Tuesday, April 9, 2013

This Isn't A One Way Street


I've been thinking a lot about what makes blogging enjoyable for me. I've always loved to write. I wrote for my high school newspaper, wrote online journals with the old livejournal.com in addition to paper diaries, and loved writing assignments in college. After I got married a friend of mine recommend that I blog about our day to day life through a blog so that family and friends could keep up with us better. My blog has always been focused around my family. I even print out most of my blog posts and make it into books every year so that we have kind of a family journal to look back at in years to come.

Eventually my blog turned from all about our day to day life, to adding in some extra things just for fun. Like the random shopping trips or linkups. I've also been paid to write reviews and things, which is nice! But the best part (other than journalism) of blogging for me has become the relationships I've formed with other bloggers.

Blogging takes a lot of time and energy. In the last couple of months, I've really made more of an effort to read almost every blog I follows' posts AND comment. I was starting to feel like it was often a one way street. If I take the time to read your blog and comment on it daily, and I never hear back from you or see you return the favor and try to get to know me too, it's not worth it. Nobody wants a friend who takes, takes, takes, and never gives anything back, right?

So, then I started to pay more attention to which blogs I actually want to read because I am friends with the blogger. I can put more focus on those friendships that go both ways now that I started unfollowing those who don't even know I exist.

If you leave me a comment, I always try to at least reply back through an email. If you don't receive a reply it's because you don't have an email set up for your comments. (If you need help setting that up let me know!) I don't want any of you to ever feel like I think I'm too good for you or that I'm ignoring you. That is never my intention! So, please, if you follow my blog and are an avid reader and feel that way, please tell me! You can never have too many friends! :)

25 comments :

Anonymous said...

LOVED this post! There seems to be a lot of unnecessary drama going on within blog land and I just don't get it! Everyone should read your post and learn from it :)

SEL said...

I stopped reading blogs for a while and thus, stopped commenting. I noticed then that when I did post? A lot of bloggers didn't comment. So many are the "if you post on my blog, I'll post on yours," and honestly? I think that's totally missing the point of blogging. If you feel motivated to comment, then do so. But do try to get to know those that take the time to read your blog. So, I'm with you on it not being a one way street!

Unknown said...

Love this post! I've really been trying to do the same. I'm getting better at scheduling posts ahead of time, so then I have time every day to comment and really engage with other bloggers...it's such a huge part of this community!

Amber said...

LOVE this post Shelley. I always feel like I get the love from you :)

I need to think about doing the same thing. There's some blogs I read that NEVER reply back or ever come see my blog. I understand they may not be able to do it all the time, but reach out to your followers every now and then. I definitely try to do it!

XOXO

Neely said...

I heart you but seriously

Misty, Handbags + Handguns said...

I feel you. There are some blogs I read with a huge following. I don't get too upset if they don't reply back. And most of the time, I don't comment on those blogs anyway. I definitely have a list of people I consider to be blog friends. I read. I comment. They read. They comment. And we follow each other on all the social media sites too. But I do hate it when people never ever ever reply back. Rude.

applesandglue said...

I so agree with this. No one wants a friend who just takes takes takes and I feel as though I have quite a few twitter friends who love that I comment on their blog... But they never try to visit mine. It kind of feels hurtful... I wish more people would realize that!

Stephanie said...

I love being blog friends with you. I love that we can chat and read each other's posts about our pretty different lives and still find something to connect us and make us smile. I like to spend my time and energy connecting with bloggers like you!

jackie jade said...

i do get a little discouraged when i visit and comment on the same blog multiple times and never hear a peep back. i know we're all busy and some of the bigger blogs get tons of comments, but i prefer to read those blogs where people engage back. i always try to respond to my comments and visit other blogs - makes it more fun for everyone :)
-- jackiejade.blogspot.com

Tracieg803 said...

That is great that you print out your posts and make a book of them. I do not blog but like reading your posts. I found you on Twitter since you sold Scentsy and I did until recently too. I like finding new friends on Twitter & Instagram too.

The Lymans said...

I read it!.. I've just been to distracted lately to keep up with mine. But I love following you and watching little Emily grow!

Meagan said...

Love this and you my sweet friend!

Allison said...

God post! I love blogging but t becomes time consuming when you follow so many. I enjoy your blog and am part if your Scentsy group but haven't posted in a while so following mine may be boring for now until I get back in the grove!!

Because Shanna Said So said...

I agree, but sometimes it is hard to respond to everyone. I used to, but it put too much stress on me and time away from my family. It is a give and take, but at the end of the day, you will learn who your avid readers are and see a pattern from it. Blog on sister!!! xoxo

Meg O. said...

Great post, Shelley! I feel sometimes I put a lot of effort into commenting on blogs that don't even come back and say hi to me (in fact, I was seriously just thinking that before I came to your blog). I think it's best not to stress out about commenting, but to connect with the people that you like -- even if it's on a tweet saying that you liked the post or on an instagram pic or something. But of course I am always going to comment on my blogger bff's (aka you). DUH.

Letters from a Mermaid said...

I absolutely love your blog! It is honest and thoughtful. Followed via GFC and bloglovin. I hope you follow back so we can stay in touch xoxo

I loved reading this! I too love writing. Actually about to apply for editor-in-chief of my school's magazine! EEK excited! :)

And I too tried for a while to read and comment on every blog...impossible! I now just comment each day on all of the blogs who commented on me and then pick five to comment on for the day in addition to some of my favorites! :)

Hope to get to know you!

PS two giveaways on my blog plus a coupon code for my new shop! :)

Sarah @ Scissors and a Whisk said...

I really needed to hear that. Thank you. I TRY to respond to all comments, but I don't. I read them on my phone and then don't think to respond, and I tell myself that I'll respond on the computer... but then it builds up. I try to comment on the computer so that I can visit blogs as well, but I need to just at least respond and visit blogs when I CAN.

Heather said...

I love this post!! I respond to comments, and I still read blogs (including yours!) but I'm terrible at commenting back. I am hoping that once we move it'll be a little easier. :)

Nicole said...

Great post. I feel this way, way to often! And people talk about this livejournal thing, I've always wondered what it was. It also sounds like it no longer exists?

Jessica said...

Love this!! I try to respond to my comments too. Sometimes it takes me a few day but I at least try to say thank you! I love your blog.. Blogging is an outlet for me too!

Happy Thursday

LWLH said...

My blog catch up day is usually Friday mornings or the weekend so if I don't comment for a couple days, know that I will get there :)

Cody Doll said...

I am in love with this post. It's exactly what I try to do too!

Simone @ Busy as a Honey Bee said...

I love that I read this post today! Perfect that we met and I completely agree! People should def return the favor! So glad we met up and have made friends!

-Simone

Anonymous said...

Love this. I feel the same way!

Anonymous said...

Love this. I feel the same way!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...