Don’t get me wrong—I love reading and I love blogs. But I hate spoiled potential. I hate to see the blogs that could be something, but aren’t, simply because either the bloggers don’t realize it, or they’re content with mediocre. Are you one of these bloggers?
Recently, I unsubscribed from the majority of blogs I was following. I determined they were a waste of my time, they were filling up my inbox, and I honestly didn’t care about what they said they had to offer—I just knew it certainly couldn’t be important. They all had one thing in common—they were blogs that had the potential to amaze me, but somehow, always disappointed. The only blogs remaining in my feed reader now are a couple Japanese blogs that I don’t understand, my blog (so weird, I know), and a few others, most of which are in danger of being removed as well. It’s dreadfully sad, but I’m finding that I’m reading blogs less and less. I hate reading blogs. Here’s why.
Bloggers almost never keep promises
Yes, blogger, stop lying to your readers. Stop lying to me! Time and time again, I read it—one blog after another claims to offer something superior and unconventional, but it always turns out to be the usual stuff. Try to amaze me—I’m yet to see someone who does share those “secrets” to blogging or gives revolutionary advice.
So, why do bloggers make false claims? It’s because of the growing number of competing blogs. People are now trying to sound different and look unique. The only problem with that is this: they’re not. They try to look impressive and gloat about how, if only you would subscribe to their annoying email list, you could have instant access to their pioneered blogging scheme. But sounding different is not the same as being different.
The copycats are taking over
Why be you when you can be somebody else? After all, they’ve laid the path for you, so it’s easy—you know exactly what to do. But it’s also terribly dull.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m tired of hearing the same things all the time. Most of us already know the basics of topics such as SEO and traffic generation, but they, along with too many others, have been done to death. If you can’t surprise your readers with a unique approach or idea, write about something else. Nobody will miss the boring stuff when the rest of the world has got it handled.
Why can’t anybody write?
Come on, people. Is it so hard to look in the dictionary? Is it too much effort to put commas and periods in their proper places? Honestly, I wish misspelled words and incorrect punctuation were the only problems in this world. But, oh no—there’s more. What about creativity? A string of words is only as good as you make it. Without some life, words are obviously dead and boring, rotten and putrid.
But the biggest question is this: “where is the YOU in your writing?” You hide behind your bland, stilted words and I never catch even a glimpse. Are you too afraid to voice your opinions and say who you really are?
“Blogging is my passion!”
Wow, really? Big deal. All bloggers say that. Why don’t you prove it?
If you can’t manage to give me anything more than an inbox full of nonsense in return for my dear email address—and by the way, you’re lucky my Gmail account has 7 gigabytes of space—and if you can’t give me what you promised, even after I desperately search for it on your blog, I’m skeptical.
If you’re going to say you love blogging, I hope you really do. Put your heart into blogging, say what you mean, and mean what you say.
So, go ahead—try to impress me. You probably won’t. If you want to be like everyone else, just say nice things, give common advice, and be dull. But if you want to be different, stop following the crowd and be yourself. Be honest to your readers and give them what you promise. There’s nothing new under the sun, but you can give a twist to your boring subject.
Now I want to know—is it just me, or do you hate reading blogs too?
About Sarah Payne
Twitter: kalerahul23
says:
Hey Sarah,
Great post and this will really help while posting or writing on our personal blog moving forward.
Thanks for sharing such informative information with us. i like your blog and the way you explain such nice things.
keep it and let such things come again.
Cheers to you…;-)
Twitter: nateradio
says:
Perhaps you hate reading blogs because all of the blogs within your ‘e-periphery’ are crap?
Nate recently posted..An Australian US Presidential Election?
wow. Nice post :). totally agree with you ^^
I agree that most of the sites are copycates, But still there are many blogs worth to read. :D
Bank Exams recently posted..Hello world!
ironically this is quite a stupid blog. i don’t like it.
