When bloggers stop talking do you stop listening?
I’m fundamentally opposed to writing frequent blog posts about blogging. They’re mighty popular, I’ll admit, and sometimes the topic at hand forces me to chime in.
Welcome to one of those times.
Lately there’s a lot of scuttlebutt in the blogosphere about promotion and PR, blogging with integrity and what I like to call blogging without benefits. I can attest to the fact that many bloggers prefer to pass off pitches as blog posts — which is different from sites and blogs dedicated to reviews. I have never sought an opinion on anything other than a book from a blog — but that’s just me. Many bloggers love love love review sites and don’t care that the blogger writing the reviews has probably gotten goodies for free. (I have reviewed books here and twice I’ve received books for free). I have a few coupons sitting next to me on my desk, waiting for me to try a food product and then give away coupons. And I’ll do that eventually — clearly stating that my post is a review. No smoke and mirrors. Straight-up simple blogging.
For the most part I blog because I like to write and tell stories. I also like connecting with other bloggers — I’ve met a great many of you – sometimes blogging just seems like a great way to keep in touch. I also blog because I am a writer with stories and essays in newspapers and magazines — and writers want to be read. I like having readers, figuring out what appeals to the masses and what doesn’t. That being said, back in the day, I tried writing only what readers wanted. I don’t have to tell you that didn’t work out well for me, do I? I have to write my own stories in a way that appeals to me. If you like it too, we all win.
I also have to read what appeals to me. And while that varies on a daily basis, the thread throughout the blogs I read — be they mom blogs, single mom blogs, writing blogs, publishing blogs or my elusive category of “regular” blogs — is that they don’t seem to have an ulterior motive. They mostly tell stories and make me laugh or think. There’s no hidden agenda in telling a story of any kind — if all you want to do is inform and entertain — and if in the long (or short) term that gets you a big readership - or a book deal - or a movie deal - or free stuff — I say Good For You.
But…so many times recently I’ve gone to a blog and even without any peddling of goods on an internet soapbox, the blog has become vapid. I jostle the laptop hoping words with meaning will drift down from top of the monitor and intersperse themselves with what’s in front of me. I think all I’ve gotten from that action is a sticky space bar and the occasionally errant “e”.
I just want a story. Short, preferably (I have a 17 year old vying for the laptop) - yet the topic can be complex. Or…pictures of your kids in goofy boots, even. That’s a story. The mess with your ex. That’s a story. The whole oh-my-god-what-shoes-am-I-going-to-wear-to-BlogHer. In July, in the blogosphere, that’s a story. After a few tries on many of these blogs where I see little effort in what in on the menu, I stop visiting for a while, just the way you’d stop going back to a restaurant that once served thick, juicy prime beef hamburgers and then offered you a thin patty on a defrosted bun.
When I think a blogger has nothing to say, I stop listening. I’m not always ready to go back even if I see new posts are ripe and ready for picking. The trust is gone. I gave my time, my comments and most likely, a modicum of affection. The blogger has done the old bait-and-switch — luring me in with lovely stories or funny lines — and then twirling around and offering a grocery list or a daily diary or a come-buy-this-or-shop-here.
Of course there are times when even good, healthy blogs die — and that accounts for some of the thinner posts and the change in mood. But the gung-ho bloggers who worked so hard to get and keep our attention — well, some of them I fear, are taking their readers for granted, assuming traffic will remain as if it’s rush hour on the Dan Ryan (for my fellow Chicagoans).
So sometimes I start searching for a new blog or head back to old favorites that never let me down. (I can say old favorite because I have been blogging since BF, BT and even BB — that’s — Before Facebook, Before Twitter and Before BlogHer).
The one thing these blogs have in common (and I heart many blogs) is that they are consistent. They are consistent in voice and in quality of content — even if the blog is not always consistent in subject matter or point of view. Even if the blogger veers off to one side or another, I’m confident that he or she will find their way back, bring it all together, or if not, that the story is good enough to warrant the diversion.
In a online world where technology allows us to send messages about anything to anyone anywhere — consistency and reliability should be a mainstay. It doesn’t mean don’t Twitter. It doesn’t mean leave your iPhone at home during BlogHer (and no, I won’t be there, but it’s a theme nonetheless) it just means if you have something good going on your blog — give your readers some credit — and don’t screw it up.
By MindyMom on Jul 17, 2009
Amen to that Sista!
I completely agree. I much prefer the genuine stories and the unique voices to someone selling/promoting something (other than a book/their book).
