for two years and I’ve seen many many come and go. So, there’s a lot of picking up and beginning again even when you weren’t planning on it. One thing I’ve done is to let go of my stats. I don’t even look at them and try to keep up creating, in any shape I can. I think that’s been good for me. And little breaks aren’t all bad. As far as keeping up with other blogs, for a while I limited myself to a number everyday. That’s all I could I do, and it’s okay for anyone else too. We are not little bots after all! Hang in there! I like your theme just the way it is, but I recently changed mine, well went back to one I had actually. It seemed to draw some new faces.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      No, Amy, you’re still in my reading list!
      The stats are a bit of a bind… I like seeing where my visitors come from, but I can’t ignore the numbers compared to how they used to be. I should just get on with things really, I suppose!
      I like the look of your blog – it seems bigger somehow…

      Like

      1. Amy Reese avatar

        Oh good! I’m so thankful to still be on your list. My blog seems bigger. Ha ha. It could be the size of those pictures which I don’t have control over. Lol

        Like

        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          That may be true, Amy. My monitor’s quite large, and your blog seems to stretch all the way across it, whereas mine seems to be compact in the middle. Different themes, and I like them both!

          Like

  11. The Laughing Housewife avatar

    I’m going through a similar process myself, blogging so little that I wonder whether I should give it up altogether. But I love all of the friends I’ve made and I don’t want to lose touch with them.

    So, basically, I have no answers for you. You’re on your own, mate 😀

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Sigh. Thanks, Tilly.

      You’re right, though! Only we can decide what to do.
      Just blog when you feel like it… that’s the best option!

      Like

  12. lameadventures avatar

    Tom, I noticed that you started your site in May 2010, and I, in January of that same year. I don’t recall how we found each other, maybe it was through Kate Shrewsday? It’s been over four years of blogging for both of us. In dog years that amount of blogging would have probably had us both buy our rainbows three times by now. My stats have fallen off considerably, too, but my following has skyrocketed. Many of my new followers seem to be spam bots, and the vast majority certainly don’t seem to read me, like or comment. So these inflated numbers following-wise seem almost irrelevant.

    I have been blogging a lot less this year. The post I would have published on my site this week, I chose instead to submit to a site for publication. I don’t want to quit writing my site, but like you, I work full time and often, there are not enough hours in the day to write new posts, read others and to comment. Something has got to give and lately for me, it’s been blogging and reading and commenting. I’ve never followed that many bloggers and those I do are usually the ones I connected with years ago. They’re the ones I have more invested in who write the best comments on my site. There’s a sincere feeling of mutual admiration. I do relate to what you’ve discussed here. I’m rather fond of the way you think.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks for saying so, LA.

      I can’t remember how our paths crossed either, but I’m pleased that they did. I can still remember one of the first posts of yours I read, about a douche bag thief and a purse or wallet or money or something (Sorry, I thought I remembered it better than that!), but even that sketchy memory is good considering the number of other posts I’ve read (on your and other sites) and written myself over the past few years. I knew instantly that I liked your writing style, and it would have all been missed if for that path-crossing moment!

      I must have some spam bot followers too, that fact alone shows that the stats figures are not worth bothering with anyway. A valid point.

      Thanks, as usual, for your visit LA, and for commenting.

      Like

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