Twitter: slu1298
says:
hey Sarah,
just read a couple of your blogs… very interesting. a little intimidated by this one. ha!! i just started myself. not “pitching” anything. just some stories and thoughts from my experiences. boring? who knows… maybe. i really like your info, your thought process, etc. will certainly be back. take care, slu
slu recently posted..Week 8… Amazing Grace
Twitter: engagedots
says:
Blogs with lengthy descriptions, when they are not up to the point. Makes us bored up.
Hmmm this perspective on blogs and blog writing was really helpful, especially since I just started this whole blogging business. My blog is a personal blog, and I wonder whether people would actually want to read my little stories or not. These days, “unique” content isn’t so unique anymore…so what lures people back to those successful “this is the story of my life” blogs?
Hey Sarah
I completely agree with you on this one.There are thousands of blog which are just running of the sake of it. Blogging is not an easy thing to do and it requires lot of patience and efforts. A reader is always looking for something fresh and unique to read. Being original just requires to write down your thoughts. That is really not a tough thing to do.
brand identity gold coast recently posted..Search Engine Optimisation – Choose your battles to win the war!
Twitter: DerekMaak
says:
Hey Sarah,
I totally agree and it’s not just happening with blogs, but with the whole internet in general. I’ve purchased a lot of different internet marketing courses and they are almost always a disappointment. They all claim to have some unique trick, new information you’ve never heard before, etc. etc. and then you get the course and it’s just like every other course out there. Unfortunately, good copyrighting sucks you in time and time again.
I’ve dumped nearly all the email lists I was on as well as blogs I subscribed too. Tired of my inbox filling up with the same ole stuff over and over and over again.
I think another reason you get the same stuff over and over is because many bloggers are blogging to make money. They aren’t really passionate about it, even if they say they are. So when all you care about is making a buck or two, it’s much easier to find a good article and basically copy it than it is to take an extra 10 minutes to come up with your own thoughts and opinions on the subject.
Derek J. Maak recently posted..Michael Fiore Text The Romance Back Text Examples
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hi Derek,
Well, said—you should have written this post for me. I’m glad to see other people agree and I’m not just crazy or extraordinarily picky, as I was beginning to think.
Happy blogging!
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..My Blogging Boredom Dilemma and Solution
I fully agree, but in the end, it comes down to over saturation. You have quality, like yourself, Sarah, that just have great readability, then you had the people that were, “OMG, people make money at this CRAP!!!! I can do that too!!!!!” Its really sad.
I started writing poetry in my youth, and was amazed at certain sites, and how there were some really good poets to be found. Now, like the rest of the internet the whole thing is just full of trolls. “Roses are red, violets are blue, some poems rhyme, this one don’t.” Yeah, quality….
But in the end, there is quality out there, you just have to wade through the mess to find it. I’m just starting a blog myself, and after reading through several, I found your stuff. And after all the crap I read, your material has made me realize there are good bloggers out there, and that maybe this will be an enjoyable experience to jump into.
–Dan
Dan Bonser recently posted..That Changed Everything….
I blog for me and only me. It’s like my journal. If someone likes it, they like it. If they don’t, oh well. I hate going back to a blog that I used to like only to find it’s full of advertisements for products. I started following because I liked the writer’s story and their style. It stinks that so many people out there are just trying to make money at it instead of blogging for the love of writing.
Sue recently posted..Getting Ready
Hi, Sarah.
Got your mail, and reading your latest post straight way.
The first BLOG CRITIC in the web. GOOD in fact very good, keep it up.
Ben Jamir recently posted..How to Label Your Blog Post The Right Way
Twitter: theopenbookblog
says:
Sarah,
I believe blogging is like a music profession. When you release a song, people either like it or hate it. The best musicians are natural, consistent and always strive to find a way of connecting with their listeners.
For the case of blogging, I believe that’s what you also brought out in your remarkable article :)
Dennis recently posted..6 Golden Ideas To Make Passive Income Using WordPress Communities
Twitter: Happyhealthyetc
says:
I agree with you that there are a lot of blogs out there, but most of them are low quality. Many bloggers just want to start a blog to get rich quick, but this does not work exactly that way. It takes a lot of time and patience and motivation to be successful in this business. Thanks for posting!
