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
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Comments
Penny
Wow that’s a whole lot of crazy thoughts.
Don’t slow down or stop as u inspired me to get blogging
Love that you are raw and honest
Pen x
Jenny
Hi Katrina, great post and well written. Sadly the blogworld has changed and has lost that friendly intimacy we once all shared. I too find instagram a much happier place to be. I will continue to blog but only when I have a renovation update to post and this is more for my own recount than anything else. I don’t have any agenda for blogging other than to record our journey in this house. Have a lovely Christmas with your family and I look forward to following your new build. Sorry if I don’t comment as often but I do still read. 😉
A-M
Great great post. Don’t delete it! You are so brave. Thank you for saying what we are all thinking. I lost my feeling of safety this time last year when a blogger befriended me in real life, smothered me, I asked for some space and she then set about destroying my life in any way she could. It’s still going. I got a phone call from a psychiatric clinic today!!!! confirming my appointment next week, when I am overseas!!!! What appointment? It continues! She’s tried everything. Every time I create a blog post, I wonder what she is going to do next. I try not to let it affect me but it does. It has made me guarded in the way I blog. Blogging has changed. It was such a happy place here 5 years ago. There are mean girls now… the high school cheerleaders. I see their handiwork every day… their passive aggressive digs at other bloggers, their exclusion of others, their judgements. Why? I try to be in the blog world but not of it, I really do. Even that is hard. How do you network when you don’t trust anyone? I still feel the positives outweigh the negatives though, hence the reason why I am still here. Through my blog, I earn my living through my lighting and interiors business. I sort of have to be here. There is nothing wrong with earning money through your blog either. It’s a great medium through which to earn a living. It’s the judgement from others that ruins it all. And don’t get me started on the judgement from others on how one chooses to live their life. You too can go on a nice holiday if you sell your home and rent. It’s called priorities and choice. Give me a break trolls!!!! A-M xx
Michelle Hayward
I hear you A-M! I had written to you and said don’t let it change/effect you! What a joke, months later I succumbed to the pressure. I turned off the pressure cooker by walking away for awhile…and then yep, they win! Why should negative prevail over positive. Why should our internal dialogue BE the negative and not the positive. Why does it influence us more!!?? The more I thought about this and analysed and realised what I was missing out by NOT blogging in the way I wanted I decided to bring it back! To hell with them!!!! I await another email/letter/ or similar nasty attack, but they can jam it! It’s my life to live, it’s my journey, my story, and by god I am gonna live it!
Kim @ Coffee Pot Chronicles
Personally, I don’t hate anyone if they make money on their blog or have better numbers than I do. What I hate is the attitude. The one that has some (defintely not all…I refuse to over-generalize) of the money makers acting like they’re above those of us who enjoy blogging/writng for just that reason.
I respect bloggers who respect other bloggers. Have I been a little jealous at times or maybe a little snarky? Umm, guilty. I’m not perfect in any way but I’ve definitely learn to be more open-minded, understanding, and nice. Bloggers can and will do much better accepting each blogger for who they are rather than sneering at them because they don’t like what they write or what kind of blog they have. It can be tough to be nicey nice all the time but it sure beats being the jerk no one likes.
Kate Luella
Oh my, I must be so out of the loop. Despite hosting a podcast called Blogger Intervies Podcast, Katrina I am totally immune to all of this negative crap, I can’t believe any blogger would bag another – that is ridiculous. I know AM has had issues, but that was a personal thing creeping onto her blog, but I have seen bad stuff going on in the US. I seriously wish you would all just do an say as you please, delete any rubbish comments, don’t even give them a second thought – ok, the psych ringing to confirm an appt is extraordinary, again AM – Get legal advice on that whacko!!
sorry Katrina, OT a bit there. TBH, I’m thinking you’ve just outgrown the blogging journey for now, that’s all. I still love your posts, your comments, what you are doing, I wish you were making more money. If a blogger like you can’t cash in, who can? We must catch up some time!
🙂 Kate
Lisa Barton-Collins
You are so right, it’s like you are speaking from my heart!
I think there is money to be made fromm blogging, but so what? If you want that, go after it. If you don’t, well don’t go there. It’s dissapointing that so many bloggers can’t aim higher without pushing others down. Ugh!
I’m also with you on twitter – I’ve tried for ages to get into it but it seems so nasty that I’ve just about given up. Life is too short to be so negative!
xx
Seana Smith
Hi there Katrina, I’ve never thought that the term ‘bloggers’ was very useful at all. There are so many different types of people writing on the web and for so many different reasons. I do use the term to describe myself but it doesn’t really fit and I’d like my blog to eventually look like the little online magazine I see it as.
