I'm joining Book Blogger Confessions hosted by Karen at For What It's Worth Reviews and Midnyte Reader.
Here's the question:
How do you follow blogs? Do you use Google Reader? Email? Are you more apt to follow people who have fewer followers? Would you follow a blog just to enter a contest? What makes you unfollow?
I follow a bunch of blogs on Google reader/GFC and try to scan through as many posts as I can in the morning. It's hard -- there are so many great blogs out there!
I follow other bloggers for a number of reasons. Because I love their posts or their writing style or their sense of humor. Because I met them at a conference. Because they posted something interesting.
I got a lot of help and encouragement when I started blogging, so if I think a new blog is great, I try to help out -- link them up, offer ARCs, leave comments, etc.
Contests and giveaways can be a great way to find new blogs. But before I follow, I try to look and see if the blog is of interest to me. I try to keep my Google reader for blogs that I read regularly. But yes, once or twice I've probably followed just to get a contest entry!
I do unfollow blogs from time to time -- sorry! A couple times a year I go through my reader. If a blogger hasn't been posting often, or if I scan through the posts and all the reviews are of books in genres I never read, I sometimes unsubscribe.
Tell me in comments: what makes you follow a blog? A contest? A specific post? What might make you unfollow?
I will follow blogs for contests and such, but I wanna support every blogger and I wish I could comment on every single person's and with so many out there it's not possible to do that, but the blogs that I really enjoy reading I usually follow by e-mail so, I never miss a post.
ReplyDeleteKristin @ Young Adult Book Haven
It's hard, right? Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. I think most of us just do the best we can!
DeleteI've definitely followed blogs just for the contest entry but I've tried to be better about that. Now I mostly only enter giveaways on blogs I already follow.
ReplyDeleteI also unfollow-I had some blogs that hadn't been updated since 2011 and did not feel at all bad about unfollowing. I have also unfollowed after realizing that the blogger and I didn't share many interests in genre (in the beginning, I followed a lot of blogs that reviewed adult PNR and I don't really read that; now I try to stick to primarily YA blogs) and in the case of plagiarism.
I also only use google reader-I tried a few with email subscriptions and found it annoying. It just doesn't work for me.
Great topic!
I expect that most people weed out their readers from time to time. And if what I'm posting is of no interest, I certainly would not expect them to keep me around :)
DeleteEphrielle (who commented below) had a great idea in her post that Feedburner should let you bunch your subscription emails == like one daily email update on all the blogs you follow.
I'm cleaning my GFC blogs at the moment, because I went crazy in the beginning. I was new and exited, so yeah, I almost followed every one I came across with :p Now I'm sorting everything out. If there are giveaways, I try to follow them in other ways if it's possible.
ReplyDeleteGreat answer, interesting topic!
Clearing out my reader helped me a lot. I felt guilty at first, but I realized that there are a lot of defunct blogs. Or blogs that I followed not realizing that they weren't about books!
DeleteI recently went through and cleaned out my google reader, it was just becoming way too much to get up every morning and try to sort through a 100 posts. I was pretty ruthless, if I found that I was skimming through more than 50% of a blogs posts then they got the ax. But now I wake up with only 40 or so posts to browse each day and it feels so much BETTER. I think when I first started blogging I would follow anyone and everyone, now I am much more choosy.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time I unfollow because the blog's choice of reading is much different than mine. Like a lot of blogs are heavy into urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and while I do like some of that, it's not my preferred choice. Those blogs got axed simply because I was deleting most of their reviews and posts due to the subject not being of interest to me.
Yep, I probably need to do another clear out this fall!
DeleteWhat a relevant topic. To be frank, many of the blogs I've followed have been to enter into a contest. But then, I actually start looking around to their blogs. If I love what I see, I'll subscribe by email right there. I don't usually look too hard at all the posts on my Google Reader. I like to get emails about all my favorite blogs!
ReplyDeleteI may unfollow via email from time to time if the content is repetitive or of no interest to me. But I never really get around to unfollowing GFC blogs - what's the point? I would be disappointed if I had 600 followers one day and 598 the next. That's a blow to your ego. :)
I find that my follower count -- like my weight -- always fluctuates a little, so I try not to get stressed about it. "Try" being the operative word!