Elena recently posted..3 Incredibly Effective Ways to Get Out of Debt
Twitter: okezonne
says:
Hi Sarah
Good article , it is very hard to write a good article because now a days we find every thing is written and re written many times , but as you said if we see the successful bloggers they have their own style of writing which makes them unique , but in the beginning of the blogs we all find it hard to write as long as you keep your blog alive you will definitely find your writing skills , look at my blog the problem is a good spelling mistakes, which i am trying to improve
sivakumar recently posted..What we are doing by Commenting on the Blogs
Twitter: marthapreston4
says:
this is great I love how you did it with humor!
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Thank you, Martha! :)
Sarah Payne recently posted..Truly a Matter of Life and Death: Can Blogger Really Delete Your Blog?
Twitter: kraski
says:
I’m kind of like you. I don’t read many blogs, but I like the ones I do. Maybe because the right sentence will give me the seed thought for 800 words on my blog. My content has nothing to do with telling other people how to blog. That’s one thing I KNOW I’d better not write about. Anyway, most of what I read is in the same area of topics that I write on. And, hopefully, I learn.
Bill Kraski recently posted..Wax On, Wax Off
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hi Bill,
I think the reason I don’t like reading blogs is because, like you, most of what I read is about the same things I write about, which is blogging, and the blogging niche is so bloated with the same stuff. I hope for inspiration, but most of what I read is the same thing said differently, but that doesn’t make it different—it’s still the same thing. Oh well.
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..Truly a Matter of Life and Death: Can Blogger Really Delete Your Blog?
Twitter: techblowup
says:
Hi Sarah,
Thats a nice title for a nice blogpost, yes many blogger have the potential to grow their blog as the top bloggers are doing. But they don’t have enough patience to wait for success. They quit at that situation from where a little more effort can change their blog completely.
Prakash recently posted..4 of the Best Ecommerce WordPress Themes
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
So true, Prakash! There was a time when I considered quitting blogging myself, but I since learned that blogging isn’t all about being “at the top” ,or having a high page rank, or having X pageviews. That’s just the icing on the cake.
Sarah Payne recently posted..Truly a Matter of Life and Death: Can Blogger Really Delete Your Blog?
Twitter: richescornercom
says:
It’s a love hate relationship. I enjoy reading blogs and different perspectives, but at the same time, I dread bad writing. However, when I find a nugget of beautiful writing, such as this post, it’s like finding a crystal amongst pieces of glass.
Richard recently posted..Using the Social in Social Lending
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hello Richard—2 months later… how embarrassing.
Well, thank you for such a nice complement. :)
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I have no tolerance for bad writing. Bleh—I can’t stand it. But then again, I used to be a pretty bad writer myself. At least there’s a wonderful thing called “learning”. :)
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..Truly a Matter of Life and Death: Can Blogger Really Delete Your Blog?
Twitter: felipeveiga
says:
The irony is to be reading why you hate blogs on a blog. But I couldn’t agree more.
Copycats, translators are taking over. We can spot a blog with personal experience and a taste of personality from miles away due to the vast ammount of “rebloggers”, people who take the article, chew it up and then blog about it.
Felipe Veiga recently posted..Como verificar se seu email foi lido, verificador de leitura de e-mail
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hi Felipe,
That reminds me about an article somebody “wrote” that was a rehash of one of my recent posts. I got a kick out of it, because it amazed me how somebody could so easily ruin my lovely post. And I was a bit upset because rehashing content is plain sleazy.
At least they gave a link back to the original article, as if that made it okay to butcher my article.
Sarah Payne recently posted..Truly a Matter of Life and Death: Can Blogger Really Delete Your Blog?
Twitter: GlynisJolly1
says:
Sarah, your post is so refreshing. I’m still struggling to find my voice and be comfortable with it but I’m making an honest effort anyway. Yes, most of the time I hate reading blogs anymore. Most posts seem to be written in about 15 minutes right before the author goes to bed. And no proofreading is done the next day. Like you, I’ve had enough of SEO for a while. There are other aspects about blogging.
