POWIP Piece of Work In Progress – Former Abode of Dan Collins

28Sep/1041

The Sad Truth About Blogging in Obscurity [UPDATE]

Today's most visited posts are below the fold, with the number of unique viewers for each, and the percentage change up or down since yesterday.

You'll notice that despite my posts today (the top figure is for the front page of the blog), the most visited post is one that I wrote regarding dipping my balls in pudding at the Scott Brown shindig. And the reason that it's visited is because someone asked what the pudding thing was, over at Ace's place.

It makes me sad. And then it makes me mad, Dad. You know, I'm not sure what I have to do to get a glance from the likes of Glenn Reynolds, or Ed Morrissey, or any of Breitbart's Bigs, or Ace, or Dan Riehl, or Treach, or Jim Hoft, or The Blaze, or Red State, or Geraghty, or dozens of others. You know, I used to get a little attention when I was at Jeff's place, but I doubt it's because my writing's declined. I'm not asking that you all link me up on a regular basis, but it would be nice to know that you at least have me in your readers. As little traffic as I drive, I do link you all up, and it would be nice to see the occasional reciprocal gesture.

Many times, as with Loretta King searches this week, I get a lot of way-behind-the-curve hits from searches, because I've already been on top of the story, putting the pieces together, trying to drum up more interest. Boobs are a perennial, but some of these stories you've seen here before you've seen them elsewhere in blogs, because I spend a lot of time scanning a very wide variety of sources.

Hell, I even link up their blegs, whereas the last one I succumbed to realized $50 (and, BTW, my thanks once again to the donors). Am I blegging again? You're darned tootin' I am. I've got something in the works, but it's slow going. As you know, I spent the summer mushrooming my ass off to make ends meet, but that's gone. I've applied to a local toy outfit for seasonal employment, but haven't heard back. For the moment, my copywriting and copyediting has dried up.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it's been 10 years since I've had something that could rightly be termed a vacation. I want to work. I really do. But I've gotten to a place in my life where my daemon is all over me when I'm doing something that doesn't mean a lot to me. I flatter myself that I've been able to do things of service to other people, but I seem incapable of helping myself. Is it my attitude? I don't know, because the number of people who actually talk to me on the intarwebs is very small.

You know, the Island of Misfit Bloggers is a laugh, but as usual, I'm at my most serious when seeming most humorous. Express your support for the little guys, the ones who persevere despite the lack of acknowledgment, even if it's not by hitting the tip jar. And if you're one of the people who links me, who doesn't get any love in return, I want to know, because I imagine I can be just as obtuse as anybody.

While you're at it, please take to heart the fact that my brother's company, SunAnt.com, lost James Shore by the negligence of New Age Guru James Arthur Ray. They do custom websites for businesses and individuals, and they do it for less and better than their competitors.

And let me take this chance to thank especially my co-bloggers, whose efforts I appreciate a lot, and who sometimes receive even less attention than I.

UPDATE: My cri du coeur finds an echo in Maetenloch!

MORE: Thanks to an anonymous donor for the very generous $100 donation.

/
POWIP: Piece of Work In Progress 202 −6%
/2010/01/the-elaborate-aoshq-puddi...
The Elaborate AoSHQ Pudding Hoax 33 0%
/2010/09/models-smart-phones/
Models. Smart Phones. 19 +10%
/2010/09/obama-sees-fox-as-destruc...
Obama Sees FOX as Destructive, Sel... 14 0%
/2010/09/study-mortgage-crisis-cau...
Study: Mortgage Crisis Caused by L... 13 0%
/2010/01/microwaved-hamster-suffer...
Microwaved Hamster Suffers Unimagi... 11 +379%
/2010/09/ethics-doj-turbo-timmah-c...
Ethics: DoJ, Turbo Timmah, Congres... 10 0%
/2010/06/the-content-of-loretta-ki...
The Content of Loretta King’s Ch... 9 +21%
/2010/09/seiu-terror-latin-america...
SEIU Terror, Latin American Anti-S... 6 −60%
/about/
The Crew 4 +74%
/2010/02/avatar-the-greatest-movie...
Avatar – the Greatest Movie Evah... 4 −37%
/2010/09/italian-authorities-seize...
Italian Authorities Seize Explosiv... 4 −72%
/2009/10/mass-of-miscellany/
Mass of Miscellany 4 +39%
/2010/09/fbi-terror-suspect-and-se...
FBI Terror Suspect and SEIU Employ... 4 0%

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Comments (41) Trackbacks (3)
  1. filbert
    September 28th, 2010 - 14:46

    Well, there’s always the option of shamelessly sucking up to Stacy McCain.

    And, I’ve recently started following POWIP in my newsreader. Does that help?

