The
blogging community is a strange thing. Both very superficial and build up with
so much love and care. There are thousands of blogs. Everybody is blogging these days, some really put their heart and sole in it, (something I really admire, I would love to be able to do this too but somehow something is holding me back... which makes my blog a bit superficial from time to time it fear), others blog for a different reason.
But which
of all these thousands of blogs do we really read? Especially when you have a
blog yourself.
You try
to get your name out by commenting on other blogs and hoping they take a look
at yours. But those blogs that you comment on do you really read them? Do
you really look at the photos? Or is it just a quick scan.
For most
blogs, that last one I think.
Some
blogs are beauties with witty texts, beautiful photo's or very creative
outfits.
But this
is only one in 10, 20, 100?
And if
you find a blog like that, do you really come back to read, or are you too busy
scanning mediocrity blogs to post comments on.
Isn't
that a waste of all the time and energy we put in our blogs? In this way it
does not really matter what you post, you need a new post ready almost immediately
and the pervious one gets forgotten. Your readers only look at the newest one,
and most of them only look there for their own advertisement.
For whom do we actually blog?
Deze blogger gemeenschap is iets raars, het is zowel heel oppervlakkig als dat iedereen er zo veel liefde en moeite in stopt. Er zijn duizenden blog. Iedereen blogt op t moment, sommigen stoppen echt hun hart en ziel in hun blog (iets wat ik zelf nog moeilijk vind, ik zou het graag kunnen maar iets houd met om de een of andere reden tegen... waardoor ik mijn blog soms wat oppervlakkig vind), en anderen bloggen voor een andere reden.
Maar van al deze duizenden blogs, welke lees je nou eigenlijk echt? Zeker als je zelf een blog hebt.
Je probeert je blog te promoten door op andere blogs te reageren, je hoop dat door die reactie ze terug komen naar jou eigen blog. Maar die blogs waar je je reacties achter laat, lees je die ook echt? Kijk je echt naar de foto's? Of is het maar een snelle scan?
Sommige blogs zijn prachtig, zijn goed geschreven, hebben mooie foto's, of hele creatieve outfits. Maar deze zijn zeldzaam.
En als je zo'n soort blog vind, lees je hem dan ook echt? Of ben je te druk bezig met scannen en reacties achter laten.
Is dat niet zonder van alle energie die we in onze blogs stoppen? Op deze manier doet het er niet echt toe wat je post, je moet toch vrijwel meteen weer een nieuwe post hebben klaarstaan en dan word de vorige weer vergeten. Je lezers kijken alleen maar naar de nieuwste, en de meeste kijken alleen naar die post om reclame te maken voor hun eigen blog.
Voor wie bloggen we dan eigenlijk?
How can
we solve this? Should we appreciate our real readers more? Even tough there are
only 10 or 20 of them. Should all the mediocre bloggers stop blogging so there
are less blogs to spam?
I don't
know. The most important thing is to ask yourself 'why do I blog?'. Is it
because you have an opinion you have to share? Is it because you want to create
a space where you can collect everything you love. Is it because you want to
show the world your style, your designs?
Think
about it choose your nice. Too much of us try to act like the big blogs, even
tough our talents lie somewhere else.
And it's
okay to experiment with this!
I myself
have no idea what my niche is yet. Maybe I should make a checklist that you can
use to identify your niche. This would be nice!
Bur for
now a question for you, how much blogs do you really read? I'm curious. And are
these only the big blogs or do you have some small blogs that you really love
but are very well hidden.
Let me
know! I would love to discover them!
Hoe kunnen we dit oplossen? Moeten we onze echte lezers meer waarderen, ook al zijn dat er maar 10 of 20? Zouden alle middelmatige bloggers moeten stoppen met bloggen zodat er minder blogs zijn om te spammen?
Ik weet het niet. Maar het belangrijkste is om jezelf af te vragen 'waarom blog ik?'. Is het omdat je een mening heb om te delen? Is het omdat je een ruimte wilt creëren waar je alles kan verzamelen wat je mooi vind?
