Thanks to buckscountyframes for the beautiful photo above!
I've been trying to think of some topics for this discussion and thought of this one a while ago when I was talking to one of my blog friends. So, for lack of a better phrase or question, today's blog discussion is about blogging and it's relation to popularity.
The blog world is huge and each of us are just trying to find our own identity and fit in amongst this community... Do you feel like blogging can sometimes be like high school all over again? Maybe one big popularity contest? There are always going to be the bigger blogs, the blogs with hundreds of thousands, or even millions of readers. In high school, the popular girl always gets the guy or she's homecoming queen. In blogging, the popular blog gets 100 comments per post.. or something like that. Okay, that was probably a silly comparison but hopefully you get what I mean ;) Does anyone ever find themselves comparing your own blog to other 'bigger' blogs?
I had a lot of acceptance issues growing up, I always wanted to fit in and be one of the 'popular girls'. So when I get caught up in that and loose sight of why I blog and why I started this blog, it gets discouraging thinking of all the 'big blogs' out there. What about you? Can anyone relate or is it just me? :) I hope this isn't too controversial, I don't want the tone to be negative, rather, just seeing if anyone else out there has any thoughts or insights about this topic :)
ps: I'm selling at a university vendor fair all day today.. so I'll definitely enjoy reading your comments and discussion while I'm just sitting outside ;)
I'm bRob at bstandsforballer.blogspot.com, and I have 12 followers. I kid you not.
ReplyDeleteI like to try new things and keep my blog fresh, but it can be disappointing when my readers never really extend outside my close circle of friends.
However, I try to appreciate the fact that they take the time to read and even tell me about what they liked. If one person liked my blog today, then I'll choose to be grateful for that one person. And in the meantime, I'll just have fun posting about whatever suits my fancy =)
I often think: Does my voice stand out? There are so many blogs out there that I don't know about or have never visited so am I sure that my blog is unique, perhaps there is another one out there doing the same exact thing. It does get discouraging when you are not growing like you'd like, however, I'm sure that most blogs have started this way. It is a bit popularity contest, however, everyone that I've "met" has been so welcoming, encouraging, and friendly that it is the exact opposite of the popular clicks. And for that, I'm forever grateful!
ReplyDeleteGreat topic =) I'm proud that my blog has grown so much over the past two years, but I know I don't put as much time into it as some people with 10,000 followers. I worry a lot more about being part of a group in my personal life than in the blog world--I love reading the comments that I do get and they make me feel like there are a few people out there who really like my blog!
ReplyDeleteP.S. You're one of the "big blogs" to me! Your blog is so beautiful and professional. =)
I think wanting some popularity is part of most things we do. Of course we want people to like us, to appreciate us - for what we am and for what we do. Essentially we want to be loved.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you've got a blog with loads and loads of readers you get loads of appreciation in a way. People think you're good, they link you, they read your content etc.
The thing is: As long as you blog because you want to and because you have something valuable to say (which, by the way, I think you do!), then there's no problem if you also like to be popular. Nothing wrong with that.
My blog has about 5 readers...I used to freak out about it, now I just blog for me, not them! :)
ReplyDeleteI think it can be like a popularity contest if you let it be ~ I certainly feel like it is at times ~ there is a lot of pressure to be a lot of things through your blog. I am so relieved to hear that you feel it too some times (I count you a big blog in my blogisphere!). I remind myself that my blog is for me first and foremost, then the other stuff like comments and followers is a great bonus. I think people/blogs change when they get caught up in the popularity stakes and it's a shame. Blogging should be real - it is a web log after all. Thanks for starting the discussion. Nic
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this a lot lately, but I haven't felt it. I think we all blog for our own reasons & there is no reason to be mean or nasty to a blog that isn't 'as cool as' another one. There is no point. If I don't particularly care for the blog (it isn't my taste, my style, or about what I am into) I just don't read it. Now if a follower or someone leaves a comment on a post, I will go check out their blog & comment back/send an email. Because that is just plain nice & I am a genuine person.
ReplyDeleteI do find myself getting jealous, I guess, of blogs that I think I am as good as but I don't go around hating them. I just keep on following & think what can I do better that is right for me.
It would be nice to have 93847493 followers, but having 5 is fine with me! Five Sixteenths has been slowly growing but not the way I would like it too & that is just something I'll have to work on for me.
Acceptance is a huge issue & I think we as bloggers decide to put ourselves out there hoping that there are people similar to us. All the blogs I follow regularly are blogs I love, look up to, & want to interact with. It may be a popularity thing slightly, but I don't really care about the numbers. Just knowing that there are other bloggers out there interested in the same things I am, etc is a really good thing.
