I’m sitting here going through the upcoming pages on Blog Engage trying to help some quality articles get published. I like to visit some of my favorite blogger articles. I click the link and actually take the time and go and look.
But lately I find myself with less and less time for reading blog articles. I don’t know where to find the time anymore. Voting and tweeting blog articles are the easiest things I do in my day. Please keep in mind I work full time Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm so I’m already exhausted as the work day comes to an end.
Where do you find the time to comment and read on blogs anymore? Aren’t you busy marketing your blog, working or doing other things that life demands? I know I’m busy and also on the same note I’m exhausted.
I’ve been working at Blog Engage now for four years and sometimes I find the amount of work needed to maintain the traffic and user engagement is far too much. I guess anything worth having is worth working hard for. At least that is what people say anyways.
Who’s got time to read anymore?
Do you have time to read blog articles anymore or are you to busy marketing, writing and promoting your own blog? I thought I would throw this conversation out to our members and see what your thoughts are in general with regards to time.
Share your current situation. Do you work full time? Do you market and promote your blog? How do you find time to read blog articles anymore? I would love to hear how you’re handling the stress and amount of work needed to manage and maintain an active and popular blog.
Be sure to add me as a friend, bbrian017
Twitter, bbrian017
Thanks,
Brian
About
Hi There my name is Brian, I'm the owner of Blog Engage. I own a personal blog about SEO and Marketing. Make sure to follow blogengage on twitter @blogengage and like us on facebook. Be sure to add me as a friend, bbrian017
Tags: blog discussions, blogging, reading, time management
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Tom
July 28th, 2011
Brian, I’m in a similar situation as you describe – trying to make the most of my time. When I have a problem like this I see if I can document the process I go through to complete the task successfully. If I can, it often means I can train someone else to do what I do. I’m sure it’s no news to you that this is also known as scaling a business or hiring people.
Now don’t let any alarms go off, I do not do this with social voting, but I do invite other bloggers to check out blogengage and offer them tips on how to get started.
Tom recently posted..Landing Page Conversion: The Power of Prospect Motivation (dofollow)
bbrian017
July 28th, 2011
Ah Tom perhaps you’re right, maybe it’s time to suck it up and hire someone to help me out around here. Perhaps I can start looking at the smaller jobs and out sourcing them. The only problem with that is I don’t have a lot of money so it’s hard to justify hiring someone.
You know the saying “if you want something done right do it yourself” well I’m sure I live by this and I think it would be a bad attitude to have because I will have extremely high expectation from any hired help.
How does one have high expectations with a low hiring budget…? I think I’m stuck in a stage of growth right now that is hard to deal with. Thanks for the feedback it’s nice to hear I’m not the only one that has an extreme work load between personal life and career.
bbrian017 recently posted..Have a company blog? Market it with Blog Engage RSS Service (dofollow)
bodynsoil
July 28th, 2011
I find that my summers are far to busy to do as much reading and commenting as I would like to do. I have been thinking that I need to actually schedule a certain amount of time for each task ie: Twitter, Facebook, reading blogs, my own blog and now Google Plus. There are days when I set out to read my favorite blogs but then find myself lost in a sea of links and that hours have gone by without me getting as much as I had hoped done.
If you figure out how to squeeze more time out of your day can you please blog about that; we all want to learn how.
bodynsoil recently posted..Aging gracefully today for a better tomorrow (dofollow)
bbrian017
July 28th, 2011
Hi bodynsoil, I can fully understand how summers are busy for you. I’m always paying attention to our members and you are a busy person. All your flowers and garnering I don’t know how you keep up. Actually wait I do know who, you’re an early bird if I recall up at 6 or 5 am everyday right? I bet that helps you a lot and give you a bunch of extra time in the day.
bbrian017 recently posted..Need money today? Earn it with the Blog Engage Spotlight Job Board (dofollow)
Tom
July 28th, 2011
You might be pleasantly surprised to find what you are looking for right here within the community you have built up. I say this because in my opinion the most important people to bring on should have passion for what your organization stands for and hungry to learn. If you find those two things, you can train them in no time and they’ll likely help you in ways you never dreamed of.
Tom recently posted..How to Use BlogEngage – Social Networking for Bloggers (dofollow)
bbrian017
July 28th, 2011
Hi Tom, perhaps at some point I will consider this option. Everyone has their own things to do, own blogs to manage it’s hard to find good help these days and it’s also hard to find that trust level you expect from others as well. In life I find you get what you pay for and with my current budget I’m not sure if I’m willing to pay just yet. If I do hire it will definitely be from someone inside the community.
bbrian017 recently posted..Need money today? Earn it with the Blog Engage Spotlight Job Board (dofollow)
Jane
July 28th, 2011
Brian I completely understand what you mean. I don’t blog full time. I have a day job as you would already know. I however put 6hours a day on blogging. Among thousand things I have to do as a routine for my blog, I do read other blogs. Even though I am pretty tight I actually love reading and commenting. But for the reasons you mention here I only allot a little time for that. I do more reading during weekends though.
