Why bother writing when no one is reading blogs?
That is what I’m wondering.
What is the point if everyone is just glued to their Instagram quickly liking everything they see and scrolling through three hundred people in ten seconds?
I get it.
It’s easy.
An Instagram relationship is like making out with someone you met in a dark bar when you’ve already drunk half of a bottle of wine.
You don’t really care who they are, you may not even find them that attractive but they are adequate for a brief moment of instant gratification.
A blog relationship by comparison means you know something about that person.
You have be wined, dined and stayed up most of the night talking to each other. You are wearing a promise ring and there is talk of a future together.
Sure, maybe in the end it won’t work out and you’ll go your separate ways but you’ve connected with each other on some level.
It meant something.
Or at least that’s what I like to think.
Why I Love To Hate Social Media
I have a bit of a love hate relationship with social media.
I love to hate it.
Oh yeah, I’m on Facebook (Twice, Ugh! One is a personal account the other is a fan page), Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and for a brief second Snapchat.
I haven’t been able to remember my login to LinkedIn for years and I don’t care. If you have “connected” with me there it ain’t happenin’.
Whoops.
I don’t visit my Facebook page or Twitter often.
It looks like I do because when I post on my blog or list a new product in my Etsy store it automatically posts to my other social media accounts. If you are trying to get in contact with me by sending messages via Facebook or Twitter it could take a month before I see the message. I finally had to tell one friend to simply stop contacting me there. I never saw their messages and when I did weeks had passed by.
I figure if someone has my email they would automatically use that to contact me but lots of people prefer Facebook or Twitter. I’m not sure why.
Out of all social media Twitter is my least favourite. I just don’t “get it”.
And beyond that I don’t really want to. After what I’d read earlier this year about Twitter’s time having passed I’m surprised it is still around.
I’ve lost interest in Facebook.
I still like the funny videos, photos of pugs and adorable baby animals but I don’t care one bit for the creepy dudes harassing me. Aren’t there enough dating apps out there for the creeps?
Too many people sign up for my personal Facebook page and don’t go to my fan page. Ideally I’d just have one Facebook page but a personal page is a prerequisite to a fan page. Why make it so cumbersome Mark Zuckerberg?
Facebook has become too laden with ads, unhappy people, inspirational quotes and freaky memes.
I frequented Facebook more often until I was forced onto Instagram.
That’s right forced. If you’re not on Instagram you don’t exist. I’d better not tell my parents.
Now Instagram is my social media of choice.
I guess I’m addicted to meeting people in dark bars. That is where I met my husband some 27 years ago after all!
If you’re looking for me on social media that is where you are most likely to find me.
Why?
Instagram is a great platform for marketing Vintage By Suzanne my Etsy store and sharing photos quickly without having to worry about creating any written content.
It’s the lazy blogger’s choice.
Pinterest is a whole other ball game.
I find it useful. I keep a collection of recipes I want to try, DIY craft ideas, places I want to travel, blogging tips, fashion pieces I’m drooling over or fashion bloggers that inspire me.
I know I’m not using Pinterest correctly as a blogger and small business owner.
Like most things in life my Pinterest boards are all about me.
I still read blogs.
That is where I spend most of my time online.
I know…I’m so old fashioned!
I will comment on a blog when I have something to add to the conversation or show support for the writer. Most people aren’t getting paid a dime for writing their blogs so commenting is my way of showing appreciation for their efforts.
Blogs still require more time and effort, both to read and create.
I’m at a saturation point right now with my reading list for bloggers which means if I add anyone new someone else must go. I can no longer spend three hours a day reading and commenting on blogs.
I continue to blog and read blogs because I have many bloggy friends and worry that I would lose my connection with them should I leave blogging behind.
What is your favourite and least favourite social media platform?
And why?
Do you still read blogs?
Ha ha! That is dumb. If you didn’t you wouldn’t be here. {eye roll}
Okay I’ll rephrase…do you still enjoy reading blogs or do you also believe the predictions that they are disappearing?
Loads of previous bloggers have packed it all up and headed to easy peezy Instagram-land.
I had this blog draft partially written for 18 months then Samantha recently shared her distaste for social media so I decided to publish my post knowing I’m not alone, a dusty old relic of a time past.
