Yes, it’s true. According to a number of websites I frequent (such as Nerd’s Eye View and Cognitive Daily) it’s delurking week.
What’s a “lurker?”
I believe the term was first coined to describe visitors to discussion forums that read the posts, but never left a comment themselves. With the advent of blogs, this term was extended to blog readers who often visit but never leave a comment.
Sound familiar?
Now don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of reasons readers decide not to comment. It could be you’re shy. It could be you don’t feel you have anything to add to the post. Or it could be you’re just not inclined.
I’m guilty of lurking myself. I visit too many blogs to count, and I leave a comment perhaps 10% of the time. That’s actually an official statistic for any online space. I can’t remember where I read that exactly (probably Jakob Nielsen) — but it’s proven. Only 10% of visitors to a blog actually decide to leave a comment.
Well this is what delurking week is all about. If you’ve been hovering in the wings, enjoying Brave New Traveler, this is your moment to come out of the shadows and introduce yourself.
I’ll even provide a few questions you could answer, such as: How did you find Brave New Traveler? What’s your favourite article so far? What do you like about travel? Or you could ask me any question you like, and I’ll answer each one personally.
You could ask me why I started this magazine. You could ask me what’s my craziest travel story. Or you could ask me about the time in Australia where I donned a Santa hat and a speedo for a Christmas card home.
So go ahead. Say hello!
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15 Comments... join the discussion!
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Hi Rachel, thanks for saying hello! Glad you’re enjoying the magazine.
As for the “first step” toward travel journalists, I’d recommend the article we published last week To Be (Or Not To Be) A Travel Journalist.
Also, soon I’ll be publishing some more travel writing advice from veteran writer Mark Moxon. So come back and visit soon!
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Lurker I am guilty of. I guess I just find I like to read through many articles quickly and don’t necessarily take the time to write a comment. Yet, obviously, I appreciate the content that I am provided with and it takes time for the authors to prepare quality, relevant content. And thus, I should be more active in giving feedback where it is due.
Thanks for all the great stuff Ian! All of us (your loyal lurkers) appreciate it:)
Keep it up!
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When reading your posts, I can’t help but think that “there’s a little travel in everyone”. In fact there’s a lot of travel in each of us; after all, we are moving, faster than we care to feel, through space and time. Which means that travel is only relative to what your senses take in each day, and cannot be measured against anything else but your own indeterminate experience. And there sits Brave New Traveler. Your magazine articles are brilliant flickers of this experience – illuminated for a minute, casting a shadow behind us… those who lurk!
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I’m prob bad for lurking although I spend a lot of time on my own sites and don’t lurk on those but by the time I’m done with those I’m guilty of being a lurker else where…
anyway, I ove the new site, looks great
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Damn RSS readers make it easier to keep up with all the reading but then harder to actually make comments and not just be a lurker!
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Guilty of lurking! I am about to leave my job and start my own non-travel writing business, and I’m trying to develop my skills as a travel writer so I can have a bit of a portfolio career, rather than being totally focused on one thing. I read a lot of on line travel mags and blogs, and Brave New Traveller is a good one for me – pitched at the right level in terms of content and variety, plus tips and advice.
I read a lot about how to become a travel writer, and not all of us can start our own travel blogging website
I’m trying to use my own travels to move beyond writing travel journals to creating saleable articles – I’ve had a couple of things published but nothing major. My question is: which has more credibility in terms of developing a travel writing – publishing online or in a newspaper or magazine?Thanks – Maree
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Hi all, thanks for stopping by!
And Maree: glad you’re thinking of becoming a published travel author. To answer your question, I believe the “credibility” issue between on and offline media is blurring. For instance, most offline newspapers and magazines are experiencing a decline in readership as they compete for more eyeballs. Today, having a complimentary online site is essential for any credible magazine/newspaper.
That said, every newspaper/magazine has to build a reputation for itself, which will then add to your credibility as a writer if you’re published in them. But keep in mind, a bland, poorly-written travel article cannot be saved by a great portfolio. The portfolio helps to get your article seen, but ultimately, an editor is more concerned with the quality of your current submission.
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I took your advice, and I’m commenting. Love the site so far…makes me want to take my pen and paper and hit the road. I wrote about you on my blog, so maybe I’ll send some traffic your way. And my traffic I mean more lurkers, like my mom and my grandma.
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Hello I am also a lurker. I’m always too busy reading so I will have to start commenting. I love reading the articles.
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G’day all,
I would have posted a comment sooner, but I just saw the post (I was out travelling!). So:
1. I came to this site through a previous interaction with Ian
2. Why do I like travelling? Umm… You know that feeling you get when you step outside on a beautiful sunny morning? I love looking up at a vivid blue sky, with a slightly warm touch from the sun on my skin, just begging me to walk a little further. I don’t know what it is, but the closest I can come to describing it is “possibility”.
3. I’d have to put forward “The First Casualties of Climate Change” as my favorite so far.
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I forgot to post my question before, so here it is:
Ian, why the hell haven’t they let you on survivor yet?
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Hi Tim, thanks for delurking. I’m with you on the bright sunny day as nothing less than possibility. Unfortunately, that sunny day hasn’t extended to the producers of Survivor — which is why they haven’t let me on. Ah well. I gave it 2 years, which is more than enough. And besides, I found my own tropical island when I went to Thailand last spring.
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Where is the link for the video of you and Karen in BANGKOK. I went to the travel channel website, but it’s not working. A great video I might add. You should post the link here because you will surely get more fans because of the video alone. You’ve got a great girl in Karen. She seems so sweet….I’m curious how did you come to meet her? By the way, I’m a fan of Karen too. Please hurry with the link…
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Guilty as charged – I enjoy blogs, but have so far been a major-league lurker. I often read stuff that I’m interested in but don’t really know enough about to contribute anything of value, and it hadn’t previously occurred to me that blog owners might occasionally just enjoy a word of appreciation.
So, many thanks for an interesting and entertaining read… but why does Santa NEED a speedo? Have those pesky reindeer been breaking the speed limit again?
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