10 Things That (almost) Ruined Blogging (for me)
There’s no way this post isn’t going to come across as me being a bitter Betty even though these are simply some of the things that have caused my devotion to blogging to waiver over the last year. I try not to do any of these things (if I have done them, I’ve learned my lesson) and I’m not calling anyone out for their blogging style of choice – I just kind of ignore any blog that does any combination of the following.
Now’s a good time for a gain of salt.
- Captchas – If spam is such a threat that readers have to verify three times that they’re human before their comment is even submitted for moderation, perhaps you’d prefer no comments at all? Install Akismet. Check your spam folder once a week. Get over yourself. Don’t annoy your readers.
- Tribrr – I adore the sharing of blog posts on Twitter. The majority of the posts that I read catch my attention on Twitter. But if I see a link from Tribrr I can guarantee you that I will not be clicking – it’s impersonal and meaningless. If a post is so amazing that you want to share it with all of your friends, it deserves a personal recommendation. Love this! Read it! is way better than New Post via @randomblogger.
- Gift Guides – I write gift guides all the time. I include things that I genuinely use and love and things that are on my wish list. I make a point to include a little intro info or some nugget about why each item is included. My annoyance comes from the posts that contain a list of links. And nothing else. I need to know why you think something would make a great gift! Isn’t that the point? To guide me? And you lose all credibility when every item is c/o (see below) and/or an affiliate code.
- c/o – This may meet FTC guidelines but it doesn’t meet my blogging standards. It tells me nothing about the item that you’re featuring besides the fact that you got it for free. If it’s good enough to accept and good enough to link to I expect some insight as to why.
- Shameless Self Promotion – You are your own biggest fan. I get that. Tweet your own post, share it on Facebook, give it a Stumble. Don’t do it repeatedly. Don’t tack the link on to some vague Tweet about how you may or may not be pregnant. That’s link bait. Fool me once and I’ll never click again.
- Lists – Top 10, Top 100, Top blah blah blah. I find them irrelevant. I think at one time they may have been useful, but now it’s the same blogs rearranged and regurgitated.
- Feeds – I don’t use them, I vaguely understand the concept, I have no idea if mine work. I bookmark the sites I love and every morning while I’m watching the news I click through to see if there’s anything new. Bloggers put a lot of time and effort into the experience of their blog; I think we should respect that and actually visit their blogs.
- Storytelling – More specifically, the lack thereof. I don’t think everyone is a born storyteller (I’m not) and I don’t think you need to pour your heart out in every.single.post (I won’t be RSVPing to your pity party) but include some tidbits about your life, family, your afternoon. My favorite blogs are lifestyle, fashion, and design focused, but they all share something of themselves through their posts.
- Blogging Conferences – I’m conferenced-out. I’m not learning anything new, I’m not meeting anyone knew, and I’m not good at the shameless self promotion (see above) required. I believe conferences are what you make of them and I just don’t have it in me anymore.
- Twitter Parties – Can we chill with the Twitter parties? The cap locks, the retweeting, the feigned enthusiasm – they just aren’t productive. Regularly scheduled Twitter chats are a chance for collaboration and idea sharing. Twitter parties are contests and spam.
Is there anything that’s caused you to become disenchanted with blogging? Either as a blogger or a reader?
Erin
Twitter: ecsuperhero
Great list. I can see wisdom in all of those points. I like it when people tweet their posts, otherwise I can easily miss some. However, you’re absolutely right that link baiting is annoying.
Erin´s last awesome blog post…this history
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Same here – I’d say it’s a 50/50 split of reading posts via Twitter and my bookmarked list of favorites.
Ashe @ Dramatis Personae
Every time I tweet a post through twitter it now ends it with via @BLOGGER. And I’m like AHHH WHY ARE YOU MAKING IT LOOK LIKE TRIBRRR! (Which I quit after less than a week– I hated it.)
These are all really amazing points, and as I’m the type to constantly re-evaluate how I’m doing things in my blog, there are several that I already want to work on (like story-telling).
Wonderful post!
Ashe @ Dramatis Personae´s last awesome blog post…20 Bitchin’ Holiday Traditions to Adopt
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Congrats on ditching Tribrr!
PS – why the hell wasn’t I following you on Twitter? Blasphemy!
Ken
Twitter: flushy78
Feeds can change your life on the go (gross hyperbole, but hear me out)
If you have an iPad, iPhone, or Android device, install Flipboard, Zike, Google Currents or Pulse. It’ll sync and download content from all your blog feeds, which you can then read on the go, even in places without an internet connection.
