Life in progress

Followers vs. Readers

162 Comments

Okay, so you have a WordPress site of your own and your site has followers. When you started out, you got your first few notifications that someone had hitched their wagon to your blog and you thought, “Great! I have someone reading what I write!” But then as time went by, you realized that maybe they weren’t reading after all.

Fast forward to where you are now. You have tens if not thousands of followers. How many of those numbers do you figure actually visit your blog?

What brought this up in the first place was the municipal elections we had yesterday across the province of Ontario. Voter turnout at most elections is far below the numbers of of eligible voters. The difference between running for election and blogging is the people running for election are putting out money to advertise themselves. At least we bloggers don’t need to go to that length to have our sites viewed. But I digress.

From what I’ve gathered over the last twenty-one months of blogging, it seems that any of us are, at any given time, being visited by 10%-20% of our followers. The 20% is if you’re either very lucky or if all of your followers are friends and family.

I have just over 2,100 blog followers at the moment. I would estimate that over the course of my blogging career, I’ve had between 10-15% of my numbers actually reading my site on a daily basis. Which means that people have come and gone, and some have come back again, but on an average day I have around that many regular followers, not including those who show up once and I never see again. My regular followers don’t visit every day, but I know they’re out there by our interactions. On my fiction blog it’s even less – I have over 600 followers and would guess there only around 20 or 30 people who regularly read. That’s only about 3-5%

I’m far more frustrated with my 3-5%, obviously, than with my 10-15%, but as I said, at least it doesn’t cost me anything but the time I put into writing.

If you had to guess just going by feel and judging by the number of followers you chat with in a day, how many of your followers are reading you?

Unknown's avatar

Author: Linda G. Hill

There's a writer in here, clawing her way out.

162 thoughts on “Followers vs. Readers

  1. Pingback: November Roll Call: What’s your favorite color? #fun | Family Life Is More

  2. Joanne Corey's avatar

    Most posts 5-10%, but I have far fewer followers than you do. I also have a few people who follow by email and read my posts that way, so they never show up on my stats as readers of a particular post.

    I find that the blogs from which I get emails are the ones I visit most often, as opposed to those that just show up in my reader. And sometimes, I get way behind on emails, which explains why I just read this post on 11/11 instead of near to when you actually posted it….

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      It’ doesn’t seem to make a difference how many followers we have, the percentages seem to be just about the same – anywhere for 5% to 20%. I have people without blogs following me too, and I’ve included them in my count. 🙂

      Not easy keeping up, is it? 😛 Thanks for stopping by, Joanne. I really appreciate it. 🙂

      Like

  3. Pingback: November Roll Call: What’s your favorite color? #fun #blog | Family Life Is More

  4. IreneDesign2011's avatar

    I have thought about the same Linda, but desided to stop there. I do know, that my writing posts attract much more than my jewelry posts alone.
    Just go on Linda, you are doing great 😀

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  5. dF's avatar

    I took a look and my numbers look like everyone else’s. I don’t like looking at the numbers though. When they are up I get puffed up; if they are down then I start to think about that rather than the important stuff like developing craft or connecting with others. Looking at it like a popularity game is too distracting for my goals. I’m not here to sell anything. I just use my blog as a kind of sketch book or old cigar box. I put in shiny things I find or use the space to think, wonder and sometimes rant. If someone comes along and we make a connection that is a wonderful gift. But as in real life a person can have many acquaintances but friendship requires time — that puts a natural limit on things. I’d rather know a few really well than have a big old phonebook list of strangers.

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      “I’d rather know a few really well than have a big old phonebook list of strangers.” I love this, Debra. It’s true, there are people here on WordPress whose friendship I have come to appreciate as much as my real life friends. But then, having said that, for those of us who are trying to get exposure for our writing, etc. it does tend to be a numbers game. For me, when I get published, it’ll be a little of both I think. 🙂
      Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. 🙂

      Like

  6. Angie Mc's avatar

    I’ve been thinking about followers, following, and all that good stuff. Thanks for this post, Linda. In real life, lol, I’m very big into reciprocity. I find reciprocity is much easier on Twitter and other social media more so than WP. Not sure why but I’m figuring out ways to keep track of those bloggers that I care about and I’m also figuring out a sort of routine that works for me (post, read, comment, repeat.) Right now, I’m giving more than I’m receiving, but I’m really OK with that. For now 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      I think the reciprocity thing is harder on WordPress because reading a post (as opposed to a tweet) takes up a lot more time. So we tend to read less (volume-wise) and then we get less attention back to our own blogs. There’s a lot to be said for consistency as well. Blogging once a week doesn’t tend to make people remember you as much as if they have one or two posts a day in their reader.
      Thanks so much for your continued support, Angie. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. 🙂

      Like

  7. thehonkinggoose's avatar

    I’ve been thinking about this myself, too, as I watch the numbers on my stats page go up and down. On a day when I am busy and I’m not working for new views, (so all the views are presumably regular readers/followers) I get about 200 page views. And that is from around 75- 100 visitors. With about 1000 followers, that means that 10% (or less) of those are viewing my blog on any given day.