DeleteI agree - but you're an "established" blogger. You don't really have to worry about 2 people deciding to leave because there'll probably be another 3 more than interested tomorrow xD
DeleteRSS is weird -- my count goes up and down a little depending on the time of day and day of week and it seems like that's normal. So I try not to fixate on it.
DeleteBut getting followers -- the right kind, that is --isn't easy. We should propose that as a future topic: what works, what doesn't.
If you have a cool blog name or design I am much more inclined to follow someone. I unfollow bloggers every once in awhile, mostly for the same reasons you do. I did unfollow a blogger that wrote a post that was so breathtakingly ignorant that I simply cut all ties with their site. I don't even feel bad about that... mostly.
ReplyDeleteI try to follow my blog followers back, but I probably fail at that too. ;)
Ooh, a design buff. I like a cool design, but I'm all about the content. That said, I am getting a redesign!!! So excited.
DeleteA redesign?!?!?!?! Hell yes, now I'm excited too! Can't wait to see the new YA Romantics! When is the unveiling? (:
DeleteNot until January. You'll have to be patient -- and I will too!
DeleteIt seems at some point we have all followed a blog just for a contest. Don't feel bad about unfollowing a blog. I don't think when we decide to follow a blog it is a life long commitment. People change. And it wasn't like it was a contract signed in blood. I don't want to feel like my followers feel forced to follow. I want them to follow simply because they enjoy the content and want to get a heads up on any new posts.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't feel that bad. And I don't think they are notified, so it's not like they will feel personally rejected..
DeleteThere are so many blogs out there its crazy. It is true a giveaway can bring me to a new blog, but what keeps me there is if they read genres I read and also if they are posting often. I love following by email since the posts show up right there for me everyday. I find that much easier to keep up with everything.
ReplyDeleteI should set up my email so all the blog subscriptions go into one box. That would be great for me..
DeleteI changed emails and switched all my subscriptions.That was a pain lol.
DeleteYou offer ARCs to new bloggers? That's so nice of you! Sometimes I feel bad about unfollowing a blog especially if I followed them back after they followed me but I remind myself if they aren't maintaining their blog then they are most likely not caring/paying attention to their followers and follower count and they most likely not keeping updated on the blogs they follow.
ReplyDeleteSandy
Yes, I've just started doing that. When I started out, a "big" blogger gave me some of her overflow and it really helped me so much. So I am trying to pay it forward and do the same.
DeleteIt is so difficult to follow and keep up with all the awesome blogs out there. Sometimes I'll have to divide up the blogs I follow throughout the week. If I feel a connection to a blog/blogger I'll follow. I'll unfollow if I feel I'm just not getting something from that blog.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people feel that way. I do feel guilty unfollowing, but I am so much happier to keep my reader for things I read daily.
DeleteI really got turned on to the idea of following book bloggers from some of my library pals, but really I found the blogs through some fan-fiction sites (my secret love). Giveaways are fabulous and I have definitely followed some bloggers based on their choice and ease of giveaways. A blogger who I feel I relate to and has a similar taste is one I will continue to return to, regardless of giveaways. I really started following to find out about awesome new books that might be passing me by!
ReplyDeleteOooh -- fanfic? Interesting. I'll have to grill you about that by email.
DeleteGreat reasons! I like to follow a blog when I've started to make a connection with the blogger. There are bloggers whose blogs I comment on and they comment on mine, or bloggers I chat with on Twitter. Once I feel like I'm getting to know that blogger, I'll for sure add them to my favourites list.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I go through my list all the time ... sometimes there are blogs on there where posts rarely go up, or maybe I just don't feel the same connection with the blogger.
Seems like a lot of us feel that way. Though I follow some blogs just because I like the blogger's take on stuff --even if they never respond to comments and don't follow me on Twitter...
DeleteWhen I first started my blog I followed so many different blogs. Now I really have to go through and clean up my reader. Most of the time if it's a blog that I know I visit daily I will follow by email so I don't miss a post. Others that I visit regularly though maybe not everyday I have in my favorites in my google reader.