I haven't had too many negative comments or felt pressured, or like I am not blogging for me, etc. Who knows, maybe I am not doing it right then...if I don't have haters lol.
I follow your blog because I like it. I haven't been disappointed or discouraged in your blog. You post things that I enjoy so I come round every time there is a new post.
I am all about everyone being different. No one I know in real life blogs & they all think I am crazy. We blog because we want to. Just keep doing you. There is nothing wrong with reevaluation etc. And as for posting/comment ratio...I get nil comments a lot but I know that people are coming by the site. I would estimate that for every comment there are at least 3 other visitor who didn't leave a comment, 1 of them probably follows you regularly, or one of them follows not through GFC but just hits your site. (who knows really, it may just be magic)
I dunno, just thought I would throw in on the conversation! :)
I only have slightly more followers than bRob, and sometimes I catch myself comparing my number of followers to other 'big blogs'. But, then I quickly remind myself that the reason I am blogging is to share what I enjoy, nothing more, nothing less. And it will give me something great to look back on when I get older. I think some people do get too caught up in the whole popularity thing, but, while I do hope for more followers someday, I am content with where my blog is now. As I learn more about blogging and become more comfortable with my content, only then would I hope that I gain a bigger readership. If it was meant to be.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I always thought of your blog as one of the 'big blogs'. :-)
I totally feel the same way you do. I always have doubted my abilities and have had issues with comparing myself to others so in a way blogging is the worst thing to do because it is obvious who has more followers, etc. But at the same time it is a wonderful thing for someone like me because it lets me be just who I am and deal with the fact that there will always be bloggers that are better, wittier, more creative, and more popular than me. It's a part of life and blogging has helped me see that. But at the end of the day I blog because it pushes me to see the world differently and love what is around me. It's cool when I get a new follower or a lot of comments but if I didn't I wouldn't stop blogging.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you've got so many comments just minutes after posting, there's no need to worry anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm a blogging "newbie" and while I certainly try and want more followers, I never expect them. Ultimately, I blog because I enjoy it. It gives me that creative expression that my regular job does not. It allows me the ability to do research, test out new products, read amazing things, look @ lovely images, etc --- how could any of that be a bad thing?
ReplyDeleteI figure if only my amazing friends & family read my blog I am a lucky girl. They are an outstanding audience. Anything on top of them (and I have been lucky so far) is just gravy.
- Carrie
www.lifestylefiles.blogspot.com
blogging is different than high school i think. blogging is more geared toward expressing yourself as the way you are; whereas, high school was more about becoming someone you might not be. the internet is infinite, so i think bloggers have less of a pressure to become something they are not. whereas, high school is pretty small and finite, and its easier to feel pressure to conform.
ReplyDeleteyour blog IS a big blog silly. and its a beautiful blog. and i enjoy reading it every weekday morning, as i know many other people do. so keep being yourself and keep blogging yourself just as you are, because we all adore it.
I've asked myself the same question before! I've also said that you never really leave high school. No matter where you go, there's almost always a "hierarchy of cool." I think it's like that because we're all human & we all want to be accepted, no matter our age!
ReplyDeleteI have a small blog and sometimes I have to remind myself that although it would be nice if I had tons of readers and ads to make blogging into a living, I didn't start it because I wanted to be "popular." I started it because I wanted a place to write whatever I wanted and hone my writing. If I become the next Dooce or Design*Sponge, that's great! But if not, that's okay too.
The good thing about blogging, though, is that there's a niche for everyone and just because you don't have thousands of readers a day, you can still put your voice out there and find people with the same ideas. It's makes the world so much smaller!
I have a photography blog I've abandoned because I was only getting 1 or 2 hits a day. I know I'm not the world's greatest photographer, but I love what I do and I want to share what God is doing through me when a photo is taken. I grew very discouraged when I was putting so much work into posting. My friends would ask if I'd seen so & so's blog, so I began to feel I needed to improve/change. It's been almost a year since my last post. In that time God has taught me something very valuable, "other people's opinions of me are none of my business." I'm in the business of doing what He wants for me & I believe you are to. I love your blog & how you share your life n faith with the world! Keep it up, because I've always considered you one of the popular girls!
ReplyDeleteI may be saying this because I have a modest little blog with maybe a handful of comments for each post, but while it's lovely to have visitors, my blog is for me. Don't get me wrong, I love and squeel over each and every visitor and I track my visitor stats like a stalker, and I did go through a short phase where I was kind of down on myself for not having as cool of pictures or as many readers as some of the bigger players, but then I decided that instead of comparing and getting discouraged, I should just write another post. And then another. And write about what I love and what I wanna talk about and if someone wants to read about it, great! And leave it at that. Why invite extra stress into something that should be fun? I guess I should also mention that I was never a popular kid in high school either; I was the quiet weird kid in all classes except for art (where they kept telling me to laugh quieter) who never wanted to be prom queen. So, you know, take what I said with that in mind :D
ReplyDeleteThe entire world that we live in is surrounding my popularity. I think when we start to feed into such vices we become so self reflective. Which isnt necessary.