Linking up with the wonderful Patti over at Visible Monday.
I couldn’t get the IG thing until I found myself waiting in line, and found it was fun to scroll through instead of people watching (although it is a form of people watching, right?)
Now my husband says he’s going to take away my phone—I’m acting too much like a millennial!! Ha ha!
But I don’t have a true favorite right now. It changes with the season…kinda like my wardrobe! Maybe I just like variety??
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Ha ha! Your husband has you pegged.
I agree…it is totally like people watching.
I totally still do… It is more rich and complex and I like the writing aspect. I write it out whether someone is reading or not. Same on Twitter—auto posts. Love IG, but it’s more like magazine level flip-thru 😀
Having only started blogging just over a year ago, I am still very much into blogging, and I don’t see this changing any time soon. OK, it takes time and dedication, but it is just so much more personal. I’ve been debating whether to go on Instagram or not, and I’m sure I’ll succumb to it eventually. It really is a pity that so many bloggers have disappeared to Instagram-land! I am on Facebook but don’t have much time for it. Like you, I have two accounts, the obligatory personal one, and my “fan page”, which I mostly use to “promote” my blog to my non-blogging friends, so that they know when I’ve posted something. I use Pinterest on and off, but not blog-related, just as a personal pin board. xxx
I had no idea you’d only started blogging a year ago Ann. Your blog is so professional!
Why ask why? As that infamous commercial goes. Who cares what everybody else is doing? I do it cuz I like it, or don’t because I don’t. I happen to like blogging with pictures. I like pinterest for inspiration in what I’m doing and to note what I’ve done. I don’t care for duplicating media so I don’t bother with any of the other types, whatever they may be. Either doing them, or looking at them. Simple.
I guess if you’re trying to have a business/ make money, then that’s a whole other ball of wax.
I had to look up the commercial you were referring to online. I liked it : )
I don’t think it is so much what everyone else is doing as it is that I want to stay in touch with my readers and promote my Etsy store that has been open for over a year.
If blogging was simply a hobby I wouldn’t be concerned about it.
I don’t like to say this often but I’ve been blogging for over 11 years now. I’m an utter failure for someone that has been doing it that long. I feel I have an obligation both to the readers I’ve gathered over that time and to myself to make an effort.
I still read blogs every day but I have to admit my own number of posts has gone down recently. I will post to Instagram but only a few times a week. Not 5 times a day like some people manage! I’ve never had a Facebook or Twitter account. And I use Pinterest like an idea/inspiration collector – an electronic mood board. I agree with pao that if you’re in business your motivation will be different.
Now if this actually posts I’ll be amazed! I’ve always had trouble commenting on your blog for some reason.
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had issues commenting here Louisa. I’m happy this time it seemed to work. Please let me know again in the future if you have the same issues.
Agree with everything here 100% I have to admit I am lazy now – or maybe more stingy with my time. Instagram is the quick way to see what everyone is doing. I still read blogs every day even though I can’t get motivated again to write my own! Sadly, not many blogs are still word worthy – they’re mostly expanded Instagram posts really. Facebook is too miserable – cryptic messages about why everyone is unhappy – although I do love cake decorating and nail painting demos on there. And twitter is just a way to vicariously see what the greatest Twit of all is up to by reaction rather than following him direct. I can’t believe so much has changed in this world of social platforms from the day I decided to enter its clutches. But I will always love reading your blogs so please keep writing – even if it’s mainly for the few of us who appreciate it no end, even if we don’t always make time to tell you. Xx
So good to “hear” from you Charlie! I’ve missed you.
I hope you will still have the desire to post some photos of your annual vacation trips on your blog. I loved reading about your adventures, seeing your travel photos and the vintage pieces you’d find.
Love, love, love to read blogs – so much more personal and entertaining. Instagram is perfect for those “times in line” and I so enjoy participating in and looking at other’s entries in photo challenges.
Twitter I too just don’t get. If there is a hook to it, I must have some kind of superpower to resist.
Pinterest is for me, me, me. I rarely follow anyone and pin merrily away. People seem to like my “Color, Two Snaps Up” board because it is colorful fashion images and it makes me smile.
