Here we go hoppin'!!
I look forward to this all week!!
The hop is hosted by Jennifer at Crazy for Books each and every Friday :)
Thanks, Jennifer!!
In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!
This week's question:
"What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?"
I ran across an old blog posting tonight where the book blogger's husband was an internet website designer...he was obviously very knowlegeable about what kind of content is effective from a marketing or sales standpoint. His specifically commented that most book bloggers' sites are too busy and have too many widgets, pictures, etc. etc. on them. While he was offering his professional advice for free, I couldn't help but think, "Wow, that's great advice...but I'm not going to change that...it's my blog...it's who I am...I'm not going to change it bc a webpage designer says I should."
I'm not into blogging for money...I'm in it for peace of mind. That said, my followers and those I follow are most definitely people I read and comment on several times a week. I try to read them all every day...I really do...I'm a reader...what can I say??? But, I comment when I have something honest and thoughtful to say, not just to comment for the heck of commenting. I'm approaching my 1 year anniversary as a blogger and I can say that I've developed some true online friendships through blogging...but only with those that I actually carry on a conversation with...it's not the number of followers; it's the quality of the dialogue.
If you're just trying to follow as many people as you can to get as many people as possible to follow you, then I would question as to why a person is blogging in the first place.
If you're just trying to follow as many people as you can to get as many people as possible to follow you, then I would question as to why a person is blogging in the first place.
Looking forward to the extra challenge of finding one new blog that I really WANT to follow :)
Time to hop and see who's out there this week!!
Stopping by on the Hop.
ReplyDeleteI really like your answer. It's quite a bit like mine...I started my blog for me as a place to keep better track of my thoughts on reading. If I have followers and make new friends along the way, then that's just icing on the cake!
Just popping in via the hop to say hi! Yay for another Janet Evanovich fan! I love the Stephanie Plum books and really enjoyed the Diesel spinoff as well:) I absolutely agree with your answer, I love to leave thoughtful comments that show I actually read the review, didn't just say "nice review" in the hopes they'll comment on my blog. I'm a new follower here and I hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteJenny of Supernatural Snark
www.supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com
I just hopped on in....
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you! I mean I am someone who likes neat organised things! So because I like that in MY life its how I like my blog to me, but I love looking around and seeing new blogs all the time that are so different and yet so their auther! keep it up!!!
I agree -- although I hate it when I lose a follower, I do also do this for me, so i prefer to have fun! Here's my Hop: Coffee and a Book Chick -- Blog Hop...
ReplyDeleteI follow but not with Google Friend Connect anymore. I usually add a blog URL to my google reader and keep track with new posts there. I found the GFC friends widget a distraction (watching the number of friends increase or decrease kind of made me crazy, lol) so I got rid of it.
ReplyDeleteHave a relaxing weekend :)
Joining you from over at the hop. Nice to meet you, I've enjoyed visiting and reading your thoughts on followers.
ReplyDeleteI like your answer and I especially agree with your thoughts on commenting. I follow a lot of blogs but only comment when I think I'll add to the conversation.
ReplyDeleteGreat answer :) I've had a similar experiences where I've read something and I question how I do my blog and reviews. THen I catch myself and remember why I blog. I blog for me and I love my blog and reviews. I agree that just because someone says something doesn't mean yo have to do it. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteHope you come HOP by to visit
I'm just about a month old at blogging and have just started to have people follow. The people follow, I follow because, first, they're fellow book lovers and second, I like what they have to say about the books they read.
ReplyDeleteI started my blog to keep track of the books I've read throughout the year and maybe connect with other who have a love of books that borders on obsession (not that I know anyone like that). If people do read and follow that's great. I like the idea of meeting new people.
As for the look of my blog. I'm still getting used to it. I know I need to spend a weekend creating the look I really want. I'm still trying to design a look I love.
I like the idea of Book Blogger Hop. I'm going to have to work it into my blog from now on.
Ooooh, I love that - "It's not the number of followers; it's the quality of the dialogue." Very well spoken.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have found you via the Hop!
Just hopping by! I started my blog as a way to keep track of everything I read and my thoughts on them. If other people read and comment, well I love that! Because I love to discuss books, but they're not primarily why I blog. They're just a lovely bonus!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend :)
There are all kinds of reasons to blog so you're right - "advice" is only helpful if the goals are similar.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you with the philosophy --my blog, my style...LOL Busy blogs can be distracting, but would not stop me from reading good posts.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I'm not a comment for the sake of commenting person either. Blogging is definitely about meeting people who love some of the same things you do. Many of the people I've encountered are ones I feel I could meet in person for the first time and spend all day in the bookstore with having a great time.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday! I'm just doing my rounds on the Blog Hop and Follow Friday. I would follow but we don't seem to share the same tastes in books but none the less I hope you have a great weekend and Happy Reading!!
Romance Book Junkies
First--congrats on your PhD - that is a real accomplishment. Next--your blog is not too busy. Not at all. I actually don'y mind busy if there aren't rotating, flashing signs and music that keeps turning itself on while you read. Sometimes I think I may have a seizure.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you have heard "Do what you love and you'll never have a job." After years of trying to figure out what to do with my computer facility and my desire to only ever work for myself blogging has provided a solution. So, I do blog as a business, and love spending hours researching, reading, writing and, yes, marketing the blog.
Am I in it for the money? Apparently not or I would have quit by now. I think I would do it even without being able to monetize. And what advertisers and publishers look at are page views and followers. So, like any other business it is likely you will have more people on a "mailing list," or your blog roll, than you have people religiously reading the fliers and hightailing it to the shop.
I would surely do this without ad sense and such, but it is easier to explain it as a business and job. Otherwise I would be in front of my computer way too much.
Blogging is the best excuse for just reading I have ever found so I would continue, but I wouldn't be able to spend so much time working on it.
oh, and I am a new follower: Steph Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
ReplyDeleteemail: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
twitter: @fangswandsfairy
CONTEST: http://tinyurl.com/23b5ug2
Hi! I'm stopping by from the Blog Hop. I'm a fellow Southerner. I've lived in Alabama my whole life. I'm a new follower. Can't wait to read some of your reviews.
ReplyDeleteLaura Ashlee