I’ve been blogging for several years now and there are some things I’ve learned about the blogging community.
Some of these surprised me, and they might just surprise you, too!
The Blogging Community
When I first started blogging, I felt like I’d found my tribe:. There was a blogging community? Who knew?!
At last, people who understood my passion for all things bloggy! They understood terms like “link building”, “organic reach”, “sponsored posts”, “SEO” and other terms – whereas most people would just stare at me blankly.
On the whole, I’ve found the blogging community to be wonderful, caring, supportive, and generous with sharing their wisdom and advice.
But: I’ve learned not to depend on them too much. Here’s why:
- Just because you love their blog, doesn’t mean you’ll love them in person.
- In the same way, online friendships don’t always translate to real-life friendships.
- Just because you really hit it off with a blogger in person at a workshop or conference, doesn’t mean you’ll love their blog. Sadly. I’ve met some awesome people but have found it a chore to follow them, as I’m just not interested in their blog niche or writing style or …
- Just because somebody has a blog – even a highly successful blog – doesn’t mean they write well. Blogging isn’t fair that way. No matter how fabulous a writer you might be, it still doesn’t necessarily lead to fame and fortune. Conversely – just because your stats are ordinary, it doesn’t mean you’re not a great blogger.
- Just because I don’t get many comments on a blog post, doesn’t mean that it’s not being read. The reality is, other bloggers are mostly the ones who take the time and effort to comment – because they know what a buzz it is to see somebody interacting with your blog!
- And finally – even though it’s great to be involved in the blogging community, to read other blogs, comment, and follow them on social media, actually, you’re probably better off trying to build a readership that is NOT composed of bloggers. I was talking to a PR rep not long ago, and discovered that they actually seek out bloggers that have a “real” readership, not just other bloggers (sorry bloggers, I don’t mean to say you’re fake or don’t really exist!).
So there you have it – just some of the things I’ve learned about the blogging community.
I still love it. I still want to be a part of it. But I think it’s important to remember it’s not the be-all and end-all of this blogging game.
What are your thoughts about the blogging community? I’m particularly interested to hear from you if you are NOT a blogger – though as always, all comments are read and treasured! 😉
Linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.