I have seen some blogs change to that since I’ve been blogging and although I don’t enjoy reading as much I have stayed a loyal reader - thinking it’s a sign of the times and if we can make a buck or two (especially single moms) here in the blogosphere; great. I just wish people would realize they can do that AND stay genuine. At least I think they can but what do I know? I don’t make/sell/promote anything…
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 17th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
@MindyMom, I think you’re right…if bloggers found a way to do both (and i’m sure some do) then it wouldn’t be so drastically different in the blogosphere! I also think it’s good to be conscious of all this — and not lose sight of why we are blogging.
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By C on Jul 18, 2009
I have recently started getting my first offers to review products or sponsor giveaways on my blog. I have refused every offer, and I plan to continue. Not even so much because I disagree with it (I’m not bothered by ads on a blog, although I wouldn’t do that, either)… but because it bores me. When I see a blog reviewing something, or doing a giveaway, I read something else. It’s just not interesting to me. And when I see a blog start doing that a LOT, I cancel my Google Reader subscription. It’s always a bummer when the person you enjoyed reading about starts to sound like TV, with “commercial breaks” and “sponsors.”
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 18th, 2009 at 5:56 am
@C,
You said it perfectly. I like to give bloggers a chance to redeem themselves — none of us are flawless of course — but for the most part I do steer clear.
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By Melanie on Jul 18, 2009
Amy, you said this so well. I hate reading blogs that are all promotion. There’s one I used to read (and now only occasionally skim) because she makes no bones about the fact that she only comments on the blogs of people who comment on hers. What the hell is that? It’s like a fricking sorority — if I didn’t have time for that BS in college I sure as hell don’t have time for that now.
I’ve told you before, I worry that my quality drags some days (like today, for instance) and I’ve thought about reducing how many days I post, but I haven’t made the decision yet. I know if we ever get to move I’ll have to change things up, mostly because the premise will be gone!
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 18th, 2009 at 8:57 am
@Melanie,
I try to blog when I have something to say - when I set a schedule I undoubtedly screw it up! But I do like to post often on both blogs, so sometimes all it takes is realizing there IS something to write about. I try not to get caught up in doing something so that I can blog about it — when I was a scrapbooker (years ago) I fell into that trap and would do things so that I could put them in an album. Convoluted at best — crazy at worst!!!
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Melanie replied:
July 18th, 2009 at 9:05 am
@SuburbanKvetch, ha, that’s funny. I do find myself scrounging to come up with ideas, but I don’t actually DO things so I’ll have something to write about. Quite often I’ll be going about my day and realize I’ve stumbled upon a good topic.
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By Melissa on Jul 18, 2009
I would have to agree. There is one blog I used to follow because the author would post some pretty cool pictures. Now, all she is doing is giveaways. I am not sure that is the proper audience and traffic she would want to her blog…because she’ll run out of giveaways some day and all she’ll have left is her content.
I too struggle with what to blog … but I’ve never had any more intention for my blog than to be basically a journal of my life. If its interesting, exciting, etc., to the readers, great. If not, I am not worried, because I’ll have documented my life on something that I’ll be able to use to look back on someday.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 19th, 2009 at 10:13 am
@Melissa,
Great attitude.
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By Betty and Boo's Mommy on Jul 18, 2009
Absolutely agree with this post! Compared to some, I’m a fairly new blogger (my 1 year anniversary is in a couple weeks) and like many of those who commented previously, it is somewhat of a let-down to start to see so many giveaways and product reviews on a blog that was once attractive for the content. I worry sometimes that I’m doing too many book reviews, for example, but I always come back to the fact that I enjoy writing book reviews.
As others said above, it is the content that drives the traffic to the blog … and will keep them there if it continues to be consistent and true.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 18th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
@Betty and Boo’s Mommy,
I think book reviews are great - but I’m sure there are readers who don’t like them. I think it’s a matter of not only what you’re reviewing but how you’re writing.
For me, most of the time I don’t really review books, I recommend books I’ve read and liked - like I said - I have only ever gotten two books for free for the purpose of review. I have a third I won in a contest, but it has nothing to do with reviewing it.
Nowadays, like you, when I find a blog with good content, I’m thrilled!!
