The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Friends, Followers, or Minions? The demise of follower appreciation.
Definitely not new to the blogging world. I've been 'blogging' for about twelve years now. I've had all kinds of blogs- from super private ones, to blogs with thousands of followers.
Not being one to stay in one place for a super extended period of time, my blogs generally fulfill a purpose and reach an audience that is where I am at in life, and can therefore relate.
Over the last few years however, about three or so, I've noticed this serious need, this push by fellow bloggers to amass a vast quantity of 'followers.' This is not to relate to people, but generally due to the lust for numbers, networking, retweets, and anything that point to blog popularity in stats.
Having put actual blogging on hold for the time being, as having bought my own actual business, I still find the time to follow and appreciate certain bloggers who have a definite and something of value to offer. I find the blogs I ENJOY following are ones that recognize me as a person as well, not in spite of themselves, but in light of relation and appreciation.
In this push, this desperate drive to come off as a 'successful blogger,' it feels as though a lot of bloggers have forgotten what it is they want to say. Instead of having a message or offering a valuable product, they have simply started marketing 'themselves,' as the product.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for the "Dammit, I'm me and that's good enough!" aspect of things. Hell, it seems to be our generation's slogan, really. But what about recently, when the 'me' I see so many selling has dwindled to a marketing machine, a personalityless bot filling follower's inboxes with nothing personal, but with "Follow me here!" or "Vote for me for this contest!" or "Just wanted to let you know how great I am, AGAIN," propaganda?
Being a business owner now, and dealing daily with the tools of networking, mingling, and creating valuable business relationships, I wonder why/how blogging became such a business? I have learned to not mix business with personal life- though the lines regarding that rule become increasingly more blurred, especially in this highly developed digital world of over-share and self projection we live in now.
What are your thoughts on this?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mallory on -
I agree with you, but I will not lie that I find it easy to get caught up in the whole "follower" thing. I started my blog to document my life, an outlet for my photography, and a place for me to write how I feel at this or that specific time in my life. I told myself from the beginning that I did not care who looked at it, how many followers I acquired, blah, blah, blah.
Part of me still really doesn't care. But I am on this site and one other networking site as well. And although I have found many awesome blogs through these sights, I have to ask myself 'why am I really on here?' I guess the honest answer is that I want to get my blog out there. And essentially, my blog is me. It's my life. Is that incredibly vain and self absorbed to think that other people will really give a shit about the menial day-to-day bs that is my life? Now that I just said that out loud, I would have to say...yeah, I guess it is...
BUT...I enjoy these sort of blogs. I like photo documentation and honest words from strangers that I grow to feel that I actually 'know.' So, I guess I think that maybe someone will feel that way about my blog as well. And when someone actually does find my blog interesting and decides to 'follow' me, I am flattered, and I do take the time (as much as possible) to try and interact with the people that are taking time out of their day to leave comments on my posts.
As far as the way blogging used to be as apposed to now, I'm not sure because I am new to this whole thing. But I do know a few certain blogs that I first started following a little over a year ago, that have now somehow in the past year sky rocketed to thousands of followers. And this would be a great thing, if, like you said, they didn't somehow lose their message somewhere along the way. They gained followers, took on sponsors, and have successfully turned their blogs into businesses. Good for them. But, the main reasons that I began to follow their blogs in the first place (and I'm sure why the other thousands followed as well) I have found to be compromised due to a few different things.
Because they take on sponsors, their blogs become inundated with giveaways, reviews, sponsor introductions etc. I guess some people are into this. I am sure there are people out there that follow blogs just for the giveaways. I am not one of them. Also, because they are now running a business, they begin to watch what they say. They are getting paid, and don't want to offend the people paying them, so their posts become watered down with no real opinions on things. They try to be on everybody's side, they lose that edge, the honesty that originally grabbed me and made me a follower. I get it, but it doesn't mean that I still have to love or even continue to read your blog.