Denk hier over na en kies je niche. Veel van ons proberen de grote blogs na re doen, ook al liggen onze talenten heel ergens anders. En het is oké om te experimenten om te ontdekken waar je talenten liggen.
Ik heb zelf nog geen flauw idee wat mijn niche is. Misschien zou ik een checklist moeten maken die je kan gebruiken om je niche te kiezen. Dat zou cool zijn!
Maar voor nu heb ik een vraag voor jullie. Hoeveel blogs lezen jullie echt? Ik ben nieuwsgierig, zijn dit de grote blogs, of hebben jullie wat goed verstopte kleine blogs gevonden?
Laat het me weten!
xx Anna
ps. I don't try to claim that I'm a perfect blogger I know I participate in this too, just letting out my thoughts.
P.s Ik probeer niet te beweren dat ik nou de perfecte blogger ben, ik weet dat ik hier ook aan mee doe, het zijn gewoon gedachten spinsels.
ps. I don't try to claim that I'm a perfect blogger I know I participate in this too, just letting out my thoughts.
P.s Ik probeer niet te beweren dat ik nou de perfecte blogger ben, ik weet dat ik hier ook aan mee doe, het zijn gewoon gedachten spinsels.
I read 10/20 blogs everyday because I love them and I find them inspirational! <3
ReplyDeleteUn nuovo outfit ti Kisses,
Eleonora
www.it-girl.it
It-Girl Facebook page
Well to answer your question I read blogs and I look at the photos. On some blogs I spend more time on others I don't. That's the way it is and it depends on the blog. I can only recommend to everyone to do the same cos they can learn a lot of stuff from other bloggers and improve their own.
ReplyDeletexx
I like this view of yours. And you are right about that you can learn a lot from other blogs, I actually have a map full of screenshots of blog parts I liked for a lot of different reasons. Beautiful lay outs, original posts, etc..
DeleteI read blogs to learn and about mediocre bloggers (for example me! :P) I think we should be reading other, BETTER blogs for inspiration and that's what I do ;)
ReplyDeleteWith Love,
Curly Scribbles
A mi me gusta mucho leer los blogs y quedarme un ratito en ellos.
ReplyDeletePero de todas maneras también pienso que hay gente que no lo hace..pero a mi este
mundo me gusta mucho, y no me importa pasarme una hora metida en blogs :)
Hoy tengo un post diferente, a ver que te parece :)
http://jinmasso.blogspot.com.es
It is very hard to find your niche, but sometimes you just have to go with what inspires you and see where it takes you!
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't 'read' blogs all that much. I'm one for looking at pretty pictures :P
www.closetvoyage.com
you read this one! Then I must have done something good. Did you already found your niche?
DeleteIf u want start collaboration with Dressale please left mail in comment on my blog ,i will contact you as soon as is possible and i explain all ,i can said that is wishlist to make with Dressale products
ReplyDeletehttp://zielonoma.blogspot.it/2014/03/oferta-wspolpracy-z-dressale-dla-moich.html#comment-form
I love to read blogs. I don't just like to hit a comment and leave. Some have pics that are better than others. Some write better than others. Some you can just relate to. But I go back when they give me a reason to go back :)
ReplyDeleteAyesha
Defining Me
I find so much inspiration in the blogs I read, it is always a pleasure to read them!
ReplyDeleteKeep in touch on BLOGLOVIN
Love,
FASHIONHYPNOTISED
I do spend some time on each blog, and enjoy reading and commenting back. Though whenever the blog has music or something annoying, I just leave without even commenting. Also, I think many do not read much, so whenever I write I try to write what important for me...and kiss.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Novelstyle
I love your question . I usually read a lot . But mostly i saw the TITLE of the blog first and the picture . Sometimes i just spend a lot of time to read blog ,sometimes only a lesser time to read some blog .