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By Myrna on Jul 18, 2009
True enough. It really is a simple formula, it’s just hard to do. That’s why few people succeed for a long time. I’m a fairly newcomer so I can say that. Like most things, it’s the hard work and integrity that last. At least, I hope because that’s my goal. Talk to me in five years…
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 19th, 2009 at 10:12 am
@Myrna,
I think there is a lot of pressure on newer bloggers! I didn’t give any of this thought when I started in early 2006. If I got one comment I was over the moon. Frankly, I still sometimes get one comment and I’m still over the moon. I love the idea that someone took the time to add to my world a bit. The fact that I have a consistent, albeit small, readership still thrills me.
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By JavaMom on Jul 18, 2009
For those who came in AF, AT, AB (After Facebook, After Twitter, and After Blogher), we may be making some mistakes with our newer blogs — trying to figure things out based on what we see going on around us. My own public blog is less than a year old (private family blog is older) and I’m still finetuning my focus and voice in it. I’ve done a review — although it was for a product/service I genuinely wanted to look into (film/video transfer) and several friends on my Facebook page were very interested in the review when I posted it there. The giveaways were an experiment for me in audience building, because I started my blog not just to write but to see if I could create something from nothing and grow it.
I can understand the frustration of watching an established site going from content-rich to vapid - I’ve seen that happen. But I would also caution against dismissing any site that runs reviews or giveaways as being unworthy of reading — it may be that a fledgling site is merely finding its wings and trying out different models to find the right means of success. Sometimes it takes as much guts to try things and fail publicly as it does to not go with a trend. But screwing up isn’t so bad, as long as one is willing to admit the screw-up and try again.
I agree with you that great story-telling, consistency, and transparency when there is some sort of a relationship with a third party are keys to a great blog.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 19th, 2009 at 10:11 am
@JavaMom,
I never thought of it that way, and you’re right, things change so quickly in the blogosphere that if one format isn’t working a blogger might switch it up. The problem for me is that there is so much to try out there - if I don’t see something I like I’m unlikely to go back where there is tried-and-true and the untouched. If I see a glimmer of something I like in a blog, I always bookmark it and go back, but like with hairdressers, if one screws up there’s another around the corner.
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By angie on Jul 19, 2009
Good post, ASN. I hope I’m keeping up with my blog, but it is hard some days.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
@angie, You have a unique and eclectic blog — you are very,very far from being a cyber-sellout.
((HUGS))
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By Blog Antagonist on Jul 19, 2009
Hey. You tawkina me?
Sigh. I just don’t know what to do. I have steadfastly stood by a few blogging principals (make it about the writing, no promotions, no ads, no kissing ass by commenting on blogs I don’t like just to get comments in return) and my numbers seem to be continually dropping. So, that’s obviously working well.
I’m really wondering if the blogging heyday has just come and gone. Twitter, Facebook, other social networking platforms…they are the face of digital networking today.
Or maybe *my* heyday has just come and gone. A has been who never was…ah, the irony.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
@Blog Antagonist,
You, m’dear are the “perfect” blogger imo. But if you just want to write so I can read it, I’m good with that too.
I get tempted to go after numbers, I do. But I can’t focus on that. I have to focus on story-telling or it ends up meaning nothing to me.
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By Mom101 on Jul 19, 2009
Great great great post, and I’m beyond honored to have been mentioned here. One thing that’s always in the back of my head as I hit publish is, if I were to print my entire blog and bind it tomorrow, would I like it? Maybe not every single post, but as a whole? Would it reflect me? Could I be proud of it? Because it’s got my name on it and it’s going to be cached and google-able forever.
I wonder what blogs would be like if everyone sort of had this in mind - that blogging isn’t just a ticket to some free stuff, but something inextricably linked to your name forever.
God, I sound heavy. I swear I’m not stoned.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
@Mom101, Just think of the intense comment you could have left if you WERE.
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By Janna Qualman on Jul 20, 2009
Amy, I really like this post. I think as bloggers (and more importantly, writers) we have to be conscious of our presentation. Sometimes the random, willy-nilly blogs have high numbers of readers (or claimed “followers” at the very least, whether they show up everyday or not), but there seems to be no rooted significance. That significance is something we owe our readers.
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SuburbanKvetch replied:
July 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
@Janna Qualman, I feel a sense of obligation to myself and my readers to write well most of the time - even if I’m “just blogging.”
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By J on Jul 29, 2009
Thanks for the link.
I sometimes feel like I’m losing my way, like I’ve already said everything that I need to say, like my daughter has grown to an age where writing about her is a violation of privacy, all of that. So I understand how people veer off of the path.
I keep reading about review bloggers, and yet, I’ve never been to one, don’t really even know what they might look like. I’m sure I’ll see one someday. If it’s a blog I used to like, it will suck.
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