Blogging Trends
Posted at 10:29 in Uncategorised
Happy Monday blogettes, hope you’re all having a great start to the week!
Have you noticed how there are certain trends that go around in blog world? It only occurred to me the other day when I realised I was probably one of half a dozen people reviewing the same product – and it made me wonder if readers get fed up of reading the same thing across multiple blogs?
For instance, blog awards – whilst I think it’s really nice to be recognised and have someone nominate your blog for an award, does it not get tiresome for readers who read a lot of the same blogs to find everyone all posting about the same thing? The same with multiple blogs doing reviews of the same products.
How do you guys feel about it?
The reason I ask is because I would hate for people to think of me as some kind of sheep…
I’ve always liked to be a little different in life – I don’t mind standing out from the crowd and not following trends, rather than emulating someone else, so it would make me kinda sad if readers thought my blog was a carbon copy of others.
For that reason, I’ve decided that from now on, the only products I will review on the blog are those that I personally like and use regularly. Yes, it’s nice to have companies offering free stuff for you to use as long as you review it for them but it sometimes feels like they’re buying a good review no? Not only that but I recently got stung by a company that sent me a product to use and write about but were unhappy with the full write up and multiple mentions on facebook and twitter and were wanting me to blog about it daily. I’m not about to spam the people that take the time to read my blog, follow my twitter feed and subscribe to my facebook group with a sales pitch – that is not what my blog is about.
I started my blog as a space for me to get my thoughts and feelings down about my weight loss, fitness endeavours and life in general. It’s something I’m extremely proud of, not only because it documents a great journey for me from being overweight to being slim, fit and healthy, but because I have so many lovely people that read and comment daily. Though I write my blog for myself first and foremost, it’s really nice to get support and kind words from those that read along and take inspiration from me.
So, I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every person that takes time out of their day to read my ramblings, to offer words of support, kindness or even a kick up the arse when it’s needed – I really appreciate you all.
I think you have a really good point. I’ve contacted some companies to try their products but because I genuinely want to try them and because I think my readers would be interested, but then I end up seeing the same product on other blogs, great minds I guess! I do kind of worry that its getting a bit repetative sometimes. I do find reviews interesting but for more unusual products so thats what I want to try and review more of in future. I certainly don’t feel like I have to give a positive review just cause they’ve sent me stuff, sod that, if its crap I will say so! I do think its natural for there to be trends in the blogging world as we take inspiration from each other and use it in our everyday lives and therefore blog about it, and so the cycle continues!
Sorry for the long comment, I think your blogs great, its very ‘you’ and you always stay true to yourself! :-)
Hey lovely, thanks for your comment – it’s good to see a topic generating an interesting debate. I too like to read reviews of more unusual products, it definitely makes things more interesting. I remember you reviewing the Total Greek yoghurt and then about 5 or 6 other blogs reviewing it a few weeks later – it can seem a bit lemming-like (without trying to sound mean).
There will be trends, there are with everything in life I guess :D
I ramble far too often and far too all over about my thoughts on this…so I shall just say I LOVED reading yours.
Hey, I get stupidly excited when I see you’ve commented on my blog, you are after all, blog royalty :D
I ramble too much too so you are not alone. I’m glad you like the blog.
This has become quite a big issue in the ‘beauty’ blogging world. A company I regularly blog for (myPure) have listened to feed back and now send different products to different reviewers so they meet their skintype.hairtype/lifestyle etc. I personally tend to review items when the buzz has died down and/or when I feel it is relevant to me. Generally I think that the key is staying true to yourself and to why you started blogging in the first place. I do not generate any revenue through my blog, I refuse to have advertising and only review products if it is of interest to me and my review is 100% honest and my own. But there are alot of blogs out there who lose themselves in the hype and cliques blogging can have…I tend to unfollow – it’s a shame, have seen a few become a victim of their success.
Amy x
Hey Amy, staying true to yourself is very important and something I do try and maintain. I don’t generate cash from my blog either – it’s not why I got into blogging. I get contacted regularly with advertising offers and they are all politely refused. I’m the same with you in that the products I review are of interest to me and if I think they will interest people that read – I do give 100% honest reviews though, I just feel like companies expect a positive review regardless.
I don’t really mind seeing similar posts or themes on blogs if the blogger always puts their own spin on things and shows their true opinion.