ReplyDeletePeople like to point out those who are popular and those who aren't. The reality in the blog world is simply about working hard and putting in effort. No one blogger becomes a sensation over night. Readers are attracted to consistency and relationships.
When you look at bloggers with thousands of followers or those that have great opportunities to fly all over for conferences and fashion shows, consider how long they have been blogging, who they are connected to. These elements along with so many others drives the popularity of a blogger.
People state they don't blog for popularity, but we do. If all we wanted to do was jot down our thoughts, we could do that with a mead notebook and push it under our mattress like many did in high school.
So for me, nah. I dont think its like high school.
Its more like LIFE.
Rashon aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting
I wonder this a lot and I used to blog to get followers. Now I blog for myself and you know what? more people read. It is funny how when you stop trying so hard, sometimes things work out :).
ReplyDeleteI've had this same thought before. I think as bloggers it is easy to measure our success in terms of how many people are reading our posts. I just started my current blog a few weeks ago. I have 11 followers. Not many. Does my blog stink? *I* don't think so. I realize that followers are only one way to measure who is reading your blog and not an accurate indicator of the worth your blog has or the level of influence you are having on those readers you do have. I sometimes wonder if there is any worth to what I am writing. I'm calling it the "if-a-tree-falls-in-the-woods dilemma". Because I have a personality that really values feedback (and craves validation), I just have to remind myself why I am blogging in the first place. I love sharing about myself (so egocentric, right?). ME! ME! ME! No really, I just love life and have enthusiasm for it and it is therapeutic for me to write. So, I guess yeah, maybe it's a little like high school but we each have to figure out where we fit in and where we can be happy and not look at it as a popularity contest. Even the Napoleons and Pedros of the world can make all your wildest dreams come true.
ReplyDeleteI am fairly new to blogging, and when I first started I was very intimidated by bigger blogs. I was worried that I'd never get that popular (and I'm still not) or that people wouldn't think what I had to say was interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat really helped is when I began to get a few readers who comment fairly regularly. I also realized that I'm doing this for me because I love it, so my "popularity" is not the most important thing. As long as I'm sharing what I love and a few people seem to care what I have to say, it's worth it.
I now look at the bigger blogs, including your own, for inspiration. I try to learn from them, but not copy them; my blog is still my own. I try to comment on blogs as much as I can, because I know that is definitely what makes me feel like I'm doing something that is worthwhile. That's what this blogging community is all about, right?
I don't know if I've found myself thinking of me and my blog as the kid that sits alone at the lunch table, but more of the voice that's yet to be heard. Yes, I know that sounds incredibly haughty, but I try to be more of a glass half-full kind of gal.
ReplyDeleteMy blog has exactly five followers and I know all of them personally. My fiance has commented on a post, once, and a day with 30 views makes me jump over the moon.
Yes, I'm jealous of the bigger bloggers like you (yes, you!) and Joanna Goddard and the like, but instead of angrily brushing you off as the snotty popular crowd, I look up to you! All I want is to be able to get my name out there and reach my audience with the passionate, thought-provoking, fun posts I see here and elsewhere.
Though I do wish I had a wider audience and twenty businesses emailing me every day, begging to purchase an add spot on my world-renowned blog, I'm still enjoying the writing process and figuring out my little blogger voice among the sea of talented professionals.
If by any chance you would like to check me out, my blog is www.wakingonthewing.blogspot.com. A little shameless, self-promotion never hurt anyone, right?
I can get caught thinking that from time to time, but since my blog is a lifestyle blog, it's easy to snap out of that way of thinking and just enjoy my daily activities with my family. Blogging and be every addicting.
ReplyDelete- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com
I find the "bigger blogs" a little more boring then the "average" ones. I like the idea of someone being genuine and having more of a conversation with their readers rather then just filling space. I also find the blogs with many contributors more difficult to relate to, same goes for the blogs with too many ads. I completely understand and support wanting to generate revenue from something you love {and you Danni do it well} but some people go overboard allowing flashing ads that are so distracting I usually end up moving on. I blog for myself, and I find that when I write like no one is reading I get the most feedback. I love my followers and every time a new face shows up either on blogger, twitter or facebook I try to always acknowledge them, because after all, we are just all trying to be friends right?