Glynis Jolly recently posted..This Feeling Of Being Overwhelmed Is Overwhelming Me
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hi Glynis,
Glad you found my post refreshing. I was beginning to think I might have sounded like a grump. ;)
Well, maybe I am a grump sometimes. Sometimes I really hate blogging and want to throw my blog in the trash (and not respond to your comment for 2 months, hehe). Other days I love blogging and could do it all day. I’m so inconsistent.
Blogging is a long journey, at least I think so. There’s so much to learn and right now I’m trying to learn how to enjoy blogging again, and best answer I’ve found is to do it my own way. ;)
Happy blogging!
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..Truly a Matter of Life and Death: Can Blogger Really Delete Your Blog?
Sarah, this focus on material worth reading is strange. Other than reiterating “content is king” most guidance for bloggers is about other topics. Stuff like “building a community and using social media to funnel readers to landing pages that convert.” The SEO demand for “freshness” certainly encourages churning out something, anything, on a regular basis. I wish readers would just find the old posts I worked to make interesting and funny. But if I slow down the post “assembly line,” my SE traffic drops off precipitously. So I’m convinced I need to crank out something new, just to get people to my old stuff. Sigh.
Astro Gremlin recently posted..9 Largely Ignored Superheros
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
It’s true that search engines like blogs that are updated regularly—my old content doesn’t get much attention—but this creates a struggle for me as well, because I like to do my own thing and post whenever I like. I find it difficult to conform to the “ways of the web” and when I do, I find blogging most dull. I’m torn. I want readers, but I also want to enjoy my blog.
Blogging, then, isn’t all about creating great content anymore, because yes, you can create it, but who will read it? I love writing, but trying to lure readers to my blog consumes more of my time, and while I like the interaction, I’d rather be doing something else (which explains why I’m responding to your comment almost 2 months later!).
But here’s what I say: as long as I enjoy blogging, why should I care about my traffic numbers, page rank, and SEO keywords?
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..Truly a Matter of Life and Death: Can Blogger Really Delete Your Blog?
Twitter: issuesEthical
says:
Sarah, i love this because you are telling it like it T-I—IS, honestly goes along way. It is better that people are truthful to us than telling us what we want to hear. I think you might like what say, if not tell me you do not I can handle it. I like the criticism.
Michael Belk recently posted..5 Signs you are invading my personal space.
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Michael,
I think one of the greatest fears bloggers have (especially beginners) is the fear of being criticized. A while back, I wrote an article about my opinions of the Disqus commenting system. My comment count was unusually high on the post, but boy was I scared of the criticism I got, especially when one of the Disqus developers tried to correct me on some issues. Back then I told myself I would never write such a critical article again, but I’ve since changed my mind and I often write critically. I got LOTS of great interaction on my Disqus post, and I’ve discovered that controversy attracts commenters. But you’ve got to know what you’re talking about… that’s what’s important.
I think it’s important for bloggers to express their opinions, because then the readers aren’t afraid to express theirs.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..My Blogging Boredom Dilemma and Solution
Twitter: lisapatb
says:
I agree with Jon that Panda and Penguin will put the best content blogs on the top – the rest will not be seen by the masses. People blog for many different reasons and not all bloggers can be great. It does take experience and talent to have that “extra punch” as you call it in their writing style. I do love reading various type of blogs and if I really like I will subscribe by email. I find that easier than the feeds too.
Lisa recently posted..Maintaining Your Brand Across Social Networking Platforms
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Lisa!
I often look back to when I started blogging. Wow—I had no idea what I was doing. So, I understand the struggle beginning bloggers have. It does take time. But I believe every blog can get there—wherever they’re trying to go—if they’re determined.
Thanks for your comment!
