Followers - The numbers game
I usually don't post on Tuesdays because its our family day but I had some time this evening and had something hit my heart that I wanted to share :)
I was laying in bed browsing twitter and came across a conversation about followers and people requesting you follow them etc. As I read the comments I have to admit I felt a little convicted. I don't think that I have ever gone and posted hey come follow me but its easy to fall into the follow me and I will follow you fad.
Lately I have been consumed with the numbers. Less than 3 weeks ago I had less than 100 followers and I have been so excited to see that number rise each day. And I will always be excited about seeing that number rise! But not just because the number is bigger but because I am making that many more connections!
I have been working hard for my followers, entering hops, finding new blogs to read, making new connections and new friends. And I have truly been working on making my blog something that others will want to read and finding other blogs that I want to read as well.
A few days ago I changed my little comment saying to 'follow me and ill follow you'
I have been totally guilty of skimming through blogs and thinking I like this and half reading their post before making a comment, basically trying to get a follow back with out saying it flat out. Needless to say I am changing that now because at the end of the day thats not what its about. If you leave me a comment or follow me I will always do my best to make it over to your blog and hopefully follow you to but I am not going to feel guilty about not following someone expecially if their blog has nothing to do with anything that relates to me, ya know?
So from now on I am going to stop fishing for followers so to say. When I follow a blog its going to be because I really enjoy the content and the blogger and not just simply because want a follow back. Do I want a ton of followers, of course I do! Do I want you to have a ton of followers, Heck yes!
But I want readers and actual followers etc not just a bunch of people who clicked follow to get a follow and never read a word I wrote.
At the end of the day I hope that I am writing relevant things. I hope that I am making meaningful relationships and connections. I hope that you follow me because you like what I have to say and I hope to continue to make some new special friends and great connections.
Happy Tuesday Loves! Hope to see you tomorrow!
Tomorrow I plan to share about our trip the Tiger Safari and still have to tell you the deets about the peanut butter playdough!
I love this and it is so true! I've been having a hard time with this too lately. I want followers but to follow every single person back is very time consuming, and not worth it if I don't even have time to read any of them. And I don't want to follow a blog that is completely different than what I want to read.
ReplyDeleteI've been guilty of this for some of the blogs I've followed... but there are ones that I genuinely stop and read! And I need to start doing that more often. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to hear about the pb playdough!!
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, It's really hard to not get caught up in the numbers game. I am so a victim. But for some people it's worth the time and others, such as myself have decided that, I just don't have the time to commit to it. I am actually changing my layout next month so I can focus on content and not worry so much about the numbers. But I will totally always be looking at them! That's what we blog for! To get readership!! And that's what you want...readers. =))
Very true (In the interest of full disclosure: I'm not a follower of yours but saw the title of this post on FB and came to check you out.)
ReplyDeleteI think the key is having people who WANT to be at your blog. You pour your heart and soul into what you do, and you want them to actually CARE about what you write. The only way to get those followers is to focus on your content, and to be you.
I also disagree with the practice of requiring people to "follow me and my 15 co-hosts" when they do giveaways or blog hops or whatever. Since those people aren't really your readers.. they are just people who are required to follow you.
I agree with you.. it is a nice ego boost to see your numbers rise, but it isn't worth selling out to get it. Be you.. and they will come!
Great post! I'll definitely be sharing it!
Guilty...I always skip through to my faves I have found a few that I like too but I am guilty of following just for the blog hops. I have seen that they go to the first one and comment... I give it 5 posts if I can't like you in 5 we're through
ReplyDeletei always feel really awkward when people ask me to follow them back. i feel obligated to make some comment on their blog which usually doesn't stray far from 'i'm following you back' which sounds totally lame.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! I've been thinking about this for a while but you expressed it so well! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI've decided that I'll follow people on Twitter easy peasy. we all tweet links to our blogs and then I try to skim through them that way. If I have to follow a ton of folks to enter a contest then I just won't do it. I do want readers and connections but blogging is also a hobby. and the minute I feel I HAVE to follow someone then that would be taking all of the fun out of it.
ReplyDeletegreat post!
Thanks for following! I adore your blog! Love the yellow background :) Following back!
ReplyDeleteLove this post. The numbers game is sort of sad. It should be about real connections not fake followers.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with wanting followers. I am a small blog (less than a 100 followers) and every follow I get means sooo much to me. With that being said I agree on wanting the follows to be more meaningful. I want people to actually read what I say and interact and comment. I think blog hops are great ways to learn about a new blog and hopefully what people read keeps them coming back for more.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said I do fall into the trap from time to time of playing the follow game. I almost feel guilty if someone follows me and I don't follow back. Am I ever going to read some fashion blog? Uh, probably not I live in yoga pants at home most days. I need to just focus on developing my blog and building true connections with those that have similar interests.
Longest blog comment ever!
I totally agree! Good for you for pointing it out. I also agree with the commenter who said they didn't agree with the requirement to follow a whole bunch of co-hosts for a blog hop or link party - that doesn't generate true followers who will revisit because they like your content. I'm blogging largely because I wanted to find link-minded people to connect with and the other part is to provide information I think my readers want to know about. Following people who I don't feel a connection with doesn't hit either of those goals. I do enjoy your blog!
ReplyDeleteThis happens all the time and it's super easy to get caught up in it. I follow blogs because of their content, and that is that!
ReplyDeleteI love this! I totally agree. Especially when your blog is just starting up, like mine, it is so easy to fall into that trap. I have been thinking a lot about this too lately. Thanks for putting it into words.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Followers aren't everything. It's the readers that count.
ReplyDeleteSandy
I agree, it's much more meaningful when you follow because you want to read what that person has to say! If you just follow someone you're not interested in because you hope they follow you back....I don't think that'll really benefit either of you!
ReplyDelete