So…as to your questions –

1. I don’t think blog popularity is bad. Of course, I don’t know about that personally (LOL), but, still, I don’t see it as bad.

2. I don’t know that I have been talked about online because of my blog, but I’m sure I have been talked about online sometime in the several years that I have posted on message boards. I think that is the nature of humans — they talk about others, whether that is right or wrong — it happens.

3. As some others have said, I have read blogs that I think are just great, but they don’t seem to get a lot of traffic. And, then I have read blogs that get lots of traffic and/or are “very popular” and I don’t get how they got so popular. It’s like on Saturday Night Live the other night when Peyton Manning was on. In one sketch, he was a news anchor type of guy and they were trying to describe to him that a pulling a “peyton manning” is like when someone has a really good reputation, but when you actually see them in action, you wonder how they got such a great reputation. LOL Now, that is not to say that every big and popular blog is like that. There are definitely blogs that I can understand how they got so popular, but others that leave me wondering why.

1) As Sarah said, popularity is difficult to pin down. Some blogs with really high traffic get very few comments, and vice versa.

2) I’ve been talked about in not-so-friendly terms on other blogs. I have, actually, had the distinction of having had someone start a blog just to snark me. But these weren’t ‘clique’ blogs – these were snark blogs. Meanies. There are definitely clusters within the community – but I’ve never seen any such cluster shut people out, or ‘gossip.’ When there have been conflicts (minor ones) between bloggers, it’s usually pretty out in the open and frank.

3) Every single comment that I get I read and value. Every one, regardless of whether it’s on a post that’s already received 100 comments, or one that’s only received a few. And I know this to be true of other quote-unquote ‘big’ mom-bloggers (that is, the ones that I know more or less personally) – they value every single comment. It’s actually a little bit hurtful when someone prefaces a comment with ‘you probaby won’t even read this’… DUDES. I’ll read that comment (in my e-mail inbox) at 3am when I’m spinning from some or another anxiety and it will make all the difference in the world. We ALL love comments – big bloggers and not-so-big bloggers – and value them to the same extent.

I’ll stop now. Great post.

I agree with Robyn… and I thought of posting something on the subject of what really makes a good blogger… some really popular bloggers will post the most uninteresting things and get scores of comments, while there are excellent, thought-provoking posts that don’t get as much as 1 comment.

For me, being a stay at home mom now, I find that the interaction I get from blogging is most important to me.

I think there are certainly bloggers than do not care to interact with certain types of people, I see it everyday, but my take on it is just like in the real world… there are better people then I would rather spend my time with.

I also feel the same as Sarah, there are some really popular bloggers that I read but find there is no point in leaving a comment, I really enjoy Oh, the joys, she is an excellent writer, but I will only leave a comment like “lol”, just as an appreciation for the post.

sorry, I’m rambling and not really even answering your questions.

Anyway, I definitely try to comment…when I have something pertinent and relevant to say, that is. A lot of times, I just simply find myself nodding my head in agreement. Which is a good thing.

And I do read popular blogs like Rockstar Mommy and Joy Unexpected, but when I see that they’ve already had like 50+ comments (due to popularity and reader loyalty, is my bet), I’m hesitant to add my two cents, because I’d probably be repeating what someone else has already said.

I don’t think that popularity is a bad thing if it is based on merit. Having read a few blogs that I would assume are “popular,” I must admit that I don’t understand what all the fuss and tons of comments are about {{shrug}}. I recall having the same reaction to the “cool” kids in school. (BTW someone please help a newbie out and tell me who are the cool kids and troublemakers anyway? I’m not joking…I feel like the new kid in middle school.)

