So this is our final brunch here at MBS. We could certainly look back, but I prefer instead to look forward.
What can we do to make our community more friendly, more supportive, and more successful? How can we help new readers and bloggers to feel comfortable?
I invite you to answer our question and share your best ideas. If one of these suggestions appeals to you, I encourage you to give it a try. After all, this brunch began back in 2006 as an experiment. You never know...
22 comments :
Bonnie
I honestly think more people like you are what currently make the spanking blogging community warm and welcoming. I remember the day I saw my first mention from you. It was one of the best days of my little blogging existence.
I honestly feel the online spanking blog community is very warm and welcoming. One way we could improve is if more of use left comments on fellow bloggers sites. Give words of support and mention good work when it is done by others.
I agree with spanking resource. More willing to leave comments. I tend to read but not leave comments. I know they I find feedback encouraging.
Bonnie, you will be missed but I completely understand. Hope to see you around blog land. :-)
I agree with SR & Rose above.... also write them back when they email! I know it's hard sometimes, it can take many days to open new emails or even longer sometimes. I get a lot of emails and often they're from new bloggers. Getting back in touch with them is important.
Bonnie, you going away after all these years was hard to hear about, you'll be dearly missed. I have an extensive blog roll (4 of them). I will change them to mirror what you have on the bottom right of your blog to keep your legacy going and keep it updated like you have if that's alright.
I miss you already,
# MrBBSpanker
I totally agree about the comments, especially when you are first beginning. I try to comment but it's not always easy - there is too little time.
We will miss you Bonnie but best wishes and hope we see you around here and there.
Bonnie.. As a new blogger myself, I so appreciated your site when I came upon it. I followed it for awhile trying to get my courage up to start my own site. For so long I thought I was crazy, but reading such sound advice helped to alleviate that feeling. Seeing my first blog on your site meant alot to me. It said that while I was a newbie
perhaps I did have something of value to add. I was shocked and sad to learn you are giving up your blog, but then again you have been doing this a long time. While I respect your decision, you will be missed. Wishing you the best and thank you again for helping me along in my journey.
If someone you have never heard from before comments on your blog, thank them and take the time to visit their blog. Leaving a comment on a newcomer's blog can make all the difference between continuing blogging and giving up.
Another nice gesture is to mention a newcomer's blog in a post and include a link to their blog. That might make a nice weekly feature for some of our more established bloggers who are looking for a new idea.
When readers visit a blog, they should take a moment to check out the blogroll. When I do this I usually find at least one blog I haven't seen before. Then I pay a visit and if I like what I see I leave a comment and plan to return again.
Add blogs to your blogroll. If you don't have one, now's the time to start one. It is a good way to introduce your readers to your friends.
Thanks for brunch, Bonnie. As always, you are a gracious hostess.
Hugs,
Hermione
If a LURKER, makes a comment on a SPANKERS BLOG. If it is possible, that spanking blog, should acknowledge that LURKER, with a reply. Thanks and many spanks to you Bonnie, you truly will be MISSED, with a capital M, And an S. for spanks.
The people who are not trying to make a living off of spanking relationship advice have changed the community. I'd like to suggest that we go back to our non-commercial roots, but I also realize how unlikely that is.
And I would suggest that ALL comments should be acknowledged, even if addressed as one of a group.
I agree with the above comments. Try to comment of fellow bloggers posts, rather than lurk. Especially visit new blogs to welcome the blogger. I also agree with Hermione, if someone new to you blog visits you, thank them and visit their blog.
Bonnie, you will be very much missed and I hope you pop in from time to time.
Every idea I had has already been suggested. Responding to those who comment, that is a nice way to welcome someone into the community. I really think that what you have offered with your blog role and announcing new bloggers has really been the most helpful. That is something I don't want to see go away.
I know that everyone gets busy, but I agree that it is a very vulnerable place to be when you blog. Taking the time to read and comment is so important. I feel we all have spells where we can't make it around and it becomes overwhelming, but do it when you can!
