by Lori (L. Virelli)
Oh, dear stats you have fallen behind.
I wish I could say that I didn’t mind.
But, it does tend to bother me,
cause I’m a writer you see.
Like, Like, Like, without even a click.
They ought not bother unless they read my shtick.
I am a burgeoning author, you know.
I’d love for people to give me a show.
I do unto others as I would wish.
I don’t click like unless I read your dish.
I truly give your post my all.
I read you because your blog stands tall.
Just a silly little poem about blogging. But, seriously, this will be the second year I will receive my yearly stats from WordPress, and I’m not looking forward to it. I already know I had less clicks this year, not for lack of posting. The WordPress lack-of-notification snafoo happened in August and lasted for two months. That’s when my clicks took a dive.
Many times I’ve had about 20-something likes, and only about 9 clicks. I mean, really … people click like and don’t even click on the blog. Maybe I’m a freak, because I only click like if I actually like what I read. People also click follow on my blog who never even once visited. Who do they think they’re fooling? Do they really think it’s going to get me to visit their blog?
It appears to be the easy way out, trying to lure traffic to their blog without having to traffic for others. Personally, when I have the time, I enjoy getting to know people from all over the globe.
I can pretty much guarantee that I’ll get likes on this post from people who have no idea I’m talking about them, because they haven’t read this post. I don’t visit the blogs of people who scroll through topics clicking like on places they’ve never visited.
Well, as my poem says, you can rest assured … if I follow you or click like on your post, it’s because I have read your good work.
May all who read this blog have many blessings, many clicks, and much success in the New Year.
Update: This was posted in the morning approximately 10am. By 2:30pm I have 17 likes from people who visited, and several who did not. What I find ironic and curious is that none of those likes have shown up on this particular post. At least not as of the time I’m posting this update. Hmm.
Lori's Lane 
Yay! I like your like poem so much! I hear ya on the liking conundrum. A lot of people are just out there fishing for traffic themselves.
One blogger, who shall remain unnamed, always popped over to my page and liked several posts, one after the other at a rapid speed…BAM, BAM, BAM…then took off. This blogger always did the same routine, while I actually went to their place and read, commented, and liked. Then I read a post where this blogger actually bragged about this strategy working to get most of the traffic on their site. Needless to say, I don’t pay much attention to this person’s guerilla warfare “like” tactics anymore.
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Ahh, yes, the drive-by ‘liker.’ They scroll down my home page clicking ‘like’ on a dozen different blogs, but never click on one of them. In fact, someone just did that right when you stopped by. I’ve been tempted to put up a post with the specific blogs of people who do this and link back to them to show they’ve been caught. Heh. Thank you for stopping by, Britt, and for sharing your experience.
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Ha! The drive-by liker is fantastic.Spot on!
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Haha I like that you just went for this and talked about something we all think about. It really is weird… I never hit “like” unless I’ve read something– what if they’re spewing some weird ideology or hate? I don’t want to throw my “like” on that! Also, it’s just disrespectful and condescending. *sigh*
For what it’s worth…. I *like* you 😉 Bahahaha
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Hi Aussa! That’s a good point. No one brought up that they could be clicking ‘like’ on something that is spewing hate.
I didn’t really know everyone else thought about this until I posted it. Most people are more alike than they think. It’s good to know that so many of my commenters have integrity, and ‘like’ things when they really mean it. And hey, I ‘like’ you too. 🙂 Hee, hee and happy, happy new year to you.
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And there you have the dark side of the Reader. It allows people to “like” without ever visiting the original post on the blog and to read a post without registering a view for the author’s blog. And there are people who seem to have programs that click “like” on every post because I see them “liking” every post I read!
What’s funny about reading this today is that WordPress and Firefox are apparently having trouble with that like button! It refuses to load on any blog post I’ve read today. But if I use Internet Explorer, it works just fine. Ah, technology.
I hope 2014 brings you peace and happiness and much inspiration.
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I know, it’s ironic about the ‘like’ button coinciding with this blog post. I even said so in the WP community forum for help. WP is aware of it.