    Not so impressive really. But before I really learned how to push the networking side of blogging, I was excited if I got 20 – 30 page views in a day. So compared to that 200 views is pretty thrilling, even if it is small percentage of total followers.

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  8. D.G.Kaye's avatar

    Interesting breakdown Linda. I find when we have so many of our favorite posts we like to read, there is no time to read every post by every writer. But I think we all seem to find our favorites and peak in at least once a week, I know I try to make it my policy. After all, we attract the types of readers who like what we write and usually we enjoy reading theirs as well. The only problem is, we need more hours in a day. 🙂

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      Oh to have more hours! 🙂 It’s true, our readers are those who write on similar topics to us. It’s a good idea to go out and look for new bloggers who we enjoy reading on a regular basis as well as just reading the ones we already know.
      Thanks for bringing this up, Debby. 🙂

      Like

  9. Yecheilyah's avatar

    Hmm, interesting topic, Followers vs. Readers. I don’t know how many of my followers actually read my posts, but that’s not really my top concern. I mean of course I’d like to live the fairy tale of having every single one of my followers to read every single one of my post, but I don’t focus on that too much. I just try to keep my blog as updated and engaged as possible. As for the readers, they’ll come along. It’s kinda like talking to a crowd of people and expecting to only get a few of them to listen. It’s not a disappointment; it just means those few are very special people lol. Many are called, but few are chosen 🙂

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  10. Margret's avatar

    Hello: You got me thinking. I don’t how many are actually reading my post. I know for sure that I visited my fellow bloggers at least twice a week and sometimes they not even respond to my comments. You really got me thinking….

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      And I must apologize for not replying sooner. I’m just getting back to this post’s comments now – almost a week later. I’m quite ashamed of myself.
      I’m glad to hear this post got you thinking – I hope they’re good thoughts, Margret!

      Like

  11. mothermi6's avatar

    Hi Linda
    I have been searching for an interesting (to me) blog to read and they seem thin on the ground. But I have read your post and all the comments.
    It is a bit discouraging sometimes. I have about 90 followers, the vast majority of whom never comment. I have three readers who do regularly comment and I am grateful for this – or else I might feel that I have fallen into the great beyond! (I follow one of the readers who comment.) I am following around five blogs at the moment and do read posts by these writers. But it took a mighty amount of searching to find even these . . .
    Evangeline

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      There are many bloggers out there who won’t follow you unless you follow them back. It’s just the way it seems to work. I read through hundreds of new blogs in a day sometimes – mostly if a post keeps my interest enough that I read all the way through it, I’ll comment. It’s an important part of how we get people to read us.
      Best of luck with your blog, Evangeline. 🙂

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  12. martha0stout's avatar

    I used to watch my numbers for visitors and readers and followers constantly when I first started because it was so new to me. Now I haven’t really thought about how many show up until this post.

    (*Shrugs*) I don’t know, but I’ve found that I like writing it for the sake of writing it.

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  13. Moi's avatar

    If I felt so inclined I would count the people that commented/liked in the last month or so, however I cannot be inclined :). I would hazard a guess at 5-7%, maybe less, my blog says I have 280 followers, I rarely get 5 comments on a post, often less, a few more likes maybe from people passing through.

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  14. lucinda408's avatar

    This Very True ! I think we as writers are happier with readers (likers) than followers! 🙂 at the same time we cannot deny being grateful with each and every follower! 🙂

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      I suppose it depends how much you like the numbers vs. the interaction. WordPress has a great community spirit within it for people who get involved. That seems to be how we get our actual readers. 🙂 Thanks for the comment, Lucinda!

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  15. vipandeyindia's avatar

    I totally agree. actually there are also types of bloggers. first one those who just write their experience or expertise in particular field, second one do blogging to make money their primary concern is traffic and money. but i agree with you .