ReplyDeleteYou right . We have definetly to discover what and why we start doing blog . For me i doing this to share , to insipred and to open my eyes bigger and gather more information about fashion,etc . How about you??
anyway mind to following each other?
theanotherpartofme.blogspot.com
Well I do read every single blog that comments on mine or that follows me, it's a shame that they don't do the same back. It's a bit sad really and specially if you only comment follow back? That's just dumb, if i like your blog I'll follow you and not just because you asked me to. Anyways blogging isn't the same thing anymore but I won't stop doing it because there are some really good people people that are sweet and nice and really care about what i post x
ReplyDeletetuttifruttibyam.blogspot.com
This is a great post. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, actually. I feel like so many people try to go to as many blogs as possible to leave comments just for the sake of getting brief engagement on a post. It's so frustrating when I receive comments like "thanks for stopping by!" or "i love your blog, will you follow mine?" because I DO try and make an effort on every post that I do.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I blog to explore topics that most publications/mainstream blogs never explore. Namely, the reasons behind why we wear different things. I know that the topics I choose don't interest a lot of people, but it makes me feel good that some people do read my blog and engage in my topics.
XxMO
madame-ostrich.com
That actually is a very interesting psychological topic you're covering. Please continue it!
DeleteYou had written about a real problem in the "blogging world", because many of people, who add comments don't read post at all (or even don't look at the photos in the post)! I'm really trying to read all of the blogs, which authors leave under my post some comments and I've never left some spam such a like "follow me = follow you" or others.
ReplyDeletehttp://crafty-zone.blogspot.com/
I actually sometimes do ask the follow me follow you question hihi. But only to bloggers I would have followed any way because they just have good blogs (like you!)
DeleteGreat post and very true!!! I have a handful of blogs that I do truly love and keep up to date with. For all you bloggers out there, I am always looking for a great blog to check out. Stop by mine and leave me a comment. I do read them and try to follow up with everyone in a timely manner :)
ReplyDeleteglamstarvintage.blogspot.com
Dear Anna, I appreciate your truthful analysis. I read blogs whose editors I've become friends with, and I'm interested in what they have to say. Two of my favourites are A very sweet blog and The Dainty Doll's house. I don't expect my blogging buddies to scan carefully my posts. I hope to get out there, to fashion lovers who don't own a blog and look for advice and trends news on my blog. In the meantime it's nice to exchange visits with my blogging buddies and pick awesome bits here and there. Kiss
ReplyDeleteLove,
Coco et La vie en rose
Coco et La vie en rose on Bloglovin
Coco et La vie en rose on Facebook
I totally agree with you... This little word is a little bit strange.... But I love it!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy this post! Very interesting
xx
I love the picture but the text made me sad. I read the blogs on which I'm commenting (such as yours!) and of course I take a closer look at the outfits. Because I wanna know what's up in the fashion world outside! And not only what they show at the fashion weeks. So I inform myself and want to be seen. But the reason I blog is that I was sick of looking for street style pictures so that I started publishing myself :-))) So I just want to share my passion.
ReplyDeleteKisses
♥ www.sugarpopfashion.com ♥
I have been thinking about this more often as well. I have to admit, what usually draws me to a post are pictures of personal outfits (I always skip over runway pictures). Or blurbs of text that says something that I think might interest me enough to leave a comment (such as this post). And as a blogger, I really appreciate/respond to every comment I receive. I blog for myself and it makes me so happy when I can connect with other people who get it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I stumbled upon such a post, it's really something that I question myself too! I read people that comment on my blog and some new blog that I discovered along the way (: for me I try to read and understand the content as I personally find it interesting and entertaining and add new knowledge. I will try my best to read their blogpost content (: x
ReplyDeletehttp://birdiethgirl.blogspot.com
thank you for your comment:) Your blog a so nice!
ReplyDeleteYes, we want to follower each other, of course. Now we follow you<3
And we come back again for sure!
have a nice weekend,
greetings matea&vera
www.aneverendingfriendshipveramatea.blogspot.co.at
i'm usually drawn to beautiful photos and the layout of the blog. for me it's important. if it's easy to navigate, i usually come back and read more posts :) i keep a list of blogs i read on excel so i don't forget to go back ;) i usually visit 30 blogs a day. love this post.
