I've been thinking about this post for a long time. I haven't written anything ' meaningful' on my blog for a while, because blogging has changed for me. When I started sharing things years ago I hardly had any followers and never cared too much about what people thought. But in this past year, I've …
I’ve been thinking about this post for a long time. I haven’t written anything ‘ meaningful’ on my blog for a while, because blogging has changed for me.
When I started sharing things years ago I hardly had any followers and never cared too much about what people thought. But in this past year, I’ve found it hard to call this blog ‘my space’. I have changed the way I blog and doubt I’ll ever go back to those days where I let you in on my daily up’s and down’s. However, in the odd post I HAVE written where I am feeling down, they are usually the one’s that rate the highest. Funny that. We Aussie’s are a funny bunch and for some reason we love it when people are feeling down.
Blogging doesn’t feel the same any more. There are heaps of reasons. I’ve thought about this… There are a lot of categories for bloggers (lifestyle, food, travel, writers) and it’s hard to measure one against the other. People have great layouts, great photos, great content and it’s hard to keep up.
I’m swamped with a list of blogs I love. Blogging has become a fierce competition. There are lots of swimmers and a tonne of sinkers. The sinkers are mean-spirited people and this is why blogging has changed for me. Those that believe their blog should be doing better (and it isn’t) will always knock those that are doing well.
Another obvious reason blogging has changed is because there’s suddenly money to be made. About 12 months ago the blogging and getting paid relationship barely existed. Money makes people strange – it always has… again, this is why there are swimmers and sinkers (the sinkers hate those that are making money). NB. I barely make anything out of my blog, so you can all stop thinking that. I’ve done 1-2 sponsored posts and I have a couple of advertisers in the sidebar. Not raking it in.
It’s really obvious that The Remarkable Group has been the leader in changing the blogging game. Ok, now you’re wondering what I am going to say here… Not for one second am I bagging The Remarkable’s. That’s not my style. I do like a lot of the bloggers in that group. I read some of their blogs, I see them at events… All I am saying is that they’ve brought money to the table. They’ve changed the blogging game as they’ve discovered there is serious money to be made. And I say good for them. But like I said, money makes people strange and jealous.
So competition amongst bloggers is getting wild. Commenting has decreased and twitter is hard to be involved in (it can turn on you in a second). Currently I am finding Instagram the happiest and nicest place to be.
Lately, all I’ve wanted to blog about are airy-fairy things. I skirt around issues, I ignore meaningful stuff and I don’t feel like having an opinion. There’s piles of issues I see on twitter which I’d normally be dying to write about (the prank call, questions to Mia Freedman about paying writers, the endless breastfeeding debates.. blah blah… there’s always something), but I never feel like sharing any more.
Then I wonder if what I am doing here is really ‘blogging‘? Am I turning this space in to a ‘website with changing content?‘ What IS the definition of a blogger these days? Are you a blogger if you write paragraphs and share your up’s and downs? Or should you be called a ‘business blogger’ if you make money from this place with a domain name?
I know there is vitriol floating around about bloggers at the moment. We don’t seem to be getting a good wrap. Jealous people have flocked to a forum to throw some stones at any blogger who earns over $1 for their blog. Lots of us have seen the discussions and I am predicting legal action over there soon. Such a shame.
I am not a writer and I’ve curbed my sharing. I love to shop, I love interiors, I love gadgets and I love reality tv. I’m a Mum to 3 boys who drive me crazy. These are the topics I want to write about. I know you still come to visit. And I love that you do! But for me, the game has changed. I feel safer and more at ease when I only share with you the fun times in my life.
So now, that I’ve shared these feelings, I will probably open myself up to criticism. I may block you, delete your comment, out you, or delete this post at any time. Because I can and will. I have got tougher. This is just how I feel. If you feel different, then that’s ok, but I don’t feel like having a huge discussion about it.
