A Thank You, Some Social-Media Etiquette, and A Blog Award...
Well, first things first. I want to express a sincere and from-the-bottom-of-my-heart THANK YOU to all my new and current followers! Hi, and thank you!!
When I first started this blog (back in October 2010), I was a full-time bride planning my wedding with less than 40 days to go. I was writing for Me, and I wanted to be able to remember all the details and emotions I was feeling at the time. I never thought my thoughts, my writing, and my story would be something others would WANT to read. Thank YOU for reading and following along in my little story in this big 'ole world!! I appreciate it more than you know. :)
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This morning on my drive in to work, a few of my twitter friends were discussing blogger etiquette, specifically commenting on others' blogs.
Question: If you follow and comment on a blog but never receive anything in return, do you unfollow?
Well, if you wanna know my opinion, (even if you don't, guess what? here it comes) I follow blogs that I like and can relate to. Something about the author pulls me in, and I'm stuck staring at the computer for hours reading archives of their blog. I don't follow others simply to get them to follow back, hence the number of followers I have, and I love and appreciate each and every one of YOU!
It may be hard sometimes when you feel you've given insightful feedback then received nothing in return, but don't be a jerk about it and unfollow said blog. The author of that blog has a life too, and let's just give them the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe, just maybe, they have too many comments on their wonderful, perfectly written, perfectly thought out post and didn't respond to you because it's hard to respond to every comment.
Don't let your feelings get hurt. Just move on and continue writing, commenting, and being YOU. No one can be you. No one can tell your story. You must tell it!!
My friend Lauren @ Life with a Lab posted about social media etiquette this morning as well. I read the article she linked to, and let me tell you, this article is a must read for us all!
My favorite tip under Content Production: "If you go a long time between blog updates, don’t write a “sorry I haven’t written lately” post. No one cares. Just publish something good." Ha! This guy is a genius! Read the article if you have a few extra seconds to spare.
Moving on... Award time!
As if this woman couldn't be any sweeter, Melissa Jo or, as I like to call her, MJ, @ Lady of the Flowers recently gave me a lovely blog award! I <3 you friend!! MJ is a sweet southern girl who has a passion for LIFE itself. I love reading more about her each time she posts, and I'm finding we have SO much more in common than I originally thought! #soulmates
I'll spare you on the little details that I'm supposed to write about myself and just promote a few of my favorite daily reads! Check these wonderful, inspirational ladies out. You won't regret it. :)
Hope you have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!!
Love your thoughts about following back...it can get really hard to follow and comment on every single person that follows and comments on your blog...Lord knows I try, but I just get too busy sometimes. I've made a goal to interact more with my followers, but that doesn't necessarily mean following every single blog that comes my way. It's gets to be too much, and way too overwhelming. You're right, you should follow and comment on blogs that you enjoy, which is exactly what I do :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thank you so so so so so much for the sweet birthday card! Sorry it's taken me a few days to say that, but you have no idea how much it meant to me that you took time out of your busy schedule to wish me a happy birthday. You are a wonderful friend.
xoxoxoxo,
Joelle
That is the sweetest thing ever you said about me! LOVE IT! *BIG SMILE*
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm cheesy.
I totally agree with you on all points! And as someone with a semi-large following, I can tell you how VERY hard it gets to reply to all comments and interact with all readers... and I don't even have a job or kids yet, so I toootally understand how working girls have it even HARDER! It's a catch 22, because if you continue to interact with all the people who comment, MORE AND MORE people comment. For a while there, I was having anywhere from 40 to 100 comments per post, because I was trying too hard to reply to them all and visit each blogger in return! It was impossible. I was sitting in front of my computer for HOURS, and the more I interacted with each blogger, the more people commented! It's hard to find a balance, so now I just do what I can.
ReplyDelete:) Have a wonderful weekend my pretty friend!
I read the converstations between y'all this morning! I couldn't write just a 140 character tweet. Ah, but now I can! I agree on some levels. I try as hard as possible to comment back to everyone, but I work full time, go to school full time AND have my own company that is in the beginning works so very time consuming, and I am also training for a Tri. Ya, ridiculously busy. Dont you find it annoying when people don't include their emails so you can comment back?! Anyways, doesn't mean you shouldn't unfollow them. I mean...I have unfollowed some blogs but for good reason as that I don't care for their posts or lifestyle or they just annoy me. And are "Sorry I have been MIA" posts okay? I have done a few of those recently. Meh.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend friend!!! <3 You'd better comment back on this. BAHAHAHA I kid I kid. It really doesn't bother me...unless I ask you a question or something. Okay...for reals...xoxoxox!
YES times a BILLION to this post!!! I am such a culprit in the time arena. I just don't have time to respond on a regular basis to all blogs and all commenters. I love them. But I am just one person trying to keep life in order. LOL!
ReplyDeleteBut I feel the same way you do--I have never "unfollowed" a blog if I didn't get feedback. Like you, I read for relatablilty and inspiration and if someone happens to stumble on my blog because I commented on theirs, great. If not, I really don't care all that much. It just is what it is. And coming from someone who knows, sometimes you physically CANNOT respond to all comments. Doesn't stop me from getting "blog guilt" though. Like yours...I don't get to visit nearly as much as I would like! Really, I don't get to visit ANY blog nearly as much as I'd like. Even MINE! Haha! OK, done venting. Thanks for bringing all this up. It's been on my mind lately.
I love all your "daily read" picks. :) :) Except Life with a Lab.... only because I don't know Lauren! Obviously, I need to go read. :)
You're such a ray of sunshine. And I am REALLY glad you are YOU and telling YOUR story.
XOXO,
Jenna
Totally agree with you on this one! I only follow blogs that I want to follow. I enjoy getting replies back, but if I don't, I don't unfollow them. I have had people follow me and comment, then unfollow me when they see that I'm not following back. It's all pretty silly if you ask me. I just blog because it's so fun to write things out and get inspiration from all of y'all lovelies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for passing the award on to me! You are a doll!
YOU ARE THE SWEETEST! Thanks, sweet friend!! I love that line above about not saying sorry you didn't post. Hilarious! Hope you have a wonderful week (:
ReplyDeleteI totally Agree Alisha! I try to always comment back but sometimes its hard to comment back & comment on everyone blog.
ReplyDeleteMJ is the sweetest I agree :)
I just found your blog from Jenni's page and I loved that article! I don't have a huge following, and that's fine. I don't want people to follow me just because I'm following them... I would much rather someone follow because they like what I have to say!
ReplyDeleteOoo I totally agree! I read blogs because I enjoy reading them..not because I want something in return! And my blog is for me. If other's don't like it.. I won't be offended!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your blog award! :)