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..My Blogging Boredom Dilemma and Solution
Twitter: Zainil_Dedhia
says:
All I would say is, “Money Made Man Made”. The traditional sense of blogging meant to share the experience, but now blogging is been taken as a profession. Thus all the unethical stuffs are been added over in it…!! :-(
Zainil recently posted..Benefits of Having A Blogging Partner
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Zainil,
You’re so right. Blogging started as a way to share your experience and opinions, and to connect with others. Now many bloggers see it as a way to make money. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that—plenty of bloggers are successful. But now the blogosphere is flooded by people who think blogging is a way to make their fortune. Unfortunately, the majority of them realize how unrealistic that idea is and give up some time later.
As a result of this, I’ve often felt out of place in the blogosphere, especially since my blog is about blogging, and most people in my niche blog for the pay check. I, however, don’t. I blog simply because I enjoy it.
Happy blogging!
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..Blogging is too hard. I give up.
I had the same dilemma before. It is really hard to get good blogs especially million people turned to be bloggers. Almost the same thing and information that keep on showering our inbox. But I overcame this by following only what really interest me.
Marie Chan recently posted..Easy and Delicious Almond Flour Pancakes
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hi Marie,
I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in my suffering. ;)
You’re right. I’ve begun being very specific about which blogs I follow. It’s been a much better experience—better than being bombarded by the same old thing.
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..Introducing Atlas: A Free Blogger Template
Hello Sarah!
I agree with you! I’m sick of all the ”brilliant” SEO articles, and all the ”unique” tips about traffic. They are just everywhere. I’m starting to believe that even I could write about these topics, and believe me I am not an expert at all :) I think that writing something different from all these ”hot topics” is better than one more boring article, as you said! Fortunately there are still a few blogs with very inspiring articles and unique content.
Thank you for you revolutionary article ;)
Sara recently posted..My Drugstore.com Review and Coupon Codes
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Sara,
Glad you agree with me. If it wasn’t for those SEO articles seen just about everywhere, I might have given SEO a second thought. I know, you’d think it would be the opposite. But I heard about it so much, and I saw articles spoiled by “keyword stuffing”, that I snored at the thought of it. Fortunately, I’ve come a long way in my opinion of SEO. I just wish bloggers would stop sharing the same techniques we already know about.
We Blog Better is one of the few blogs I love keeping up with, because the bloggers here usually have something useful to say, and I feel like I can fill my brain with something more than fluff. There are some excellent articles on SEO that have managed to interest me! :)
Happy blogging!
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..My Blogging Boredom Dilemma and Solution
Twitter: adapples
says:
Sarah, I don’t know what you re reading, but maybe you just need to step outside that zone a little. Blogs about blogging are especially hard to pull off (and easy to do poorly).
Who says (as per your complaint) “Blogging is my passion?” instead of (say) “my passion is vintage sports cars / artisanal cheeses / surfing.”
Do you know any writers who say “Microsoft Word is my passion”? Please.
Sure, I’ve got a blog about blogging too, but it’s not my main number. My real blog is about apples. Sometimes I nail it with my writing there and sometimes not.
I do agree with you about one thing: If there were even one blog about writing for every hundred about blogging, the world would be a better place.
Adam recently posted..Blogger’s White Screen of Death
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Adam,
I’m not just talking about blogs about blogging, but all blogs of all topics. When I look at the blogosphere, I see many bloggers trying very, very hard but completely missing the target. I’ve seen it to be most common among beginning bloggers, but not entirely limited to them. Believe me—I’ve been there, and I think it’s tragic. These bloggers are left to wonder why people aren’t noticing their blog.
My point is that many people forget that blogging is about expressing yourself in your writing and sharing your thoughts with the world. There are, of course, exceptions to this, such as when you’re blogging for your business. But even so, there needs to be a humanoid “voice” in your writing to keep things interesting.
All of this is just my opinion. Agree or disagree—I’m interested in hearing what other people have to say about the matter.
Happy blogging!