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're alone in comparing your blog to other "bigger" blogs. I've done it myself, probably too many times to count. I used to think that I had to blog a certain way, or include certain posts similar to what the bigger bloggers talk about. But I'm kind of just getting over that. Sometimes when I find a blog that has over 100 followers and their archives only go back about 3 months I sit there and wonder how they did it. But I'm finding that a lot of blogs can grow quickly by offering giveaways. There's nothing wrong with that, but I don't necessarily want people to follow my blog just because they think they're going to get something free out of it. Not to bash on giveaways or anything. But I blog to connect with other bloggers and start up conversations about similar interests. Many of the blogs I really admire (like yours!) and those that I consider "big" have been online for years. So that's at least a little encouraging I think. It takes awhile to grow a loyal following, and I'm starting to be ok with that. I think that as long as you blog about what you like and what you find interesting, others will enjoy it and keep coming back. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! This was an awesome discussion idea! :)
ReplyDeletei relate to the analogy for sure! i think even if it doesn't come to fruition in action, lots of us have a twinge of "what will someone think if i say..." or "if i (my blog) looked like ____, sound like ____" then i'd have it made. i think it's a comparision game just like any other aspect of life and like they say, comparison is the thief of joy. my goal is to be content with what i've got & stay true to why/how i blog, not to try and measure up to someone else's "success." AND to celebrate those great bloggers out there, not covet their accomplishments.
ReplyDelete[eternal perspective makes all the difference!]
Our perceptions of ourselves and the things we put out into the world, such as our blogs, can be funny things. I've always thought of your blog as one of the "bigger" ones, but maybe that's because I'm lucky if I get even one comment per post. But I don't think comments are necessarily a good indicator of things either, especially since I follow many different blogs but hardly ever comment myself. On the other hand, I may only have a few followers, but I'm agonizing over posts because I want them to be the best I can make them, because that's who I am. Yes, it's difficult not to make comparisons - I know that I do it all the time - but I also think it's important to remind yourself of why you blog in the first place. I truly believe that as long as you're happy with what you're putting out there, you'll attract others who recognize that enthusiasm and be drawn to it.
ReplyDeleteI think what has helped me to combat the popularity jealousy game is becoming friends with those bigger bloggers. Not like I'm super tight with Dooce or something, but once I get to know them in real life I realize they're usually really nice and then I realize why they are so popular. Like you.
ReplyDelete@Gina
ReplyDeleteI do the same now too. Except, I'm still not bringing in any readers. Forever alone, haha.
I sometimes get very side tracked with other blogs and how well they are doing, layout, content etc... I often have to remind myself that I blog the way that works for me and that I can't be like another blog / blogger. I do it my way. It is difficult sometimes as some bloggers have instant success when their content is not all original and here I am trying to snap pics for my blog and make each post totally unique. Anway...once again I feel that there is a place for all of us and as long as I focus on my reasons for blogging then it is all. x
ReplyDeleteI've read about this but I personally have never felt it nor do i hope to ever alienate other readers to feel this way. I think like the commenter stated above- if focus is lost on the actual blog and readership rather than content, then yes, i can see it going down the wrong path.
ReplyDeleteSince high school has such a life long impact on our lives I think everything we do somehow relates back to our issues during that time. However, I find the anonymity of blogging prevents me from getting my feelings hurt because I am ignored, left out etc. I dont think there is one huge blog that we all aspire to be like, rather many small fish with bigger fish in a particular niche..in our case design.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy other blogs but am so proud of the blogs I write for other designers and online retailers. To watch them grown and prosper as a result of my efforts is more like parenting than high school and I hope I have finally outgrown all of those self confidence issues I had as a teen.
Unfortunately I agree. I wish my blog was commented on more and cute {like yours and others}. I don't know if it's just the fact that I don't blog a ton or what. I wish I had more readers.. so yes yes yes I agree.
ReplyDeleteI agree with love lovely (comment12) a blog is a real expression of self and all the things you love! As long as you keep blogging what your passionate about and people are enjoying it then thats what counts. x
ReplyDeleteGREAT post topic. I feel the same way as you, sometimes. I also wonder why some people comment all the time, but never add themselves as a blog follower (even if I follow their blog). That stings. But almost 100% of my blog friends are not friends from the real world, so that's neat. And I like to use my blog for my own collection of inspiration so I would do it if I had no followers (which I did, for a long time).
ReplyDeletethis is a great post.
ReplyDeleteIt's always an internal struggle with me. I look at other blogs that get so many comments a day to every post.. and I think..why not me? What's wrong with me? I hv to stop that, and stop comparing.I write for me, and to inspire others out there... for me that should always be enough.
