What makes some posts "invisible" on MyLot?

@TheHorse (220068)
Walnut Creek, California
November 29, 2015 9:18pm CST
Sometimes I throw together quick post on MyLot, basically just to say hello. Other times, I put serious effort into a post, hoping to amuse, inspire, or challenge. The other day, I threw something together about Bubblews. It got about forty comments. This morning, I spent half an hour crafting a post about an amusing and unusual experience we had on the way to (and back home from) a gig in Lodi CA. It received two comments. What makes some posts "interesting" to others, while others are basically "invisible"? Are technical glitches involved? Timing? Content? I'm utterly confused. Have you had "invisible" posts?
44 people like this
42 responses
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Nov 15
Everyone seems to want to learn more about Bubblews. Who got treated badly and what is still going on with the site. I wonder if it will ever die off. There is something to be said for a good title too. One that might be more apt to draw people in.
6 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
Bubblews and MyLot itself are usually hot topics. Many are still processing what happened to them at Bubblews, and hoping that kind of thing doesn't happen again. I admit it: if someone posts about where the Bubblews perps land next, I'll read about it.
4 people like this
@UmiNoor (4522)
• Malaysia
30 Nov 15
I agree. The title is the hook. Because that is all that you see on the right side of myLot that list the Discussions that are related. If the title is interesting, people will go to see the post and respond if they think they have something to say.
5 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
@UmiNoor A good title will draw me in. So will a controversial subject (I enjoy a good argument/discussion). But I also tend to read the most recent post of those who comment on my posts.
2 people like this
• United States
30 Nov 15
search me, hon. i've found folks 'round these parts usually respond more to gripes 'n complaints than serious schtuff.
6 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
That's true. A little griping gives others "permission " to do the same.
3 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
30 Nov 15
A lot may be due to timing, or maybe the topic does not appeal to some. There are times when you can submit a quality piece of material and get very little response, followed by a mediocre chat about the day and get great response. General everyday chat seems easier for people to interact with.
5 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
30 Nov 15
@TheHorse Chance does play a significant role.
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
30 Nov 15
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
I still talk of the "randomness factor." Some of my more thoughtful posts have gotten a good response. Some have not. I may try writing some really short posts (it's hard for me not to go on and on) and see what happens.
1 person likes this
@UmiNoor (4522)
• Malaysia
30 Nov 15
I think if you hit a topic that is interesting to others, like the one about Bubblews since many people in myLot had been affected, you'd get overwhelmingly good response but if you write about something that may only interest a few, the post might go invisible. But I think it will also be the followers that you have. If they see your post then they might want to respond. And also how active you are on myLot, I guess.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
I'm pretty active here. I'm starting to get a bit ticked off about people whose posts I comment on regularly who don't bother to comment on my posts. I think I may start to limit myself to reading the posts of those who comment on mine. I'll start with one of yours.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
@UmiNoor Interesting point. I follow people, but dont know what difference it makes. But I also read thse posts of those who comment on mine, and of others who I recognize while cruisng around the site.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
@UmiNoor Is that the best way to find people you're "following"?
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
30 Nov 15
I think timing is a big issue. I'm about to give up UK day-time activity because it never makes any cents (pun intended) but I also think titles are very important.
5 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
30 Nov 15
@MALUSE As late in the day as possible European time.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
@boiboing What's the time difference between, say, Paris and New York? I'll add three hours to that figure to arrive at the time difference between Paris and California.
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
Lemme calculate. It's it's mid-day in GB, I'm still in REM sleep here on the West Coast of the US.
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
Great photo for starters. I used to put the number of views down to timing but I think now the title has a lot to do with it. But it's hard to tell. I didn't expect my 'double standard' one to generate so much interest. I thought the title of 'panic in the bedroom' might get people in. So it's hard to say.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
You know that's a cemetery in the distance, right? I always choose my photographs carefully. I hope people aren't losing interest in MyLot. Writing something at the beginning and end of each day has become something of a habit for me.
3 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
I see so many people stressing the importance of a good title, and then I see the hot lists filled with dull mumbo jumbo titles. Very overrated as an attention grabber, I reckon.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
@TheHorse I hadn't picked up on the cemetery. It's a gorgeous photo blown up - such green hills. It seems a very peaceful place for a cemetery. I'm enjoying my time here. I'd really miss it if it folded but surely that won't happen.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Nov 15
ggggghe same thing happen to me Some I feel will not get many responses and they get on the hot pae others I didnot really do a lot to have almost fizzled theygot one or twogg
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
I find myself feeling insulted, as I leave lots of comments on others' posts. But maybe it's just a matter of timing.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
@TheHorse I am sometimes disappointed through the day to receive only a few likes/comments/whatever but I seem to catch a bit overnight.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137553)
• India
30 Nov 15
There are several factors that play a role in posts being either ignored or being noticed. There are a few here whose posts get noticed and get good responses consistently no matter what they post. I have no idea why it is so. Probably the time zone factor. I have reconciled to the fact that my posts get average attention and I should accept that fact and move on. No use pining over it.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137553)
• India
30 Nov 15
@TheHorse I just saw a post with well over 60 responses just saying the user feels miserable - having a cold. So what ticks is a million dollar question.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
1 Dec 15
I think that many who have been here a long time, beginning on the old MyLot, have built a loyal following, so they get more traffic.
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
I'm just frustrated with the "randomness" factor. Humans like to feel that things are predictable and somewhat controllable. One post will get 40 comments, and a better post will get three. Like you, I've sort of come to accept that I'm a "plugger."
@srisahara (4508)
• Indonesia
30 Nov 15
Yes, I also have the experience, where there is no one respond my discussion, and the other hand have many responses. Yes, it is difficult to make sure whether our discussion is interesting for members of this or not.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Jan 16
I'm still not sure what makes some interesting to others and some not so much.