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..3 Simple Ways to Transform Your Boring Blogger Blog Design into a Stunner
Twitter: Elena__Anne
says:
It is important as a blogger to read more than you write. The more your read creative blog, books, and articles, the more equipped you will become to create your own. It is good to learn from others who are doing what you hope to accomplish a few years from now. If we read from others who blog brilliantly, we will hopefully be inspired to reach that brilliance as well.
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Well said, Elena. Can I print out your comment and tape it to my computer screen? ;)
I often—or more like always—forget the importance of reading. I think it’s because I’m so tired of reading boring things. Every time I read, I find something to criticize. I can’t help it. I get so annoyed.
But there are so many talented writers out there—both online and off. And those are the ones I admire for writing in a way that’s compelling and distinctive. I don’t believe some people have an inborn writing super power. Yes, some people find writing easier than others, but I believe we all can learn.
Happy blogging!
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..So, You Want to Guest Post on My Blog? Forget It!
Twitter: antonrsa
says:
Hi Sarah,
I do agree – But with the World Wide Web being so big and so many people wanting to lift their opinions (Personal and professional) finding good blogs to read and follow has become a bit of an issue – depending on the types of blogs you normally read.
Generally when using Social Connections I find relevant content and people with high respect in their fields of work and that actually are true, sincere and honest people wanting to do Business. It takes time building authoritative connections – But once you’ve achieved those authoritative connections it grows more easily with the number of potential engagements.
Anton Koekemoer recently posted..Organize your social media marketing strategy
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Anton,
Of course there’s going to be similar blogs, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Consider, for example, the number of blogs about blogging, which probably outnumber any other topic. But I think, hidden inside each and every one of us, is a blogger many of us haven’t discovered. There’s a lot more potential than we often see. We see other bloggers with thousands of subsribers and we try to follow their footsteps, when sometimes we could be more successful by doing it our own way.
No, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with “similar” blogs. But with some effort, I think you can put your own spin on a topic.
Happy blogging!
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..My Blogging Boredom Dilemma and Solution
Twitter: rancorinfotech
says:
Hey Sarah,
You’re quite correct, It’s really tough to share brilliant and mind blowing stuff all the time. Generally you see same information is flowing every where. Sometimes it’s really frustrating but if you explain the same stuff with your own views and suggestions…. it becomes nice and readers love it.
Aasma recently posted..SEO & Internet Marketing Training in Delhi | Rancor Infotech
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Aasma,
It’s so difficult to be original. I know I struggled when I started blogging. But it’s worth the effort!
I think a lot of bloggers haven’t discovered their writing style yet. They may not even know they have one, but I know it’s in there.
Happy blogging!
Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..3 Simple Ways to Transform Your Boring Blogger Blog Design into a Stunner
Twitter: WVeasley
says:
Sarah: I like this, “I think a lot of bloggers haven’t discovered their writing style yet. They may not even know they have one, but I know it’s in there.”
I too struggled when I started blogging. I wanted to do what someone else did because they made it look and sound so easy, but in reality I sucked and did not know what I was talking about. Plus, without passion my writing was always “half ass”.
It really is best to be original because that is the only way to last online.
Wish I had of known this from the start, but we live and learn.
Was it hard to build an audience when you starting truely being yourself?
Best wishes,
William Veasley
William Veasley recently posted..The Pursuit of Happiness
blogs about blogging – yes, all blur together, and echo. I prefer to keep my Google Reader gently turning over. The ones that have gone dormant, or mark as read – get weeded out. I constantly add new blogs, read them for a while, then sort into the right folder, or weed out. I go for diversity. My only blogs about blogging are the ones from the blogging tools I use, StatCounter …
Diana of Elephant’s Eye recently posted..How I blog
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Diana,
I think one of the problems with blogs about blogging is there are only several that are good (such as this one!), and those are the ones everyone reads, and of course, copies. They read about some idea or technique another blogger writes about and then they write about it themselves. The result is a bunch of bloggers that say basically the same things.