But I agree with you.. these thoughts do cross my mind.. I just think of myself as a little fish in a big pond.. and most days, I'm okay with that.
xo
what bugs me is that I take the time to comment on blogs all the time, and others, I know they read my blog, but never take the time to comment.. or maybe they don't even visit my blog? I wonder about that sometimes... I think.. okay.. I'm taking the time to read your blog and comment on what you write. don't you think it would be just polite to come to my blog and see what I'm doing every once in awhile? Big bloggers out there tend to get all these comments, but seriously.. very few of them ever come and visit my blog and comment.. and that right there, is discouraging.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! But I try to be proud of my humble little blog & appreciate the readers I have. It's not always easy. Someone recently shared this quote with me: "Comparison is the thief of joy." It works to give me perspective in many aspects of life, including blogging.
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion topic! I think I try really hard to not worry about comparing myself other blogs and just be true to myself. But in all honesty, I think we all really want to be one of the popular kids in school!
ReplyDeleteThis was so interesting to read through the comments! I think we all feel a little bit of blog envy from time to time, but like everyone else said - blog for yourself and it won't matter if there are readers or not!
ReplyDeleteit took me a year of blogging every day to realize that i'm just not a blogger. as much as i love reading blogs, at this stage of life, i don't like blogging. it helped me realize that what i really love to do is designing and to find ways to stay true to that and to grow in that area.
ReplyDeletethis is a great blog discussion! i did start blogging for myself so i could document all the things going on in my life. but sometimes i do get caught up on the "how many comments am i getting per post" and "how many followers do i have" and "omg, i need to write a post every day so i don't lose readers" debates. but in the end, we need to take a step back once in awhile and really think about WHY we started blogging!!
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny that you worry about it from time to time, because to me, you ARE one of the popular bloggers!!! I wanna be like you! :)
ReplyDeleteI think we all blog for different reasons, so our goals are different. I love my readers dearly, but I blog primarily for myself. I think if that ever changed I would feel really differently about blogging. I've avoided the whole ad issue for this reason as well, because I worry that if the blog ever makes money, that I might start feeling like I *have* to blog and then I might not love it as much.
ReplyDeleteSo easy to feel jealous of people in all situations, but I think I actually do better about not being jealous online. Not sure why that is!
thanks for posing the question.....and i have to admit, when i first started blogging, it felt like a popularity contest. lucky for me, it no longer does.
ReplyDeleteBUT....being a photographer and reading other photography blogs, i can get extremely depressed wishing i was better, or wishing i had more client's etc. etc........
i'm getting better at this, but somedays it's really hard.
I think I am way too concerned about my readership. It's good to strive for something better, and a big part of why I'd love to have more readers is because I'd love to interact with more people interested in the same things as me. But ultimately I started my blog simply because I was overflowing my best friends inbox with random cool stuff I found and I decided to channel that energy into a more public form. It's a creative hobby for me, essentially. Been blogging since February and I have about 30 subscribers, and while I'd love more folks to chat about design with, I need to remember to just be passionate and have fun with it! Regardless of the stats. :)
ReplyDeleteYes! AWESOME post! (...and I'm green with envy over your 44 comments on it. Does that make you feel better? hahaha) I often catch myself comparing and then feeling disgusted that I did. I LOVE that there are so many blogs out there and I don't want to be anyone else's blog and I'm not looking for a book deal or anything, I just like knowing that someone out there in the world can relate to me. Ultimately I remind myself that I write for my posterity, hoping they'll enjoy my humor and not make the same dumb mistakes I've made! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with this post! I so often compare myself and my blog to the "big blogs" and get really discouraged. And I am also envious of your now 46 comments. I'm lucky to get 5 or 6!
ReplyDeleteSo thanks for the reminder that it really doesn't matter how I measure up to them, I just need to focus on why I blog, what it means to me and my readers and to be positive!
You know, I started my blog in college to just house all of my school art projects and music I was making. Eventually it developed into a space to just write streams of thought and helped me vent during some very traumatic times of life.
ReplyDeleteBut once I realized that there is this "blogging culture, blogging community" of women, the girl in me who never connected to other ladies all that well really wanted to connect and find a community of girl friends online.
I was really excited to start making new friends through common likes shown through what we blog about. And through my blog friends support, I decided to pursue my artistic dreams using my blog as the home for all that I do.
I think only in the past year did the blogging community suddenly feel catty and high school like. I met a few bloggers that I first met oneline in person this past year and woah, I suddenly realized YIKES bloggers can get reaaaally competitive! I've met some people from the blog world who have actually become really good, loving, and kind friends. But there are absolutely some MAJOR competitive people out there in the blog world. And the same is in real life too. But in blogging, people can keep their anonymity while posting some really nasty things. No good.