I dumped LinkedIn awhile ago since I am no longer in private sector employment where LinkedIn would be relevant.
I have a personal Facebook page and another page where I have to push posts from my blog http://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com. I like all of the funny memes and I keep up with close friends and family. It would have to be my fav – I tried to dump it also but I felt disconnected so it stays.
I’ve followed your fun colourful Pinterest board Tami.
I still don’t do facebook – don’t need the drama that some people insist on creating. I like instagram and twitter, but lately many tweets have been hateful and political and stress me out. Sometimes I browse pinterest, but it has so many ads lately that it isn’t as much fun – and I don’t need a million project ideas on top of what I already have. The main social site for me is ravelry, which is for knitters and other yarn crafters.
I love reading blogs. I just don’t always comment.
That is one of the brilliant things about the internet, the opportunity to find a very specific social site for yarn crafters or knitters.
It is fascinating to read how and why people choose certain social media.
Great post. I still read blogs, but many fewer than a year ago. Facebook brings me the most “business” so I’ll be there for a while – but the negative comments start to wear me down at times. I do like IG, and check in on my favorites – like you – most every day. Like Pao said – choose the ones you enjoy and leave the rest. Life’s too short to worry about being the Social Media champions. (keep posting your stuff for sale – it’s so good!!) xox
I’ve gotten rather lazy of late with the hubby being home to keep up on IG or anything else other than my blog right now but I hope to be back at it in a few weeks.
I’m always surprised by the number of mean remarks on FB. Lots of anger there.
I wondered how many bloggers that still write blogs still read them. The larger your following the more difficult it becomes. (not that I have that problem! ha!)
I rotate around with social media. They all seem to be good at something different.
I have fb for connecting with friends in real life, I have just started back on ig to promote my photos and poems, ( I like that you can quickly build an audience), and I have Pinterest for myself and magazine flipping. Also I follow Youtubers who bring some joy into my life.
I left both fb and ig for a time, but have returned to try again. I have never bothered with twitting or any others.
My blog is great for longer writing, and having a place to store all my work.
I don’t have the following you do, but I have a loyal few…thanks Suzanne!
Being at home a lot with my kids, I feel the internet has been a lifeline for me, but sometimes I waste time and regret it.
I am getting better at ignoring certain posts if I’m not interested, and limiting reading on the endlessly scrolling home pages so I’m not so overwhelmed.
I think it is what we make it.
Long answer because this too has been an issue for me.
xo Jazzy Jack
I agree with Jaq. Different media are useful for different purposes. Plus you can tailor them to your particular wishes. For example, I’ve learned how to make Twitter work for me after being confused about it for a while. I’m unable to access Instagram w/o a smartphone so that’s kept me off it. Finally, I love blogs for their individuality and longer length. Reading yours is like settling down with a good magazine.
I think we are all striving to find the right balance for ourselves on social media while staying connected with people we value.
I love to read blogs! But I usually do that on my iPhone, which makes commenting really difficult (the amount of time/ the number of typos it takes to write this…).
But I also love Instagram. I love posting all sorts of random stuff (I use it as a visual diary of sorts, and post whatever I find Interesting). I don’t really ‘follow’ bloggers on Instagram (that’s what blogs are for); instead I find interesting pictures and great photographers/ artists. And kitten videos. I follow quite a few kittens…
BTW, do other bloggers get weird direct messages on Instagram from old men?!?
As for twitter, it’s full of crazy people. And Facebook, my aunts, uncles and colleagues are there…
Ha ha! We all have our weaknesses and I love all things pug.
Seems like IG or FB are places for old men to creep on women. I don’t know why.
Blogging all the way for me. I like a proper relationship, with a two way conversation.
I rarely post anything but blog updates and details of where I’m trading on Facebook. I’m amazed how many people I meet in real life are nice but once they befriend me on Facebook become out and out loons. Just ‘cos we had a laugh at a vintage fair once doesn’t mean I need to know how many hours sleep they got or what a bitch their boss is.
I don’t get Twitter at all and find Instagram bland and pointless.