I know what you mean about ‘likes’ on several posts. They can just click once on my home page and then scroll down and click ‘like’ on all the posts without reading them or clicking on the actual topic. Go figure.
Thank you for the 2014 wish, I like it and wish you the very same.
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Lori, I know just what you mean about those darn likers who “like” and never even visit the blog. What the heck? Why are they doing that–just to annoy us? (Trying to get traffic without any effort is more like it.) As for stats, I think it’s the human condition that if we get 10 hits, we want 20. If we get 100, we want 200. It’s an endless spiral of our egos. My blog hits are at the lowest ever this year, but sometimes it feels like I’m getting closer to expressing who I really am. Odd. Am hoping this year to blog closer to my deepest self (whether that appears as photos, deep writing, humor, Presence, whatever) without attachment to gaining or losing readership. Thank you for your Presence in the blogosphere and beyond!
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You’re so right, about the endless spiral of our egos. I would really like people to find my book(s) though, and hoped my blog might help with it. In the mean time, I’m made some great friends, like you. So glad the blogosphere led me to you. Happy Blessings to you.
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Clearly, I’m not as in tune with my traffic (or lack of) as you are. I’m not even sure how you know a like was clicked but no visit was made! Honestly, I don’t like the like button. It came about a few years after I began blogging and I rarely think to click it unless I don’t have time or the right words to leave a comment. Then I tend to use it to let the writer know I’ve been there and read their post. But I would MUCH prefer to leave a comment if I can. I hope no one is offended because I DON’T typically think to use the like button.
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Hi Terri! I get notifications in my email when people click ‘like.’ I can get 10 notifications of ‘likes’, but then when I check my stats, no one has clicked on the blog. It would appear that those 10 people who clicked ‘like’ didn’t click on the blog. I always click ‘like’ whether I comment or not. Like you, sometimes I don’t have the right words for a comment, so I click ‘like’ to let the blogger know I’ve been there. But, I’ve REALLY been there. I didn’t cheat. 🙂
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Bravo, Lori, and commenters. I stopped blogging for part of this year to “clean house”. I follow a few blogs; comment if I have something to add, do not follow the “likers” especially those who appear on all the blogs trying to get followers. Seldom do any of the challenges. Hate when folk post 20,000 post a day. Seldom use that reader gizmo. The few who read what I write, I truly care about and those who never comment but just “like” I ignore their blogs and do not follow. Just deactivated FB. There are people there posting stuff more than 20,000 times a day. Who can keep up?
I realize sometimes there are no words to be said, and hitting that like button is great. For my blogging friends to do that.
Well done!
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I’m not a fan of fb or the twit. My blog automatically gets posted there so I don’t have to sign into those places. I do enjoy blogging, but those people who click ‘like’ without reading will not get a visit from me. Looks like I’m not the only one who notices this. Thanks for the comment, Linda. Good to see you.
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How does your blog get posted to FB without you having an account? Did you set one up for your blog?
Thanks again!
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Hey Linda. On the dashboard under settings, you can click on ‘sharing.’ There is a spot there where you can tell WordPress to connect to other social media like fb and twit. It asks for your password and it’ll set up your blog to go there.
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I thought that was your FB password, silly me! Thx.
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Hey Lori, I just discovered you through a WP forum because we’re both having a problem with our likes not showing. You mentioned in the forum the irony about your likes not showing on this particular post and that intrigued me to read it. You nailed exactly how I feel about what I consider throwaway likes and don’t get me going about throwaway followers. I think a percentage of them are spambots. I have more followers than ever this year and my stats are only about 55% of what they were a year ago. It’s ridiculous, but like you, I enjoy writing and I also enjoy interacting with my genuine followers. Some do just give my post a “like” and don’t always comment, but I know they’ve read it and if I’m pressed for time, I do the same. But no way am I going to like someone’s post back if I haven’t read it nor would I be a schmuck-ette and follow someone hoping they’d follow me without investing any energy into their site. Excellent post.
