Thursday, January 08, 2009

A Blogger's Confession - I Steal Friends. I'll Show You How.

Now that I've been blogging a while, I've developed some sneaky habits. I love comments, so if people comment on my blog, there's a good likelihood I'll click their profile shots, get to their blogs and leave comments.

On workdays I can't always do this because we're not allowed to visit websites on the office computer, only check email. When I'm lucky, the network card on my laptop computer is working properly and I can access blogs on my breaks. Otherwise, I try to catch up while watching TV at home.

I digress - Back to the subject at hand.

You might say there's nothing unusual or underhanded about reciprocating comments.

What I do next is - I steal other people's friends, kind of like I do on MySpace. After I leave my comment on someone's blog, I look for other people's comments. If I see a likely target, I'll click on that person's profile shot, check out that person's blog and leave a comment there. Later that day or the next, often I'll receive a comment back on my blog from that blogger thanking me for visiting. If I'm lucky, and sometimes it happens, the blogger will like my blogspot and come back more to visit and leave comments.

This sneaky way of making friends has gotten me into trouble, but it's a good kind. Every time I do this, I've added another friend's blog to an already bulging list for me to go through when I can, check their blogs and comment. That's my reward and my punishment.

What about you? When readers comment on your blog, do you reciprocate? Do you take it a step further and steal their friends?

Please share or confess.

24 comments:

  1. I do this too and am thoroughly in favour of it as a tactic. Work blocks blogs so I now have a teeny tiny laptop, with a proper hard drive that that is my computer now. It fits in my handbag so it comes to work and during my lunchbreak the wonders of 3G allow me to catch up.

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  2. My 3G isn't working any more at work. I think something is blocking it because it works at home.
    Morgan

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  3. Morgan, you're hysterical! I love how you word things. When I guest blog or interview on other blogs, I always try to respond individually to each commenter and I just started really checking out their sites, too. This has been a slow idea of what I should do, but I think it's a good one. I think it's important to reciprocate, add a personal touch, pay it forward. It nourishes friendships when you do.

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  4. Sneaky, very sneaky. Will have to do that in future ; )

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  5. Anonymous8:35 AM

    I do visit and leave comments but my blogger is hidden better than the Loch Ness monster. Nellie has more visitors than i do. I even added music(in beta testing here) and video but it's pretty lonesome on the old home front.
    bill

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  6. I don't call it stealing. That sounds so negative.

    I call it "shopping." It sounds less wrong that way.

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  7. HAHAHA! I LOVE this! It's not what you know! It's who you know! LOL!

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  8. When I receive a comment, I always try to visit that person's blog - if I can find it. I never thought about 'stealing' friends though. Will have to add that to my to do list in the future.

    Jane Kennedy Sutton
    http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/

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  9. Morgan, I thought you were coming up with a way to make more connections with less work, not more! LOL

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  10. I've been "contacting" friend's friends on my social networks for months now. Sounds like it's time I started doing that with the blogs as well.

    I agree, it's a lot of work. My next romantic suspense, MR. CHARMING, comes out on July 31st, I'll let you know if I see an increase sales.

    visit me at www.nancyjparra.com

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  11. LOL, omg, you too??? I thought I was the only one who did that!

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  12. Anonymous10:36 AM

    Thief.

    Welcome to the club (smile)

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  13. Morgan, I haven't figured out how to reciprocate. I've only just now figured out that if I leave comments back on my blog, I can respond to those faithful to look my way.

    So, this is a revelation to me, and I'm glad you said this, because now I can respond to others' comments. Thanks!

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  14. OMG! I did that to yours yesterday! ;)

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  15. Yes, I confess, I'm doing this now! Got started doing it on several social sites actually. Everyone's circle of influence is so much different from our own - and it's not who you know, but who do THEY know?

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  16. I have been doing this for almost five years now! I call it network fishing. I have received a few jobs from it but it does require dedication.

    Ciurious, How did you "get into trouble" doing this?

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  17. Anonymous2:29 PM

    I do sometimes. I have a iPhone so I check through there. My company doesn't really monitor computer use. We just don't abuse it. Heck even the partners shop online!

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  18. Ellen, I like the term "network fishing." I would have used "socializing," but yours is better.

    So that's where all my friends have gone! Morgan is stealing them. She's probably enticing them away with virtual cookies and milk.

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  19. Anonymous5:58 PM

    It seems the only polite thing to do is reciprocate with comments. I don't see anything wrong with "poaching" friends that way, it's natural!

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  20. To my "poaching friend", you are a character. Love your blog, your friendly comments. Wouldn't have you any other way.

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  21. Wow, this hoping from blog to blog to find new friends is something I never thought of trying! I'll have to check out YOUR friends, Morgan. :) And, I'm still new to commenting. I hadn't done much of it until the January bookblogtours challenge. I see how it could become addicting!

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  22. Morgan,

    In the past (before today) I would visit commenters' blogs if they gave the address in the comment. I didnt' know I could find the blog myself by clicking on their names. Gotta go - lots of catching up to do!
    Thanks,
    Char

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  23. Heck, yes, I do this! I also do it on Twitter and to a lesser extent Facebook because it's a great way to find interesting people.

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  24. I've gotta get into the habit of doing this -- and this is a start!

    Libby
    www.libbymckinmer.com
    www.twitter.com/libbymckinmer
    www.libbymckinmer.blogspot.com

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