And, myself being someone who works from home and is alone a lot, I know a lot of other bloggers work from home or are housewives, living lives that maybe keep them at home for many hours of the day and I know some of us get stir crazy. I do! But sometimes people can start to vent their pent up feelings online, and they can start to spend too much time getting emotionally invested in blogging in a bad way. When an unhealthy type of competitive spirit kicks in, it makes this community really hard and very high school like. We have to be careful to check our emotions often, keep our hearts and mind in check when we feel we are lacking compared to those we admire online. It's hard.
xo Moorea
It's a popularity contest only when we enter into it that way. Whenever I blog about something my heart is truly in, and I know that I don't care what other people think, that's when people tell me they love what I do. When I play the popularity game and TRY to impress people, I think it's obvious that there's no heart. Also, popular is relative. I know there's a few sweethearts who read every post I write, and that's more important than 100 people writing "cute!" on a "big blog" just to get their own name seen =) x
ReplyDeleteJust adding more in agreement with everyone else...
ReplyDeleteI remember blogging back in the day when I would just talk about my day & my close friends read it to know what was new in my life (pre-facebook-gasp). It seemed like I was a lot less worried about what people thought because I was blogging for myself. Nowadays, I get worried about what people will think of what I say, who I am, and what I do.
I, like everyone else, have always seeked acceptance probably to an extreme, so it was hard at first when I realized a lot of "big blogs" really didn't care about me or what I had to say. It took me aback because everyone always seems so genuine on their blogs. I remember twittering and emailling "bigger blogs" with random questions/comments when I first got started to never hear a reply or to see them "talking" to another "big blog," but not me.
After that whole icky feeling went away, I've found more geniune people in the blogging world that really care about me and I for them. It's been really fun brainstorming ideas with fellow creatives and to generate positive thinking.
Although it's easy to get caught up in all the hoopla, it's important to realize that we really won't always get along with everyone and to surround ourselves with supportive and loving people! Blogging should always be about capturing our own lives, building friendships, sharing, and fostering creativity!
I think I had a weird/different high school experience because my graduating class was 28 kids, at least 20 of whom I had known since kindergarten. Not a lot of room for popularity contests. We had our preferences, but we lacked a lot of the stereotypes. That being said, I sometimes do wish I received some public validation of my blog. Not for popularity but to ease up some of the isolation that can come with having technology provide thousands of ways to express yourself and little to no return/response.
ReplyDeleteI don't even have a blog because I feel like no one would ever read it, haha. But hey, you probably have followers/readers out there that you don't know about (like me). I'm a "lurker" as they say and I rarely comment and I don't subscribe to blogs, I actually visit the blog itself and don't use readers or anything. I imagine there are others like me out there. I enjoy looking at people's layouts when I read their blogs, people put so much time into their beautiful layouts! I wonder a lot why some of the blogs I read get near the 1000's in comments, and others only get a handful per post, and I have no idea. I think it helps a lot when you have others in the blog community who support you too.. I have found all the blogs I read through plugs in other blogs.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a lot like High school and it is very much like that to me because back then I pretty much did my own thing at my own pace. I love blogging, some times people come and unleash their anger at something I've said or take offense in my comments. I feel bad at times but in the end, my blog is not everything I am. I just take things a day at a time. Haters are everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI love this conversation. It's totally true. Sometimes, I get really caught up in what I feel like I should be doing to generate readers and responses and I have to remind myself to keep my voice and keep posting the things that actually matter to me. If I forget that, it starts feeling like a job and all the fun drains out.
ReplyDeleteI also do a lot of DIY and since I don't earn anything from actual blogging, I'm making it for me first, the blog second. What you see is probably my first, maybe second, attempt at that craft. I just don't have the funds and the time to make (or bake) multiple things just so I can get the prettiest most photogenic one. And sometimes what really frustrates me are the venues I try to post to (in order to get exposure) because they always seem to cater to the professionals. It seems that way some days. It really does. I'm sure it's not, but it's hard not to think it sometimes.
I think it would be awesome to be like one of the big blogs, but I also think I'd feel really overwhelmed with it. I like to respond to comments and if people comment or follow, I like to visit their page and see what they're about. With so many followers, I think (and I know) it'd be really hard to do that. Not saying that you wouldn't WANT to, but you definitely would be swamped and time would not be on your side.
One last thing: I am really freaked out about losing readers once I've got them. After almost 3 years of blogging, I've finally got over 60 followers and I'm worried that I won't be able to do what I did to get them in the first place. I have to start reminding myself again that it's MY blog and I should do as I like.