I started the blog/mag as a commercial venture, to sell books, but have grown to love the online space so much and prefer it as a writing space. I’m definitely keen to earn income and don’t apologise for that. But I guess that lots of the more recent arrivals are like me, we started less than 2 years ago. Is it mainly the older style bloggers who get grumpy? Anyway, have no time for it. Live and let live.
Maria Tedeschi
I’ve been blogging for years and I sometimes take a break from it for my own reasons. I found the best way to approach anything is to just do it. Just blog like you used to and forget that anyone is actually reading. You’ll soon find yourself comfortable again.
This is just the ebb and flow of it all.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Amanda
I’ve noticed a definite decline in comments for sure over the last year or so which is sad, because the comments and discussion that result from posts you write are motivating and encouraging (provided the comments are positive!) I have no issues at all with bloggers earning money out of their blogs, although I at times, I do wonder about the true authenticity of posts which have been sponsored – I think it has to be integrated and done in the right way. Your blog is one I’ve always loved – you’re honest and friendly and YOU. Keep doing what you do… xxx
Rach aka Stinkb0mb
“Commenting has decreased and twitter is hard to be involved in (it can turn on you in a second).”
I found myself nodding throughout nearly all of your post Katrina but especially the sentence above.
I’ve found myself biting my tongue hard on Twitter of late because it’s just downright nasty at times. If you dare disagree with say one of the more “popular” or “bigger” bloggers, not only do you run the risk of their wrath but watch out for their fans OMG they come after you and bay for your BLOOD!! I think the thing that disheartens me about Twitter at times, is not only how many people display bullying tendencies on it but how they then deny it or brush it off when called out on it by saying “oh but I was just making a joke” or “I was trying to be funny!”.
And the commenting for me. People just don’t seem to comment on other people’s blogs anymore or reply to comments on their own blogs. There are some very good bloggers [Melissas @ sugercoatit is one prime example] who reply to every comment left on a post but they are becoming fewer and fewer and the bigger bloggers? Forget it, not only do they not always reply to comments left on their blogs but they rarely bother to leave comments on other peoples either.
So very sad and part of the reason why despite having a new blog ready to go, I’m in no rush to hit publish.
Great post and good on you for putting what you’re thinking and feeling “out there”.
x
Elements at Home
I have really missed this whole issue. Here I was in my happy place thinking Blogging was lovely and everyone was kind and happy, that others were complimentary and we all have a laugh at mistakes, spelling or grammar and I mean I laugh at my own. I laugh at my own content sometimes looking back.
But I am completely taken aback that there are mean spirited people in Blog land as well as Facebook and Twitter, that crap still spins me out when I hear about it.
Clearly some of these people need much busier lives.
Imagine having the time to be hateful and negative and the energy, seriously it takes so much energy being a trollop. I have seen people with this sort of demeanour and how they have to sit down for ages because they have used up all their physical ability in negative world. Negative world is where all the trollops live.
Whatever you decide to blog about I will listen coz I think your great and would offer up my knowledge of manners to anyone that forgets theirs if I see it. Geez I rant sometimes….
Blog about what and who you like that makes you feel comfortable. You know we all understand and just roll with it. I do like hearing why you blog about your topics that always interests me. Just as this post has. I think its the absolute honesty that I love.
Miss Gingham
Whilst I didn’t really know about some of the stuff you’ve mentioned, it doesn’t surprise me because I used to be a member of several gardening forums which became horrible places too. People laugh when I tell them that, but believe me, there are a lot of plant nazis out there, lying in wait, ready to strike when they can no longer control their jealousy.
It’s a bit scary that blogging has come to this and I’m sorry if it has been spoilt for you. xx
Marleisa Connors
I only started my blog 12 days ago….
So far I haven’t felt restricted by topics and comments.
I really enjoy your blog Katrina as it is always a fun, light read. All the best.
Deanne
I blog for me, I don’t have the time or energy to chase the dollars and if that means I have less followers who cares!
So wrong that there are nasties out there- they need to get a life!!!
Clare
Katrina, I love your blog! I also understand where you’re coming from. I started a blog for my business which involves early parenting support but got so tired of all the so called experts, the nastiness and the attitude of so many. It just didn’t sit right with me. So that blog sits there with my info and that’s about it. Then I started my new blog which is just about me & my renovating journey!!! I am in love with it! There is no right or wrong…..it’s just me and my life. I’ve read so many wonderful blogs, yours included, that inspire me. I love sitting in bed in the morning with my cuppa and seeing what the world has been up to…… And then out I go to work on the house! It motivates me to get projects done and then write about them. My blog is new and I am learning (a lot from you) and I am loving it!!
