Ohhh, winter is hard for me...a sort of SAD meets crazy, with a hint of PMS and perimenopause thrown in to make everything all blur together.
A while back, I saw something on Facebook that made me think. What I read asked the question, and I'm paraphrasing now, because I can't seem to find the original post and the above mentioned condition makes it hard for me to focus and remember important things like that. Blogging....is it competition or camaraderie?
And I got to thinking.
Of course I didn't want to admit that yes, blogging is competitive. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want my blog to be wildly popular. While I'd love to brag and say I make gobs and gobs of money blogging, the reality is, and this may come as a shock to some of you, this blog generates very little income. Oh sure I get perks, which I love, love, love. But stacks of cold hard cash, um, not so much.
Instead, what I've created here, is a place where once strangers stop in, have a look around, enter the current giveaway or just leave me some good, old fashioned comment love.
Through online blog hopping and in person blogging events, I've met some wonderful people. Who make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Yup, I'm a star!*
And that folks,
So what do you think? Do you find blogging competitive or have you discovered some great new friendships that you may have not otherwise formed?
*If only in my own little head.
12 comments:
I once thought of blogging as competitive. I mean, it really is, but I've chosen to take myself out of the game. I blog for me and I'm so very thankful for all of the wonderful people that I've gotten to know because of it...like you! :)
I actually find it not at all competitive. Most bloggers like to help each other out. Give hints on where to find good sponsors, and find pr, and gain followers.
www.theknitwitbyshair.blogspot.com
Hey blog pally! Yes you are a star!
I used to be super competitive about it. I still obsess when I think I've written a blog post that I think should get lots of comments and it doesn't. I don't make any money off my blog to speak of. I still haven't gotten a single payout from Google Adsense, but I did get like 10 bucks from Amazon Kindle which really amazed me. But I do get lots of cool stuff and tickets to events (thank you for referring me). And most importantly...it keeps me sane...ok...closer to sane. Lol!
I never considered my blog as a way to earn money but right at the moment i won't mind some hard cash.. Yeah its true, i did meet some really cool friend who i knew them better than some off line !
Actually, I have very little interest in the blogs which seem to be a competition for the most followers. I really enjoy the blogs where I've met people, enjoy some good conversation through comments and replies. Fun to get a glimpse of their lives.
But of course I love comments, who doesn't! It's nice to know that there are actually people out there reading your blog. :-)
Perhaps it's the Pollyanna in me, but I personally don't see the competitive side of blogs. I blog because I love it. That's not to say I don't love seeing my stats and knowing people are reading, but when all is said and done, I blog for me.
I can't believe you chose this topic today!
I have been thinking about this a LOT. It seems more and more blogs that I visit lately are all pr based. What happened to blogging as a way of expressing yourself and sharing your experiences. I really miss the the old days of blogs just being blogs and not commercial messages.
Give me a recipe or a funny story any day, I'll get my Tide commercials during General Hospital thank you very much!
So, to answer your question, I blog for camaraderie and in my book you are a huge star!
"plus a tiny bit of mother's helper": SNORT!
I'm in total agreement with you on this issue, so let's just say, "Yeah! What YOU said!" (I TOLD you you're a star!)
I have been feeling like a little fish in an enormous ocean lately. I actually blame Twitter. I think it moves too quickly and I can't be personally connected to hundreds of people. I just can't.
Anyway. It IS about camaraderie for me, too, even though you don't link to me in your post above.
TOO LATE! You can't go back and put me in. Hmmph. Whatevs.
See you at the Jam and MacBeth and our blogger lunch on the 5th. But I may not be talking to you, just out of spite.
:D
How funny! I just found your blog through GWB and I'm very... VERY... new to the blogging world. (Well, me, as a blogger, anyway. I've loved to read them for years!)
I've had opportunities to clearly the see competition and occasional drama, but I've also met the handful of gems that are just beautiful, helpful, caring people.. I think, in the end, it's about both. It just depends on whose blog and which side of the interwebs you're on. :)
I *do* feel like an outsider right now, but I think that just comes with the territory of being a noob. Everyone has to start somewhere, right?
Girl.
You're a star in my eyes!
I love your posts....
I don't see it as competitive for myself. I love writing and expressing my thoughts so I'm flattered to find people who comment. I've met some really great people who I know I never would've met otherwise.
Post a Comment