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t check for comments regularly or consult my brand-new Site Meter! Sure I have moments when I’m sucked in. They way I look at it, if I entertain, inform, or otherwise move someone with my writing, I’d love it if they’d comment. I’m not trying to win a popularity contest, but I’d love the validation! They can bash me if they don’t agree, too, just as long as they do it to my face. I’ve got my big-girl panties on. When reading blogs, I try to return the courtesy and comment, in much the same way as I would if someone helped, entertained or moved me in real life. In some cases, I have not commented because I did not do so right away and then could not find my way back to the site. As far as responding to comments, I was wondering if this is the *thing* to do. I have a feeling someone had better point me in the direction of a blog etiquette page.

Sorry for rambling! I hope some of what I said made sense.

-moodswingingmommy, naive newbie (and MOMS club dropout/playgroup reject)

A different world from my pen & paper existence, indeed.

Sara, I am so glad we got together and entertained this topic. Next time, we’ll have to dumb it down a little, though. Let’s swap out the coffee and cider for drinks of the more sedating variety (wink, wink) and see what we get for blog fodder that way!

I do think there are cliques out there, and I’m not apart of any LOL!
http://newlywife.herhangout.com/

This is not to put down any of the bigger name mommybloggers. Their talent has lead them to popularity. They deserve the recognition they receive. I’m sure there is a clique amongst many of them…so what? There are cliques amongst any group to which you belong that involves women.

Also, this is not to say that I don’t check comment numbers and site meter frequently. However, my self-worth is not based on the traffic to my blog. I’m forever grateful to anyone who has taken the time to leave me a comment and I always try to return the favor. If I’ve had fewer visitors or comments, I try to reflect and improve my topics/writing eloquence.

And I feel that I must comment on whether or not you respond to peoples’ comments on your site. I typically do not because I don’t want the people who read me to feel that they have to check my site over and over to see if I’ve responded to their comment. It’s not a snub.

Shit, sorry for the book, should’ve written my own post.

Sometimes, I have to go away and come back to it ,as I have had to think about it… And sometimes, I just do not want to throw my hat into the debate… But will read all sides and lurk…

And if a person has a comments open, I think they want and deserve a comment if I have read their piece… I try…

I love comments, I love knowing I am not alone,and feel as though it is like a column I sometimes have the honour to guest write for…

And that being said, I often comment… And I sometimes can not find my way back to blogs I was trying on for size… not because I do not like them… But more because they have not visited me…and I do not know how I found them, and I can not remember their site or their blogger name if they have not posted a comment on mine. But once a comment is posted on mine, I have the link… I have the link to a new author/blogger…

There are so very many great writers out there… And many more to find and read…

Sorry I threw my hat in… And thank you for the opportunity!

Is blog popularity a bad thing? Uh. Uh. How would I know? My blog isn’t popular. And while I my say my ego is tied up in how many readers and comments I get per blog, I say it in jest. I don’t really think that, except that small part of me that will never grow up thinks it. I have not been able to rise above all of the humanistic qualities, so positive reinforcement does still work to a degree. But the larger part of me knows there is much more to me than just my blog and comments.

Have I ever been talked about online due to something I posted? You mean you missed the big time blogger who linked my blog about my hemorrhoids? OMG! Sadly, that is the extent of my big time blogger coattail riding.

Does the number of comments another blogger gets say anything to me? Well, sometimes yes and sometimes no. I’ve read a few big bloggers that I find rather bland. Then there are some other bloggers who get 40+ comments that I think are great. It takes all kinds!

maybe the best way to respond is to post something…

p.s. i’ve got a new url.
mommiesarepeopletoo.blogspot.com

1) There are definitely blogging cliques. Some of them are malicious and some are just people that feel comfortable together. I think a lot of this stems from the fact that a lot of people start writing because they are uncomfortable in social setting.

2) I think a bloggers popularity can be measured several ways. You can look at traffic, or comments or if a lot of other people are talking about their work. Again, there is good popularity and bad popularity.

3) I feel like I read blogs based on the content or the tone. There are huge blogs that I never read because they don’t do anything for me and there are some that I frequent that only get 10 hits a day.

What was the question again? Am I rambling?