Sometimes at night I like to go through old comments and link to the blogs. I am not sure how other blogs work, but WordPress keeps all the comments and I can go back to the very first comment I ever had. Normally I will go back about 200 comments (10 pages) and randomly visit blogs who have visited me. Last night I did something I have never done, I went to the very first page of comments I had – 774 pages back.
What was kind of sad was how many of these blogs no longer exist – and really this is only since June 2009. For the ones that are still out there, it was interesting to see some of the blogs that visited me in my early journey and I had not been on their blog for months nor they on mine. To me, it kind of felt like going back for a class reunion. My blog has changed so much from those early days it is not even recognizable. I had to think if they visit me back, will I be “new” to them? Will they recognize this blog?
I am curious – does anyone else ever go back through comments and randomly visit blogs? Does Blogger keep all your comments too?
And for fun – for those of you who have been blogging a while, has your blog changed from the early days? If so – how?
Book Journey 
My blog has changed a bit. The design has changed and my reviews have gotten more organized (for example, I now use the same format each time). Blogger does keep comments, which is nice.
It never occurred to me to go back and visit commenters. Perhaps I’ll do some of that this weekend!
I like to do that Helen. See who is visiting me, what they are reading….
Going all the way back was wild because my first comments were from people I knew…. people I worked with, family…..LOL
Interesting idea to go back and visit old commenters. My blog has changed a great deal, so those who come to it probably have also!
rhapsodyinbooks, It is kind of fun and a little nostalgic too as I see those blogs that first drew me in!
As far as I know Blogger keeps everything on my blog. I’ve been book blogging since last fall, so my history doesn’t go back as far as some.
My site hasn’t changed a whole lot since the beginning. I can’t afford to get a fancy header, but I’m happy with the basic layout that Blogger provided. I think the biggest change came a little while back when I added tabs with different activities on the blog– My giveaways, swaps, dividing up the different types of reviews, etc.
I kind of went into this book blogging world on a lark, so I have no idea how long this ride is going to last. But I’m having alot of fun, learning much, meeting nice people and reading more books than I have in many years. I hope to be around for a long time!
Laura Hartness
The Calico Critic
CalicoCritic at gmail dot com
Me too Laura – WordPress is free and I don’t have a lot of knowledge on layouts, etc…. everything you see here is because I seen it on another blog and asked them how they did it! 🙂
That is an interesting idea! A project for a day when it’s raining and when nothing else much is happening…I might be surprised to find comments I didn’t know about. Before I had comment moderation, I wouldn’t necessarily know who stopped by!
Thanks for the thought!
Laurel that is interesting. All comments come to me by email so I see them all.
I’ve been in and out of blogging for the last almost 3 years. I’ve stepped away and then come back into things. Life has happened and that is what prompted this. Anywa, mine is more of a journal for me and so I haven’t made many changes to the set-up. I like it the way it is. I know I don’t have a lot of gadget and bells and whistles, but it suits me.
That being said, I do go back occasionally. Mostly when I am writing a review with an author that I think I have mentioned before. When I’m back looking through thing, I often click through to the commenters. Most of mine have been with me for a long time and in the the beginning, they were some of my close friends. Good topic, Sheila. Have a good day!
Thanks Kay! 🙂
The content on my blog, the focus, has changed quite a bit since I started blogging, definitely. The look? Not so much.
Hannah it is funny to read some of my early reviews before I was really involved in the networking part. I was quite a bit more blunt and even at times a little harsh when reviewing books I didn’t enjoy.
I remember referring to one book as a good beach read, it didn’t matter if it was covered with sand and water. Ouch!
LOL! Yeah, my reviews have definitely filled out a bit since I started.
My blog has definitely grown since June. While it’s always had a definite purpose – I’ve grown into that purpose much more. Apart from that, my blog has changed appearance why drastically. The color change I think has made it easier to read and more professional and of course the domain name. I’ve also purchased business cards, stamps, letterhead, etc to promote my blog.
Sheila, I’m so glad I knew you at the beginning. It’s been a crazy ride together!
It has been that Reagan! 🙂
I have to get business cards yet for BEA. I like some of the other things you mention here too. I have thought about having book marks made.
I was just thinking about this this morning! I get bored with the look of my blog, so it’s constantly changing. I’m also “new” when it comes to the book blogging world. I’ve only just begun to really immerse myself in the community within the last few months, and my blog has started to reflect that. I’m loving it!
Amy I have made two giant leaps in the look of my blog – both times during the Bloggiesta that Natasha of Maw Books hosts. During those times I really take that weekend to learn as much as I can about blogging and the details.
Blogspot keeps all my comments-I do not usually go back unless it is someone that I am looking for that I do not pop over to their website often. My comments come into my email account also so I read them as they come in.
Me too Esme. I like that. 🙂
My blog has definitely changed up a bit since I first started and I like to think I have gotten more confident with each post, as well. I think change is always a good thing it keeps your readers coming back, I’m sure. 🙂 Oh, and I can totally see why others have kind of left their blog behind, because it really is hard work to keep it updated and relevant. Props to the ones that can update their blog everyday!… Great question!