I cannot relate because I do not have a blog, but if I could, I would vote for you as homecoming queen, Danni!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I love blogging though. It's so addicting. xo, rv
ReplyDeletehttp://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/
Interesting comparison and completely see the relation.. I have had a blog for sometime, and I truly enjoy it.. I do not advertise and until just last month never had a giveaway.. I thought wow I am going to have my very first giveaway and see how many people follow me.. well my giveaway had a few comments to win but not at all what I was hoping for and it crought me sown big time.. why though? someone won something nice.. I just felt like my blog wasnt ever going to be what others are.. I had to let it go.. but it still stings truthfully
ReplyDeleteIt IS totally high school all over again. Except, I was totally popular in high school and not as much in blogland... it's okay. Blogging makes me feel good and that's what counts.
ReplyDelete♥ sécia
www.petiteinsanities.blogspot.com
Hi Danni, Well I for one hope you are too busy selling your wares to be reading all the comments. But incase you have a quiet spell I think you should try to live the life you want and not be worrying about if other people will like you or not. It will probaby be the thing that most people will like about you (or your blog).
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Mel
That depends on your view of high school. My view on blogging is very much like my view on high school was. I did not care about being popular and having a lot of friends. I cared about having a small handful of amazing friends who understood me - the same friends I have today, 15 years later. If I can make silly blog posts about something I like or something I made and only 10 people look at it regularly (which is actually very accurate), well then those 10 people are the small handful of amazing people who understand me.
ReplyDeleteAhh I agree with a lot of the comments here. It's hard not to get excited when you get a new follower! I think some people start out blogging for themselves and sometimes get caught up in wanting to be a popular blog. It's hard to step back and forget about who's reading sometimes. But I love the blogging community!
ReplyDeleteFirst off - love, love, love, LOVE your blog and your stuff. You have such a sweet spirit and it shines through in your writing and your work!
ReplyDeleteOn topic, It's definitely discouraging to think about just how BIG other blogs are in relation to mine...with all of its 4 followers :) BUT, I know my customers and know that they LOVE what they get from me and that makes me happier than anything else! Followers, shmollowers, I say! I blog for those 4 folks and anyone else who happens to click on a Facebook link or whatever, and know that I love what I'm doing and so do the ones buying! :)
With ~60 comments on this post already, I consider YOU to be one of the bigger blogs ;) But I don't pay too much attention to all that nonsense!
ReplyDeleteI actually look up to the "bigger blogs" as inspiration rather than "more popular". I love to get ideas and then the fun part is trying to make the great ideas my own. I'm a huge advocate of not directly copying so having to think hard on how to put my own spin on things forces growth I think. ^_^
ReplyDeleteWhen I started my blog, it was a creative outlet and a way to get my thoughts out there without caring who saw them or answered. It seems like actually having readers has made me more self conscious and a little unhappy. I am a really busy momma now and my blog often gets pushed to the side. I don't like that it happens, but the reality is that I used to have A LOT more free time to blog. I often judge myself harshly and criticize myself for not posting enough or spending more time on my posts. I know you don't know me at all so this venting is probably strange! Blogging is so personal and it's hard not to take thing personally. Putting things up on the internet is no small feat!!!
ReplyDeleteit definitely can be really discouraging when I compare comment/follower stats with those of the 'big blogs' but I try to remind myself that comparison is the thief of joy. I've found so much joy in blogging and connecting with different people and just one person commenting telling me they enjoy reading my blog makes my heart swell.
ReplyDeletep.s. you're one of the coolest 'big bloggers' :)
Wow!! your blog is jumbo! I am a small humble blog, I only have 62 followers, but that's ok! I am just try post whenever i can and keep it interesting. Some times i feel guilty for not blogging, then I think not that many people even care. I hope this doesn't sound like a cry fest,haha! I'm glad you brought up the subject.
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Eloise
When I first started my blog, I was so obsessed with making it popular and famous and trying to get readers and followers. I started to lose sight about why I started it in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI took a hiatus and now blog more from the heart. I also try to make it more personal to what's going on in my life, adding photos of my family, etc. If it's a good blog, eventually it will get noticed. I still do my part to get myself out there and found by folks on the blogosphere. Ideally, I'd love the blogs I admire and follow to think the same of me!
xo, Anna of (green gable)
this is a really awesome topic. sometimes i feel like blogging is a little bit like high school. when i'm feeling down about things not taking off as fast as i wish they would. i look at the big name bloggers & i feel like there is just this clique that i'm never going to be a part of.
ReplyDeleteon my good days, i think that blogging is an art where you get out of it what you put into it. high quality posts & pictures & reaching out to other blogs are important. you can't slap up meaningless words & fuzzy pictures & expect to be an internet celebrity overnight. it takes time & effort.
however, those are the good days, like i said. for the most part, i just try not to compare myself to other blogs. i'm working at my own pace & realize that i just need to nurture my blog a little bit. it'll grow with time.
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you remember me? I was at Ruby's 4th baby shower, well if not I'm CItlalli and I began a blog one year ago with the only inttention to share some of my ideas, things that I like and enjoy with the people who wants to read my blog and see my pics.
