Perusing the blogs, there always seems to be atleast one person dropping by a post in-order to leave a vague, pandering or impersonal comment to promote their own site. For example, "OMG, such a cute post! Follow back? www.blahh.com". I'm all for leaving a URL, but I love when that comes with the beginning of a conversation. Maybe it's weird, but I tend to leave paragraphs in the comments, and I like when others do the same. Send me your link, but also tell me something interesting, let's have a conversation.
Now tell me this, is it strange to tweet other bloggers? I always feel like that awkward loser in high-school, desperately trying to crash the popular party when I tweet someone. I have it in my head that the person will think, "who dafuq is this chick?" I like talking to new people; one of the major perks of blogging is that you get to know people from around the world. I'm pretty sure that I'm that weird girl from Mean Girls, wanting everyone to bake a cake full of rainbows and smiles; let's all be friends, okay? If you have a Twitter button, there's a good chance that I will follow you; and if you tweet something interesting, please expect a response. If that's weird, sorry-not-sorry. Becoming friends, either in the real sense or just through social media is great in my opinion. Who wants to stay confined to their little bubble of the world? Through all of this, I've found my Brit-Sista Kerry from Kerralina. I'm pretty sure that we're the real life Parent Trap, just far less ginger. From the start of my blog, I've gotten to know Kat from Scribbles&Sparkles, and I've recently been chatting with Rebecca at 10DowningChic, Trina of TrinaWear and Tori of ToriTellsHerTales. Everyone is from somewhere completely different and they're all such lovely people.
As I dip my toes into this strange blogging world, I've been trying to determine what is considered appropriate, and most importantly, what is not. I think in order to please the masses, a good number of bloggers follow a standard writing style; the same content and rhetoric can be found from blog to blog. Many (but not all) sound in my opinion rather robotic; give me some personality! I began my blog trying to go with the flow; mimicking the widely accepted style, wanting to stay within the boundaries of acceptable and appropriate. But honestly, that's just so much work. It's a whole lot easier to write using my voice and language, i.e over-the-top Californian slang or something from the vulgar end of the spectrum. In a post to describe my college time in San Francisco, I used "fuck" three times. How scandalous! I reread it thinking, "Oh gosh, maybe I should delete them, it's not appropriate. People won't like it". But yet it stays because it was what I thought back in the day. Why change the story now?
What are some of the blogger trends that you have noticed?
What do you feel are the appropriate blogger practices?
Is there such a thing?
Is there such a thing?
You Miss.Kelsey, are about the sweetest person I have met!....even though we havent actually met...:) I love that you are so friendly and ready to chat with me. I totally know what you mean about how you think someone will think your an idiot for tweeting them. I'm in that sinking boat every darn day! I really hope that we can continue are little chats and hopefully it will grow into a lovely little friendship 'Relsey'...we'll have to work on that haha! You are a gem and I love you! XXXXXXXX
ReplyDeleteYou sweet angle face are so lovely! Relsey is perfect! When you come to California we'll hang out!
DeleteI still have placenta on me when it comes to blogging. One of the things I've found somewhat bothersome is not being able to get a response from huge bloggers that have hundreds, even thousands of followers(which is understandable), but then the same people will come on over and drop one of those "vague, promotional" comments. Gahhh! I can't say I haven't done it too though, sometimes there's no point in trying to get a response from huge bloggers.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the writing style of most of the more popular blogs is some mix of dainty and cute. Whereas emanating any negativity is less conventional. It's good to add variety to that mix, hence my usual bluntness and Debby Downer attitude! I also feel super weird because most bloggers seem to be 20 something females whereas I'm a guy and it's like ahhh don't judge me!
idratherstayinbed.com :P
HAA YES! Justin you are hilarious and right. I have found that the longer comments stand out to those "BIG BLOGGERS" who get millions of stupid comments. I mean, I leave large comments because I don't know when to shut up and I just want to chat.
DeleteAnd I try not to complain or "bitch" because in general it's not a good look, but being so cheery and bubblegum is infantilizing.
LOL and your blog speaks the truth, I always enjoy reading it. Need to go look at the newest with that dark and scary wintery photo. Minnesota is so crazy.
Goodness gracious, that's the perfect way to describe it "cheery and bubblegum". Still laughing. I never know when to start. I don't know what's wrong with me that makes me feel skittish, intrusive, and an all around weirdo simply leaving a comment on another's blog.
DeleteMinnesota (Noun): Cold, wintery death hole.
It's snowing down so much I can't see past a block, I have literally laid in bed all day(NO REGRETS)even though I've been up since super early because I'm just done, this weather is ridiculous especially for this time of year.
This is such a good post, I'm sat here laughing like a right loser at it haha! I especially like your point about blogs being robotic, I've only just started myself and it's really strange, especially when doing fashion or beauty things. To be honest, I don't really feel like myself when I'm doing those kind of posts, I definitely prefer talking about my life because I feel like I can basically type what I'm thinking and it'll be fine!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, sorry for the babble but I love your blog x
I love fashion/beauty but I couldn't tell you one important or worthwhile fact. I like blogs that talk about their lives, and where their from. California is only interesting for a hot minute.