I always assume those strange requests from men on Facebook are fake accounts and just delete and block them. xxx
Yes, I still read blogs. 😉 But I don’t have very much anymore to read and comment. I sometimes read blogs on my phone and commenting from the phone can be beyond frustrating, so I have pretty much given up on that…
In terms of social media, my favorite is definitely IG, but it’s also frustrating for so many reasons…. I totally have a love hate relationship with it…
I’m very interested to learn why you find IG frustrating Andrea.
Have you ever tried using the voice command on your phone to comment? Or is that just too many spelling mistakes to correct afterwards?
I think social media and blogs complement each other. I like to go depth for some projects, and just show a snapshot of others. I also think you can build up a story line in social media and finish it up on the blog. I still read your blog religiously, even tho I don’t have time to comment any more!
Nice to “see” you Kate! I also still see your blog when you post. There was an amazing graphic tee that someone did not too long ago that I loved. Most of the time though it is all simply beyond my comprehension. I’m just delighted that people are still interested in learning how to sew for themselves.
I still enjoy blogging and reading other blogs but must admit to not commenting as much as I once did.I can see why some have embraced IG and stopped blogging , it is certainly takes far less time to post and their is a sense of community among like minded souls except for the annoying men as Tiina mentioned.I quite enjoy IG and have a Facebook page that I never post on and rarely read.An interesting post and I do enjoy seeing your items in Instagram , pity Australia is so far from you.
It is interesting to know that people do like it when I post my items for sale on IG. Often times I don’t know if it is a good idea since they get the least amount of likes.
If I were able to travel with my husband I’d be in Australia once a month. It is much easier though when you live in Hong Kong rather than Canada.
I read your blog because you are a gifted writer, with great style, and you make me laugh. You are one of my medicines. I appreciate that you are in the often , otherwise dull trending cybersphere. I don’t like social media, as a rule, but imstagram is compelling is an odd way,
Love your look today,great red shoes, and cool glasses. Love the beret. You look at ease and very pretty.
Happy- gulp, where the bleep did summer go- august !
Xx,Elle
http://www.theellediaries.com/
I know. One more blink and summer will be gone : (
If I can make anyone laugh I’m happy.
That I can’t even spell instagram is telling . Gheesh.
One day, I will actually wear my reading glasses..,.
😮🙃😊💋
Elle
http://www.theellediaries.com/
Same views as you! Fed up with 2 FB accounts and the idiotic way their Pages Mgr App merges FB and Insta. I like reading blogs but it’s a big time investment and a little sad when some bloggers never return the favour. When I first looked at Insta a few years ago I thought it was just pics of avocados. Now I like it and wish I’d grown a following a long time ago. Twitter has bern ruined by over commercialisation and trolls. Hope Insta doesn’t go the same way.
Ha! Pics of avocados : P
I’m finding more and more advertising now in my IG feed too. Facebook is inundated with them it seems.
well, I couldn’t get that twitter thing either, I didn’t even tried it too hard. And Facebook looks a little bit dated nowadays, but I keep on using it, even if it was never my cup of tea.
I think that I prefer blogs because people take some time to write them, and I take some time to read them too, there’s some thinking, editing and creating work. Probably I’m old fashioned!.
besos
It’s funny how so many of us don’t “get” Twitter. I’m shocked it still manages to hang in there.
I follow a handful of blogs… including yours. I use theoldreader.com (my replacement for Google Reader after it shut down). For the very special few, I actually sign up for their emails, so that I don’t miss anything.
I hate social media. I don’t have a smartphone, so I don’t use IG. I deleted all of my other social media except for Facebook. I actually do talk with friends there, but I do take FB breaks, where I’ll disable FB and only use FB Messenger to keep in contact with a few select friends.
That is amazing you don’t own a smart phone. I held out until about three years ago. I have friend who also don’t own a mobile phone at all. I think it has to be a bit liberating knowing that people can’t reach you.
I am totally agreeing with you. Same here. And I am gradually throwing “friends” whom I don’t know from my personal Facebook account. I want it to be MINE again. Nothing social about that, but it keeps the freaks out too. (I had one who messaged me and said he was actually a boy -with photo- and could he marry me. Who does he think he is fooling? DELETE). I do it nicely. I warn the accepted “friend” saying why I am going to unfriend them and if they still like me, they can follow my No Fear of Fashion Facebook account. A lot of work as I have accepted a lot of people who (I thought) were a friend of a friend. Not good enough.
