I've been reading some other websites in the conservative-blog-o-sphere lately and they all have healthy comment sections. These comment sections range from active and thoughtful to downright fucking savage.
If you create content, you want a robust comment section of active and dedicated readers. A vibrant comment section provides feedback, inspires new ideas, makes each post feel like a communal event and belies a thriving, growing, blog.
These comment sections I've been visiting are much more healthy and vibrant than our comment section - which routinely remains dormant. So, this begs the question: why don't you animals leave comments on our blogs?
Now, Flappr hasn't been around for nearly as long as any of these other blogs, but it makes me kind of sad that nobody leaves comments on our blogs. I can see our analytics, I know you're reading the blogs - so why don't you leave comments?
Why am I so undeserving of reading your thoughts at the bottom of the page? I do have a theory on this issue - demographics. Now, what do I mean by that?
Well, Flappr.net exists mainly on Twitter (though we do have a Facebook Page, an Instagram account and a YouTube Channel, which you should Like, Follow and Subscribe to, respectively). Statistically, people who primarily use Twitter are younger and less likely to click on links than the average Facebook user. Younger, millennial-aged, audiences that use Twitter mostly use Twitter on their smart phones and do not like clicking on things that take them outside of the Twitter app.
So Flappr's audience (you) is less likely to click on links we share on Twitter and those that do - are likely reading our blogs on their phones. I would imagine that it's more of a pain in the ass to leave a comment if you're using your phone.
That brings me to another observation - there is a great big internet out there that doesn't involve Twitter.
With respect to these other conservative-styled blogs, none (to my knowledge) have as big of a Twitter following as we do - but I promise you that they have a much bigger audience. So, how do other blogs attract their (much bigger) audience?
Well, I don't know, but I do have theory - part of it is longevity, part of it is demographic, and part of it is method of delivery.
These other blogs have, over the years, built up a readership of people that subscribe to their e-mail list, have bookmarked their site and have made visiting <blank>.com part of their daily routine. Their audience probably skews a bit older than ours and have different habits when it comes to accessing content.
Put another way, Flappr has amassed a following of people that are among the LEAST likely to be interested in consuming the content Flappr produces - literally anything that takes them away from the instant dopamine rush of reading a never-ending feed of easily digestible 240-character tweets and memes sitting right there for your consumption.
I can't say that I entirely blame our Twitter followers for this behavior (even if I don't myself mind click on a link to read something I find on Twitter). The Twitter app is expertly designed to keep you on Twitter. Why go and read something from me, when you can just update your feed for a new string of easily scrollable tweets?
Who knows, maybe it's something else? Maybe we've creative such a toxic, hyper-sexualized, brand on Twitter that people are afraid to associate with our content (dumb, but possible). Maybe people think we'll be rude if they interact with us (you're a fucking r*tard if you think that). Maybe younger-ish people are less inclined to leave comments than their boomer counterparts? Maybe the design of the website is terrible. Maybe people only know us from Cloth Off Friday, and don't even know we write blogs. Or, maybe, people just don't think our content is worth their time (possible, but. . . ouch).
Maybe all of the above. Regardless, when it comes to creating a thriving comment section, I have failed spectacularly.
So what's the point of this blog?
Well, I suppose there is no real point to this blog - I just find the dynamics of human behavior to be fascinating. Though, I would assume my experiences running this clusterfuck of a website may have some (modest) value to other similarly situated individuals. To those brave souls, I wish you good luck in your content creating endeavors.
To everyone else, I offer the following: it's not easy trying to create something new, different and without the backing of someone already established in the industry. If you like something you've read, watched, or listened to - let the creator know, it's often the only benefit they derive from entertaining or educating you. So leave them a reply on twitter, a comment on their blog, or subscription to their free mailing list. Anything - it's all better than nothing.
To me, well, I really need to figure out how the fuck to expand our audience outside of our Twitter bubble.
Happy Monday and God Bless America.