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  16. Paul's avatar

    Interesting post Linda. I don’t have my own blog yet but would like to. It is good to know some of this going in so that I don’t get too depressed from the start. 😀

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  17. Dan Antion's avatar

    Outside of the spam followers, I tend to look at the stats as “they liked one post enough to agree to follow.” Beyond that, I don’t really care. I write because I want to write. the comments I get often make the whole effort worthwhile. I follow a tin of blogs. I can’t possibly read everything by everyone, but I read some regularly and I skip through the Reader and try to keep up with others. 5%, 10%, 3% – I don’t think it matters. I’ve only been here a few times since I started (recently) following. I like the way you write so I will probably be a regular reader. I hope that helps.

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      I do appreciate it that you like my writing, Dan. 🙂
      I find there is a vast array in what’s important to different bloggers. Knowing that there’s at least someone out there who’s reading is enough for some – others want everyone to read everything. But it seems the low percentages are the same for all of us, regardless of what we want. :p
      Thanks for commenting!

      Like

  18. foolsquest's avatar

    I admit that I’m more of a casual reader of blogs. For the most part, I read what catches my eye. I regularly go through my Followed list and will remove anybody I haven’t read in a while just to free up my feed and not be one of those people that subscribe but never imbibe.

    I don’t have many followers, just poking over 275, but I average out about between 10 to 25 viewers a day and most of those are search engine results. At the same time though, I do my prompts online more for accountability than to gain actual readership. Maybe when I do something more tangible, I’ll work on building and maintaining a readership.

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  19. Opinionated Man's avatar

    Heh you know what I would say here. Widden the net right? 🙂

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  20. Sandi's avatar

    From my perspective as another newbie, this is fascinating and a tad disheartening. In the past week or so, I’ve finding that I’m almost too faithful as a reader: I am reading more than I am writing, and that needs to even out–but I get emotionally invested in someone’s story or life. My blog’s numbers jump around a lot, depending on whether I’ve posted something recently and how appealing that post was to a general audience.

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      I think that it’s true for all of us, Sandi, for the stats to vary widely from day-to-day. But there are so many great, if not downright addictive blogs out there to read! I think we all fall into that trap as well.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Sandi's avatar

        May I say how impressed I am that you replied to me, given how full your life is with two kids and your writing? Thank you, Linda 🙂

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        • Linda G. Hill's avatar

          I’m actually appalled at myself that it took so long. 😛 I should be apologizing to everyone.
          But you’re very welcome. 🙂 It’s the least I can do when you take the time to comment. 🙂 Thank you!

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  21. Michael's avatar

    I agree Linda with the 5 – 10% number. It doesn’t bother me as I come to realise some of the prompts I do have limited following and I enjoy the challenge so if anyone reads them then good, I have to admit I blog for the benefits it gives to me. Though every so often I do cull the blogs I follow if they don’t blog or if I never see them. The bloggers I connect with are the ones with whom I share in interest in the writing process and who are happy to engage with me from time to time. Some I’ve even become good friends with and that in itself is amazing as well.
    Keep up the good stuff you do on your blog Linda.

    Like

  22. MishaBurnett's avatar

    I have about 900 followers, and probably ten people who comment on my blog regularly. I have found that a large number of my blog followers are sales sites, whom I assume are hoping that I will follow them back. (I don’t.)

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  23. luckyotter's avatar

    I’m being optimistic, but I’d guess about 15-20% of my followers actually read my blog. Of course, we can’t forget that a lot of people aren’t following us, but still come across our blog and read one or more articles.

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  24. coldhandboyack's avatar

    I’m getting less than ten percent of my followers viewing my posts. I think that’s better than some, but not as good as others. I love my regulars, and always count on them for a comment or two. To me, comments are the best part.

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  25. John Holton's avatar

    I have about ninety “followers,” most of whom never comment. IK’m with Joey, though: I’m going to keep writing anyway, whether or not anyone is actually reading or commenting.

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  26. John W. Howell's avatar

    It’s very rare to get a follower who actually reads the words. i appreciate every one of them.

