Like many, I started a FaceBook page for my blog for the sole purpose of keeping a better track on who my readers are.
Previously, I had only been broadcasting my blog posts to FB friends from my personal account and sure, I would get comments back. But it was like throwing spaghetti on a wall:
Some of it stuck, some of it splattered…most of it fell.
The ratio of hits to the number of comments just didn’t add up. It came to a point where I had to ask myself:
“Why was I fully exposing my entire life ? My vulnerabilities ? My frustrations as a parent ?”
Yet, there was little support or acknowledgement in return.
So, hence the launch of my blog page.
But even doing that still raised some concerns for me:
“What if no one actually “Likes” me ? What if I get less feedback over there ? Or worse yet, no hits at all ?”
It was a jump into the big, scary unknown.
I launched into brand-new territory on a whim. With only my humble little blog to offer, I was excited and nervous but didn’t know what to expect.
Thanks to the great support of other mummy bloggers, it didn’t take long to not only meet like-minded people. But those who were just as genuinely keen to communicate.
These days, when I’m reading another mummy blogger’s heart-felt post, I am so touched, I have to share it with Hubby.
Like all devoted husbands, he gets excited when I am. He’s happy when I am. He understands that blogging has helped with that dreaded SAHM isolation.
And then he sees me. Furiously tapping away at the keyboard, writing a response. Getting my thoughts out. Appreciating that someone else out there knows exactly what I’ve been through.
Sometimes I type with tears in my eyes.
Sometimes with a smile on my face.
And for a person who often overlooks the bleeding obvious, I finally get it.
This the true essence of social networking.
Rough calculations tell me that less than 10% of my FB friends are following my page. The rest are all you guys.
Is it a shocking discovery ? Does it indicate who are my real friends on FB ?
This will sound clinical and cold, but I guess it takes something like this to filter out who and what is relevant in my chaotic, busy, yet rewarding parenting life.
If that’s what is actually real, then I’m okay with that.
Acknowledgement:
The steady increase of “Likers” on my little FB blog page could not have been made possible without the help and enthusiasm of two special mummy bloggers:
Trish at My Little Drummer Boys who is the brains behind Friday FaceBook Flog.
Brenda at Digital Parents Australia who started a discussion forum for bloggers to send through their FB page and to mutually “Like” others.
If you’re looking for a kick start for your own page, go to these sites and you will never look back.