If I've accidentally offended you, I am truly sorry

An Open Letter to My Readers

Please allow me to start with a bit of background. I have recently discovered Google Reader and Blogger's "Following" feature and I've been enjoying them a lot.

Google Reader

In case you haven't heard of Google Reader before, I'd like to explain what it is. It is a way to capture the web address (url) of all the blogs you like to read into one place. Then it automatically keeps tracks of your favorite blogs and pulls down their newest posts and you can log in and check your favorite blogs from anywhere. It keeps track of which posts you've read and which are new-to-you, so you can catch up on all the latest. It's really great!

The only drawback is that you can't comment on blogs directly from Google Reader. You have to click on the blog-post header and it will open the person's blog so that you can leave a comment that way. But Google Reader is a great way to see what is new. And it is just one extra click to leave a comment. For me, the advantages far outweigh this one drawback.

Blogger's "Following" Feature

Google and Blogger are affiliated, so Blogger decided to capitalize on its relationship with Google and Google Reader. If you use Blogger, you can put a "Followers" widget on your blog. If you visit a blog that has this widget, and you want to add it to your Google Reader, all you have to do it click the "Follow" button in the Followers widget displayed on that blog. It makes adding blogs to your Google Reader quick and simple.

Otherwise you have to copy the web address (url), open your Google Reader, click "Add Subscription", and then paste in the web address. That's a lot of clicks. So the "Follow" button saves a lot of time.

You can also choose whether to "publicly" or "privately" follow a blog. That means that when you add the blog to your Google Reader, you can choose whether your avatar appears in that blog's Followers Widget as a follower. If you select "publicly" your Blogger picture will go into the group; if you select "privately" it won't.

Also, if you "publicly" follow a blog, it will appear on your Blogger Profile page in a list of "blogs you are following." This can be an interesting way of finding blogs that are new-to-you. If you enjoy one person's blog, chances are you might enjoy one or more of the blogs they follow, too.

If you have a Blogger blog, you can see if you have Followers by going to the Dashboard. (If you are on your blog, click New Post > Dashboard.) If you have followers, the number of followers will be listed by your blog name.

If you have followers and want to show them, you can add the Followers Widget to your blog on the Layout tab. From your blog, select Customize and the Layout tab appears. (If you're on the Dashboard, select Layout instead. I don't know why the terminology is different.) On the Layout tab, select Add a Gadget. One of the items in the Basics list is Followers. Select it and save it to add it to your blog.

Although Google Reader will allow you to "follow" any blog, whether it is a Blogger blog, TypePad blog, WordPress blog, or Apple/Mac blog, I don't know whether the other types of blogs have any features that show Followers. But, I can still see your blog in my Google Reader!

If I've accidentally offended you, I am truly sorry

Recently, I opened a Google Reader account and I've been adding my favorite blogs to my reader, following them publicly. This means that I like the blog so much that I want to continue to read it regularly and that I don't mind letting my blog readers or that blog's readers know that I like it.

I have also left comments on some of your blogs, to let you know that I am following your blog. And that if you choose to return the favor, that would be spiffy, but that you didn't have to. I sincerely meant this. I did not expect any of you to choose to follow my blog. But I am thrilled that MANY of you have. I consider it a great compliment each and every time and I am truly grateful.

Some of you have written back and politely declined, and that is totally cool, too. I respect that. Others said they had alredy added me to their reader and didn't see a need to delete me and add me back just for the "Followers" tool ... and I agree that's unnecessary. Whatever you choose to do is perfectly okay with me!

Unhappily, someone told me that my leaving such a comment was spam. Others may hold this opinion, too. I may have not expressed myself in my comments well initially, and for that, I am sorry. What I was trying to express is that I like your blog so much I want to read it all the time and I want the whole world to know it. And, if you feel the same way, that is truly super!

I was not advertising any products for sale. I was not insisting or demanding that any action take place. This was not a one-shot flash in the pan comment that I left without ever visiting again. The blogs I have chosen to follow are blogs that I have visited for months, that I visit regularly, and on which I leave comments regularly. I thought - and I hope! - that since you visit my blog, and leave comments for me too, that we are building relationships. I enjoy visiting your blogs, seeing your artwork, and learning more about you.

I have also read that many people in the blog world often trade blog links or website links out of friendship ... just like people in "real life" off the web would suggest a friend's writing or store or talents or suggest them for a job opening. In the past, some of my friends have asked me to trade Etsy "hearts" and I have asked a few of mine. I have read that asking to - and trading - links like this is common practice and appropriate protocol on the web. I didn't mean to be too pushy, or "in your face", or offensive. I thought I was operating within the proper ettiquette of the web and blogland.

My intention was to be nice, to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. My comment was intended to be a compliment. I also attempted to be respectful by acknowledging other things that you had written about in your blog, too. To let you know that I do read your blog and that I am interested in what you have to say.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if I have accidentally offended you with my comments on your blog, I am truly sorry. They weren't meant to offend. They were made in friendship with the best of intentions. It genuinely hurts me to think I may have offended you. I hope you will accept my sincere apology.

I value your friendship, your readership, your comments, and your repeat visits. I would not ever intentionally do something to give offense.

Thanks for stopping by.