And anybody new asking to be my Facebook friend gets the same explanation up front.
Twitter… yes.. hmm I suppose useful when something spectacular is happening?
Pinterest? I am just posting my outfits there.
Instagram… quite like it, but it is what you say. Quick fix and I don’t have that much time. NO TIME.
Anyway, I am just as old fashioned and I will keep blogging.
Greetje
I received the funniest email about some guy wanting to have “relationship”. I need to write a post about it because I had the best response. Of course I didn’t sent it though. I think that might have encouraged him. Also it was probably a spambot because I got the exact same email about a week later.
I still love blogs! Blogs are what inspired me to start my own, and while it might take a while for me to get through my blog reader sometimes (I always seem to have 20+ posts waiting for me at any moment) I do still enjoy reading through them all. It does take time, but I enjoy them. I might not comment on your blog each post, but I do read them all!
I’m also really hesitant to start on most social media. I am on Instagram (for just over 1 year), as I like the picture format. But I am not at all tempted by Facebook (never have been since it first came out like 10 years ago) and even though I know that channels like Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest could help me to build my blog readership I just can’t seem to find the time or the desire to do them. Oh well! 🙂
Oh Suzanne, I so agree with everything you say. I have now got the hang of Instagram but I still return to my favourite blogs to find out more about that dress, that hat, that photo shoot from Instagram… and I like to see those photos on THE BIG SCREEN! There are Instagrammers I’ve “met” who I’d love to know more about (they should start a blog) but I do understand why they don’t. Creating a blog post takes a lot of motivation, time and effort. I accept, after 16 months negotiating my way through the labyrinth of websites and posts in the blogging world, that it’s okay not to read posts that don’t interest me and it’s okay to narrow my list down to the bloggers I would really love to meet in person. It’s also okay to enjoy creating my blog posts and if more time elapses between the last post and the next one it’s maybe because I’m in the middle of researching for my new novel, writing, family commitments, my house or the garden (all part of my fabulous ageing)…and during those weeks, like you, I can easily drop into a darkened bar… xx
Yes, I still read blogs, although the number that I read regularly has dwindled. I can’t even post to my own blog regularly, and in fact my next post was going to be about just that. I’ve never seen the appeal of Twitter but I have been sucked into the vortex of Instagram, and that seems to be my social media of choice right now. I have a FB page for my blog, but I barely get any traffic and out of 600 or so followers, I get barely any comments and if I’m lucky, 10- 20 likes on each post, so what is the point, I ask myself.
You are correct that I feel like I have a genuine relationship with those women whose blogs I have followed for a while, but that is also because I have spent time with most of them in “real life”. I’ve been blogging for 8 years, and i don’t know if it’s worth continuing or not.
I blogged quite a bit in the feminist blogosphere in the early 2000s, and extensively after the murder of my best friend and her daughter in 2007. I shut that blog down when some creep actually figured out my phone number and called me to see if I could help him rent the house they died in. Things had, as they say, gone too far.
I still read blogs, and I still keep one, and it’s only there that I write actual essay-style posts–something I found tremendously liberating when the blogging trend happened; I could talk about my life and people would respond. It was like having a pen-pal for one’s diary.
I spend entirely too much time on Facebook, I have twitter which I read but don’t tweet, I have Tumblr and Instagram. Instagram is just that–instant gratification. It lacks story, however, and that is what I like about blogging. My studio assistant told me that historians are wild about blogging; for the first time in history we have proof of what everyday people’s lives are like instead of just the rich/powerful folks. So I’m happy to be doing my own neurotic little part. Finally, having a rare genetic condition, it has allowed me to connect with others who also have it and understand what it’s like to live with that mess, which can be helpful in small doses (the internetz do tend to also provide enough space to drown in the misery, which makes it all a balancing act).
For now, I’ll continue to blog, and I hope you do, too.
I blogged quite a bit in the feminist blogosphere in the early 2000s, and extensively at my old blog, The Well Dressed Recluse, after the murder of my best friend and her daughter in 2007. I shut that blog down when some creep actually figured out my phone number and called me to see if I could help him rent the house they died in. Things had, as they say, gone too far.
