So I am bumming...
I started off the year with a very stable growing blog, writing about the things I love, doing really good things, working with multiple companies to bring my readers great products, and just really throwing my heart and soul in to my blog.
but in the past couple weeks I've found myself losing followers. Which makes me feel like I am not "exciting" enough, and that I am not keeping my readers intrigued which really gets to me.
I LOVE my readers. I love their feedback, I love interacting with them, I love getting to know them, I love that connection that you have with those who know you in your most emotional, hilarious, heartbreaking, life-loving moments, and when I see that number drop I almost feel like I am going through a break up.
I know this sounds stupid, and I know not everyone is going to love my writing. Its inevitable, but I don't want people to follow my blog just because they want to win an IPAD, or a $100 gift card. I do those giveaways to bring new traffic to my blog to maybe meet some new people, I do those giveaways to help other bloggers and be apart of their journeys. I do them so I can touch new people, maybe make a difference in their lives, or maybe make a new close friend.
Something that goes hand in hand with feeling this way, is feeling the need to push certain topics, I feel the need to write about things just so people will want to read. Which totally defeats the purpose of my blog.
My blog was started to keep in touch with family
my blog was continued because I realized I can help others with my life experiences
and my blog is still here because I LOVE and have a deep deep passion for writing and building relationships with those who enjoy it as well.
This is not a pity party, by any means, because I have GAINED new great friends I have received some amazing advice, I have grown in and outside of my blog through sharing, reading, and learning.
Blogging is one of the most emotional things. I write posts that make me cry, I read posts that make me laugh, and I have days where I feel inspirational in the lives of my readers and I have days where I feel inadequate in the big world of blogging.
Blogging is exactly like a roller coaster, sometimes it makes my tummy hurt, but at the end of the day, it's my favorite ride.
I started off the year with a very stable growing blog, writing about the things I love, doing really good things, working with multiple companies to bring my readers great products, and just really throwing my heart and soul in to my blog.
but in the past couple weeks I've found myself losing followers. Which makes me feel like I am not "exciting" enough, and that I am not keeping my readers intrigued which really gets to me.
I LOVE my readers. I love their feedback, I love interacting with them, I love getting to know them, I love that connection that you have with those who know you in your most emotional, hilarious, heartbreaking, life-loving moments, and when I see that number drop I almost feel like I am going through a break up.
I know this sounds stupid, and I know not everyone is going to love my writing. Its inevitable, but I don't want people to follow my blog just because they want to win an IPAD, or a $100 gift card. I do those giveaways to bring new traffic to my blog to maybe meet some new people, I do those giveaways to help other bloggers and be apart of their journeys. I do them so I can touch new people, maybe make a difference in their lives, or maybe make a new close friend.
Something that goes hand in hand with feeling this way, is feeling the need to push certain topics, I feel the need to write about things just so people will want to read. Which totally defeats the purpose of my blog.
My blog was started to keep in touch with family
my blog was continued because I realized I can help others with my life experiences
and my blog is still here because I LOVE and have a deep deep passion for writing and building relationships with those who enjoy it as well.
This is not a pity party, by any means, because I have GAINED new great friends I have received some amazing advice, I have grown in and outside of my blog through sharing, reading, and learning.
Blogging is one of the most emotional things. I write posts that make me cry, I read posts that make me laugh, and I have days where I feel inspirational in the lives of my readers and I have days where I feel inadequate in the big world of blogging.
Blogging is exactly like a roller coaster, sometimes it makes my tummy hurt, but at the end of the day, it's my favorite ride.
"Blogging is exactly like a roller coaster, sometimes it makes my tummy hurt, but at the end of the day, it's my favorite ride. "
ReplyDeleteBINGO! Couldn't have said it any better myself. I have the same sort of feelings from time to time. I try to tell myself that at the end of the day it's not about the followers, but the true readers and friends that keep coming back. But, I totally hear ya on this girl! I definitely get sad when I lose even 1 follower! Ha! You can count on me though, I love your blog girl. Keep doin` you!
It's definitely a roller coaster! And sometimes it's so hard to keep up with! Just keep doing your own thing and people will stick around, promise!
ReplyDeleteSister I wrote this exact post just a few weeks ago. Hang in there. Those of us that read your words love coming back every day.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog!! :) Just keep pushing through because a lot of us really enjoy what you write every day.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel! but dont worry the true followers and readers will stick around! i know i will :)
ReplyDeletefeel better!