Be kind to each other. Let people do what they want to do without judging. Let people make money, talk about their kids, wear what they want… let people feel safe. Support each other. There’s enough money, domain names, readers in this world for us all to have happy and successful blogs.
If, at the end of the day, you go to bed happy with everything you’ve done, then whatever anyone else thinks doesn’t count.
Thanks for reading my blog every day. X
Be the first to read my stories
Get Inspired by the World of Interior Design
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.
Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.
Comments
Deb
Oh Katrina, fabulous post. I feel like that. I have been so careful about what I put up lately and careful about comments I make in case I invite a whole lot of unintended spam or upset people. I am loving IG I just hope the whole commercial side stays away over there as I have found everyone to be lovely.
Ellie
This is a great post Katrina! Blogging has changed, I think in some regard a lot of the world has changed! Social media and the internet has given people a voice to talk about anything and sometimes it gives the nasty people a bad platform to bully others. I’ve seen some poor bloggers cop a lot of nasty stuff from “anonymous” people and its just horrible! Like you say, lets all be nice to one another!!! Blogging is great fun! 🙂 xo
Liz N
Hi Katrina,
Yes it is true – however, I have to keep coming back to why I blog — for me! Sometimes I do scratch my head at why certain blogs have so many followers, but that’s the beauty of blogging, for someone that doesn’t resonate with you, there will always be someone that you can relate to.
Have a great Christmas with your family and look forward to catching up in the New Year so you can work some magic with me lol xx
samantha moon
I just wanted to say that i really Love your blog.
I think people love the posts when you say you are feeling a bit down because it makes you normal and a lot of people relate to that because often there feeling the same way and its good to know there not the only ones.
Its sad that the internet has become such a place where people are scared to share things due to backlash i thought that was what it was for to share and connect with people.
I love reading about the exciting things you get up to, house progress and normal day to day things with your family its a really fun blog to read.
Dont stop!!! xxxxxxxx
Michelle Hayward
Oh Katrina, I completely agree 100000000000000 percent… infinity and beyond. As you know I closed down my blog for a time due to the vitriol. I’m sure it’ll be back any time soon, as I haven’t shut up! I did for awhile, but I got over it. But I get where you are at!!!! I don’t blame you and people need to get a life!!!
A-M
I miss your happy posts M. xx
Michelle Hayward
Thanks A-M! Honestly didn’t think anybody would notice x
Kelly Exeter
I hate that you don’t feel like your own blog is a safe place any more. That to me is a huge tragedy 🙁
Yvette @ Little Bento Blog
blogging has definitely changed.. $$$ is the big factor… but hopefully things will settle down next year when people realise that there isn’t that much $$ involved in blogging, and you will spend more time chasing that money than when you actually recieve it you may go.. oh.. really all that effort for nothing?
I hope every blogger thinks about why they started blogging in the first place.. what drove them to write those personal intimate posts.. and go back to that.. to where it all started.. the readers will stay.. and the comments will start again 🙂
Merry Christmas 🙂 xx
Megan Magill
Well said Katrina. I don’t blog for the money, I just do it because it’s MY little something. I have four children and I spend all my time looking after them, my husband and all the other stuff that’s going on in our lives. I enjoy the 5 days a week that I get to blog its my special time. I enjoy your blog and I must admit that some things I skip over just because I don’t have the time BUT I do try to drop in regularly. KEEP DOING WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. 🙂
Rachel
I completely understand. I also won’t write anything ‘down’ or too opinionated. My blog is a happy place, it’s meant to make people smile. It’s not going to change anyones life but I also aren’t interested in writing anything that will attract negativity. It’s a shame when we don’t feel free to write what we feel like writing. Rachel x
Kek
Snap! You’ve summed up a big part of the reason I’m finding it difficult to blog these days.
That forum thread is just nasty. A bunch of jealous, horrible people with not enough real problems to worry about. :/
julie @ tractorgirl
I think in anything that becomes popular there is always a tipping point, and now that everybody’s realised that there *may* be some money involved, the competition just got a whole lot fiercer. There is always going to be that element of the population that want to tear down those who seem to be doing better than them – it usually comes back to their own lack of self confidence, which is sad.