I still read blogs, and I still keep one, and it’s only there that I write actual essay-style posts–something I found tremendously liberating when the blogging trend happened; I could talk about my life and people would respond. It was like having a pen-pal for one’s diary.
I spend entirely too much time on Facebook, I have twitter which I read but don’t tweet, I have Tumblr and Instagram. Instagram is just that–instant gratification. It lacks story, however, and that is what I like about blogging. My studio assistant told me that historians are wild about blogging; for the first time in history we have proof of what everyday people’s lives are like instead of just the rich/powerful folks. So I’m happy to be doing my own neurotic little part. Finally, having a rare genetic condition, it has allowed me to connect with others who also have it and understand what it’s like to live with that mess, which can be helpful in small doses (the internetz do tend to also provide enough space to drown in the misery, which makes it all a balancing act).
For now, I’ll continue to blog, and I hope you do, too.
All these years blogging, and I still read ’em and have no plans to stop my own. I don’t do any social media aside from my blog. Again, no plans to, but life has a way of changing. Hang in there, Suzanne!
First off, what’s up with all these creepy men hitting on all you ladies through social media? This has never happened to me. I’ve been posting on various social media accounts for years and I don’t have even one of my own creepy guys. I’m getting a complex!
But in all seriousness, I’ve been in business online for 15 years, have been blogging for probably close to that. In the beginning I had a typepad blog and used to get many hits and comments. Then I switched to my own hosted wordpress blog some years later. Blogging was getting really big at that time and I noticed hits and comments became less and less. I guess, Just like any other kind of platform online, the more competition the harder to attract and keep an audience. Plus, like some others have said, they read blogs from their phones and it is too difficult to comment. Maybe that’s partly why I don’t see lots of comments, though my stats show decent amounts of visits.
And, in my case, running an ecommerce site has always kept me too busy to blog daily like the pros do. Plus I don’t feel I’ve got the talent to be an engaging writer like you. I marvel at how bloggers like you, and others I follow, can produce such entertaining content, when I struggle for hours/sometimes days to compose a post.Though I do like to keep at it for connecting with other others who share my love of fashion and to make the search engines happy, since content is king, as they say!
Now for my social media rant-
I’m totally disillusioned with FB. Too much negativity, conspiracy theories, and general weirdness showing up in my personal feed. And as far as my business page, I’ve gained 64k followers, but of course, not even 1% of them see my posts anymore. I had to pay to find and get those followers, now I have to pay to get my followers to see what I post. Such a deal!
But that’s how all social media platforms are set up. Same thing happened with Pinterest, where I used to love to pin to my boards. But now hardly anyone see the stuff, because Pinterest will not show your followers your posts unless you pay.
Then there’s Polyvore, which I love because I enjoy creating sets with items I’ve clipped and sharing to different groups I’ve joined. It has also brought me conversions. So it is fun for me and still helps my business a bit.
So basically you jump on the newest thing, work your butt off to get followers, then they change the rules so you have to start paying up the wahzoo to get exposure. They’ve all gone that way and I get it, as it’s not in their interest to let me promote my business for free on their platform. But it would be nice if they made it a little easier and more budget friendly for the small business person. Social media as far as promotion has become a big company’s game. Oh, and now that FB owns Instagram, the same is starting to happen. It’s going to end up being pay for play just like all the rest, which means the users will be inundated with ads.
The only reason I post on Twitter or Google Plus(what the heck is that about?) is because I use Hootsuite that allows me to post to several platforms at once. Otherwise I would not be utilizing them at all if I had to make any more effort. I mean unless you’ve got a whole social media marketing team at your disposal, you have have to concentrate your effort where it’s worth your time.
Theresa
Instagram is definitely where it’s at! I enjoy that platform the most. I totally agree with you about Twitter and I find myself unfollowing people all the time on FB because what they post is not interesting to me anymore. Snapchat…that’s definitely for the millennial and younger crowd. It’s way too confusing!
Wouldn’t that be funny if this is your post that goes absolutely viral?! Hahaha.
Well, you’ve said it all. I like writing and taking pictures so the show-and-tell aspect of blogging still appeals from the creator side, but I feel terrible that I don’t keep up with other blogs, especially since I started on IG. I am overwhelmed. I don’t know how other people do it. In fact, I get preemptively overwhelmed and end up doing nothing.