Bonnie I will miss you so much, but I also understand.
I agree with Hermoine. I don't have a blog roll on display b/c of much controversy months back, but I do seek out new commenters on my blog. I think back to when I first started blogging and how welcoming everyone was. How it appeared they were excited that a new commenter was commenting on their posts. I hope others will continue to do so. It makes a huge difference.
I know many experienced bloggers are no longer around and that is part of the growing experience with ttwd I suppose. You run out of things to 'say', but for those who are around if they could try and visit some newer bloggers and not stay with who they know, it would make a huge difference.
I think it was Finding Sara who said something to the effect that the experienced ttwders bring more than just 'ideas' to new bloggers they bring experience. THAT IS HUGE.
Anyway, thank you so much again Bonnie for all you have done for this community!
willie
Bonnie,
I know time is limited but as others say - if a new blogger has taken the trouble to comment on your blog, make sure you reply and find the time to visit and thank them and same if someone new comments, if they have a blog visit and say hello.
Bonnie, you will be missed. Thank you for all you have done.
Love and hugs,
Ronnie
xx
All the comments above are helpful to remember...we were all once new and it is nice to make others feel welcome and comfortable to share... Hugs to you and best wishes in the New Year!
I think the most important factor in the success of our community is sustaining connections at a human level. A community is a collection of relationships. If we can make new bloggers feel welcome and existing bloggers feel included, they are likely to thrive. The same goes for readers. If we can engage and involve them, they will return and participate.
So how do we accomplish that? The suggestions here are tremendous. Throughout it all, we must keep in mind the people at the other end of the wire. Technology enables our conversations, but it's men and women who really matter.
Beyond inclusion, the message we want to project is that lots of normal, happy, successful people practice TTWD. In all its flavors, adult consensual spanking can re-engergize and strengthen partnerships. Whether fun, sexy, serious, reinforcing, disciplinary, or communicative, spankings can enrich lives.
We know these truths. Let's share them with those who are inclined to listen and learn.
At the end of the day, be nice to new bloggers and hope that they will be nice back.
Prefectdt
I agree with the importance of welcoming and acknowledging new blogs and commenters. I also think there's a lot to be said for being open and honest in one's writing- whether in a post or a comment. There are real people behind the writing, and sharing our experiences- good or bad- may encourage others to open as well.
(Sorry to be late to your last brunch, but I'm ok with cold pizza if there's any leftover)
8 BEEN GREAT
We should remember when we were just readers and be more personal in our posts comments and with each other to set an example as you did Bonnie ! We are a Community who takes to each other kindly!
What we need is for experienced people to keep sharing all they know with those who are new to this scene. Despite all the information available, there has been a rise in the number of people new to this lifestyle that do not feel the need to properly learn this art. The common belief is that spanking is not "rocket science" and is so easy to do. They have a complete disregard for the depth of all this.
Plus there needs to be an end to the animosity between those who make profit from spankings and those who do not. There is nothing wrong with making money doing what you love. Those who do so should not be held in disdain. If anything, they can create videos that can properly demonstrate our art.
Any resource should be used to ensure that this is a safe and happy lifestyle for everyone.
As 2013 passes into 2014... may all who came here...find new places to share and care for all the rest of us...
The kitchen is closed. .... chef retired.
houston_switch
For friendship, success and support of new readers we can always refer back to a helpful little blog archive called "My Bottom Smarts". Seriously, I have been blogging (off and on) for two and a half years now and I'm still finding posts you wrote that apply very well to new and seasoned alike.
I love the "lurkers day" that you created, and the brunch forum that served as a way to meet new people and share experiences. You have always been a diligent lookout for new bloggers in the community and passed along your findings so that we might welcome them as well... if each of us pick up just a few of the things you have done over the years, then I think this community will continue to thrive.
Thank you again for ALL you have done, Bonnie!
~Autumn
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