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  2. enoch_root
    September 28th, 2010 - 15:26

    I dunno, Dan. Seems to me you was born in the wrong century. As I grow older meself I realize that there really is something to the whole que sera sera thingy. It sounds fatalistic and I don’t mean it to be. But the 3 most commonly traveled paths to success (as the world measures it, anyway) seem to me to be: 1) The Club (who you know), 2) Dumb Luck (right place, right time), 3) Grace . Notice I did not list hard work, discipline, ethics, edumacation, etc. It’s not that those aren’t important in some respect, but not nearly as crucial as the top 3. So, what do we have here? 1) The Club: needs be born into it (Paris Hilton, Mika Brzezinski) or sponsored (Obama-style), 2) Luck: erm…, 3) Grace: one has no more control over Grace than Luck. So, I guess I am saying the only strategy is to keep plugging along – stretching the game out long enough for one of the top 3 factors to come along. The other shit you can abide in order to feel “proactive” while waiting.

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  3. Ric Locke
    September 28th, 2010 - 15:48

    I do link you when it’s pertinent, but my schtick is so much different from yours that it winds up you feeding me, rather than vice versa. Do I not do it enough? Perhaps I should change my ways.

    Obscurity doesn’t bother me much. I’m getting bored being broke, though.

    Regards,
    Ric

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  4. Johanna
    September 28th, 2010 - 17:35

    I’d link to you, except REALLY nobody reads me, so I wouldn’t be any help. But selfishly, I love coming here and reading everything you write. And of course I’ve always appreciated you letting me post here. Hang in there friend.

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  5. enoch_root
    September 28th, 2010 - 17:44

    Dan – I would link to you… except for that, well, it would be weird to send traffic to here from here, you know?

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  6. Ohio Dan
    September 28th, 2010 - 19:40

    Here’s a marketing model to follow. Throw enought sh** on the wall something will stick. In other words keep putting up quality product and you will break in and gain your recognition. Regarding the commenter above of “Notice I did not list hard work” someone once said the harder I work the luckier I get.

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    • Dan Collins
      September 28th, 2010 - 19:51

      Thanks, Ohio Dan. You’re the newish moron who balloons, right?

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      • Ohio Dan
        September 29th, 2010 - 18:37

        Yup. I flew this morning with a few friends for a piece on the Travel Channel. It should air Oct. 23th and 30th but I have no idea what time. I am new to your blog as you got bumped over at AOSHQ. I have added you to my favorites and will be checking in nightly to see what your up to here. I like the style of the bloggers and cobloggers.

        I will occasionally offer the drivel makes up the majority of my comments. Good Luck.

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        • Dan Collins
          September 29th, 2010 - 18:53

          Then you’ll have heard of the US balloonists missing over the Adriatic, probably. Any news?

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        • Ohio Dan
          September 29th, 2010 - 18:59

          I was discussing the race with a crew member this morning. Sweden in first for distance and the USA in 4th. I wasn’t aware of anyone missing. I am not into setting records. It takes a lot of money and it is dangerous. A few years back you may recall a Belarus Jet shot down a balloon in the same race.

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  7. Mr Wolf
    September 28th, 2010 - 19:59

    Dan-
    Give me a buzz- no contact info for you. Can get you some ‘luv’ from above… just need info :)

    Mr Wolf

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  8. Horatius
    September 28th, 2010 - 20:07

    Hello Dan. I see you. I feel your pain. I care.

    I unfortunately have no traffic to offer you. I can however offer a mean lecture on some obscure academic topics. So there you go. I doubt it helps.

    But for a practical suggestion–maybe the unlinked guys should start an AP-type deal. Link the best and offer to others. Or maybe a magazine type deal–separate blogs, one accumulation site for the better stuff. Has to be some money to be made in something like that. Just think of how print pubs came into being, and see if something like that could work. The word “magazine”, after all, comes from the word for “warehouse” or “storeroom”. Different things, all stuck together in one place. There is probably something like this already on the intertubes, but I really can’t remember at the moment–but if you guys individually can’t make it, together you might. Like a co-op, perhaps. Nothing to lose but your chains, and all that…

    My 2 cents, anyway. And relax–there is obscurity–and then there is *obscurity*.

    About six solar masses worth of it.

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  9. Big D
    September 28th, 2010 - 20:26

    Hey Dan,

    I read you quite a bit. Good to see the link love from AOSHQ.

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  10. Big D
    September 28th, 2010 - 20:34

    Also, I never thanked you for your condolences when Mel passed. I wasn’t really into blogging at the time, but that’s no excuse. Belated thanks.

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  11. Robin
    September 28th, 2010 - 20:36

    Hang in there. I can’t really help your plight because I am a Succubus information addict who also happens to be a broke ass ho. I will add you to my favorites and promise to read you, and when I find something interesting will email the link to my political buddies and post to my Facebook. I’ve turned several people on to Ace so I am not completely uninfluential.

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  12. winewife
    September 28th, 2010 - 21:09

    Well, I can’t throw any traffic your way except my lone little click but I’ll put you on my list of con blogs I check everyday. ‘Scuse me while I settle in and check things out, looks like you got a real nice place over here!

