That is the question, do you know the answer?
I have read various blogs for a very long time, but it is only in the past month that I decided to dip my own toe in to the water and lay myself out there for all to see. I'm still not quite sure why I've done it. I am a shy and very private person by nature. So to put myself OUT THERE in such a public manner is quite alien to me. Maybe it's because I saw some beautiful blogs which inspired me and I hoped I could in turn inspire others. I don't know.
I, like many of you, have my favourite blogs and each one I generally follow for a different reason. Sometimes it's the photography which draws me, sometimes it's the content and the way it's worded, other times it's because I follow that blogger on youtube, but one thing I do know is I LOVE IT whenever bloglovin' lets me know one of my favourites has written a new post.
But why do some blogs appear to get such huge followings? I'm not naming any names but you see some and the layout of their blog isn't the best, the grammer and content leaves a lot to be desired and they are just a bit eurgh, but still they appear to have some kind of cult following. Is anyone with me on this one? Likewise I see many blogs out there which have been going for a while and they really should have more followers because they are just fab.
Don't get me wrong I am in no way jealous of the big blogs, I am way too long in the tooth for that and I don't think I would feel comfortable with thousands of followers. I am happy that anyone is interested in and is following my blog at all. I'm not even sure where this blog will go, it's still in its infancy.
So really the answer to the question that I am looking for is, what makes you follow certain blogs? Is it because the blogger is a similar age to you? Is it because they appear to have a similar lifestyle and interests to you? Is it because they are big in the blogger/youtube world? or that blogger is someone you aspire to emulate?
I would love to know your thoughts.
I follow all sorts of people for all sorts of reasons. The main ones are that I like their writing and/or photography, and they've got something that I could learn from- be it about makeup products/techniques etc, style inspiration, some sort of philosophy about life, or fun things to make and do (though that's not a completely exhaustive list). Not emulating them per se, more like... taking it as a starting point for improving something about myself/my life. If that makes sense?
ReplyDeleteHi Charlotte, thanks for the reply. You appear to be quite similar to me in what you are saying. I guess I am just interested in the psychology of it all and that's why I put it out there.
DeleteI have so many blogs on my reading list and I adore every single one for a completely different reason. I tend to be quite picky when it comes to clicking that join button, but if the photographs are pretty or I really feel some sort of connection to the writer or the content is relateable I'm pretty sure to join! I guess that's the main thing for me, I have to be able to relate to someone on some level. That's not to say they have to think the same as I do or have the same style, I'm a huge lover of variety and the celebration of differences!
ReplyDeleteGreat post lovely!
Jennie xo | sailorjennie.com
Thanks Jennie. I completely understand where you are coming from. Your blog is one of my absolute favourites. I think it just has absolutely everything a fantastic blog should have. The layout is gorgeous, your pics are top-notch and you can tell you really put your heart and soul into what you blog about (unlike some of the other bigger blogs out there). When I started following blogs (way before I joined up to GFC etc) I followed your blog, I always knew I would have a great read if I saw you had put up another post. I'd grab myself a cuppa (still do!) and would snug down for some great reading :) This is what I love about the blogs I follow :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding me to your blog reads, I feel honoured! x
Great thought provoking post! I follow lots of blogs - beauty, lifestyle, food, gardening. I'm made some great online friends too! Really enjoying reading your blog x
ReplyDeleteThanks for your lovely comment! I found you through Claire at Another New Day, have enjoyed reading your blog too :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a very interesting point you put out there and I'm very much like you in that I have to find some common ground in the blogs that I follow generally. My main interest is fashion - I approach it from the point that I like fashion though I don't know a lot. I'm not overly concerned about high fashion - I like a style that I can emulate and sometimes, something I can aspire to. I like blogs which advise me on how to "pare down" my lifestyle though I never follow the advice but I find them compelling and aspirational. I like beautiful blogs for their imagery but I like them even more if they have a nice piece of writing to compliment and explain the images. Some I like purely for the writing rather than the imagery and some, I like the interraction between the blogger and the reader. I like a lot of different things and so it's a good thing why there are so many blogs out there to please us all. Variety is the spice of life they say. And why are some blogs so popular? I ask that question myself because sometimes I find a blog and I think you have 2000 followers and 3 comments - what do your readers know about you and like you for? Sorry, I have wittered on so much in my first comment to you but thank you for putting the comment out there - it's a subject that is dear to my heart .
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, thanks for your reply. It's great to get other peoples points of view. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWow I love this post. If I could best describe my blogging intentions and views, then here it is! I'm shy and reserved by nature and still surprised I have taken the blogging plunges, but as you say it's my favorite bloggers that have inspired me. I'm a rubbish writer but I do like to share with like-minded people my tastes and preferences of things.
ReplyDeleteHi :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad someone has written about this, there are SO MANY blogs I dip in and out of that have a huge following that seems to double each month, yet they can't structure a sentence properly and don't seem to be doing anything different to others out there that have a much smaller following. I don't get it - though obviously I'd never name names or tell anyone I don't understand their following (some people get nasty on big blogs and I just don't see the need)
I just really hope no-one clicks onto my blog and thinks 'why does anyone read this??' haha (though I'm sure people do)
What I look for is a bit of a mix, there are blogs I follow purely because i like their photography style, and there are blogs I follow for the writing. A good writing style is important to me so that's usually what I stick around for. I love lifestyle blogs because they give me a chance to be a bit nosey, and funny blogs because I like to laugh xx
I think we read blogs in the same vein Charlotte. I started out with beauty because I started following a lot of make up tutorials on youtube, wanting to shake up my make up routine a bit and then I thought I want to know more about the people who write these blogs and diversified into lifestyle. I follow one blog where the lady in question has a very (and I mean very) small amount of followers and I just think she deserves so many more readers as her posts are exquisitely worded and I think it's a shame that there are others out there who aren't reading this lady's beautiful words.
DeleteWho is it? I'd love to check it out! You can send it to me in an e-mail if you don't want to embarrass anyone charlottesweb(dot)blog(at)gmail.com
Deletexxx