Good point Becky, putting your own self into the post makes a big difference :)
As a blogger with a broad base of content, I don’t mind awards/memes in moderation. It depends on the content tho – there have been ones about 100 things about yourself, which makes for mind-boggling reading. I started a twitterholic meme and that has proved popular and successful, and each post has been really interesting.
As for reviews, companies are going to expect good press out of them, else they wouldn’t do them. I only do ones that I feel are relevant to my blog or useful to my readers. I give honest opinions but try to be constructive, saying how I think it could be improved. I would not expect to do more than one post for a review tho unless it was something big that you needed to use over time. I’m currently reviewing various toys for Toys R Us but I try to make sure they don’t overload my blog by spreading them out and that they just don’t trot out the same stuff ie I put me into the reviews. I don’t use press releases to write reviews – I only use them to check important info like cost etc.
At the end of it tho, it’s my blog so I do what I want with it. That’s not to say my way is right – there are hundreds of different ways of blogging – it’s just it’s MY way! Yours is yours to do what you want with it. That’s what’s right for you.
Sorry, that’s listed me as anonymous. It’s kateab btw.
Hi Kate, I think moderation is the key :)
You’re very right about the companies expecting a good review, expecting more than one post per item is crazy though and that wasn’t made clear to me at the time of agreeing to it.
I have to confess that I always skip over reviews. And recipes too. But that’s not because of overload from other blogs. They’re just not the reason I read in the first place. And I’d rather go out and try a new Nakd bar for myself tbh! :D
I’m perhaps in a minority though, as most people do seem to read blogs for the food that’s documented. I prefer reading about people’s workouts, to a ridiculous level of detail. I’m interested in nutrition and health too, but only as a more background concern. I really do think you should blog for you though, rather than for traffic (or Nakd bars!). So I think your decision to pull back on the reviews is a good one, and more representative of you :)
Thanks for your input Alison – I too found I was skimming over reviews recently for the same products, which is why I wondered if other people did that with mine.
I totally 100% agree about blogging for yourself – when I first started, I got a bit obsessed with traffic stats and freebies thinking it would make me a better blogger but I don’t contact anyone for freebies anymore, I just wait until I’m approached. I also can’t remember the last time I logged into my blog stats, it’s no longer important to me – I write because I enjoy it and it’s a bonus that people read along :)
I quite like reviews – as long as they are honest and don’t sound like an advert. I’m not a blog junkie, so I only read blogs of people I have come into contact with – I don’t read blogs of blogs if you get my drift – so I don’t suffer from product overload. Funny though, as I noted the same thing regarding Business Articles this morning – about 10 people I follow tweeted exactly the same thing this morning – now that is boring!
I enjoy your blogs JAG because you are honest, human, falible and enable me to empathise, but even you can’t make me buy stuff! :o) Carry on the great bloggage!
Sue, thanks so much for the supportive comment, it’s so appreciated :) I agree with reviews not sounding like adverts, I’m probably a bit guilty of that in the past when I’ve really loved something *blush*
I wholeheartely agree with you there as some blogs sound like they’re being sponsored by some company trying to promote there product! I enjoy blogs in the same way I enjoy ‘fly on the wall’ documentaries. I don’t want to hear about repetitive advertising reviews by bloggers fortunate enough to be given freebies(boring). We, as consumers are bombarded with endless noise pollution non-stop through the media(esp independents etc.) , billboards etc. Glad you’re taking a stand, JAG!
x
Hi Cosmic thanks for your comment. I too read blogs in a “fly on the wall” type of thing and my favourite blogs are those where the writer shares a part of themself and their personality. You’re so right about us being bombarded by the media, when you’re reading blogs for enjoyment it’s understandable that you don’t want to be bombarded in the same way :)
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Just stumbled across your blog. Great post.
Thanks Chris :)
Trust your instincts. If it feels weird or wrong to you then it will feel that way to your readers too. You\’re doing great! You have a lot of readers for a reason! :)
Thanks so much Jenn, I always try and go with my instincts which is why I know this is the right thing to do :)
I agree that most people either want to follow the same path as others or unconsciously fall into the pattern of the social majority, but it is people like yourself, whom make the conscious effort to find the way outside of the box and encourage others to get out of the box, that will make a better impact on society.
Thanks so much Christopher for your comment :)
I know what you mean about the repetitiveness… I nearly peed myself laughing when most of my bloglist got a particular product all roughly at the same time as me (obviously some before and some after).
I wonder (and am a bit worried if the company that stung you is the one I’m thinking of…
Have PM’d you on WLR with the details hun
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