I use a feed reader like those to catch up on all my blogs and news sites during my morning commute as an underground New York City subway mole.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
I tried Flipboard and was overwhelmed. I’m a simple girl.
Amy, At the Pink of Perfection
Twitter: PinkofPerfect
Good girl. I agree 100%.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Thanks!
catherine
I absolutely stink at the shameless self-promotion and admit to never participating in Twitter parties or attending blogging conferences. There, I’ve said it and feel much better! Thanks for posting these– I agree on many of them and am glad to hear it coming from someone else as well!
catherine´s last awesome blog post…Twinkle, Twinkle: Central Texas Holiday Lights Displays
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Me, too. Especially face-to-face. I’m much better networking behind my computer.
Christy Lorio
Twitter: slowsouthstyle
I pretty much agree with everything you’ve said here. A good alternative to feeds is Bloglovin’ since it acts like a feed but it takes you to the blog itself- I find it more convenient than bookmarks and a better experience than say Google reader.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Yes! I do use Bloglovin’ to follow most of the “big” fashion and style blogs. The ones that I usually comment on I keep in my bookmarks.
carrie
Twitter: carrieloves
I agree with everything you posted, especially the blogging conferences… I can’t be “that girl” that’s bubbly and in all the right cliques. It’s exhausting.
I don’t like Twitter parties either – you’re right it’s a bunch of hash tag cap locks and who can tweet the fastest.
However, I do use Google Reader & love it. I click over when I have something relevant to comment.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
If I’m understanding correctly, the blogger doesn’t get the traffic if you read through a feed, right? I’m just stubborn and like to stick with my bookmarks. Ha.
Cathy
What a great list- you made some excellent points here. The only thing that has really frustrated me in the blogging community (specifically fashion blogging) is the lack of inclusion. There’s a lot of lip service about “fashion for all” and such, but when it comes down to it, a lot of the blogger are downright cliquish and mean. Can’t we all just get along?? Geez…..
Cathy´s last awesome blog post…A Whole New Personal Shopping Experience- David J. Neff
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Excellent point. Of all the blogging niches, fashion/style has taken the “elite” blogs to an untouchable (and IMO, unrelatable) level.
Laurel
I don’t even know what tribrrr is and I am glad I know now to avoid it! You totally nailed this list. Lists are one blogging trick that I totally get behind.
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Thanks! Tribrr really gets me because I feel like it’s such a fake community and not the reason at all that I started blogging.
Amanda
There are several things that made me want to stop blogging and I did for a while. First off the idea of google valuing your website. Yeah I’m old school but quite frankly google sucks and we allow them to dominate their world with their crap.
Second I can’t read the effing captcha’s like ever. There are too many of the same options. I stick with Facebook and Twitter then there are a million options for everything and it gets too overwhelming. I hate it I like to keep it simple.
Amanda´s last awesome blog post…And So It Begins…The Final Countdown!
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
My mantra when it comes to blogging has always been “if it’s not fun, I’m not doing it.” If keeping it simple is what keeps it fun for you, then that’s the way you do it! I prefer it that way, myself.
Amanda
Oh I totally agree. I’ve been doing blogs and websites for 15 years I am old school and old school is simple I love simple. I hate page ranks, alexa ranks and all that crap. To me its the number of visitors and how many people actually interact.
Amanda´s last awesome blog post…Why I Promise to Buy Handmade
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
The rankings are shrouded in such secrecy that I don’t worry about them. I do love to see the number of visitors that come to my blog (which takes us back to the RSS vs. bookmarking discussion) and how they got here.
Kari
Twitter: alas3lads
I just do not understand feeds! I think they are confusing.
Kari´s last awesome blog post…There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
Same here! I don’t read sites “on the go” so I’ve never had a need. It’s always been easier to bookmark and click over.
ConnieFoggles
Twitter: ConnieFoggles
I’m sad to say that I’ve moved to the dark side of blogging. Guilty on a number of things you mentioned, but one thing I vow to never do again is a gift guide. It’s kicking my ass.
Not happy about your stance on conferences because you were one person I always looked forward to meeting up with. Just go for the parties, please.
ConnieFoggles´s last awesome blog post…Win Target Gift Cards with Digital Folio
Corrin
Twitter: CorrinRenee
But then I get accused of being a conference crasher!
Sponsored gift guides are exhausting and what they’ve become just isn’t credible in my eyes. Something that started out as so much fun has now boiled down to bloggers blinding soliciting companies and companies taking advantage of bloggers. (Was that too harsh? I think you know what I mean though.)