Whatever lessons you have learned are all taught by people with a culture and beliefs that are totally different from ours. No doubt, most of what was taught is universal and can be applied to our blogs to bring some traffic from overseas, but frankly, most Malaysian Blogs rely on Malaysians to succeed. There are no shortage of Malaysian Bloggers and Blog Readers. The figure given by a certain minister who said Bloggers are all liars stands at 50,000. Since I don’t have the exact figure and I don’t have the zest to go and find out for sure, let’s assume that the figure is correct.
50,000 bloggers, so I think I can safely say that there will be another 50,000 readers who doesn’t blog. That puts the figure at around 100,000 people involved in Blogs, directly and indirectly in Malaysia. Compare this figure to countries like China, Japan and the States, it pales, but for a local blogger to be successful, this figure should suffice.
You can consider your blogs successful if you have can garner 2% of all those involved. That means you have a daily hit of 2,000 uniques. A super successful blog like kennysia’s will have at least 15% of everyone involved visiting his or her blogs daily. A 15,000 unique hits per day is indeed super.
The problem is how to reach out to those 100,000 potential visitors. Like it or not, Malaysian Bloggers and readers are not as sophisticated as those from say, the US. People here don’t take blogs as seriously and I doubt they actually read blogs to gather information. What they are after is a light and easy read, some local gossips or maybe a little bit of government bashing. Technology blogs might also attract some but if they were to depend on Malaysians for their blog’s prosperity, it’s going to be real tough going.
Let’s face the reality. Do anyone of you really go digging for new blogs to read? Malaysian bloggers are Clique Bloggers. They seldom wonder out of their usual clique and social circle. They feel comfortable commenting and blogging for their clique members, which is the reason why we see the almost the same guys commenting everyday. Even if you are being recommended by some top bloggers with a few thousand readers, the most you can expect from that recomendation will be less than 100. What happened to the other 2900? Either they are too lazy to check you out or they just plain don’t like anyone that is not within their clique and circle.
SEO? Directory Listings? Web Releases? Or whatever you have read. Don’t bother if you are blogging in Malaysia for a Malaysian Audience. Here, you have to go to them to make them come to you and even doing that is difficult for us proud Malaysians.
I find that most Malaysian bloggers not outspoken comment in the blog. Compare to the US, often they will write short note to encourage you or something, which I feel is good to continue blogging.
What you said in general is true. Since USA is a advance country compared to Malaysia, and because of Malaysian culture, socio and politics…sometimes it is not fair to compare USA with Malaysia
another way is being mention as a jerk in one of malaysia’s pro blogger.. 100 k potential.. only 2 or 3 comments.. is there any satisfaction in blogging like that? it’s like they’re the only ones who read the posts.
Well, some just keep quiet…
man, this topic is good. for me, i just can’t stop myself from not commenting. for me, i have to let the owner of the blog, I am there and I am reading your post and I am visting you again if u allowed me. Like what ahpek’s done at his Technology Deprived Blog and here and of coz at Lilian’s too. I can honestly said, i only visited who the guy, Kenny, only once and never visited him again. So its probably true, to me too, that i visited, commented only in my circle of friends and to those who had visited me. It all depends on what you want to achieve.Like i like visiting the problogger.net, and commented but never got any visit from Darren Rowse. I checked, none. So do we have to stop going there? Well, yes u can stop and No, you should not because tonnes of valuable info there and no visit from the owner is OK, as long as he provide us with the info we looking for.
Good Post, Ahpek. Good Post here :nod:
OK, i better stop. my english is getting poorer and poorer to every additional word.
A good point, ahpek. I start blogging alone, without friends. So it hard to see any comments in my blog. What do i get leaving comment at any blog and this blog, do I get comment from you ahpek or any blog owner that i previously visited and commented? Maybe my content don’t suit any of my visitors. Just face it, malaysian bloggers are lazy to leave a comment, what they concern is to earn money from blogging, write as much as possible sponsored posts. And again, you have a point, ahpek.
P.S : will i get comment from ahpek on my blog? well, whose know.
I wish I could have that many visitors to my blog!!
this is an interesting topic … as a matter of fact i thin the main reason is the “culture” of how malaysians are being brought up and educated …
malaysians are too obedient, from small kids to a college students - everything are being spoon-fed … you mom won’t allow you to wander far away and stop your curiousity from florish … at school you are discouraged from challenging teachers though you know your kids know better than some of the half-past-6 teachers …
even during the general election, most malaysians obediently follow what the government echoed - simply because everyone afraid of changes, don’t rock the boat …
so there’re no two way traffic, only 1 traffic … and so you have the readers from malaysians who just browse and read thru but never dare to comment (not too much on lazy or sophiticated) … that’s why i can feel the true blogging environment when i participate in western’s blogs - it’s more alive …
anyway, just my opinion …
cheers
stocktube
interesting writing dude.
maybe our malaysia culture, you speak out of the border… well…
so people choose to silent.
I know
Talking about get rich quick or get rich without doing anything will surely get you your much needed traffic.
Also, from my own survey, most of Malaysians don’t like to read blogs written in English.
Other hot topics including politics, celebrities and your personal love stories. People just like to dig into your lifestyle and look what’s under the blanket.
Not only english blogs, even blogs written in Malay they don’t read.
But, for sure Malay love to write and read blogs related to gossips, nonsense local politics, artists and fast rich schemes.
I also do not understand why Malay behave like that (don’t like to write and read on educational blogs).
Good post, Costa. I’m a Malaysian blog, too. You’re right to say they have to get out of the clique syndrome. Good day to you.
Congrats! We enjoy the articles.
IKLAN MALAYSIA
By writing well and letting people know you are blogging
Good articles for amature bloggers
Dear Costa,
Just found your site via Google search. Got a bit depressed at the low number of Malaysia visitors to my blog. However, after reading your post, I feel a bit more cheerful.
You’re right. It’s tough to get visitors unless you happen to be blogging about Malaysian politics
Cheers