Jane recently posted..Top 10 Tips For Effective Time Management (dofollow)
bbrian017
July 28th, 2011
Hi Jane, it’s amazing you put 6 hours a day into blogging that’s crazy cool. I wish I had that amount of time perhaps I would see more growth and accomplish more throughout the day. Are you currently writing on a lot of blogs that aren’t yours?
If they are your blogs maybe you should consider upgrading your blog engage membership so you can syndicate more content and build more backlinks. Just a thought anyways… In regards to the title I’m assuming this title got you in and visiting?
bbrian017 recently posted..Have a company blog? Market it with Blog Engage RSS Service (dofollow)
Christine Senter
July 28th, 2011
I have a part-time out of the house job, but for the most part, blogging and writing is my profession. I try to read all the blog posts I vote on, but I have to be honest and say that it depends a lot on the post’s title.
My biggest issue is more in managing my time for all my blogs, as well as keeping up with my writing requirements. Marketing my blogs usually gets pushed to the back of the line.
Christine Senter recently posted..Giveaway Round-up 7-27-11 (dofollow)
bbrian017
July 28th, 2011
Hi Christine, it seems that many of our readers have part time job working from home. It’s also great that writing and blogging is your profession. I don’t think I’ll ever want to write for a living but I would like to help other bloggers market and promote.
bbrian017 recently posted..Need money today? Earn it with the Blog Engage Spotlight Job Board (dofollow)
Lauri Flaquer
July 28th, 2011
Brian,
I couldn’t agree with you more. In fact, I posted a blog about that just the other day.
Reading has gone from fun to just another chore. It’s become so difficult for me that I now only purchase CD and DVDs. Of course, I limit myself to educational and informative materials.
As for reading blogs, I really just speed read and only really stop when something important catches my eye. When reading online, I’m usually gathering info, solving problems and looking for additional content for my clients or myself. You know the deal, I’m sure.
bbrian017
July 29th, 2011
Hi Lauri Flaquer, thanks so much for stopping by and posting hello. For the record if I have a choice I also purchase the DVD. People say the book is better I say whatever. If you think the book is better try reading it with my attention span. Sometimes I have to read blog articles twice before understand what the hell the blogger is saying.
I’m not sure why but I’ve always had this issues with reading. Again same as you I only skim the article as well. If I don’t understand I leave and if I do understand I leave a comment.
bbrian017 recently posted..5 things Friday for July 29 2011 (dofollow)
Argie Monroy
July 29th, 2011
I’ve been on the same situation as well. In fact, I havent get to read blogs more often simply because I cant keep up with my schedule. I am attending school in the morning and right after I’m home, I head straight to work..
Argie Monroy recently posted..Social Media Provides Every Business with Customer Attraction Opportunities (dofollow)
bbrian017
July 29th, 2011
Hi Argie, man oh man I remember the school days. That’s when I first started online websites. Back in 2006 and man I was a noob lol. Hopefully one your graduate you can start reading and marketing more.
bbrian017 recently posted..5 things Friday for July 29 2011 (dofollow)
Brankica
July 29th, 2011
Hey Brian, great topic
I “work” from home and sometimes I spend all day online and sometimes I don’t log in whole day. The beauty of this internet lifestyle, lol. But I did notice that I had less and less time to read so last month I hardly read anything and left almost no comments.
I felt that wasn’t fair, cause there are people still reading and commenting on my blog and I am sure they are maybe even busier than I am. Oh, I am terrible at organizing my time, BTW.
So I have two things I do.
1. I take an hour every few days and try to “return” the visits. Like comment on my commenters’ blogs, RT their posts or show I appreciate them in any other way.
2. I go through my Google Reader and click on 20 most interesting titles, read the posts, sometimes I comment, sometimes just RT and include the best of those into my bi-weekly round ups.
If this takes away from improving or marketing my own blog, so be it, sometimes I have to give to get
Brankica recently posted..If There Was Only One Book in The World, I Wish it Was This One (dofollow)
bbrian017
July 29th, 2011
Hi Brankica, nice to see you visiting and reading my article how ironic right ? hehe! I’m like you. I try and visit my reader’s blogs as much as I can but it’s harder than it looks. I work 8-5, I eat, clean up and get reader for the next work day. I try to check all 200 e-mails a day, read and comment but the day is never long enough.