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I know, right? Since the ‘likes’ come in my email and I can tell who has not clicked on my blog, I’ve considered writing a blog dedicated to them about their phantom ‘likes’ and ‘follows.’ Heh. I wonder if I could brave-up and actually link back to them to get them to actually click on my blog and see what I’ve written about them. Heh. I’ll have to mull the idea over a little more. Thanks for reading and commenting. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one, and that other people actually mean it when they like something. 🙂
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All you say is true, Lori – about some of the people who click “Like” or “Follow”
Happy New Year and may all good things surround and keep you healthy, happy and wealthy 🙂
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Thank you, Eric. I wish you the same. 🙂
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Lori, you know I’m not a poem girl … but you hit the button now – I’m the same that how can anyone like read something they haven’t read, but the new setup of “readers” allow you to read the post in full from readers .. if it’s not too long. So that is one reason why … but the same happens to me and I hardly write any short stories. Only minutes after it has been posted .. somebody has clicked “like” – why like something that hasn’t been read????
For me “like” means that I have read the total post and that I enjoyed it.
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Some of us mean what we say and mean what we click (like), Viveka. 🙂 Thanks for reading my poem and all the rest.
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I’m like you–my ‘likes’ mean I’ve read the post and enjoyed it but either don’t have something intelligent (or witty) to add or sadly don’t have the time to comment. But I always read the post. It seems the past few months have been terrible for ‘fake’ followers. Gets kind of frustrating!
Hope you had a wonderful holiday, Lori! Happy New Year to you!
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Hey Carrie. Yep, my ‘likes’ mean the exact same thing you mentioned here. Already on this post I got 3 followers and a half dozen likes of people who didn’t even click on the blog. I’ve been tempted to put up a post with their names and what they did, then link back to them. Heh. Good to see you. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Blessings to you in the new year.
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I’m learning all the time – I didn’t realise people did that! Seems quite mercenary, as you say, it’s the relationships that help make blogging worthwhile.
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Hi Andrea. I think there are so many places for social networking, people just do drive-by clicks. Heh. I try to moderate my social networking. Personally, I enjoy blogging over any other and spend most of my time with WordPress. Thank you so much for actually reading and commenting. Blessings to you in the new year.
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I agree with you, Lori. I like to know that the person who clicks the Like button has at least made a stab at reading my post (otherwise, what’s the point?) I think readers are already overloaded with too many blogs to follow, and that’s a problem I don’t know the solution to. Some people (IMHO) put out so many posts that I can’t keep up. I think one a day is more than enough. But everyone has a different tolerance level for that, so I’m not complaining. What I like is when a person reads my post, clicks the Like button, and leaves a friendly comment that I can (and do) respond to. Don’t worry about your stats. Just keep blogging. Happy New Year!
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Hey Anneli. I think like all things, social networking should probably be done in moderation. As an author, I should probably be on fb, twit and goodreads more often, but blogging takes up most of my time outside of writing. This way I can give people my time here instead of those other network places. Glad you understand the whole ‘like’ situation. Thanks so much for reading and commenting here with me. Blessings to you.
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Internet had change the way we read. I read on four sites on my days off. I comment on topics that I have a logical opinion. I like when people stop by and read. Years ago I had 3000 myspace writers/friends and myspace changed. We are finding each other on new writing sites. I enjoy reading. Many reasons for me to read. Can’t be a great writer if you don’t read and try to improve. I don’t care about stats. I do understand all writers want to be read. Thank you for your thoughts on a good topic.
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Hi John. I think people can’t keep up with all the different areas of social networking. I usually just stick to blogging, so I don’t have all the other places to stop and read. Thank you so much for stopping by to read my post and for commenting. Blessings to you.
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🙂 I’m with you. My stats show it too and I think the virtual space has changed some (not just wordpress). Lots more phantom liking and less engaging overall. I could go on but can’t add anything more to what you already said!
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It is difficult to keep up with social networking. I usually just stick to blogging, and only occasionally check those other places. I wonder if this social network thing will ever level off. Already I have 3 new phantom followers and about a half dozen likes of people who didn’t even click on my blog. Heh. Oh, well. Thank you for taking the time to read this and comment. Blessings to you in the new year, Pete.
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