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  27. jetgirlcos's avatar

    Interesting post, Linda. I think you’re right, it’s a very small percentage. I have only been at this for a little less than a year, and I just started it as an outlet for my desire to write stuff. I really never expected to have any followers, although I am pleased to have them! I know there’s only a handful of people who read, but I cherish them, they are the ones whose blogs I try to regularly read as well. I love the interactions I have with that “handful” and wouldn’t trade it for anything. I find that the blogging world is a nice way to discover some really good writers like yourself, learn some stuff about writing, and it’s a good place to keep all those secret desires for others to read the stuff that I write. What is it, exactly, about writing that makes us want to have readers?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      Excellent question, my dear. I don’t know… maybe it’s the desire to know that people relate to us; to know we’re not alone. One of the best feelings in the world, for me, is when someone reads what I have to say and they exclaim, “YES! I understand!”
      You’re right – it’s the handful who make the difference. 🙂 Thanks so much for your comment and your kind words. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  28. markbialczak's avatar

    My home page follower number includes my huge collection of Facebook friends I started accumulating when I worked for the big daily. The WP stats tell me I have 785. Out of that, I think 10% are very regular, 20% are semi regular, 30% I recognize from comments, 40% I recognize from likes. Not that I’m keeping track or anything, Linda G. 🙂 Just a guestimate.

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  29. Nadine's avatar

    You are so right about that! I only have 48 followers but approximately 10% of them really interact with me. I always really appreciate the interaction. It makes it feel so much more worth my while to post articles.

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    • Mark Kehn's avatar

      I am right here with nadinebl, 41 followers and only 5 people who have commented more than a couple of times, the most interaction I get — when I get some — are likes but no comments from the majority of them.

      Shame on you Linda! lol

      I’m not pointing fingers. No I’m not Linda. ….Linda. 😛

      I actually thought I wrote well – the manner in which I speak that is, but it may more likely be that people just don’t care for my type of content in general, so that’s on me. I often think I only write to myself.

      One day maybe.

      ~Mark

      Liked by 1 person

      • Mark Kehn's avatar

        I forgot to say that I only just started my blog October 11, 2014 so maybe I shouldn’t be *complaining* (not the word I was going to use, but I think Linda would smack me if I used the other one — starts with a B 😛 )

        Anyhow, I only just started recently and I too already wrote a post about Fake Followers striking back at Opinionated Man hehe. I have 41 followers, in that post about fake followers I listed 4 but I have about 8 phonies, so my mathy skills says 20% are phonies basically.

        So 41 – 8 = 33 and I have 5 who commented so 15% are readers I guess.

        Can I have the brownie now? I heard there was a chocolate brownie for the most pathetic of the bunch — or did I get lied to again? Dammit Linda! 😀

        *sighs

        Like

      • Nadine's avatar

        I don’t write for the likes or comments. I write because I enjoy it but feedback is quite necessary to know what people enjoy, don’t enjoy or what I can do differently.

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      It is nice to know there’s someone out there reading – the best way to know of course is when we get feedback. It’s kind of comforting to know we’re all basically in the same boat as far as percentages go – no matter what the final numbers are. Thanks for your comment, Nadine. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  30. joey's avatar

    Yeah. Well I’ve got a lot to say, so brace yourself. I don’t care who reads me or who comments or who likes posts, because I really don’t write for numbers, and I rarely look at my stats. (Also, I’m pretty sure stats lie.) But, what I do care about are the number of pretenders I have. Initially I was completely offended by the people who liked several posts in succession, within seconds, meaning they hadn’t read them. Then I discovered more and more of those people, to the point that I’m pretty sure I could write, “Do not like this post” and I would get five likes.
    Then there are the people who read and comment until you follow them and then they stop reading (presumably) and liking (definitely.) Which I suppose was their objective to begin with. It strikes me as terrible dishonesty.
    I may follow them, but I’ll only read posts that interest me. And just because I’ve read it doesn’t mean I like it. I follow people who don’t follow me, and I follow people who follow me, but never say a bloody thing. The silent readers here are numerous, just like any other social media.
    I do read every single thing you (and a handful of others) write, because I like you and I like the way you write. I don’t get bent if you don’t read or like or comment, since I see you as a person and not as subject.
    What did shock the hell out of me was when I posted a poll and so few people voted. I thought everyone loved to vote. I love to vote! I maybe just love to click my opinion 🙂 Only about 20% of those who clicked on the post actually voted. So strange to me.
    But anyway, I write for writing’s sake 🙂

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      If you wrote a post that said “Do not like this post” I would like it. But then I’m a rebel. 😉
      There are all kinds of people out there in WordPressland. I’m starting to get used to them and I’m learning who to click on and who not to. Just like any other part of life though, I suppose.
      We all have our favourites, though I don’t think there’s anyone I read everything of… I’m not sure I even read all of my own posts. Haha. But there are quite a few people I read most of, you included.
      I must have missed your poll – unless I just don’t remember it. Low turnouts are everywhere though. I feel like having a poll just to see how many people vote now. 😛
      Thanks for the novel … I mean comment, Joey. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatar

    Yep 5 to 10% seems about right for me as well Linda 😀

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  32. Wanda's avatar

    Your formula is right on. I have only been blogging for three months, and I would guess that 5-10% of my followers actually read my posts on a regular basis. And I, in turn, make an effort to read theirs. I have one or two afternoons a week where I can find a little time away from my kids to catch up on my reader, and I make an effort to interact during those times. On those days my numbers go up. I do get frustrated with some of the spammers who follow me, or the people looking to sell things. But I will say that small percentage of other bloggers with whom I interact on a regular basis are pretty awesome, and I enjoy them all immensely. 🙂

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  33. ghostmmnc's avatar

    It is a strange game, this blogging. It still feels like I’m new at this, even though I’ve been posting awhile. On one blog I have a few followers, and comments, which really boosts my confidence, and I try to visit them all on theirs. The other blog I have no followers, but a few regular readers, if the stats of the page views are correct. So that is something, at least. I’ll keep posting, and hope I continue to get visitors along the way. I continue to read your writing, Linda, because I enjoy it, even though I don’t always comment (I’m afraid if I like every single thing someone posts, they’ll think I’m stalking them) 😉

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  34. AC Elliott's avatar

    I’d say that I am in the 10-15% bracket, but, it is hard to tell since I just started this blog. However, I do wish that I had the time to read and comment on others more often. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case, but when I can…I do. Great topic for today.

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  35. socialbridge's avatar

    Interesting post and something I was thinking about over the last while. I think a huge lot comes down to why we blog in the first place. I wrote a post the other evening that I loved and having logged off, I just said to myself, ‘I don’t care if no one reads this, I’m so glad I wrote it.’
    I know some people are obsessed about stats and stuff. I’m not. I’d much prefer to have a core group of people who visit my blog because they like it and visitors who find it and get what they were looking for from it.
    Yes, I follow a lot more blogs than I read regularly (like yours) but it’s good to know that it will pop up in the Reader and give me the chance to see what people I’ve liked and followed in the past are up to. Unless one restricts oneself to following very, very few people, it’s impossible to read every post that they write. Thanks again for this interesting read.

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  36. A.PROMPTreply's avatar

    Yes, it is quite surprising when you realize that people just sign on to follow, but never comment. I have nowhere near your follower number. I’m new and I don’t post nearly as frequently as you do. But even with that, I can see that probably I average under 10% as well. I don’t know…sometimes it does get very defeating….but I keep telling myself I’m doing this for me, not someone else…still though…..feedback is so nice! 🙂

    Like

    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      It really would be nice if everyone who followed us actually read and commented, but it really seems to be the case for everyone – that 5-15% is accurate. Thanks for weighing in! 🙂

      Like

  37. Maggie Wilson's avatar

    Oh, gee, Linda. Math? Oh all right – 5% on a good day for me, too.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. Adrian B's avatar

    Very nice Linda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately this the life and if you compare your followers with your friends you will realize that is the same percentage of your friend that you actually meet or talk every day. You are the best Linda.

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  39. Jay Dee's avatar

    I think the 10-15% number is about right for the percentage of page views to number of followers. At least that’s the way it is with my blog’s stats. I have more than 500 followers at the moment, while I have anywhere between 50 and about 80 views per day. But as for the number of regular followers, I’d say it’s at least 20, maybe up to 30. People, that is.

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  40. mewhoami's avatar

    “You have tens if not thousands of followers.” – I wish! On average, my regular follower count is around 5%. When I occasionally check up on some of my older followers (not age, but date) many of them haven’t posted in months, and some in over a year. That’s understandable, but what about the others who post all the time? Those make me question how many people follow just to get a follow back.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      Chances are they’re too busy with their own blogs to visit anyone else. I’m guilty of that often myself, but I do try to visit others when I can.
      For instance with SoCS: most of the people who participate only come to my site twice a week – once to see the prompt and again to post. I do the same with a lot of their blogs – I only visit them to read their SoCS posts except for the occasional visit otherwise. I think people expect that though. One way or another, it contributes to the numbers. 😛
      Thanks for commenting, my dear. 🙂

      Like

  41. Hanna's avatar

    Interesting post. I often dream of all my followers actually reading my blog. I’d say approx. 5% do. Wow, that’s pretty sad… 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  42. Paul Davis's avatar

    Three 😛 Which is like 1%. I’m okay with that at current. And of course I’ll always come back 😉 PS: you have 3900 followers according to your ticker.