Personally I think it’s great you take the time and engage with your reads. I think it’s the best way to engage in a long term relationship… I’ve tried this a few items but it’s so impossible to find any type of fair consistency for me.
bbrian017 recently posted..5 things Friday for July 29 2011 (dofollow)
Ivin
July 31st, 2011
Hello Brankica. I alo like to ‘return’ comments and ReTweets on those that engage me and think they are much more deserving of my time spent on that than trying to engage bloggers you wish would engage you. I’ve stopped engaging bloggers that don’t return it and especially those that still ‘moderate comments’ of regular users.
Ivin recently posted..Contributor Focus: Stephanie Suesan Smith (dofollow)
DiTesco
July 29th, 2011
Interesting topic and most certainly a problem that many are facing. I for one have been lagging behind reading and commenting as I run a good amount of niche sites that I manage myself and other offline activities that may or may not require my time. What I do is to set my priorities straight.. I do realize that engaging on other peoples blog is important too and for this purpose, I basically do the same as Brankica does. In your case and considering the community that is involved here, I would think that what is expected from you is to continue what you are doing here, which is providing bloggers with a great platform to interact, build relationships, etc. They are the ones that “market” your site and that leaves you more room to breath and focus on making BE better and better. Perhaps, one of these days you could considering getting some help. If you define well what help you need, you may be surprised that there are a lot of people willing to work for an amount that are very reasonable. Give them chores that takes you a lot of time. Like promoting, moderating, etc. You ca mange this well and concentrate on more important matters.. It could also be some sort of part time..
DiTesco recently posted..FaceBook For Business, Using Their Marketing Tools To Your Advantage (dofollow)
bbrian017
July 30th, 2011
Hi DiTesco, thanks for stopping by and posting a comment. I didn’t know you had a bunch of web project we all learn something new every day. I’ve been told a few times it might be time to start hiring someone to help me but I’m so cheap I don’t want to spend my money on anything lol.
The reality is I might have to so who knows what the next few weeks bring. Maybe I can try and find someone to start doing some of the things you mentioned. It’s either that or like you I simply don’t’ comment of read some days.
bbrian017 recently posted..The Blog Engage Weekly Top User for July 29 2011 is… (dofollow)
Harrison Li
July 30th, 2011
Wow Brian it must be difficult to be in your situation, you’ve a huge community online to work for and you’ve got your own job to do, that’s like what should be two person working instead of one. But you’ve survived for 4 years it must have been hard, but that’s what it takes to keep a great community up
You should probably start inviting people, ideally from top users to be a Blog Engage staff, they are loyal and trustworthy
Just my opinion.
Harrison Li recently posted..The Ugliest Rotten Web Design Mistake You Can Ever Make (dofollow)
Ivin
July 31st, 2011
Hello Brian. My wife is super supportive. So thisnios what I’ve done (or doing). I’ve worked out a system at work that my work is done by 11:00 am anhd I can meet deadlines. Then I start working on my business, do a little R&R. Then I go gym, cook for my family and then I return to my desk engaging and creating content/communities.
I work 17 hours a day on trying to achieve my goals, built I don’t plan on doing that my whole life. I believe if I want to be successful and work part time on a home business I have to build a great business system and replicate my own work ethic and professionalism into others and help them to be successful and then I will be myself.
Ivin recently posted..Contributor Focus: Stephanie Suesan Smith (dofollow)
Lauri Flaquer
July 31st, 2011
Hi Brian,
Harrison Li makes a really good point. Why don’t you have a guest blogger once in a while and have that person write a topic for you? If you like, you could tell this person about your audience and have them come up with a few topics and titles for you to choose from. This person would get exposure and you’d get to have a few days a month freed up. (I’m new to your blog and maybe you are already doing this.)
I’d be open to writing a gues post for you, if you like and I’m sure a few others would be as well. You might give it a try and see how it goes.
There might be other tasks in this blogsphere that you might be able to oursource. Look at everything you do with an eye towards, “What could someone else do for me?” If you’re creative and able to let go of the control of certain things, this might be a great time saver for you.
Just a few thoughts. Good luck.
Satrap
September 16th, 2011
I have 2 full time offline jobs and online I have my blog and a few different freelancing projects. And, all I have to say is that it truly is time consuming! I mean, some day I barely have time to eat.
But, I actually like being busy like this.
Its wired, but the busier I am, the more motivated I become and the more stuff I get done.
Satrap recently posted..Make Money with Google Places- Step by Step Guide (dofollow)