@jstory07 (139782)
• Roseburg, Oregon
30 Nov 15
I would like to know the same thing. Maybe you will get a good answer on here.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
I sure hope so. I'm befuddled.
@LadyDuck (472000)
• Switzerland
30 Nov 15
Some topics are hot, others not so popular. I believe that also the time you post is important.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Nov 15
But with Notifications, I eventually catch up to the posts of those who are active when I'm asleep.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472000)
• Switzerland
1 Dec 15
@TheHorse NO, because the new posts are not listed in the notifications. You have to go to people and then discussion to find if people you follow wrote new posts. I sometimes visit the profiles of those I follow to check the new posts, this is something that almost nobody does.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
30 Nov 15
I thought the Bubblews thing had been laid to rest, I don't want to read about it any more. Regarding invisible posts - I think it's probably timing - who's about when you post.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Dec 15
But don't Notifications mean we get to see posts that were written while we were asleep?
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
30 Nov 15
I've gone over most of the usual answers and none fit perfectly. I am pretty sure, though, that the actual post doesn't have much to do with it. I think it might help to post something when lots of your followers are active. Each one who leaves a comment is potentially reaching out to their own circle of followers through the People list, and so on and on. That's the best theory I can come up with now.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Dec 15
@JudyEv It's pleasing to me as well, and it also means we DO see and have a chance to respond to those who post in different time zones.
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Dec 15
But don't Notifications make who is on line when you post irrelevant?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 15
I would have agreed with that but when I get up in the morning I might have 6 emails with lists of notifications so people are responding to my posts even if I'm not around. Whether that's good or not I wouldn't know but it's pleasing to me.
2 people like this
• United States
30 Nov 15
I try not to pay attention to the visibility of my posts. Here we are paid for commenting, even if that is on the posts written by others. I write when I have something to say. If others comment, great. I look for posts written by people who interest me, no matter the title. If I didn't see yours, it was just timing.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Dec 15
You're one of the people I'll always come over and read. I do attend to how my posts are doing, but I spend a lot more time commenting than posting.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Dec 15
@JudyEv Exactly. What good are posts without someone to read and blah blah blah them?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Dec 15
@TheHorse @ElizabethWallace When I am wading through posts reading, liking, commenting and don't have time to post, I console myself that reading, liking, blah, blah still adds pennies.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
30 Nov 15
In my view the topics which users feel that they could relate to fetch more responses than other topics (including serious ones). Many users seems less interested in reading serious and lengthy topics
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
1 Dec 15
@TheHorse - Yes, if a topic is such that any user may contribute towards the post, it will surely fetch more responses. However, I think that you should not worry about number of responses. If you feel like starting a discussion on a serious topic, you should start it. There might be less responses but those responses may give you an idea how others think about that matter.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Dec 15
Probably best to post about things that many can relate to. My "dreams" post did OK. Everybody dreams.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Dec 15
@dpk262006 I won't totally give up on longer or more well thought out posts. But I may always have something fluffy in the back of my mind.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
30 Nov 15
I think it all depends on the timing. If all your good connections are online when you post, you are most likely to get many responses no matter what your topic could be. But of course when you post topics that appeal to many, even your non connections will comment. Now the problem is how to detect which topics will appeal to most users.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Dec 15
Given that we get notifications, it's possible to get responses from those who are asleep when we post. It will just be 12 (or so) hours later.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
2 Dec 15
@TheHorse in that case it depends on how supportive your connections are.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Dec 15
@salonga Very true. I have several people I read who reciprocate in ind. But there are some I read who do not reciprocate. Eventually (I admit), I'll stop reading their stuff.
@cherigucchi (14876)
• Philippines
1 Dec 15
People may be just pick in random. I do not believe that there is a secret recipe other than being active all the time.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Dec 15
Being active, and leaving lots of comments on others' posts, is important. But I don't think people pick totally at random. I visit the posts of those who comment on my posts first. THEN I go "hiking" (exploring).
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Dec 15
It does seem to be a bit like a pot luck dinner, but Bubblews and myLot do seem to score better than others. I've given up trying to work it out.
2 people like this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
1 Dec 15
@TheHorse I have NO IDEA why I put Bubblews in there? I wonder where that came from
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Dec 15
Oh, you mean that some sites are more unpredictable than Bubblews and MyLot? I found Epinions to be fairly predictable, as far as outside reads went. My guitar and vintage stereo gear reviews did well, due to the hobbyists in the broader internet community. Everything else did...OK.
1 person likes this
@norcal (4889)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
30 Nov 15
If you mention Bubblews, that will make the post show up in a lot of people's "interesting" discussion category. In spite of that fact that many people complain and protest about that, Bubblews is still a hot topic. As for the invisible one, I have not found music to be an especially successful topic on any site I have written on. I used to do a lot of music ones on Bubblews, but have not yet on myLot. I Imagine Lodi, or travelling or gig would not be in demand either. So, if you have tags that show up in a lot of people's "interesting" category, which means that they have written something with that same tag, then it has a better chance of showing up in the hot and top rated categorys. There again, lots of people say they don't look there, but obviously, they do.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Dec 15
@JudyEv Heh heh. That's what my current evil post is about. I put MyLot in the title, but random silliness in the tag line.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Dec 15
Maybe, whatever we write about, we should put bubblews, mylot and online earning in the tag line.
@RonElFran (1214)
• Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
1 Dec 15
I think the title is a very important part of visibility. When I'm looking for posts to read, I usually skip those with generic titles, or titles that don't mesh with my interests.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Dec 15
I'm the same. I look for a title that draws me in. It need not mesh with my (usual) interests, but it must suggest something interesting.