I totally get your point, but you know what? I think you have lot of readers because you are so sweet and sincere and a beautiful person inside and ourtside with a wonderful creativity and fresh ideas!
About me, I'm happy with my 31 followers and believe me or not I don't care if I'm popular or not or if I have one thousand million followers or just one, I think that people that just want to blog to be popular or to sell things it's in the wrong channel......
The blogging world it's amazing and have lot of space for all, so who cares who have more or less followers!
Just keep calm and blogg on!
Have a nice fall! :)
Danni, honestly I think it's about timing. The big blogs all got in first I think, which is why they have a big following. There's a few that I think if they started up today, they wouldn't have such a huge readership. I think you're doing pretty well! I've helped organise a few blogger meetups and now I'm much more relaxed about readership - I've met some other bloggers in person and there's a nice community where we comment on each others blogs - that's good enough for me!
ReplyDeleteDanni, I really appreciate your transparency in this issue. I can only imagine how many times you wrote/reread this post. It's funny because when I was writing my "return to blogging" post, I thought of a million ways I wanted to share my struggles with blogging and the specific analogy that came to mind was comparing it to high school. I think it's easiest for me to say blogging is like high school because of attending Alt Summit. Admittedly, I made some nice small blogger friends, but I really wanted to spend time with the big bloggers whose blogs I had been following for so long. I'm grateful for the experience I had at Alt and the connections I made (remember what I first said to you?) but it also helped me realize (I guess the hard way) that a loyal fan following doesn't mean you're instantly friends with these bloggers we put on a pedestal. I know that this problem lies deeply within me and not the bloggers themselves, but I think one of the issues with blogging is perhaps this false sense of relationship. I could go on and on about thoughts on blogging, but ultimately I think we can all relate to comparing our blogs, our aesthetic, our posts to someone else and feel inadequate. Especially when big bloggers appear to be friend with each other! I think it's also hard to see blogs that were once small, explode and gain huge followings (i.e. How did they get into the cool crowd all of a sudden and I've been patiently waiting here for an invite for sometime). Okay, now I think I've over shared. Thanks again for bringing this up Danni. I think it makes it a more interesting convo coming from someone that most of consider to be a big blogger! Your transparency always impresses me!
ReplyDeleteHi,I read tons of blogs and I think you all have more followers than you think. I follow all the blogs on bloglovin and not GFC or the other services. So I'd check out bloglovin, "claim" your blog, add the bloglovin icon to make it easy for people to follow that way, and see how many people are following you over there. And I think everyone wants to be popular, meaning that their posts get read by someone.
ReplyDeleteDanni you ARE the homecoming queen of the blogging community!
ReplyDelete:)
I was so fixated with this thought last year... I was so jealous with all the big blogs out there. But somehow BYW had help help to realized that one loyal reader is good than having lurkers. Because number are just numbers, and I want is someone who enjoys reading what I write. And as I get serious about blogging as well, I knew that it is not as easy as I thought. Big bloggers do deserve a big audience for putting up such effort to it...
ReplyDeleteI never thought you still feel inferior sometimes Danni. Your blog has been keeping up with the blog world already. But its very nice of you to be humble. =)
we started our blog in february and just recently finished our 100th post. we were very proud and had our own "little blog" version of a giveaway. we talk about ways to get more readers, but at the end of the day blog so we can get our ideas/interests out where we have a record of them- our blog is our internet's bibliography. :)
ReplyDeletedanni, you totally have a BIG BLOG. you tweeted us and the two of us, in two different parts of the world, were OMGing all day.
Thank you for bringing this up. It's so refreshing to hear one of the bloggers I so admire being "real." I will always choose (and hope to be) a blogger that people can relate to; one that asks honest questions and encourages honest answers and introspection. Thank you for producing such a lovely, thoughtful blog.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I went to a huge high school where there were too many kids for any group to be super popular... I suppose that has some relevance to blogging. Either way, as a newbie, I've found that the people behind the blogs - big or small - are generally so friendly that I feel welcome. There's room for all.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness! I definitely feel like blogging is h.s. all over again! I was just feeling this insecurity and discouragement last night! nice to know I'm not alone :)
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging for one year: 5 posts a week, I put hours of work into my posts, have networked through fellow bloggers, paid for monthly sponsorships on big blogs and still only have 20 followers and practically zilch in the comments department. It's like running a campaign for Prom Queen which you really put your all in to only to end up with 20 votes from the entire school...which btw, our "school" is the entire blogoshere. Yeah, it sucks, but at least I'm trying. It took me 4 years to make Varsity in tennis (more high school references) so maybe time will just have to tell on this little blogging adventure.
ReplyDelete