ReplyDeleteI read blogs, because it inspires me. I can say that blogging and discovering new blogs changed my life, it's as I became more aware with who I am and what I want. What you have written was in my mind for a long time. It is hard to say what takes my interest in other blogs - some time it's photos, other time it's texts or even blog layout. I have found so many amazing blogs... It inspires me all the time.:) And I'm not a big fan of really big blogs, because sometimes I can't see any personality in it. I love smaller, but sincelery bloggers :)
ReplyDeleteI do read blogs and look at photos. Cometimes I skip somepart if I strongly disagree or for some I dislike the writing but get huge inspiration from style and models herself. I do hope most of people are like me.
ReplyDeleteLyosha
Inside and Outside Blog
Well when I open up someone's blog, first thing that I do is look at their photos, and then go to the text. Well I like to read, so it's not a problem. I know it's a hardwork to do just one blog post so I think we must appreciate others if we want to be appreciate too. But unfortunately not everyone are like that, right? :D
ReplyDeletebtw, thank you for visiting my blog though. Get well soon too! :)
Keep spread the love,
Restya Mahara
xoxo
A Lone Cat Journey
I can honestly say that I don't have a niche and I blog for myself, but I really do appreciate every single reader, no matter if they re 2 or 200. Blogging for pleasing the readers only would be dull, I want my artist's freedom to do what I want .. :) However, I value communication and like to get (relevant) comments as well as leave them.
ReplyDeleteI don't go commenting to blogs if I don't read the post, or if I don't have anything to say on the topic - leaving irrelevant comments just to get your own links there is quite rude, when the post has been made carefully and lots of effort and then someone comes like "Oh, a nice lil blog... but LOOK AT MINE *links*"
And I keep reading blogs that get me hooked somehow. Sometimes it's the text and sometimes the style - there are both, big and small ones (mainly small, actually?!).
A real good article, good luck for LALM :)
x,
Lara Lizard
Ha! I would have to agree with all of your points, Lara! It is annoying to see people stop by your blog and just leave a comment like "lets follow one another". This is why I had to place a not in my FAQ section, letting people know that I don't link exchange. I only follow bloggers I enjoy reading, be it for their beautiful text, pictures or both. I find myself drawn to blogs that are well put together - you can tell that the person has really put their heart into it, and not tried to follow a trend. And yes, I do follow mostly smaller blogs, although there a few big name bloggers that i like to read from time to time. I think the most important thing is to know why you are blogging in the first place. The number of followers you have should not be the drive for your blogging.
Deletexo
Colette | Skattered Notes
I think you really have spotted the fallacy of blogging her, what undoubtedly starts as such a personal processing (especially when it comes to personal style and writing), we put forth to the internet and wait for others to comment and validate what we've posted.
ReplyDeletePersonally, at the end of the day. I blog for myself; I'm the type that would browse through my own history and read what I'd written. Sometimes cringe-worthy but mostly just for the memories that it brings back. But it's always a bonus when someone comments that they've liked what I'd written or it made them laugh.
x the chic & damned
Great post! I was just having this convo with my co blogger yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI read blogs for lots of different reasons. I've formed some sort of a friendship or connection with the blogger- or a blogger I know has linked to/recc'ed a blog to me, so I'm checking it out. These I tend to comment on a lot. Some blogs I read because the person shares interesting content, or thought provoking content. These I'll read and the comments too. Some just have gorgeous photos or content I enjoy looking at. Some are all of the above. There's probably 20 or so I'll read per day. Maybe that's a bit sad that I spend that much time actually, but it is something I like.
ReplyDeleteYes, some readers do scan (I think this is part of online content in general. People process words on a screen differently), especially if you are an image heavy content provider.
And, yes I blog and enjoy when others read my blog, and especially when they comment (I don't check my numbers that often, so that's how I'll know a post was read often.) Ultimately, I blog because I enjoy it. I enjoy refining and sharing my style but also love reading about how to blog better. It's a hobby. Maybe I'm mostly talking to air but I like doing it.
As for niches... I just brainstormed topics and chose a few I had a lot of post ideas for and stuck to those. Who knows if this works for the readers.
Sorry this is a TL;DR comment! You just sparked many thoughts!
I like reading blogs that have actually something to say, I don't mind a lot about pictures, design and stuff like that if the subject is interesting. I only follow/read all the posts from a few blogs, most of the things I read is random posts from random blogs. I like a lot the Links a la Mode from IFB (that's where I found yours!) because there are very interesting things there.