Brismod
Such a shame you feel that way…but I totally understand your feelings about the nastiness that exists out there.
I’m still trying to work out how to pimp the blog to fund our paint habit…maybe I ought to get a full-time job…lol!
Karen@RestyledVintage
Great post Katrina, you put it perfectly and I hope it is a relief to you to have it off your chest and down on ‘paper’ 🙂
My blog has always just been a journal of my projects and thankfully I have managed to fly under the radar of bullies and weirdos. (Mostly. I did get in one fight on facebook with a blatant copycat and I came off 2nd best when she abused me all over her facebook page). It scared me how quickly things can turn bad and my husband put it perfectly when I went to his work and cried in his office…he said ‘that is why I don’t like any social media. Anyone can say anything they like about anyone and it doesn’t have to be true, you also don’t have the right of reply to put things straight’ (she’d blocked me from posting my side of the story). That man has a good point 🙂
I do shamelessly have google adsense on my blog and so far have earned a grand total of $46…in about 18 months, lol. Haven’t seen a cent yet because you have to get to $150 before they pay out…I should be rolling in it in about 5 years 😉
I tried Twitter but I am scared of it and deleted my account not long after starting it. I like Instagram and have seen only nice and positive on there so far.
You know what? I am actually getting sick of reading alot of blogs. They are a time sucker and I can’t be bothered any more. There are some which seem like an echo of another ‘big’ blog which, while slightly amusing in a sick way, is pretty sad. I also don’t like the way some bloggers seem to be able to get away with saying or doing whatever they like and they always have a whole bunch of loyal fans there waiting to defend them. That is the nicest way I can phrase what I am really thinking 😉
xx Karen
Sue
I guess I have been noticing things have changed with blogging for quite a while,and I have been thinking my heart isnt in it anymore…
I have changed too, and what I was passionate about 5 years ago, Im not so much now, or I dont have time for anymore.
I have to agree with some of the others when I say Ive been totally oblivious to the competitiveness and nastiness that supposedly goes on, but I am in my only little world most of the time, just sharing something frivolous occasionally with whoever wants to read my blog.
As I said in a recent post, I havent had much to say, I have been living my life and enjoying it, instead of writing or talking about it all the time.Sometimes we need to step back and watch from afar, to realize what life is all about….
Enjoy your Christmas, and come back in the New Year with a better perspective.
You have many followers, so you are obviously doing something right! People are so unpredictable, what you might find interesting, someone else wont, it isnt worth stressing about.
I like that you are an honest aussie from Wagga, and say it how it is, without all the frills!
Red Roses and Crystal
Hi Katrina, I rarely visit blog land now and have not posted on my own blog since I lost my mum recently. I have ditched twitter altogether and rarely use FB and I honestly don’t miss any of it because I still Instagram and have forged beautiful new Instagram friends and many of the blogs I followed and who followed me in return are now instagraming their hearts out so I still feel very connected. Instagram has not been tainted yet with nastiness and let’s hope that continues.
I honestly don’t get the competitive side of blogging and never have, to me it’s akin to a dog chasing it’s tail. I glanced at the vitriol on ‘that’ forum and if I didn’t know better I would have thought the entries were written by silly teenage girls who need to swallow a reality pill and grow up. Nasty nasty stuff and nothing to be proud of. Social media can bring out the very worst in people.
I admire you for keeping at this blog caper as long as you have. Truly.
xx
Sonia Life Love and Hiccups
Oh hun – This is the type of passion and emotion I love to read. Dont get me wrong I love airy fairy too on some days, but it is the occasional post like this that shows depth of character, makes you real and is a reminder to everyone that bloggers have hearts and though we put it all out there to be judged at the end of the day, judgement can hurt. Even in my little bubble I do notice the competitiveness at times and that is such a shame and why I go out of my way to promote others and open up my pages for sharing. we all have a unique story to tell so there is room for all of our voices. I do live in a bubble a lot of the time. i choose to ignore a lot that goes on and not get involved and I have a huge dent in my bum from sitting on the fence in fear of offending anyone. But you are so right, at the end of the day if we feel good about what we right, whatever it is about, that is all that should really matter. haters are gonna hate, we cant change that, but we can lead by example and I think you do a fabulous job at that lovely. xx
Sorry about the essay lol x