The demon malware has been vanquished at last. How odd it felt to be unable to write or check comments for a week. And, yeah, to look at pageviews. (Number monkey, right here.)
I missed you guys, and appreciate the Facebook comments saying you missed coming to the site. While the break certainly didn’t hurt me, given the sorrow and disruption surrounding recent events, it made me feel disconnected.
Even though I don’t post daily I’ve come to rely on the chance to put my thoughts out into the blogosphere – and to listen to feedback from readers.
For me the point of having a personal blog isn’t to make money. It’s to start conversations.
Relatively few people make big bucks from their sites, or even moderate money. Many of those who do are pulling in the dollars through affiliate links, sponsored posts and the like. I’m not totally averse to affiliate marketing; for example, I’m a big proponent of the Swagbucks rewards program and I do have an Amazon widget on the site.
But I’m not a deal/shopping blogger, so I don’t put up multiple daily articles crammed with affiliate links. I do all my own writing so I can’t earn hundreds for running sponsored posts. And no one ever uses the Amazon widget anyway. So if I’d started the site with the idea of bringing in a sizeable side income, I’d have quit long ago.
For me it’s about the give-and-take. While I’ll admit to needing a platform for my views, shouting into the ether produces only an unpleasantly hollow noise. Other people’s thoughts in return are what make this worthwhile. So thanks for missing me. It’s nice to be needed and it’s nice to be read.
Related reading:
- My first half-million
- Another anniversary – couldn’t have done it without you
- Declaring my freedom
- Help for would-be bloggers
Glad you’re back, Donna.
🙂 Great!
I missed your blog when it was offline. So many of your articles speak to me and make me feel like I’m not the only one who feels this way or that depending on the subject.
Your fans are glad you’re back…
Donna, I just want to thank you for being there and to thank you for being YOU. In addition to a few conversations that we have had (or comments, anyway) you have done additional things for me. You have made me laugh AND you have made me think, often about things that I hadn’t thought about in years. Here in New England, where I live now, when someone says “lobster” well that conjures up a boiled, edible crustacean. But you reminded me in one of your comments that lobster is also a shift at the Inky. And “Main Line lockjaw”.. hadn’t heard that phrase for years, but from living in Bryn Mawr back in the 80s, I sure do remember what it sounds like! Tasty Kakes, South Jersey, graveyard shift, Main Line lockjaw…stuff tucked waaaay back in my mental roladex and YOU brought them to the
forefront. THANK YOU!
Thank you, Carolina — and everyone else — for reading. It wouldn’t be much fun talking just to hear myself talk.
And I got Tastykakes for Christmas, from my brother. Eating them very slowly.
Glad you are back
Welcome back…MAN that malware really lit up my security software…big time. And on the subject of Taystkakes…Is there anything better than “butterscotch krimpets”? On the crazy side…saw their pies on sale at grocery store … $1.29 … EACH…. good grief they fit in the palm of your hand…15 cents when I was growing up!
I was so happy to see your post appear again. And “through explaining” was well worth the wait! In keeping with Carolina’s comment above, I have to add my funny story of how well I connect with you. When you posted about using the outer wrappers of the TP rolls as wastebasket liners, I chuckled and thought, “This woman and I were separated at birth.” Then you posted that it was your birthday. Yes, that is my birthday too! Maybe…? 🙂
Sis! Welcome to the frugal family! 😉
Good to see you back!
Very happy to see you back!
Yes, my anti-virus went crazy when the malware was there.
Happy you are back!!!
Glad you are back, Donna!
Glad you aren’t contagious anymore. Should I worry that I caught something? New Jersey is having a taste of Alaska weather these past few days, snowy and very cold. That’s the thing about Jersey…you don’t have to travel. All the worlds weather comes here.
Having grown up in New Jersey, I can attest that this is true. Hope everything melts soon, and that everything stops melting here. It’s too early for breakup.
I was so surprised when I saw the name of the virus or whatever it was–donnafreedman.com. Well, I know that is your site, but it seems the problem was named after you. You have to be honored it was named after you. I still have not gotten my site back to normal. I cannot afford the $150 to fix it. Nothing I used to erase it seems to work.
Oh, I could not stand to be disconnected. I was upset that some people stayed away from my blog.
That bracelet is pretty!
You are back and all is right in the world!
Missed you, sweetie!
So glad you’re back – I kept checking back to see if you were back up again and had to restrain myself from tweeting you to check every so often.
Thanks! I was having major withdrawal symptoms all week…. 🙁
It’s great to have you back!
It’s good to have you back and I too look forward to reading your posts. I especially enjoy reading your personal stories and anecdotes.
I’ve been checking back frequently to see if I could access your site. I was so lost without you. Glad your back.
Thanks for hanging in there. 🙂