Thursday, April 29, 2010

Old Dogs, Newsletters, and Homecoming Queens

So I'm starting a quarterly newsletter with updates about my schtuff, interviews of other authors, free stories, and other goodies. Sign up in the grey box at the right. You have my no-SpamTM promise. There will be quarterly giveaways just for newsletter subscribers, so what do you have to lose, right? (It only takes half a second to click "delete" an unwanted email.)

Speaking of sign up thingys...

Hey! Where's the "followers" thingy?

I've dropped it to the bottom of the sidebar. (scroll down)

I might drop it completely. I love my blog readers; I don't like feeling I'm in some sort of a popularity contest. What are your thoughts on the purpose of the followers thingy?

9 comments:

Kara McElhinny said...

*clicks little green button* I'm up!

@the followers comment - I'm always torn because even though I do write my blogs for myself I know that it's important that I network with other writers in the blogosphere. But I admit that I do like getting comments and I do enjoy seeing a new person following my blog. Gives me a little thrill. :D

However, from a "follower" standpoint I think the followers button is an easy way to be able to follow a blog. All we have to do is click the button (like your newsletter) and it's done. (not that the other way is any harder, but I'm throwing in my opinion :D)

It is up to you, but is it really a popularity contest? The only person your competing against is yourself right?

Jamie Eyberg said...

cool idea for a newsletter. I am indifferent with the follow button. I don't worry about mine, just as long as people are still reading even if it is just my wife (who doesn't follow me).

Aaron Polson said...

Hinny - Good point about the ease for followers. This is why I shouldn't do anything rashly...

Jamie - I feel like the newsletter thing could be fun. Michael Arnzen does amazing things with The Goreletter (and he's even won a Stoker for it).

Fox Lee said...

Wait, we can have followers? I can't keep up with internet magic. You should see me sweat when I want to post a picture.

Katey said...

Yay newsletter!

The follower thing might be cool for people to find each other-- like introducing friends to friends. I don't look at it partly because I'm on Wordpress. But I usually find people through others' blogs based on their comments anyhow.

Andrea Allison said...

You know my position on the whole followers thing. I like how easy it is to keep up with blogs but it's scary how obsessive some people get over the follower numbers.

Cate Gardner said...

Yay, newsletter.

Once upon a time I would have been surprised to have even one follower, now I don't think about it so much. I have a close circle of writer friends thanks to my blog and that's enough for me.

Aaron Polson said...

Natalie - You hide it well.

Katey - Point taken.

Andrea - Again, point taken.

Cate - It's like a support group without the 12 steps.

Danielle Birch said...

I have some followers, but don't have the box thingy. Go the newsletter! Am signing up now.