Is this how we say goodbye...?
10:07 AM
I'm sure all or at least most of you are familiar with the blog, The Crumpet. Recently, this post showed up on The Crumpet, highlighting a list of some of the people who stopped blogging in 2014. There were some interesting and very valid points made about why people stop blogging or lose interest or just disappear. Many of my most loved blogging friends have thrown in the towel on the blogging game. There are loads of reasons to stop. Blogging is A LOT of work. Just like a new relationship, in the beginning its new and fun and exciting and spending 30 hours a week on it is something you just don't think about. Why do anything else? But after awhile it becomes tedious and a chore and just...work. Then there are other things. The reader disappeared and that makes it an absolute nightmare for me trying to keep up with thousands of blogs. Not to mention there's not a lot of payout anymore. Before the reader was gone you could look at your page and say to yourself, I have 1300 followers. I could work really hard and maybe I'll get to 1500. Now there's no number game anymore and with comments that trickle at best it's easy to feel like you're just blogging to an empty audience. Add to that Instagram with it's quick posts and fancy filters and it's easy to say, why sit here and take pictures and edit the lighting and spend all this time writing out blogs for no one when I can instantly snap, filter, and reach thousands? It's a challenge. I'm sure if you come here often (and for those of you who do I am truly grateful) you've noticed a decline in the amount of blogs I post and probably in the length of blogs. I still love nail art and polishing but my life has changed dramatically from when I first started posting. I've moved over an hour from my family, started a new job working twice the hours, struggled with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and various other health ailments, lost loved ones, experience financial setbacks....well...you get the picture. Blogging for me is not what it used to be. There are certainly times I'd like to give up on it, however, then I remember why I started blogging. I've come to recognize that I'm never going to be one of those bloggers who has tens of thousands of followers. Heck, I may never even crack 2000 and I've learned to be OK with that. I'm not ever going to be someone who tries to squeeze 30 hours of blogging into an already packed schedule. Sometimes I have a lot of time and I get ahead and sometimes I have no time and I fall behind. I recognize that this hinders my ability to be a "top blogger" but it's my life. It's my voice. My little corner of the bloggerverse and I like it. There is no sunshine where I live at the moment and while I invested in a light box some months back I've never sorted using it properly and everything I do with it looks a mess. So I've been using Instagram to show off my work lately because I feel that these photos aren't "good" enough for my blog. Today, I'm throwing caution to the wind though and I'm sharing these anyway! No, they aren't blog perfect.Yes, there is tip wear (this is day five) and the filter skews the colors just a tad but here it is anyway! I hope you like them and I hope you remember if you're a blogger that your blog is YOUR voice. You don't have to live up to anyone's standards but your own. If you want to post once a month; do it. If you only have a cell phone camera, post them anyway! Do what makes YOU happy and you can't fail at this. :) Happy Holidays to all of you!
13 comments
I like your design, tip wear and all! It's refreshing to see the "imperfections." I like that I can look at your designs and think, "hey, that's something I might be able to pull off." Thank you for the inspiration!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Heather! That means a lot to me!!
DeleteI like your design too! Somehow it's different from most christmas themed nail art I have seen this year. :]
ReplyDeleteAbout the blogging thing... I totally feel with you. It's about the same for me. It's not like I hate blogging, but it sure is time consuming. I don't want to post bad pictures, but when I'm home from work, I rarely feel like editing pictures anymore. Used to be different, when I had my previous job. Actually, I didn't even post on Instagram, because even there I want to maintain a certain level... I'm trying to change my posting habits on both Instagram and my blog. But as you write, without any form of acknowledgement in for of comments etc... it's kind of boring. :/ Oh well.
Thank you! With Instagram I feel it's easier to maintain the standard. The picture can't be blown up to ridiculous sizes so every minute detail doesn't have to be exact. The easy filters can help me balance off colors or I can leave them s little off as an artistic flare! Lol plus no writing. I hope you get back into your groove too tho! :)
DeleteI agree with you, this is your blog, you post when you can or want to! As a reader, I know I don't post acknowledgements as much as I should. A lot of times, I am going through the blogs I follow late at night and am just trying to get through them before they pile up on me. And I also have nothing creative to say late at night! I feel so bad when I just respond 'Your mani is gorgeous!'... I do appreciate the effort, time and expense of what a nail blogger goes through. I can't imagine how you all do it, frankly. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! I don't always comment when I should and sometimes my comments feel so generic. I'm working on it though!
Deletevery interesting take on the matter, as i often have less time for blogging and i enjoy it so much! i do try to participate more often as a reader instead but i still find blog posts piling up! blogging can be difficult!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had more time for it too! I do enjoy it greatly but it's such a challenge to fit into my schedule anymore.
DeleteMuch interesting blog post. I'm just a tiny blogger, with 100+ followers. But I have also noticed a decline in the blogosphere, IG seems to be the shit atm, that is sad, I saw a steady peak in followers before, but now it feels quite dead. However, I'm going strong, publishing both at IG, pinterest and my blog, I just like it. But sometimes I don't have time for everything. Like both publishing, editing, commenting, reading others, liking etc. (even though I have an archive in my computer for months ahead) But I still like the whole thing so I still try to make it when I got time, in my phase. I'm joining some fun challenges to keep the spirit and creativity up, and I know that I never hit 1000+ followers, but I'm happy anyhow. :) Like your blog, hope you'll have a nice day and happy christmas/holidays :)
ReplyDeleteI have an archive but it seems like by the time I remember to use them they all feel not good enough! Lol
DeleteI'll try to comment maybe a bit more so you know your blog is important to me and I really enjoy your posts. Even when I don't have time to write a note, I still read. SO thanks to you and all the other wonderful bloggers out there that I follow. I don't tend to speak up as much as others, but I am here and I know there are many others who like me reading too. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cindi! I'm glad you enjoy it! I appreciate you reading and I know you comment frequently as well!! :)
Deletewell said Bee. You've hung in long after others might have quit, and as long as it gives you joy, that's all that matters xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and commenting! I read all my comments and love to hear from you! Please DO NOT leave links in the comment box. ALL links which are not relevant to the post are subject to deletion. If you'd like me to check out your blog, please email me at BeePolished@yahoo.com. Thank you again!