Am I saying that this happens to every blog that gets really big or every blog that is bringing the blogger behind it a paycheck? NO! But...I have seen it happen more then once, and I have noticed myself skipping over new posts from what used to be some of my favorite bloggers because of this.
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Permalink Reply by Mallory on
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wow that was long. I could have added more too. Hope I didn't go off on a complete tangent!
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Permalink Reply by Amber on -
I find that people who are overly obsessed with followers and status generally have very uninspired blogs. I think it's normal and totally fine to CARE about the number of readers you have especially if you're using your blog to create a brand or maybe start a writing career but when the search for "minions" becomes your sole reason for blogging I can't imagine the content being very interesting.
I do remember that when Allie Brosh first started hyperbole and a half she was very vocal about trying to get new followers. What was different about her though was that she did it in a funny way and it seemed that she actually worked really hard on trying to improve her content as a way of gaining readers. She was also really interactive with her readers, drawing pictures for them, etc. Even if her end goal was to be Internet famous (which she obviously is now) she went about it in a really grassroots, noble manner.
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Permalink Reply by Samantha on -
I totally know what you mean about Allie and how she got followers...and I agree. I think that what was awesome about Allie was how honest she was. Because yeah, most of us want followers and it makes us feel special--but you have to be yourself at the same time.
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Permalink Reply by Hannah on -
I confess that I may, at times, be a little too obsessive about gaining readers and page views (though lately I have taken a step back from my blog, to distance myself from what was becoming an addiction). However, as a rule, my utmost priority is to try and produce quality content on a regular basis, not to network.
I often worry that the comments on my blog are merely "networking" -- attempts to get me to come check out and follow the commentators blog, but that may just be my own insecurity. I do dream of becoming a professional blogger BUT I also strive to be an honest writer, who expresses herself with integrity. And that will never change, even if my blog gains sponsors.
I totally understand what you are saying, though. I am new to blogging, but I do think the blogging world has gone a little off into the deep end, as far as the "I want to brand myself as this super cool stylish person and gain a million followers just because if I try hard enough I maybe can!" mindset.
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Permalink Reply by Emma on -
Number of followers is definitely a massive issue, at least among Blogger bloggers. I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about the number of followers I have - I'm thrilled when I see that someone is interested enough in my life to click that 'follow' button. And I do 'network' to get my blog out there. Also to find new blogs (because I started publicly blogging because I like reading blogs, and decided I wanted to try it too), but it's definitely half and half.
I don't ever want my blog to become so successful that I have sponsors or sponsored posts. I want to blog as a hobby, not as a career. It bothers me when 'smaller' blogs (which I suppose I consider to be blogs with less than 200 followers) start posting sponsored posts, and I can see the quality deteriorate.
With what you're saying, though, it worries me that my blog may not be considered one that has something valuable to say. I blog about my daily life, and it may not be 'valuable' content in terms of being uplifting or creative, but it's what I choose to blog about. I'm not trying to 'market myself', per se, but the majority of my content is very self-centred (in that it's all about what I'm doing), so it might seem that way to an outsider. I don't know. I think the blogging world is a lot more volatile than newcomers realise!
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Permalink Reply by Estella Havisham on -
Well, and no one will listen because no one wants to hear the truth, it's because our generation is called Generation Me and everyone thinks they're special and unique and deserve to be listened to even if that is not the case at all. We've been taught from an early age that we are all the best and that we are all special and that we all have something to contribute to society. Could there honestly be anything further from the truth? There are millions of blogs born everyday and unless you do market yourself, you're going to get nowhere with it. Anyone can start a blog but few people can do with it what Hyperbole and a Half has or Dooce. These are exceptionally suave people... something the average blogger is not because let's face it, that's what most people are... average. The majority are average writers with average lives doing average things. Don't we look to books and movies for things that are NOT average? Something to help us escape? I embrace normality and I think everyone else should, too. Otherwise, it's just someone being self-important and indulgent.