ReplyDeleteI'm not leaving my link because my blog is written in portuguese and the posts have no translation yet, but I'll keep in touch.
Xx
I actually tend to read blogs that are a little "meatier" i.e are a little more text heavy. I want a community to engage with and sadly, as much as I can appreciate a really well put-together outfit and a beautiful photograph, often I don't have something to write about regarding these posts with a blogger and their commenting community. The only exception? Any fashion blog that throws in a little bit of art too--I love looking at other bloggers art. Some great blogs to check out if you aren't already: nativeappropriations, beyond bucksin, nicollete mason, business of fashion. I write about the politics of fashion on my blog and throw in some illustration too if you are interested: www.thecuratorial.com
ReplyDeleteBest,
Rachel
Bravo! Very nice post, a food for thought. Bloggers especially the newbies and those who are thinking of starting one should read this post. :)
ReplyDeleteSTYLE VANITY
I forgot to mention the blogs I read on my previous post, actually I read a lot, it's my hobby but my ultimate fave are: Brit.co ; Refinery29.com ; IntoTheGloss.com and NYMag.com :)
ReplyDeleteSTYLE VANITY
I love reading other blogs and I usually comment. I always, read the link a la mode roundap to discover new ones.
ReplyDeletex
Nina
http://trendsurvivor.com
Love this idea for this post. I agree..I read blogs because it's like reading a good book! Great post and congrats on the feature :)
ReplyDeletehttp://adornedinarmor.com
You pose interesting questions. While there's a lot of dreck in the blogosphere, I've found a dozen wonderful blogs which I enjoy and have become friends with the bloggers. That, for me, was the goal. Plus, I get to express my feminine side in ways not possible IRL.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a deep post and something I relate to! I started out in the blogging world not long ago then wrote a deep post about how I would take a short break from the blogosphere because I felt it was really superficial. Posts like this are long and make you think, and I think that is why a lot of people like to scan. Often people read blogs as a light hobby, something to take them away from work and normal life, so going into darker territory might be a bit of a brainache for them. I totally agree on people who just like to copy and paste their link on comment feeds though - superficial and the reason I drew back from blogging at first! I think I will get back into blogging though - turns out there are some nice people to meet along the way.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think it is so amazing that you post in two languages. Heroic.
And you say your first love is drawing, not photography, but your photos are pretty spot on!
rosemaryofelephants.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for these lovely compliments. I also really struggle with the superficiality. And it is so hard to not give in. It is difficult to write posts with more meaning, it's so easy to just shoot some picks. But I got so many great reactions on this one that I will put in the effort to write more. To look deeper into fashion into the blogging world that just the pink coats hihi.
DeleteI check out new blogs constantly via bloggers who comment on my blog, finding people on instagram, using bloglovin, etc and follow the ones I love on bloglovin. Then I always love to scan bloglovin each night and read some blogs I've subscribed to so I can stay on top of the blogs I really like. I probably spend an hour a day reading other blogs but I've also noticed that the blogger community is a great way to meet likeminded people. Really loved this post and thanks for making us all stop to think about blogging!
ReplyDeletexx Sarah
Loser Girl Wins
Ik vind het het zoveel leuker om minder bekende blogs te lezen dan alle grote blogs. Ik weet niet waarom dit is, maar ik vind het altijd knap van een beginnende blogger als een artikel van hele goede kwaliteit is. Ik vind artikelen een beetje onpersoonlijk worden bij bloggers die er echt full time mee bezig zijn en ervoor betaald worden. Het lijkt bij grote bloggers soms een beetje aan de lopende band te gaan en dat merk ik niet bij minder bekende bloggers. :)
ReplyDeleteThis post is really enlightening. I haven't really looked at bloggers reading other blogs in such a way. I never comment on a blog post that I don't really like or have something important to add to the conversation it creates. Bloggers should be the ones to know that leaving genuine comments rather than spam are what drive blogging as a community and it makes me sad to think that there are bloggers out there that don't care and comment on blogs only for their personal gain.
ReplyDelete