10.19.2016


When I started blogging in 2009, it was a lot easier to connect with others who were just starting out too. Everyone appeared to be on a level playing field, meaning none of us seemed to know what we were doing or where blogging would take us. I didn't think it would take me anywhere frankly. It was a genuinely supportive community, and this was all before social media blew up and took over hours of our days. There was no Instagram (at least not that I was aware of) and affiliate linking was barely a thing either. We blogged because we loved it and wanted to share our finds, and it didn't matter if you were tech savvy or not. Most of us took pictures with a point and shoot, or our phones. Yes some ladies had already delved into the professional side, but it wasn't nearly as common as it is now. There was no air of snobbery either.

Today, the blogging world is saturated. I mean completely drenched. And don't get me wrong, there is room for everyone. I think it's great that people feel comfortable sharing their lives (or at least their style) with anyone who's interested on the web, but I can't help but wonder where some of the ladies I started out with have gone. Where did they go?






Wearing //



It's like having a friend that just stops calling you out of the blue. I often wonder how they are doing, if their lives have changed in a way that blogging just doesn't suit them anymore. Busy schedules, children, lack of time, maybe they just moved onto bigger and better things...But can't you break-up with your readers first? I mean, do we as bloggers owe that to people? Is it anyone's business? I don't care if I only have one person interested in the gibberish I have to say, I feel like I would owe it to that one person to be like, "hey. I don't plan on doing this for awhile. I'm taking a long break. Check back in a couple months". Or, "you know, this just doesn't interest me anymore, it's been fun though and thank you for sticking it out with me!"

Am I wrong? I tend to over-analyze so yes is a strong possibility. But I do miss my old blogging friends. I won't call them here by name because that's not my place and they probably want their privacy now that they don't blog, but they know who they are.

I also often wonder if Instagram has taken the place of even having a blog. It's definitely more convenient and less time consuming. However, I like to write. So therefore, I'd rather have a place where I can blather on and on without taking over people's Instagram feeds. Plus, I have friends on my IG that don't give a crap what I wear. They'd rather see pictures of Nettie or places I'm going to. And I'm certainly not making a separate account or carefully "curating" anything because that's just not what I want to do.

So anyway, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon but if I do, I'll let you know. I'll write a proper goodbye, even if no one cares to read it. And to those ladies who gave up blogging, I miss you! I hope you are all well :)

18 comments:

  1. I feel the same way sometimes. When I was younger blogging was so fun and I didn't care about money or fame or anything like that (I still don't) but then at some point I got tired of it and stopped posting. Fast forward 5 years and I create another blog and who knows if one day I won't get tired again and say goodbye to the blog. For now I'm just gonna enjoy it and if I stop loving it, oh well haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome back to blogging! I think that's the case for many people - they just get sick of posting or are uninspired so they just quit. I'll have to find your new blog :)

      Delete
  2. Hm, this is interesting food for thought. I haven't really considered whether a blogger "owes" everyone a good-bye letter. I imagine in some cases they didn't plan to quit, but got busy, didn't find the time to post, and then it just became awkward/pointless/too obvious to come back just to say, "Hey, I'm not doing this anymore." Anyway, I do feel I would owe people an explanation if I planned to take a break but that's just me. And yes...blogging has changed so much. Not as much since I started as you, but still some. Curious to see how it will be different even 2-3 years from now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, quite random but I figured I'd post it because my outfit here isn't that exciting! I really do miss some of my old "friends" though and often wonder why they stopped posting. It has been on my mind so I just decided to spark up a conversation about it and I'm happy I did. I think it's up to the individual to decide whether or not to explain why they are stopping. For me, I just know I'd want to say a formal farewell ;)

      Delete
  3. I definitely wonder about people who don't give a formal goodbye post. It's nice to know why they are stopping, but I know life can get away from you at times. Blogging is such an interesting medium since you feel like you develop relationships with people and are owed a goodbye, but it's rarely in person. It can be hard to navigate at times!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's true, from what I gather here I think most people just forget to post because life gets busy and priorities change. It's normal of course, I just always hope they are doing well!

      Delete
  4. I feel the same way, but I've also been guilty of this. Honestly it makes me so sad when I pour my heart into a post and I don't get the engagement that I feel like I used to get when more people were blogging and I truly felt a sense of community. Now I feel like these relationships have just ended but I don't know what I did?


    The Adored Life

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I doubt you did anything wrong Alissa! You're writing is great and it's one of the very few that I actually read word for word. I like that you include pretty outfits of course, but I know it won't be the usual "here's my outfit, blah, blah, blah" thing. My engagement isn't half of what it used to be either and sometimes I get down on myself because I feel like the content I produce is honestly SO much better than what it used to be when I first began so it confuses me. I think it's hard for me to stand out because I don't have the energy to play the game the way some people do. I also only post about twice per week while others post every day. Maybe that has something to do with it? Well, quality over quantity is my motto in life :) I love your blog.

      Delete
  5. I can answer about myself on this. I blogged from late 2008 to 2013. There were not too many beauty bloggers then and I loved the small and involved community. I found when blogging became a business it lost its appeal to me and felt less like fun. And too many got involved without really a passion for it. This and also reasons like having a new baby, getting promoted to senior project manager with much more responsibilities,...are what made me quit when I did.

    I used to blog at lunch time back then. Now at lunch time I go to the gym which I prefer :) I'm still involved by commenting on blogs I like though. I just don't want to blog again at this point

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are definitely one I had in mind :) But I follow you on social media so I feel like we still connect and you're very honest about why you don't do it anymore which I appreciate! Congrats on all of you successes!

      Delete
  6. It's funny you wrote this. I have recently wanted to get back to blogging and have started posting again. I miss it. I miss the creative outlet but sometimes life gets in the way. I didn't mean to stop posting all together but days turn into weeks which turns into years. I miss that time in my life. I think social media has totally changed how people interact, blogging included, and even if no one reads, I need to start posting for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mere!
      So good to hear from you, yay! I'm really happy you replied to this because yours is another blog I often think about. If you do start blogging again, I'll read :)

      Delete
    2. I'm back and I've already started posting again. It feels so good to be sharing again.

      I started ourownkindofparadise.blogspot.com when I got pregnant with my first so that's the blog I'm currently at. See you around!

      Delete
    3. I'm back and I've already started posting again. It feels so good to be sharing again.

      I started ourownkindofparadise.blogspot.com when I got pregnant with my first so that's the blog I'm currently at. See you around!

      Delete
  7. So refreshing to read these types of posts. I love your style but I love it when you show us a different side too. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey there! I used to blog. As life went on, I got busier and busier. Now I am a mommy with 2 kiddos and I never formally "quit" blogging because I truly didn't want to give it up. I'm thinking about starting it back up but I don't know if I should pick up my old blog (Bella Cene') or just start over with a new one. My life is so different now! But I guess to answer your question, I never wrote a formal post because to me, that was giving it up and I was never quite read to make it final! lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lindsay!
      Well I'm happy to learn you're doing well! That seems to be the common theme I'm hearing. That people didn't intend to stop blogging but their schedules got too busy and before they knew it, it had been months since they posted. I'm not a mom yet so I can only imagine how hard it would be to blog with little ones. Well if you do start again, please let me know!

      Delete

Thank you for commenting! I read each and every one, and do my best to answer questions or return the favor on your blog.