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  13. mr. bitterness
    September 28th, 2010 - 21:31

    I read you all the time back at that Coloradan’s site, and have read a few posts here. But, moron that I am, I’d forgotten about you. Maet reminded me, and POWIP’s been added to my daily briefing tab. Best of luck dredging for more readers. Being a member of the STM (Small Town Media), I know well the sadness of toiling away for a near-invisible readership. But at least I have the blue-hairs, and public restroom sitters. Maybe those are strategies you could explore.

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  14. Michael
    September 28th, 2010 - 21:51

    Obscurity is a relative thing, Dan. You actually have measurable traffic compared to most of us small-beer bloggers out here. You’re not unknown in the ‘sphere, you have a solid “brand” and a good “product”. I haven’t seen your stats, but I’d bet that you get more hits every month than I’ve had in 6+ years of blogging.

    I read you and the crew daily, you’ve been on my blogroll since you set up your own shop. I link when I can, although I haven’t been blogging enough my own self to actually have an opportunity to link. I’ll work on that.

    On a related note: Horatius (up the thread) might be on to something.

    developing…

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  15. The Sanity Inspector
    September 28th, 2010 - 22:00

    Don’t lust after insta-lanches, for fame of that sort is as fleeting as any other fame. Think of the people he used to link regularly five or six years ago, people like Andrew Ian Dodge, Steven den Beste, Patrick Hoy, Ken Layne, Stephen Sherman of The Politburo Diktat. Where are they now? Moved on to other ventures, or blogging in obscurity once again.

    According to my sitemeter, most of my traffic comes from wrong turns by people looking for pictures of feathered dinosaurs and Stalingrad ruins. I just content myself with seeing my brain droppings online, and being glad that I’m not doing this for a living. But you, though; it surely seems that there ought to be a place higher up in the food chain for you.

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    • Dan Collins
      September 28th, 2010 - 22:06

      Oh, TSI, you’re as good as anybody out here.

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    • Michael
      September 28th, 2010 - 22:16

      Years ago, Moxie said something to the effect of “…if you stopped 1000 people on the street at random and told them that Instapundit had linked your blog, 998 of them wouldn’t know what you were talking about…”

      The Sanity Inspector is right: surely there’s a higher place on the food chain for you. Something about “if you build it, they will come”…just keep up the solid work.

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  16. Bob Reed
    September 28th, 2010 - 23:48

    Buck up Dan,

    Being not-read is liberating in a way.

    But I have to admit yu make a very good point; there are many times that you and the POWIP crew have been “frontrunning”, so to speak, posting on a story long before some of the larger sites notice it-but it only seems to get linked when they finally address the matter.

    Maybe you should speak with Karl about an entee to AllahP…

    But it’s the same with JeffG anymore. He rarely gets linked at all, which I’ll never understand.

    An old saw about success attribute it more to perseverance than talent, and since you have both, I figure your ship should be coming in any time.

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  17. Mike LaRoche
    September 29th, 2010 - 01:56

    I know all about blogging in obscurity, Dan. Hell, I’ve probably descended lower than obscurity given that I hardly post entries anymore, mainly because my real-life fortunes have finally improved after so many years of decline.

    But just know that you’ve got a faithful reader – if infrequent commenter – down here in Red Raiderland. As they say ’round these parts: “Get your guns up!”

    And thanks again for including me on the Island of Misfit Bloggers.

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  18. Guaman
    September 29th, 2010 - 02:50

    You’re bookmarked and we’ll see how often it strikes me to visit in the evening when going down the list.

    NNNN

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  19. Mr. Bingley
    September 29th, 2010 - 04:23

    Would it help if I sent more pudding?

    I was thinking of using oatmeal, myself; after all, Dan, we’re getting to that age where we need the fiber.

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  20. niall brennan
    September 29th, 2010 - 21:43

    Hi, Dan — I’m just a web reader, no writing at all. I emjoyed your posts at the other place. My understanding is that you and Mr. G had a falling out of substantial proportions. A pity that, as you both seemed well served as part of the same team. I happen to be a very talented musician, and have been for quite a few decades, but more people are aware and appreciative of your considerable talent than of mine, despite my best efforts. As a favorite fictional character might have said, “I come here today so you know my words of obscurity are of phosphour-bronze-wound steel, and so my words of renown” (extended comedics foregone). Hang in, big guy, you’re already in the big time, you just aren’t making any money yet. You might make some, you might not. I ain’t promising anything you ain’t already got.

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    • Dan Collins
      September 29th, 2010 - 22:37

      Thanks, niall. I don’t think that Jeff and I had a falling out, really. Just because you get on with someone as a friend, it doesn’t mean you make good housemates. I needed to get out, and he needed to get back in.

      I’m not looking to make money this way, really, but as you must know well, it’s nice to have the recognition of your peers. And thanks very much, again.

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  21. Ignatius
    October 1st, 2010 - 15:01

    I’ve read you for a long time but rarely comment… largely because I usually agree with you and have little to add in anywhere near the same eloquence and excellence. I have no blog and doubt I ever will, so I cannot link you but I can recommend you to fellow interwebsters, which I do.

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