Thanks Krista, I can see why some stop blogging too and it I found it a little sad to see blogs that I would guess were abandoned – with last posts dating back to fall of 2009.
Life changes, etc…I get that. And yes, it is a commitment – one I really enjoy but I admit that there are things I wish I was caught up with like giveaways and awards that I just really need to make time for. 🙂
My blog has changed from when I first started…I think my reviews have become more focused…I rate my books now, and I take the time to comment about the characters and writing style. I write more thorough reviews than I did before.
I still haven’t taken the plunge and posted personal meanderings…but I love to read other bloggers’ personal posts…so maybe I’ll see how that direction goes.
I usually “follow” the blogs that comment on my posts…but it would be great to go back and see if I have missed a few. It is sad to see a blogger no longer posting…I have read a few posts lately where people have stopped blogging for one reason or another.
I have seen those posts too Kara where people have stopped blogging or are taking a break. I bet the long time bloggers have seen a lot of this through their years.
The Morning Meandering was just an idea I had one day that I wanted to just “chat”. I believe I referred to it as me unplugged. I was so surprised by how many emailed me and said they loved that – and to this day I still have a lot of comments on how they love stopping by in the morning for the “Meanderings”. I kept doing it because people like it – and well…. I love to just be me. 🙂
Being new to the blogging world (it will be my 3 month anniversary on Monday! Yippeeeee!) I haven’t got so far to go back (although I have posted lots so even reviews / posts I wrote in December when I was starting out feel like a world away). My blog hasn’t changed at all, other than I’m adding more images etc as I go along.
It is sad that lots of blogs no longer exists, but life can get in the way. Personally, I find my job terribly inconvenient to my reading habbits! Tsk.
I can’t see my myself giving up blogging about books at all. Books are not just a hobby, they’re a passion. I have only been blogging for 3 months but I have been reviewing on Amazon and Goodreads for years. Long live the book blogs!
I wonder if, in a few years, you come back and visit this thread and find that some of us have disappeared?
The Book Whisperer,
I have to ask – are you an Amazon Vine member? Just curious…. it is something I would love to be but am not.
Sadly, I am sure that many of the blogs we see today will come to a close for one reason or another. I feel like you do, in one format or another I will be talking books because I too am quite passionate about them.
Also – my job gets in the way of my reading and blogging too. How annoying…LOL
My blog has drastically changed since I first began blogging. When I started my blog was strictly for knitting and knitting challenges, hence my user name and my blog name. My blog continued to change and evolve over time to were I have finally found my niche.
Jennifer that is interesting! I have seen your blog title but did not know that once you were strictly about that!
My header is still the same but my sidebars have changed a bit. I haven’t gone back to the first comments and randomly visit blogs, but I think that’s a great idea! I am still getting and giving comments to a few of the bloggers I met the first week of starting my blog.
It is fun Vicki to see how many have been with you from the beginning isn’t it? I had to smile at the ones that I had forgotten have been a part of my blogging world since last June when I first really started.
I don’t often go back through old commenters. However, my blog isn’t that old. I’ve only been blogging since the summer. I know that my design has changed drastically since when I first started and my reviews have gotten a bit more in-depth. I’ve also started doing less memes. I think there’s always room to improve though and am glad to experience changes in my blogging habits.
I think you started about the same time as me April – I started in June of 2009. 🙂
It is a shame that so many blogs end up being left. I think people struggle with the time constraints and a blog is very demanding. Almost like having a new pet.
I don’t venture back at all, perhaps I should take a look.
Vivienne – I agree. You can be as active or as inactive as you choose. It is all about your own style.
Blogging to me feeds my love to write so I try to do a bit each day. 🙂
I don’t have my own blog, but I do go back to earlier posts on some of the blogs I visit. Sometimes it is to see if I missed a response to my comment. I visit several historical sites that focus on research. Since I haven’t followed them for very long, I’ll go back and read entries I missed.
That makes sense Pat. For em I can just link to them from my comments but I suppose for you you really have to keep track of the ones you like to frequent.
I try to keep up with all the blogs. I know there are a few that visited me that we ended up not following each other, but I try to keep up with everyone who leaves comments. I think that is partly why I run about 2 days behind in my comments. Now I do have a few people who I could not find their blogs or ended up not following who commented on my contest. I am going to have to go visit them again.
It is a shame to hear that some blogs are not around any more. I have a few followers who are for what ever reason not around for some time. I always hope they are alright and nothing happened to them.
Those that just quit posting I wonder about too Melissa, and like you, if they did not leave a message saying they are taking a break or done… I hope they are ok.
I really enjoyed this post! I have been blogging for almost a year. Anniversary is coming up in fact! I hope that I am evolving and growing with my reviews. I sure learn alot when I visit other bogs too. It is a huge commitment and time taker but I tihnk that we all do it for the love of books.