Everyone is constantly looking for approval and it's kind of disgusting (Please see Neil Strauss's WSJ article on the Insidious Evils of Like Culture). "Like" my stupid status on Facebook. Reblog my trite picture that's been overprocessed in some free online photo-editor. Retweet my 140 characters of genius. Follow my blog that is soo000o0o0o unique and different because such strange things happen to only ME, like locking my keys in my car!
No.
People are getting bored with social media and this decline is reflecting all over the shop. Everything is very self-centered and if someone can not directly identify with your content, why bother? Move on to the next, because there are thousands! Millions! Billions, I dare say!
I am not trying to dissuade anyone. I write on a blog that is never frequented, but I write there because it is good therapy writing. It lets me see my words written down. I can go back and edit. It's a place to save things rather than on napkins. But I think my user icon definitely reflects my own personal views on blogging. We all do it because we think we have something interesting to say, but do we? Probably not. You've just gotta do this stuff for you and not care about the rest.
/end rant
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Permalink Reply by TallBrunette on -
Yes. 'Tis true. Generation 'Me,' is exhausting and dare I say, even more self entitled than the Baby Boomers. Though our wants may seem humbler than that of our parents, it's the attention we crave that becomes trying.
I also feel that perhaps with this spirit of independence that accompanies our generation, along with an accelerated technology culture that encourages individuality and time spent on personal technological applications of choice, and the almost 'instant gratification' type world we've helped create and grow into- we, as a generation, are sort of psychologically forced to connect, relate, and seek out attention and validation via internet. (partially by spilling our guts in blogs, facebook, and twitter.)
Our actual face-to-face time, honest connection, even in work places and social situations is on a steady decline, and we are automatically skipping handing out phone numbers that belong to a single land line to a single phone in the kitchen, (remember the days of not talking on the phone when you weren't home? And the days of being surprised as to who it would be EVERY TIME you answered?) and have begun handing out business cards with websites, blogs, online portfolios, cell phone number, twitter handle, flickr stream, tumblr URL, and anything else that might help the recipient understand the sheer amount of our personal AWESOME.
That rant aside, I agree with you, Estella. There will always be a mass of average, and there will always be those that some how manage to rise above the rest. Though I've never had a blog following the size of Allie's, I had an adequate amount, and felt my personal identity became at risk. These days I've set blogging aside for running a real business- but have learned a valuable lesson from blogging.
APPRECIATE and KNOW your followers. I make it a point to KNOW my customers. I make it a point to let them know they're appreciated, and in turn, they want to know me. I don't need a blog to be an integral part of a community, and have begun seeing blogs as a useful TOOL for business and information outreach rather than something that defines me or IS my identity. I think that might be a precious lesson for many in our generation to learn.
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Permalink Reply by Melissa Brander on -
This is something I have sort of been thinking about a lot lately. I blog because I love the writing and because I love the subject matter I'm talking about. Do I like it when I notice that I'm getting a new Facebook fan or a comment or more page views? Yes, yes I do. But I think I like it because I know I've never asked for the followers. Well I mean, I do say, if you like it, fan my Facebook page, but I don't ever participate in follow for a follow. I want to follow because I genuinely like something (or, I will admit, because I want to win something in a giveaway - I like to win things, I will admit). I don't want people to follow me just because. I want people to follow me because they like what I have to offer. And I hope that never changes. Yeah, I only have 8 Facebook fans, but I will love and cherish and appreciate every single one of those eight. Because they're willing to stand by me, even though they don't have to. So I don't know if that answers your question or if that will make me seem less absorbed than the follow for a follow people, but it's my truth.
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Permalink Reply by Lindsay on -
I get caught up in the follower thing, but not as bad as I used to... It was ruining the fun of blogging for me. I felt like I had to post every single day in order to keep my readers as followers. I've suffered some attrition as a result of my not pushing so hard anymore, but I'm happy :)
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