Last week I received a heads-up call from my website guru, Sabrina. It seems that Facebook has another massive change in store for us, or at least for bloggers and their readers. Beginning September 30th or October 1st blogs will no longer appear ‘automatically’ on the Home Page of the blogger-person’s Facebook Friends. In order to place it there, we will have to do the actual ‘linking’ each day. It sounded a bit tricky – another learning curve and perhaps an unnecessary one.
As things have been for the last year or so, I write my blog each morning and post it onto my sydneyofoysterville.com website. Unless there is some unusual screw-up, the blog appears simultaneously on Facebook. We (Beachdog.com and I) made that happen in an attempt to increase my readership and it has been very successful. I think.
I know that I have a number of regular readers, but I don’t know if they are seeing my blog directly on my website or if they are Facebook Friends or Friends of Friends and are alerted to each posting on Facebook. It would help to find that out so I will know how to proceed once the ‘automatic feed button’ (or whatever) is turned off.
So, if you happen to be reading this, I would really appreciate the answers to a few questions:
1. How did you first come upon my blog?
2. Do you read it fairly regularly or are you a more spasmodic follower?
3. Do you read it because it shows up on your Facebook Home Page or do you go directly to my website?
4. And, finally, what would your ‘delivery’ preference be and would it affect how often you read my blog?
And, you may wonder, what is the reason for this upcoming ‘new, improved’ Facebook change? Apparently, it is to make it “easier” for bloggers to personalize their blogs for each of their Facebook readers – allow them to add some sort of personal greeting for each Facebook friend. Huh???
As most folks know, the term ‘blog’ is a combination of letters from the words web log – the ‘b’ from web plus log. A log in this sense, of course, is much the same as a journal or a diary – a record of performance, events or day-to-day activities, according to my dictionary. I for one have never heard of ‘personalizing’ such a record.
Once again, I have the distinct impression that Big Brother – this time in the guise of Facebook, rather than Google or some of the other recent offenders – is making decisions and choices for me. It’s not a good feeling – not at all.
Sydney,
I read your blog every day. It’s title appears on my customized google home page, along with the others that I regularly read, so when I log in to the internet it is right there waiting for me.
I enjoyed reading the information about your background on Facebook but I didn’t figure you needed additional friends who are just reading your published blog. Am I missing some additional postings?
Thanks for taking me back to Oysterville every day,
Susan in Seattle
Hi Susan, Thanks for such a speedy response. It sounds like you are getting all of my postings thus far. (I only do one blog entry a day.) Let me know if your access changes next month, though. As for needing “additional friends” — I had to smile! Writers always need additional friends, fans, and followers. In fact, it was in an effort to increase readership that I hooked up with Facebook in the first place and, I have to say, that my blog ‘hits’ have increased by several hundredfold. Bottom line is I hope those readers also become buyers of my books and the publications for which I write. When an author’s focus is narrow, as mine is, it is sometimes hard to get the word out!
Good Morning Sydney,
I discovered your blog while following up on an OPB program, “The Oystermen”. There was a link directly to your website, and I have been reading your blog every day since then.
I’ve always gone directly to your website, despite the accessibility on Facebook.
I also wish to say “Thank You” for keeping Oysterville a part of my day!
Jenny in Portland
Jenny, thanks so much for reminding me how you first found me. It is so nice to know that those external types of links really do work! And thanks, also, for your interest in Oysterville. It sounds as though my daily words from here will continue to be easily accessible to you. Hooray!
I too am a daily reader. Sometimes I click on the highlighted phrase posted on Facebook and sometimes I just type in an “S” and here she is, “Sydney of Oysterville” !!!! Voila!!!! your home page pops up and I scroll down the options on the left. I would find you another way, butthese methods work for me. So much conversation about Facebook these past few days. I remember when the phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” buzzed around. Buzz off Facebook, we are all doin’ just fine…
Thanks, Nancy. I’m glad you have an alternative to the Facebook route. I’ll be interested in learning if this proposed change affects your loyal readership in any way. Let me know if you notice a difference in accessibility.
I discovered your blog at Bailey’s, and I have become a regular reader. I added it to my Bookmark Menu so it is only a click away. Easy, and that’s what I prefer! I am not part of Facebook nor do I care to be. I just hope the anticipated changes will not be beyond my technological grasp!
Thanks for your response, Ann. I don’t think the upcoming changes should affect anyone except Facebook users, so it sounds like you will still be able to find me just “a click away.” I hope so!
1. I first found your blog after reading Medora.
2. I read it almost every day.
3. I go directly to the website since I am at work and don’t want people to know I am on Facebook.
4. No preference on delivery, just keep it coming
Hi Sydney, I read your blog every day through the FB link because it’s also my daily way of keeping in touch with beach friends. However, I will bookmark our site as well; just didn’t think of that delivery form. So as the above responder wrote–no preference on delivery, just keep it coming.
1. Stephanie Frieze spoke of your blog and sparked my interest.
2. I try to read the blog every day, but that really only happens during the week. On Monday, I have to catch up.
3. I go directly to your website. Facebook and I are not compatible. I work on a computer most of the day, so don’t want to face one when I am home.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. Your entries make me laugh, make me think and always entertain. Many thanks.
Hi, Sydney. Just wanted you to know that I try to read your blog every day, although I am behind today because we had company yesterday. Your website is on my Bookmark Menu and I use that method to find out what is happening in your life in Oysterville. I love your style – whether it is historical info or hysterical rant! I have faithfully avoided Facebook up to this point as I have trouble even keeping up with e-mails!
Keep up the great work!
Cheryl, I had no idea you were reading my blog so often! Good! Now I feel half-way in touch with you even though you are so far away!
Sydney –
I have read your blogs since the beginning and usually see them on facebook. If I don’t get to them daily or it doesn’t show up on facebook, then I get on to your page and scroll down to the blog and read what I have missed. I love them – it’s like you talking to me every day!
Thanks for the feedback, Patty! I’m waiting to see what tomorrow or the next day brings. I hope I’m up to coping with the Facebook changes, but cyberspace and I are not always at ‘one.’ More like five or six!
Hi Sydney, I read your blog sporadically and enjoy it very much. If you had the option of delivering it to subscribers email, or RSS feed, it would be easier to keep up. I sometimes go through Facebook so fast that I don’t have time to click on everything that interests me.
Thanks, Suzanne. I have no idea how the delivery methods you mention work. If they involve subscriptions or money from either end of the blogging “conversation,” I don’t think they are the direction for me. But, I’ll look into the possibilities!
1. facebook
2. frequently
3. from the facebook link
4. best to deliver with facebook
Love ya, Brigid
Thanks, Brigid! I hope I can figure out the new Facebook system when it arrives in the next day or two.
I found your blog and Facebook page because of the articles tou wrote for the Chinook Observer about my aunt Verna(Oller). and have been reading your blog ever since. I would like to meet you on of these days. My wife and I recently moved to Beaverton.
Steve, I had no idea that you were related to Verna! Thanks for sharing that information. She was definitely one of a kind!
I was wondering why I had not seen your blog posted on the new FB format. I finally had a moment to go looking today and I clicked the “subscribe” link on your page. It said that I was registered to receive “Most Posts” so I clicked “All Posts” and now I can catch up on a week’s worth of Oysterville news! The FB link has always been the easiest way for me to get to the blog on a daily basis.