DeleteAnd don't be sorry for babbling, I LOVE IT!
Our minds must be in the same head space because I've been thinking about making a post like this. He term baby bloggers is so cute, I'm proud to be one. This little blogging journey is so much fun, and what's most fun are the twitter interactions. Some people are a bit snobby about it( I won't say specific names) which is sad, but the blogging twitter community is so great. I really like the chats that happen even though with the time difference I miss a bunch. And OMG I always want to curse and I don't because idk how it would be accepted, but I shouldn't care, Im going to stop filtering myself, it is my blog after all. This was such a good post, so much to think about! Oh, and I hate when people ask to follow them back or follow them and then they'll follow you. Like what the fuck I don't want your follow if its just because I followed you and you'll never look at my blog again. What's the fun in that? It's even worse when it's bloggers with like 2000+ followers leaving that spammy shot. I'm sure thy dont even follow back either, but no one ever notices. Ugh. Don't get me started. Lol. :)
ReplyDeleteYES! I've gotten a couple of "Follow for a follow?" and they have 4000 followers. I'm like "why? you did it! you've won!" I'm starting to filter myself a little less. It's disingenuous to try to be proper all of the time. You have you do a similar post because just by "ugh don't get me started!" it seems like it would be an AMAZING read.
DeleteI am probably guilty of doing 'predictable' blogger things, but I try to be different where I can!
ReplyDeleteNow following you on GFC and would be great to get a follow back, if you would like to follow each other? :)
Be great if you could check out my latest posts:
Its all about neon
Blue this Spring Summer
The Aztec
Geometric print Monochrome Dress
Thanks! Charlie xx LurchHoundLoves.com | UK Fashion Blog
I 100% agree with this! I hate when people just leave an impersonal comment with their link - it's even worse when it's obvious they haven't even read the post, like when they say "great review, product sounds great" on a review where you've just completely slated the product!
ReplyDeleteAlso when people put 'lets follow each other' is annoying too! I follow blogs if I like the blog, not just because someone has followed me and left a comment saying 'lets follow each other.' PET HATE.
I also feel really weird talking to people on twitter - like I'm not part of the cool kids who always have conversations with other bloggers, so it puts me off tweeting them! :(
I think there can be appropriate blogging practices, but I'm not too sure what they are. People seem to create these guidelines and other people follow, I prefer to be individual and that's why my blogs not just about beauty, but also about film and book reviews, and anything else that interests me!
Great post, not many people confront these kind of observations so well done! :)
Christina | Passion Obsession - Currently hosting a giveaway
This comment is pretty much amazing, especially considering the comment right about you...HA. And there seems to be an accepted way that you are supposed to blog; I don't get it. I thought I was the only one to think these things were absolutely ridiculous. I'm so glad I'm not alone!
DeleteI totally get the twitter thing! I always feel like i'm bugging the other person or they think i'm some weird nerd try to get with the 'in' crowd haha! And since mine is a more beauty-ish blog when i want to write something on a different path i think 'oohhh better not' because i think people wont get it arggggh! thankyou for letting me know i am not the only one!
ReplyDeleteHi! It's Mona from the chat. Thought I'd start your suggestion for thought through comments 'at home' as it were!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this post. Sometimes I get the feeling people aren't even reading what I write when they just drop a follow-for-follow comment. It irks me and it's just plain rude.
I think as for twitter, it's fine to drop a comment to your favourite blogger. It's an open social network and that's what it's there for really. I'm sure they'd be happy to hear from you!
As for etiquette, I think we just need to make our own way and see what feels right or wrong for us!
www.monadot.net
Oh yes, there are definitely blogging trends! And one of the first few things I noticed after moved from Xanga to Wordpress was also that "blabla, come and follow me" sort of comments, and now I always mark them as spam.
ReplyDeleteOne blogging etiquette is definitely to leave a comment about the blog post, or leave none at all. Those "follower hunters" can send an e-mail instead. And regarding links, there's NO reason to leave the link in the comment. All blog platforms expect Disqus comments (unless you have a Disqus account and set your blog link in your profile) actually link your url with your name.
I don't think there's anything strange with tweeting other blogs, I mean, if you like the blog, why not?
I totally agree about content, I think 98% or so of the blogs out there post about the same things, even look kinda the same.. I think it's boring and I love blogs that are different from the mass. Your blog is supposed to be YOURS, not like everybody else's blog. I love reading blogs and connecting with people through blogs but I rarely find any that I like, because most are the same. Sad, really.
OMG, such a cute post! Follow back?
ReplyDeletehaha I really hate this too, I'm all up for people leaving me links but its like, ermm excuse me my comment box isn't a promotional board for your blog lol. There's definitely a lot of blogging cliches about, from the lingo people use to even their interests (hi I'm a blogger, I love cats and drinking tea). I dont like cats and I dont like drinking tea either shock horrorrr. I've been blogging for over a year and I still feel like the weird chick trying to crash the party when I'm chatting to people on Twitter lol. I agree about the robotic voice as well, if I'm writing an instructional post I keep it as plain and simple as possible, but the rest of the time I just type how I speak, and I much prefer reading other blogs that do the same xx