ReplyDeleteCleaning up my reader is on my to-do list -- I have some new blogs to add, too!
DeleteI used to be such a good, dedicated commenter but yikes! I'm bad these days. I make it to most of my favorites every few days but I find the bulk of my blog visits originate from Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly seeing a link and can just head right on over.
That's okay. We chat on Twitter. Works for me!
DeleteI follow a lot of blogs in my google reader, but weirdly I don't think their posts always show up. I know somes don't all the time. I found a lot through giveaways, before I started blogging, but I am much more selective now. I want to make sure they are interested in the same type of books as me. And I have NOOO idea how to unfollow. LOL
ReplyDeleteLOL I don't really even know how to unfollow either. I only want to unfollow the blogs that have stopped posting or are deleted but I'm assuming if they delete their blog it will delete my follow? I have no idea. I follow practically everyone. If I enter a contest I think it is polite to follow. I follow my closer blogs by email or by my blog list on my on blog. That is the biggest way I follow. I'm on my own blog a lot so I scan my list and see what interesting posts are up and pop over.
ReplyDeleteI agree -- I have Google reader and then I see what's happening on Twitter and who's stopping by my blog and try to get around to as many blogs as I can...
DeleteI do feel guilty when I unfollow someone but a large google reader stresses me out. I just can't get to commenting on every post or every blog. I wish I could though.
ReplyDeleteI just saw your comment on Kate's blog and I am so excited for you! Lori is worth every penny... and the wait. I waited 3 months for mine and I am so happy with it. I can't wait to see it!
DeleteI know!!! I was so excited and then the three month wait :( But that will give me more time to figure out what I want.
DeleteI think I follow too many blogs. No, scratch that, I KNOW I follow too many blogs. I just can't keep up! But it's so hard for me to stop following a blog... But *sigh* I guess I need to do it. It's really keeping me far behind to have so many blogs to follow, since I want to comment on so many blogs every day and can't even keep up with my favorite blogs! Hmmm, I guess I might be doing some Fall cleaning pretty soon...
ReplyDeleteWell, there's a difference between following and reading, maybe. Not sure how anyone could really read hundreds of blogs every single day. I like the idea of making a folder in Google reader for "must-reads" and then reading a lot of other blogs as often as I can.
DeleteI follow if I am entertained, if I like the way the reviews are written & discussed & if they have regular giveaways. (It's all about me really!!) I am having a quirky day today.
ReplyDeleteIt IS all about you. Seriously, I agree completely :)
DeleteI like questions like these! I do sometimes unsubscribe as well and it does make me feel slightly bad but I just have no reason following if the content you post has no interest. I love people writing random things about their day or funny pictures even if they don't have anything to do with books so I'll sometimes follow just for that!
ReplyDeleteI like funny blogs too. I just like a variety, I guess...
DeleteI'm going to admit that for the most part, my google reader is full of blogs that I've folloed for giveaways. If there is a blog I really like, I try to email follow so that I don't miss anything. I also prefer following with Networked Blogs because I'm always on facebook, so I find a lot of great reviews and articles on facebook.
ReplyDeleteI guess I just don't have enough time to read through google reader daily.
I feel like an awful person for admitting it..lol
I follow a blog if I like the blogger. Sometimes, if I'm on a giveaway spree, I will follow to enter.. But I rarely do that...
ReplyDeleteI totally thought I commented on this last week!!!!! But I don't see it... I follow pretty much everyone and don't unfollow unless they do something that is just in such bad taste that I have to (this has happened once and it wasn't plagerism... in those cases, I still read, but I don't comment or participate). For keeping track.... I have everything organized into folders and as long as "Blogger 1" is empty, I ignore the others.
ReplyDeleteThere are blogs I follow regularly and some I visit once a week..just too many lovely blogs. If I follow multiple ways such as twitter, facebook and GFC you are more likely to get more comments from me. If we connect over books and build a friendship, then i follow daily. If you are on my blogs I stalk, i literally stalk you..hahaha. I don't really follow for prizes, unless I like the blog content. I like a lot of genres so the blogs I do follow are diverse. I will unfollow blogs that are negative. I do not mind honest reviews, but cannot tolerate author bashing. Great post!
ReplyDelete