And herein lies the new reality of the web. Blogs aren't visited much any more, individual websites even less, so the likelihood of any of us getting 'followers' through these old methods is very, very slim. Everything is social now. Let me say that once again because it took me a while to realise - EVERYTHING is social.
I visit maybe a handful of sites every day, and I surf maybe a dozen more at random. I do not go to individual web-pages (of even my favourite authors) more than once or twice a month, if that. We independent writers need to start thinking of the social, and not the individual. We need to start forming allegiances and unions of interest that make us stronger in the face of the traditional publishing enemy. Not critiquing circles and review sites that turn into bitchfests and flame wars all too quickly, but real, honest-to-goodness publishing imprints run, owned and maintained by writers.
Find ten writers who are all fantasy authors and start up an imprint. Ten mystery writers and start up another branch. Ten writers of different styles and set up another. Editing duties can be groupsourced amongst the writers, everyone taking a chapter at a time of another writer's work. Marketing is now ten times more effective with ten times more people out there spreading the word. You only need one decent cover artist whose willing to work for shits and giggles, and maybe a percentage when things take off, and you're golden.
Working this writing game alone isn't going to work for many of us much longer. If we're to put up any kind of resistance then there is strength in numbers. There is opportunity within a community. *sings* There is power in a Union
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**Moejoe is a dyed-in-the-wool socialist in many ways and loves the Union's of old that fought against oppressive business owners.