Have an amazing week!
xoxo Lisa
Sorry you are down! Just keep doing your thing! And those people that you want to stick around will! :) I see it like people in your life, The ones that matter stay it in! :) Just trying to be positive for ya! :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's safe to say that most bloggers have seen an influx of readers, and then out of nowhere, they drop like flies.
ReplyDeleteDoes it make us feel like we're not intriguing enough? Sometimes. Does it make us feel like we're doing something wrong? Maybe. Does it have any real bearing on who we are and our capacity to affect peoples lives? Absolutely not.
Your blog is one of my faves and I come back because a.) your posts are entertaining and b.) you're funny and c.) because I love the person behind the blog.
Those are the readers you want. Not fair weather ones just for numbers. Quality versus quantity. Right?
Keep your head up. More readers will come, in due time.
Now I'll get off my soapbox. Mwah!
I'm a pretty recent follower, but I love reading what you've written!
ReplyDeleteI know the exact feeling. That's all I got. Hang in there, lady! I love your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI just had a long convo with a blogger about this too. In order to stay "competitive" we have to spend money -- on layouts, prizes, sponsorships. Bring back the good ol' days of blogging where all we had to do was post about our day. Lame.
ReplyDeleteI am a new follower! Found you thru SEL :)
ReplyDeleteRemember... Haters they gonna hate and... Bloggers they gonna blog!
ReplyDeleteKeep your chin up! I love your blog :)
First of all, it's totally OK to have a pity party every once in a while. I know I do it, maybe more often than is really necessary. But you know that after that pity party, you'll pick yourself up more determined than you were before. There are definitely ups and downs in any situation in life, so why should blogging be different? Take time to continue to figure out YOU and YOUR blog. Once you've done that, you'll feel so much more secure and those pity parties will become fewer and fewer all the time.
ReplyDeleteKeep on truckin' girl! You're doing great :)
I totally agree with what Halie said - You are such a blessing and finding your blog has been so wonderful! I love looking to see what you have to say. I feel ya on losing people - it stings.But be encouraged friend - you have people out there that love you and your writing!!
ReplyDeleteHey pretty lady! Don't beat yourself up (or write to cater to what you THINK people may want to read)!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I gotta tell ya. I switched the accounts I'm following people under so I don't have to log in and out of two different Google accounts all day long. In doing so, I guess I fell under a bucket of "new accounts" and Google limited my blog following to 300. I can't follow not a SINGLE new blog. Now I'm starting to follow people under Bloglovin' because I don't think there's a limit to how many blogs you can follow (that I'm aware of anyway).
Also...I heard another big blogger say this about losing followers on Twitter. "They'll be back again next month for the next giveaway..." Haha. Certainly puts everything in perspective, right? I've loved getting to know you!
Aww...I am a new follower but I know what you mean. I think it means more to have quality followers than people just trying to get a follow so I try hard to not focus on the number too much. I think as long as you keep writing what you want, it will be a good experience overall! :)
ReplyDeleteJill
Classy with a Kick
They don't know what they are missing Hal! You are an amazing, talented, funny, silly, truthful,beautiful,awesome gal and if you lose a few followers that is only to make room for the others. Your blog is amazing and even though we don't chat al the time it makes me feel like we do:-) love you sister keep your head up!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to post this comment anonymously, but you don't have that option, so I'm taking a risk and telling you the truth. (I'm afraid you'll take offense to what I say, when I mean absolutely no offense at all! Sometimes these things are harder to hear from someone you "know" so I wanted to separate myself from it, but I still want you to read my thoughts, so I'm sharing anyway : ] First of all, when I started reading your blog I absolutely loved it! And I loved that we occasionally connected as well. But as your blog started to grow, I felt the connection less and less. Obviously, I cannot blame you for this. You have a very full and busy life. But it kept me from commenting all the time. Nowadays I still totally love to read what you have to say about your life...but you do a lot of link-ups... I mean, I love a link-up as much as the next blogger, but I love blogs and bloggers for what they share of their everyday life (of course, that's just me, and not necessarily anyone else.) Secondly, you mentioned it in the post, but yes, it's very likely that people follow your blog to enter giveaways and then unfollow right after. It sucks, but that's what people do if they want to win haha. And finally, I hope you don't put too much stock (is that the right word?) into how many people are following you. At the end of the day blogging is a release of sorts. It's something to do for yourself. Whatever you have to say, certain people will like and others won't--no matter what you blog about. Just continue to blog for you and readers will follow.
ReplyDeleteSo there, I said it. And I feel kind of bad now... I hope nothing I said came across as mean or rude! But I just wanted to maybe share my thoughts, and I hope you don't hate me for it!