And who knows better than anyone about my relationship with cell phones than you, now that I’m using your old one without a phone plan so I can post to IG?
I have met some incredible people through blogging and IG and that has been the best thing!! Plus, I have had other real-life social/career opportunities happen through social media which also keeps me going. I’m glad you’re blogging, I LOVE your writing, style, and photos. Those laughs and smiles in this one are awesome! Hahaha.
Clearly this is a topic on everyone’s mind these days. I went to see Samantha’s post too.
Wow!!!! After reading everyones thoughts I feel like the happy Methuselah of a new group I’m founding right now. It’s called “BMI/FOB” BLISSFULLY MEDIA IGNORANT/ FRIENDS OF BLOGGERS.
Pinterest brought me one follower who repinned all of my fashion board. An email to her eventually led me to discovering a blogger. When I realized that this darling, colorful, charming woman that was showing me her outfits and telling about her life was from Scotland I was completely smitten! Commenting and chatting with this gracious woman inspired me to find more amazing women/bloggers.
I follow about 12 to 15 bloggers faithfully. I LOVE 94% and always comment. 6% I read only. The first blogger I followed was Samantha(Fake Fabulous) then came Anna (Island Style) then YOU Suzanne!, followed by Melanie (Bag & Beret) then Jodie (Touch of Style) and Ann ( Kremb de la K).
I read their new and old posts. I laughed my ass off, I was horrified by experiences they described; delighted by their view of the world and their wisdom, humor, courage STYLE and tenacity. I WANTED TO HAVE COFFEE AND MEET THEM!! I COULDN’T BELIEVE I PROBABLY NEVER WOULD!!!! That was really sad to me.
Then (OMG! ) an opportunity came along. One of my favorites along with other bloggers were meeting up!!!! Somehow I found out!!! I’M NOT A BLOGGER!!! I was assured I could participate by the sweetest blogger that I immediately began following, Sherry (Petite over 40). I WAS GOING TO MEET SUZANNE CARILLO!!!!
In conclusion; Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat… I don’t know them and don’t care. I’m not judging and I get how easily “hooked” we can become by ways to CONNECT on a level we find comfortable and that satisfies our curiosity anou being human. For me…I’m finding some dear, quirky, funny, wise, brilliant, brave, and yes, “fashionable” women across the whole damn planet to be FRIENDS with!!! WOW!!WOW WOW!!
Reading blogs is my favorite – I started blogging because I love to write. I’m completely baffled by all the social media and I have no idea how to keep up. I do enjoy IG because of all the pretty pictures!
I kind of have a love-hate relationship with it too! I love instagram and I think blogging is my second favorite. I still read SO many blogs, because I like to learn about the stories and the person behind the small photo squares on instagram!
Wow…so much to say that I don’t know where to start. First off, I do still love reading blogs. I find that the blogs I frequent have the most have some “meat” to the posts to go along with the fashion…you, Sheela Writes and Shelbee On The Edge are a few of my favorites; if the post just talks clothes I’m not usually interested. Like a lot of others have said, I often read from my phone and it’s such a pain in the ass to comment from there that I typically don’t even try. Sometimes I’ll make sure to visit via my computer if there is something I’m dying to comment about.
Twitter is stupid. I’ve never been interested and 9 times out of 10, like you, my tweets are auto posts from my other social media. Although, since that national embarrassment we call a president was elected I did start a separate personal Twitter account strictly for politics…no I do not follow him, but I have found it’s the best way to stay up to date on the nefarious activities that he and his minions are up to. My son and I often DM each other via Twitter to share things that we’ve found of importance.
Facebook…home to all whiny, angry and dissatisfied individuals. I don’t post often to my personal account, but when I do it’s the random family or fur baby snap or more often I’m getting up on my soapbox in regard to some gay rights/human rights issue that has me irritated. My blog FB page though, I do keep up with. I have found that I get a lot of interaction with readers there interestingly enough.
