UPDATE: Regular readers, to whom I am deeply grateful to, have commented and said some things that have caused me to rethink things. Due to a setting change, comments closed after one day; if there are other commenters out there, the comments are open again.
Clearly I have a lot to think about and consider. Thank you to all readers and commenters.
Here is a question for anyone who happens to read this blog. This post will only appear here, and comments can and should be made here, or emailed to me. If you don’t have, or can’t find my email, leave a comment saying that you need it and I will reach out to you.
Question for readers of this blog:
Do you dislike it saying “please continue reading at the Times Union?”
If so, do you generally not continue to the TU?
Do you not comment, because you do not like the TU?
I do not have a contract at the paper, nor am I paid to blog (hahahaha – sorry) for them or anyone. I suspect that I would seriously dislike paid blogging, even though I need money! In all seriousness, I have heard from some of you (feel free to reiterate if you are among them) that the paper seems like a more commercial venue, less private, and other things.
I would really like to know. Thanks for reaching out, privately or in the comments. Thank you for reading.
Fran
Despite what it says, you can leave a comment here!
LikeLike
No, I don’t mind going to the TU page to continue reading your blog. I’ll go pretty much anywhere to read it 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Claire!
LikeLike
Fran, I seldom click over to the Times Union. I’d be much more likely to read your posts if I didn’t have to click to another website. Having said that, I don’t click a good many links, nor do I comment on blogs as much as I once did due to time constraints.
LikeLike
Mimi, thank you! I do understand that time constraint matter!
LikeLike
I would prefer to read your blog here rather than at the Times Union!
LikeLike
Thank you Paula.
LikeLike
I also prefer to read here, probably because I have no idea what the Times Union is, but I do usually click over. I thought you were being paid, and good luck to you if you were, but do not see the point otherwise unless it brings you more readers. The blog world does seem to be declining but I refuse to go to Facebook. I want to keep reading your thoughts wherever they are.
LikeLike
Thank you so much Brian. When I do see a visitor from NZ, I do think about you!
LikeLike
Fran, my thoughts are exactly those written by Brian. If the Times Union is a way to spread the Good News to more people who would never see your writing,then stay with it. Let’s pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance.
LikeLike
Thank you Reenie!
LikeLike
Prefer to comment here.
LikeLike
Thank you JCF.
LikeLike
Dear Fran,
Sometimes I will go to the TU to continue reading, but there have been times when I don’t want to go off to another link. And I don’t comment on the TU because I don’t know how many people can see it!!! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Anna.
LikeLike
When you post on FB or Twitter that there’s something new, I come here then click over, but I don’t look at anything else on the TU pages because y’all are just so far away!
LikeLike
Thank you Shannon.
LikeLike
Sometimes I click, sometimes I don’t. More often I’m just confused where the link from twitter is taking me. In fact when I clicked through today I thought “Is this going to take me to one of the pages where content is, or is not?”
LikeLike
Thank you Margaret, I appreciate your feedback.
LikeLike
Would rather just remain here on your blog instead of having to hop over to the TU page.
LikeLike
Thanks Cathy.
LikeLike
As one who has a job that uses Social Media and sees how this world works, clicks are the key. The people in charge of such things want eyeballs and the more pages they get you to see, the happier they are. That said, it pisses me off, big time, when I have to click to see the rest of the post. I really feel a loss of respect to the reader. Plus, usually newspapers have a huge amount of ads, that gum up my computer. Sometimes worth the click, sometimes not and note, that means that you may be losing readers to your message. Is it worth it? Only you can decide.
LikeLike
Thank you Angelle, for thinking of things that I did not think of, and for articulating them so well.
LikeLike
I go to wherever the link is leading because I use Twitter as my blog feed. If you’re automatically cross-posting to TU and not generating new content, then I recommend continuing to do that. I agree with those have said it’s a way to reach more (unchurched) people.
And I wouldn’t worry about the lack of comments. For one thing, many more people read (and ponder) than comment. For another, you need to stay true to why you blog and it’s to write and share your thoughts, insights, wisdom, love…not to rack up a virtual body count!
LikeLike
Thanks Meredith. It is not so much about a lack of comments, but rather based on having someone tell me that they frequently did not click through to the TU. If having that jump means people bailing out, simply because I was trying to consolidate and only have to moderate one set of comments, I am not sure that it is worth losing readers over.
LikeLike
I always go to TU and don’t mind.
LikeLike
Thank you Maria!
LikeLike
I love reading you wherever you are, but can honestly say I sometimes don’t click through to the TU because I’m in a hurry. I am glad you appear on the TU, but I admit to muttering a bit when it tells me to click to continue reading.
LikeLike
This is helpful – thank you Wendy.
LikeLike
Hi Fran: yes, it is disruptive to be reading along and then have to go to another sight. However, I don’t mind your blog being hosted by the TU; I think that is a good thing, a voice in the whirlwind for some who might not see it otherwise. I’m probably not a good one to ask about comments; I read a number of blogs but rarely comment. And if the comments start to get snarky or off on a tangent I stop reading them. Marie
LikeLike
Thank you Marie.
LikeLike
I don’t really mind clicking over the the TU; since I hope it reaches more people. As you know, I’m not at leaving comments, even though I read them. Chris 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Chris!
LikeLike
Even though the paper is not compensating you, i think it is good to have that connection, to link to a wider audience. That said I think it is hard to post a comment on their site, if I recall.
LikeLike
Thanks. I am not so worried about getting comments, I am more concerned about how people feel about reading and/or commenting. And I am learning a lot.
LikeLike
well, I think it’s pretty cool that my friend Fran has a blog at the paper!
(and I’m proud of you too)
LikeLike
Late to comment, but I do click over. It’s another step, but I don’t mind…
LikeLike