I often hear people say the solution to this problem is to not start a blog about blogging—choose a different topic. I completely disagree. If you can be unique, you’re going to stand out. It’s really not all about creating never-seen-before content. It’s about expressing who YOU are, no matter what your topic is, because you’re you, and nobody else can be you. Done right, people will love you and love your blog.
But that’s just my two cents.
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..My Blogging Boredom Dilemma and Solution
So, why are you subscribing to them in your inbox instead of using google reader or wlm? I still unsubscribe to blogs that underwhelm me after a while, but it doesn’t clog up my gmail space.
Nice blog by the way.
Stephen M Young II recently posted..Our Ten Year Anniversary
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for checking out my blog!
I actually do both—email and RSS. But I’m lazy and never check my feeds. So I often subscribe via email so new posts can’t get away from me. It gives me a good reason to read them.
I do prefer RSS, though. It’s a convenient way to sort through the posts I do and don’t want to read. I should get over my laziness and make better use of Google reader. ;)
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..So, You Want to Guest Post on My Blog? Forget It!
Twitter: KamilleElahi
says:
I love reading blogs but it usually depends on what they’re blogging about. If I get bombarded with pictures of flowers and cupcakes, I’m running for the hills. But if the blogger is funny, laid back or has a different voice from other blogs, I’ll come along for the ride.
But I think I’m going to stop taking blogging advice as I have done so for the following:
-losing weight
-writing novels
-getting into Law school
-and other subjects on which people like to give advice.
While I do occasionally come across some good advice, most of it is all the same as if they googled that advice, changed the words and put it up on their blogs.
Plus, I’ve stopped caring about my blog. I still update but I update with what I want. I think there was a time, up until quite recently, when I was trying to be very careful about what I say. I didn’t want to upset anyone.
I don’t stop following blogs though unless the writer updates with a three sentence post every day though. I was once subscribed to a blog where the writer would update with one or two sentences at least twice a day. It got a bit too much for me at one point.
Kamille Elahi recently posted..Twilight Rewritten – Chapter 1
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hello Kamille!
I follow a lot of blogs about blogging (or at least I used to), and yes, it is as if they googled their topic to see what the top bloggers are saying, and then they say the same thing. What happened to originality?
I used to be careful about what I said on my blog too. But then it occurred to me that blogging is about expressing yourself, even if that means the entire world won’t agree with you. But if we never come out of our hiding places and say what we think, who’s going to notice?
Sarah Payne recently posted..3 Simple Ways to Transform Your Boring Blogger Blog Design into a Stunner
Twitter: KamilleElahi
says:
I still sometimes feel like I can’t express myself. I guess old habits die hard!
Kamille Elahi recently posted..Twilight Rewritten – Chapter 1
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Seriously? I’ve read a couple of your posts and to me, it doesn’t seem like you have difficulty expressing yourself. Your writing oozes with personality. That’s a good thing. Keep it up. ;)
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..My Blogging Boredom Dilemma and Solution
Twitter: heliosmm
says:
Sarah,
Dang! Woooosah! I loved the passion in your voice but I encourage you to give these bloggers a break! As I have begun to read more and more blogs I have run into this same problem, which is aggravating, BUT how many people do you think are out there that really are capable of providing “revolutionary” advice? This is very hard to accomplish. Blogging is basically a ton of people giving “best practices” for marketing, living life, and so on, not necessarily providing profound knowledge. With the number of blogs out there that talk about the same topics, I don’t think that its possible. What I have started to do, is read more “influential” blogs or ones that have a really high Alexa score. If a lot of people are there, it must be for a reason, right? I mean I agree with your statements, but I do feel for some of the bloggers that are out there trying to put forth credible, relevant, and NEW information. I’m sure you can attest to this struggle yourself, right?
Tyler @ Helios Media Marketing
Tyler Price recently posted..What is video marketing?
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Tyler,
Yes, I think most bloggers try very hard. But I think there’s a lot of potential they don’t realize.
I don’t think most people can provide revolutionary advice, but there’s plenty that CLAIM they can. Maybe they don’t use the word “revolutionary”, but they often claim to be amazing while I’m snoring. Who knows? Maybe I’m one odd human being with a short attention span.