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  43. Jeanine Lebsack's avatar

    This is a great question Linda, hmmm I’d have to give it some thought as I’m almost a year into my blogging journey. I’m closing in at almost 100 followers and 15 email followers. I find it all so exciting and gratifying so I’ll have to figure it out when I get some more stats together. Great topic, I love writers who make me think. 😃

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  44. Jeanette's avatar

    I wish I had kept it, but when Rarasaur was up completely, she did a full analysis of blogs, followers, readers, comments, etc. It looks like whether you have 200 or 20, 000, a lot of the percentages were the same in terms of interactions.

    While I wish I had more “active” people on my blog, it does make it easier to follow up and get to know the ones who are active now a lot better. I guess that’s the silver lining, of sorts.

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  45. Lucy's avatar

    Very good post! You are right. Not everyone actually reads what I post and I think this is because some bloggers just want to get followers. So they will follow your blog, or like one or two posts just so you do the same thing in return. But hey, their loss, in the end.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      That’s a good attitude towards it! 😀
      I wish I could say there aren’t blogs I’ve been to, liked, followed, and never had enough interest in to go back to, but the sad truth is, there just aren’t enough hours in the day for all the great stuff out there. I do tend to visit the people who comment on my blog more though.
      Thanks so much for your comment, Lucy! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • Lucy's avatar

        Indeed, not enough time to read everything out there, and knowing how much energy and dedication go into writing, it’s a pity it’s not possible to read more. What I usually do, is go through the reader and choose the posts which interest me most. I must say I made some pretty good choices so far 🙂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

        Liked by 1 person

  46. cordeliasmom2012's avatar

    Well, my followers number is so low still that I have to believe that every single one of them reads every single post. Otherwise, I’d be seriously depressed right now.

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  47. KG's avatar

    Around 5% on a good day.

    Liked by 2 people

  48. Deborah Drucker's avatar

    Well I am a relative newbie to blogging. I know exactly what you mean. I think that some people may read my blog and not leave a like or comment. But it is difficult because one likes to think someone is reading and it supports our writing as well. I have told myself that it is because there are a gazillion bloggers and to get noticed and to hold an audience is hard to do.

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      It’s very hard to hold on to an audience. The people who have been around my blog since the beginning who are still visiting me regularly now number about 15 or 20. That’s not percent. That’s actual people.
      Thanks for commenting, Deborah. Hang in there! We’re all in the same boat. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  49. Charles Yallowitz's avatar

    I have just over 1,800 and I’d go with the 3-5%. It’s hard to tell since I don’t seem to get the traffic that I used to. Some days those numbers feel generous.

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    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      I know what you mean, Charles. Unless I put a lot of work into going out to other people’s sites – and I mean A LOT, I don’t get the same numbers.
      But for instance, I include you in my 10%, even if you don’t come by for a week or two. Because I know you’re there. My actual numbers are much less.

      Like

  50. alienorajt's avatar

    This one has, I feel, become a bit of an elephant in the room, Linda – thanks for saying, ‘Hey! Pachyderm here, folks!’ so clearly and succinctly. I reckon I get – ooh, Maths coming up! – 5% on a good day and with the wind behind me! Now, to be fair, I have not been a good visitor myself in recent weeks – lots of reasons which I won’t go into! – and could, therefore, be accused of arrant hypocrisy. But it is a concern, bearing out, I very much fear, my suspicion that over 50% of my followers are Trolls, Spammers and other Pondlife!

    Like

    • Linda G. Hill's avatar

      We’re all guilty of not reading everyone we follow every day. Life outside of the internet has to happen after all, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to afford the internet. 😛 I do think that visiting and commenting on other blogs has a huge impact on views on our own. I notice it myself when I just post and don’t visit. And you’re right about the bot followers. I agree that it’s probably around a third or a half.
      Thanks very much for your kind words and for weighing in. I think that especially for people who haven’t been around a long time it’s a bit of a shock.

      Like

    • bluefishway's avatar

      #Alienorajt.
      Hi. If you click on the WP logo on the LHS of the black bar at the top of your blog. Click Stats. Scroll down and find Followers. Click on (the blue)Blog underneath and you will see who’s following you. I have 1250 from WP and 7 email followers. Good luck with your research 😀
      #Linda.
      Great post. Less than 7.654% depending on the post 😀 😀

      Like

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