I've been blogging for more than six years. I've seen other blogs start, take off and completely surpass thousands upon thousands of followers within no time at all. Sometimes it doesn't seem fair, sometimes I wonder what I'm doing wrong. Are my pictures not good enough? Is my layout not professional enough or is my writing style not quite right?
In the midsts of a Sunday afternoon when I've taken hundreds of product photos and not one looks right and while I'm packing up the camera in a strop I wonder why I do it. If I think too much about it I wonder what the point in blogging is - it's a lot of 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine' when it comes to brands/PRs and once a post has published and gained a few comments it just goes into the archive, rarely to be looked at again.
Sometimes the bad days outweigh the good ones and sometimes the good ones outweigh the bad ones. People who say it's not about followers or comments are lying. It's ALL about interaction. I don't want my posts to lay unread. I want to hear people's thoughts and opinions, I want to generate conversation and I want to build relationships with brands and PRs.
There are bad days when it comes to blogging. Times when I don't want to give up my weekend and evenings to write and take photos. Sometimes I want to give it up completely but then I spot a comment on an Instagram pic, a Facebook post, a blog comment or a tweet that's super lovely and it makes it all worth it. When a fellow blogger compliments a photo or leaves a comment that actually shows they've paid attention to what I've said and have something interesting to say in return. When I receive a lovely email from a PR or brand and when they're genuinely thankful for the work I've put in posting about their product. A simple re-tweet from a brand. Whatever interaction it is, that's what makes it all worth it. That's what makes me want to carry on in a world drowning in blogs.
I'm not quite sure what has lead to me writing this post. I think I'm stuck in a bit of a blogging rut and wanted to give myself a bit of a kick up the bum. There are people out there that notice little old me and my little place on the internet and most importantly, at the end of the day, I do enjoy blogging more than anything.
Next time you're impressed with a post or a pic, leave a comment or a like as you never know, you could be making it all worth it for another blogger!
Definitely feeling the same. I just posted on my blog about why I have taken some time off and I totally don't feel guilty about it. Everyone gets stuck every so often and it is absolutely fine :)
ReplyDeletewww.clashingtime.co.uk <3
Will head over and read your post! It's good to hear I'm not the only one.
DeleteI 100% agree. I had a bit of a blogging break due to a shitty few months, but its so hard to get back into it atm and getting my blog out there! I totally agree with the comment part, just knowing people are reading what you've written changes a lot. But head up babes, it'll get better :) xxx
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lauraannwilliams.blogspot.co.uk
I know how you feel. I think consistency is the key, loving what you do and like you say, not giving up. I really love your blog xxxx
ReplyDeleteAw thank you!
DeleteI really relate to this post, especially with the new wave of bloggers who seem to "make it" instantly!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!
DeleteI agree, interaction makes it all worth it. Whether it be from a brand or reader. It can be very discouraging to feel like no one is reading what you're putting out there. Blogging can make one feel vulnerable and exposed x
ReplyDeleteTHIS. I can definitely relate. It's so hard to stay motivated, but I admire your determination. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteTHIS. SO MUCH THIS. I felt this way this time last year (well, i always feel this way, but even more so around Oct last year). I rarely get the same number of comments or BL likes as people with 2000 followers less than me. I find it's the back scratching thing with bloggers too, generally they will only comment on your blog when you have commented on theirs & so on.
ReplyDeleteLast year when feeling like this I took a bit of a break and it made all the difference. I came back with a sense of, well you never know what those bloggers might envy aboout your blog/twitter/insta :) Chin up lovely.
Hayley @ Tea Party Beauty
Thank you lovely.
DeleteI took a massive break because sometimes life just gets more important, this is so well said and definitely necessary! :) x
ReplyDeletewww.thebeautymist.co.uk
Definitely, life is much more important and we need to remember it a bit more often!
DeleteI understand exactly how you feel. I've been going for nearly three years so far and am just approaching 600 followers, but I'm aware of at least one other blogger who started about the same time as me and has taken off to over 10,000 followers. Sometimes when I've lost another two Bloglovin followers, or another 5 Instagram followers because I haven't posted for a few days I do think what is the point, but then I remember how much I enjoy blogging and at the moment time wise I'm not sure what I'd fill up my time with without it x
ReplyDeleteBecky @ The Little Blog of Beauty
I've just found your blog and wanted to tell you how fantastic I think it is. I love reading blogs and subscribe to lots of them but there aren't actually too many where I stop to read the posts rather than scanning over them or just completely passing them by. Yours is different because it is exactly what I am interested in - budget beauty. So many blogs, even some that claim to be all about budget beauty, cover mostly high end products and as lovely as it is finding out about them I'm sure I'm not the only one who would never be able to afford most of the products. Your posts are well written, informative and the photographs are great too. I'm already subscribed.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.