Instagram is definitely my most loved and most hated of all social media. I have a short attention span so I do enjoy the quick scrolling aspect, but I also always read the captions because I’m interested in what people have to say. I hate the games that are played on Instagram, both by the users and by the Instagram gods. The algorithm is absurd and I despise people who follow just to get a follow back. It’s like high school where the kids who think they are cool ask you to sit with them at lunch only to abuse you. In regard to the creepy men others have mentioned, there has been a recent uptick in that area because the majority of the accounts aren’t real. Remember the scammers on FB posing typically as military men who would scam unsuspecting women for money? They are still there, but now they have moved to IG posing often as single dads, doctors and members of the military. I immediately block them when they pop up and lately it’s been often.
Okay…this has been wordy, so I’ll stop now. 🙂 Just know that I do read your blog and love you for your witty brain (and fabulous hair). If I don’t comment it’s because I’m on my phone, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy everything that you write. xo
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
PS…Even though FB is not your thang, I just shared this on my blog FB page because it’s such a fabulous post. 🙂
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
Here I am, late to the party, as usual, and not had a chance to plough my way through all of your responses, but hey it’s good to have this aired. (I’ll have to get across to read Sam’s feature next.) At the end of the day, I think you know why you bother writing – it’s for the same reason that I do – cos we like to ramble on/share our thoughts and yes, hopefully make a connection/friendship or two along the way. You’ve clearly had a great response here and that’s because we do read your blog, we do care what and when you write and we do want to keep you feeling encouraged enough to continue.
My absence from all of the blogs I follow is the simple lack of time in my life throughout the summer. I wish there were more hours in the day, but as it is I’m up at five, in the sea at seven and at work just before nine, where I stay for up to 11 hours a day. Thereafter I hobble home, eat and try to find something of worth to write about to accompany the photos of the day. I do miss my blogging friends at this time of year and that’s where Instagram keeps me in the loop. Facebook is what I use to alert my followers to the latest post, but apart from that I really don’t use it.
Blogging is an important part of my life, but like many important things it has to take a back seat to real life from time to time. I think that’s probably the same for many bloggers who are holding down a full time job as well as the commitments of family and home.
Your blog is one of my anchor blogs along with about six or so others. Just because I don’t manage to visit doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I’m here today because I’ve had the day off work and really wanted to touch base with you and here was the perfect chance to chat about this very subject.
Keep blogging, forget the crazy social media trends, keep popping up on instagram too as sometimes that’s all I/we can manage.
Love ya!
Anna x
A really interesting post. Yep facebook is full of the competitively depressed it seems (99 out 100 wont share this but… erm oh no I wont), and Twitter – dont even get me started. We are meant to use Twitter at work to promote some of the organisations work – nope just not happening. I guess I like a well reasoned and considered blog post best, so what if no one ever replies – that isnt the thing that necessarily drives bloggers, I dont mind sharing with like minded souls if they happen past, but the need to share everything with everyone – nah, not interested.
Oh my gosh, your analogy of IG being like making out in a dark bar when you’re half drunk is spot on! Who knew I liked that so much? Ha ha ha!
I’m still learning how to balance the whole social media/blog reading thing for the exact reasons you mentioned. IG takes a few minutes but it’s not very substantive. Reading a blog takes more time and effort but it develops a relationship with someone I care about. Sometimes I have the mental space to plop down next to you on that fabulous couch, virtually speaking, and catch up, but a lot of times I’m just racing with my tongue all lolled out to maintain any level of connection because it takes so much effort just to get my own crap together. And yet racing around to catch up goes against every reason I’m blogging in the first place.
This whole idea that we’re “supposed” to do this or that to build our business is one I am rethinking lately. For me it’s a creative expression that allows me to connect with interested and interesting others. I love the idea of celebrating my own expression of life through fashion and hanging out with other people who either appreciate what I do or who are artists themselves. In addition, I love supporting local businesses, sustainable designers, other bloggers, artists, and writers. They are all putting themselves out there in such vulnerable but fabulous ways. Getting to support them through my writing is what lights my soul on fire.
Will it ever make me a millionaire? Probably not but if I can hold onto why I do this the anxiety and stress of social media and keeping up with it all fades a little and I can just enjoy the ride. It gets me back to visiting your blog and those others I wish to support. I need to remember this every single day.
Love this conversation you started….
Hugs,
Sherry