I wish that instead of claiming to be the “best” at what they do, they would just be themselves. I think they would have a lot more success that way.
When I started blogging, I admit it—I had a boring blog. It wasn’t until I began expressing myself as a real person that I began being noticed. But believe me—I’m just getting started. I still consider myself a newbie..
I hate reading blogs because I hate spoiled potential. I feel sorry for the bloggers that try so hard to be somebody else.
Does that make sense?
Sarah Payne recently posted..Why I Hate Reading Blogs [We Blog Better]
Twitter: howtospecialist
says:
You are perfectly right when saying that everybody likes to read unique articles and not the same content over and over again. Therefore, even though it seems impossible, the most successful bloggers are those that share their own way of thinking and come up with creative content.
Jack Sander recently posted..Wooden Gazebo Plans
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
You’re so right, Jack! Now if only I would have known that when I started blogging. Boy, that would have saved me a lot of pain and frustration.
Sarah Payne recently posted..How NOT to Design a Blog
Twitter: tylergherman
says:
I more or less unsubscribe from most blogs after a 4-6 months. Usually because I’ve learned enough about the topic the author has nothing new to offer me. I don’t subscribe via email cause I hate the clutter but use their RSS feeds so it is a lot more manageable, having folders of similar themed stuff.
Lots of people do like to copy the experts but they don’t realize that their techniques and methods are old and tired. They have the following and live off that but aren’t really doing anything no or exciting any more.
I keep reading blogs by keep moving on. Find more topics I’m not an expert in. Been getting into advanced SEO bluehat stuff and media buys currently.
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hi Tyler! Thanks for your comment.
I’ve done that before—I’ve copied the experts. It does—not—work. I can’t believe how much time I wasting wondering why nobody was noticing me. Other bloggers told me I was in the wrong niche and I should blog about something else. Humph! But I had my heart set on making my blog successful, and I’m so glad I didn’t follow their advice.
I’ve discovered that it’s not about WHAT you blog about. It’s HOW you blog that makes the difference.
-Sarah
Sarah Payne recently posted..3 Simple Ways to Transform Your Boring Blogger Blog Design into a Stunner
Hi Sarah, agree with you. I subscribe a lot from famous blogger site. Sometimes the published same articles. But since then too many spams arrived to my inbox. I have no idea about that. Most of them never wrote fresh posting, same theme blog. Nice post Sarah!
Dube Line recently posted..Membuat Company Profile Di Internet Wajib Untuk Promosi
Twitter: JonStoneWrites
says:
With the ease of entry that blogging offers on both a hobby and business level, it tends to fill up with lackluster content pretty quickly. However, in most cases, it seems that the good stuff eventually floats to the top of the pool.
Maybe Panda and Penguin will help with this a bit. I try to give my posts some time to sit and go back to them before I post them for the very reasons you mentioned above. I spend most of my day reading or writing. These things naturally worm their way into my posts without me realizing it many times. By giving it some time to rest, I find I can extract unique angles or find a unique nugget to slip in there much easier.
While I suppose there is the fact that only so much unique content can be created before we’ve just exhausted the pool of ideas, putting a fresh spin on an old idea or providing insight into traditional topics can still provide benefit. Sadly, many people just cut, spin and paste and then wonder why they have no following…
Jon Stone recently posted..Time Saving Tuesdays #5 – There is No Super Mom
Twitter: TemplateFaerie
says:
Hey Jon,
I think any article on any topic can be a good one. Part of making it good is writing about something worth reading. The other part is writing style—the ability to write something that’s compelling to readers. Plenty of bloggers have great ideas and unique perspectives, but many times, they fail to add the extra punch with a captivating writing style. And I really don’t believe you need to be a master writer to be able to produce a great read. You just need to find your style and writing becomes much easier—at least it did for me.
Sarah Payne recently posted..3 Simple Ways to Transform Your Boring Blogger Blog Design into a Stunner