Keep doing it because it’s you. My blog is tiny, but it’s about what I love (all things art, craft & design), and I want to share and teach others about that. If I was after money, I’d go back to office management. (XP)
Carly
Hi katrina, I read your blog beacuse I love your style…home, clothes, wit…. Nothing else matters nothing else matters to me 🙂
Robyn
Hi Katrina,
I don’t have a blog so I’m not sure I should even comment. I love reading blogs. I came across blogs a few years ago at a very low point in my life and I can’t even begin to tell you how much this blogworld helped me through that time, I will be forever grateful to the bloggers of the world. For this reason it makes me sad that maybe others won’t have the same opportunity as I to get through a tough time and connect with others in the same way. I have never understood jealousy or bullying, it speaks volumes about the sort of person they are. I love Instagram, it’s fun. I would love it if you could all earn an income from your blogs, it’s nice to be recognised for your efforts. Cheers, Robyn
Priya
Hi Katrina,
I am sad that blogging has become this way , that money has gained so much prominence into something which was so genuine .However, I still regularly come across people like you who bring a breath of fresh air because of your genuine nature. I think I say it from everyone when I say that you are one of the most humble and helpful people around and we love you 🙂 and will keep coming back to read whatever you have to say .
Emily
Fabulous post! I’d write a huge comment dissecting it and agreeing with each point in turn but there’s really no need.
I only feel sad that you feel you’ve had to change your own blog because of the online environment. And I hope nothing happens that makes you feel you have to take this post down. x
Wish upon a star
what i dont like is the control some servers try to have over us and as I am tech challenged it makes a simple change ridiculously difficult! I will probably never make any money but love to connect with everyone 🙂 Keep smiling, all those poo heads with agendas are not worth the worry!
Kristy
Katrina,
I love reading your blog. It is easy to read, honest and funny. I love that you say it how it is and as a mother of three boys I can so relate to your world. You don’t blog about being perfect or having the perfect family and that is what I love, you make it real!!!!
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
Kylie
Katrina I don’t blog but I follow you on FB & Twitter. I wish we didn’t live in a world where things turn nasty so quickly from comments people make. I always read what you have to say. You are one of my faves! Kylie x
Michelle Hayward
AND PS furthermore…people should just mind their business. If more people worried about their own lives/blogs/and where they are at personally in the grand scheme of things (working to better themselves etc…) they wouldn’t have time to look into someone else’s back yard and care what they’re up to! Where some is at $$$-wise is IRRELEVANT It’s nothing to do with anybody if you blog makes $1 or $100 000. Can’t we just do art for arts sake???? Blogging for blogsake FFS!!! (sorry!! couldn’t resist and this incenses me!) I love your Blog in all forms!!!!!!!! xx
Jane
hi Katrina – the last post I wrote (way back in October) made a similar point about blogging and Instagram. I much prefer the latter. It has that immediacy and authenticity that many blogs now lack. I think that blogging has matured and changed over the years and some parts of that maturity (like a creeping inauthenticity and manipulation of the reader) I really dislike. The other thing I really dislike is the cliquey nature of some blogs – all the same people commenting every time, with little coded messages and in jokes. It doesn’t feel inclusive to me. Other parts like the increased professionalism, are obviously a good thing. And if people can make money, that is great, given how hard it is for women to work flexibly. Go girls !
I like all different kinds of blogs, for many different reasons. I think it is a real shame that you feel you can not or do not want to blog about any kind of thing you damn well feel like. You should not feel constrained (within reason of course).
Don’t you think perhaps the online media, by allowing comments and more debate, has in a way taken over the role that a lot of blogs used to have?
Keep doing what you are doing, Katrina, you are a very real person and I for one always like coming here. xo
(only criticism – for those of you who only allow comments via FB – we don’t all have FB accounts. I closed mine down 6 months ago!)