When I choose to follow and support another blogger, I do it because I love their style and enjoy seeing their beautiful work. It inspires me in my own work. In fact, since I entered the bloggy world, I dare say I have been much more creative and prolific in my quilting. I have learned a lot about modern quilting, art, and who I am as a quilter. This is a good thing. And after I follow a blogger for a while, I start to think of them as a friend and I comment and care about how they are. I am happy to be supportive of their endeavors, whatever direction they may take.
Occasionally, I stop following a blog. This happens for several reasons: a) they stop posting...for months or even a year. I am patient, but only so much so. b) their creative process changes so much that it no longer calls to me in the same way. c) my creative process changes so that they don't speak to me in the same way. I would never expect that a blogger wouldn't change and grow and I support them in that. If we must part ways, so be it.
But it makes me saddest when they don't post. I wonder if they are okay and what is going on in their lives to keep them from here. If they choose to give up blogging, I get it. It is time consuming and not for everyone.
Now, this is the part that kind of upsets me. They post mainly to instagram with all their new works in progress or fabrics they bought or anything quilty, but not to their blog. Then they return to their blog, eventually, say they are sorry, invite you to follow them on instagram. Unless they are doing a tutorial, or a blog hop for someone, or pushing their latest fabric line, pattern or book. Then they blog. That says to me, you are not worth my time unless you are going to buy something from me. Before you take issue with that statement, I know they do not necessarily mean it that way, but think about it. Can't be bothered to blog and share, but now that I have something to push, here I am.
I have cleaned out the blogs in my reader and in my bookmarks to eliminate these bloggers. My choice. I continue on with so many others, over 100 blogs that I give my time, loyalty and comments to. If you are a blogger who instagrams, just think about this. Try not to leave your loyal blog readers in the dust for the newest social media things that come along. We will miss you if you do.
9 comments:
I hope I am in your blog reader!
I'm on both but only sporadically on Instagram, there aren't enough hours in the day to do otherwise :)
I like Instagram for quick pics of my family, but I don't feel it replaces blogging about our quilting adventures and the fun interaction we have by blogging. Great post!
I'm behind the times when it comes to social media - I've got a Facebook account that I use to keep in touch with my nieces and nephews, but very little of my quilting gets posted there. Prior to my blog I was very active in an quilting e-mail group -- 1000 messages a month, now it's a couple of hundred. I recognize that I stopped posting there when I started my blog, so now I make an effort to post to the e-mail group at least a couple of times a month.
I use both, I post photos regularly on instagram and then right up a post hopefully once maybe twice a month, all my quilts take months to make and I don't want to bore my followers with constant photos of the same quilt but just with a bit more progress. I do wish I could blog more often, but I'm just don't sew quick enough :(
I often don't visit blogs if they are just adverts for sponsors and giveaways.
One last thing even when I post and use linkys from other blogs and have good stats, I never seem to attract new followers, which in itself is disheartening.
I do use IG regularly to show WIP pictures but I still love my blog and the friends I feel that I have as a result of blogging. Every quilt usually has a story or something silly or something I learned and you just can't really convey that in a picture and a line of text as well. I think you are right about the things that blogging brings to the process of quilting and it pushes me to try more things and become a better quilter. I don't like being sold to and have unfollowed several blogs as a result and with the fabric fast, following those blogs is just painful for me.
I agree with you totally. I hate when bloggers rarely post, and then in their post ask you to follow them on instagram! I push the unsubscribe button right then and there. I understand it's too much work to do both, but then they need to choose.
I didn't even realize until recently that Instagram had become big for quilters. I don't Instagram so how would I know? But, like you, I have recently cleaned out my blog reader and eliminated several because they never seem to be there any more. And frankly, I tend to be more loyal to those who are loyal to me. There are a few that I follow that I don't particularly care for their style of quilting/decorating but over the years our hearts have touched for some reason and those I continue to read too. I understand that a lot of people are trying to make a living in this business and doing through blogging may very well be a viable path. I even enjoy seeing what their making and selling....but not if it's every post. Then it's strictly a business and I look at those blogs differently. Blogging, to me, is very personal. And when the personal is taken out something is missing for me. blessings, marlene
I may have read the same blog as you. And I agree! This is such a very personal format! I don't care form Instagram. If I want to just look at pics I will pop on the computer or look at a book! I love my bloggy friends! I talk about y'all just as I would my irl friends or family! I follow for a reason (even if I am a slow to blog person oops) I am glad you said it!
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