What matters is that it’s something that works for YOU, and is relatively sustainable.

I like that Charlie brings up setting aside time to write. I wish this was something I did (I write when I feel compelled/have the chance.) I think saying on Monday and Wednesday evenings I’m going to give myself an hour to write. Or maybe it’s Sunday afternoon I’m going to write for three hours and post them throughout the week. Again, whatever works for you.

And Charlie’s right about the traffic as well. Don’t get caught up in the numbers, just try to provide value to the few people that are reading from the start. If it’s solid they’ll tell a few people, who will tell a few people (and that’s how it grows my friends.)

Thanks for your contribution!

Commenting is good but it doesn’t always work. Really in my opinion the best way to get and keep readers is your content. If your content is weak then anyone who comes to your site isn’t necessarily going to come back.

I like what Matt said too. I have started and ended a couple of blogs due to a lack of patience too. Setting goals and making lists is definitely a good way to do it. This way you are getting good informative content up with some regularity and it gets you on a schedule.

@lewishowes

For me Twitter has been an excellent way to extend my virtual handshake. On Tweetdeck I’ll break out those categories that represent my niche and everyday I become part of the conservation (but not the point of being a promotion whore). My goal is simply to help people get what they want from either fulfilling that need myself or introducing them to someone that can.

Now that my site is up and running I want to begin highlighting some of readers, especially those that have their own blogs. I love what you and others are doing with video and can see myself starting to do something similar.

I’ve been in the blogging game for a while, and each time (until now) I’ve gotten discouraged because I haven’t had patience. I’m thinking, and I’m sure most other bloggers are as well, “I keep writing this great stuff and NO ONE is reading it” – so in the past I’ve just said ‘screw it’ and have given up. I’ve learned and matured over time and realize now that ‘If you write it, they will come’.

Setting goals is ideal. I tell myself I’m going to write at least 3 blogs a week. I make an effort to comment on a certain number of blogs a day. I make lists, and cross things off when I’m done. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and lets yourself know that you ARE being productive. The comments and subscribers will come. Be patient, pace yourself, and watch the magic unfold.

I like what you have to say about pacing yourself — slow and steady wins the race, isn’t that how the saying goes? I don’t have a huge audience for either of my blogs, but it’s my hope that a community of people, however small or large, centered around conversation and good ideas has been built. Likewise, I try to contribute to communities when I can but, more importantly, when I have something to say.

This happens in either blog posts, comments, or even Twitter retweets. I never really had a set blogging schedule, usually writing and posting whenever I felt passionate about something, though I’m realizing that I might have to revise that a bit to generate more content. What I’ve been doing has seemed to work for me, though, as the community is a great one with people who seem to stick around.

I like how you say “one comment isn’t enough to build a relationship, but 15 boring, uninspired ones aren’t either.” I find this to be true, which might be why I only contribute when I feel I can add insight to the conversation. If I appreciate a post but don’t really have anything to add, I’ll retweet it on Twitter.

I think each person needs to do only what they’re capable of for fear of what you say — burning out. It’s easy to write “great job” and leave it at that, and while that’s appreciated, it’s the conversation, the insight, the relationships that I feel really add to the community. For myself, it’s part of the reason why I blog.

Great job