My Top 5 Pet Peeves With Blogging
Let me start by saying, I love blogging! It’s a fantastic hobby/job and I love everything that goes along with it. There are some things that really grind my gears though so I thought I’d share some with you.
You can read my previous post about the things I wish I’d known when I first started blogging here. But for now, here’s my little rant; Pet Peeves With Blogging!
1. No one believes how hard you work.
I will admit, I was guilty of this before I started blogging myself. It looks so easy but it’s really not! Yes, we mainly write about subjects that interest us so can find it quite easy to sit and fire out a couple of blog posts in one sitting. It’s not as simple as just posting them.
We will get writer’s block from time to time too so actually it’s not always that simple.
Once we’ve written a post that’s good enough for our own critical eye we then have to make sure the SEO is ok, sort any pictures, post and then promote! Promoting means we spend a lot of time online trying to drive people to our site. It takes a lot of time and trying to do it around a job is sometimes impossible.
2. The “Follow, Unfollow Game”
This happens a lot on Instagram but I’ve recently noticed it more on Twitter too. People follow, you follow back then they’ve unfollowed you again. Guess what…. I will then unfollow too! Most of have the apps where we can see who has unfollowed us but this silly practice still exists and I don’t think people will ever stop.
This game is played by people only interested in having a high number of followers. Some of us actually enjoy the interaction on “Social” media and there are some great communities who will help promote you if you are actually willing to communicate with them!
Which brings me on to my next Peev:
3. People who want everything from the blogging community but give nothing in return.
You don’t see these people very often but they are out there. Link droppers. The ones who post their links on social media threads then run. Lots of Facebook groups and Twitter RT accounts have these kinds of threads but most of us will always return the favour by reading, liking and commenting on other people’s blog posts. These people don’t. They don’t interact with the community at all but still expect everyone to read their posts.
4. Bloggers slagging off bloggers.
Yes, this does happen. I was quite lucky and didn’t see any of this for the first few months. It’s horrible though. Sometimes people do have a difference in opinion but it should be just that. Nobody needs to be torn down for saying something you don’t agree with. I’ve also seen some spiteful, outright bullying! It seems to stem from a bit of jealousy at times and actually one of the times I’ve seen it done was by a number 3!
We’re all in the same boat and your blog is most likely going to be read by other bloggers so be kind! A little bit of friendliness goes a long way.
5. Companies that expect the world for free.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s lovely to be offered free things in return for an Instagram post. I am always willing to help out little companies and I love trying new products. It’s when you get a big company wanting 3 instagram posts, stories and a blog post in return for 1 small product. Erm.. I’m pretty sure you will have an advertising budget so why do you expect all this for nothing?
As per point 1, we work hard! You don’t expect your staff to work for free so don’t expect it from us.
I think that’s enough ranting for one day! I feel better for that though!
If you feel you want to add to this with your own pet peeves then please feel free to do so in the comments. What gets on your nerves? Is it posts like this? Let me know!
39 Comments
Jo
Agree with all of this. I must say I haven’t seen any slagging off yet, but I hate the follow/unfollow game! Still love blogging though!
Carly Bloggs
It happens very rarely but I’ve seen it a couple of times now and it just makes me sad. Blogging is great though!
Sarah
Couldn’t agree more with all of these points! Blogging is highly underestimated and those who are not already at the top are definitely mistreated when it comes to securing collaborations/contracts etc with companies! x
Carly Bloggs
I definitely agree with you there! We all work hard and actually, the smaller bloggers probably work harder as we’re trying harder to be noticed! x
Kate
Agree with all of it! The link droppers 😂😂 aw god they’re irritating.
Carly Bloggs
If I don’t have time to look through blogs I won’t add my link to a thread. It’s just not the done thing! 😂
Rachael Hope
I hate the follow unfollow game!! It’s so gosh darn rude. It makes me doubt making the effort to follow other people back. But I just can’t bring myself to be that rude!
I gotta hold my hands up, I am sometimes an accidental link dropper. Sometimes I’ll see a thread when I’m walking to work, drop my link, get to work and forget to go back to it later 🤦🏻♀️
It’s not out of malice though. But I really do need to up my comment game arg
Rach
Carly Bloggs
I’ve done it before too and in that same situation. Or, I’ve exited the app then can’t find where I posted the link 😂 it’s the ones who do it constantly that drive me mad!
Jeanette Reiley
I am new to blogging so don’t really know much about some of what you mentioned. I do find blogging takes lots of time and work. I agree with you on the follow/unfollow thing on twitter.
Carly Bloggs
It’ll all come with time lol. Hopefully you won’t have to see some of the nastiness that goes on, it is few and far between.
Bree
Oh I relate to nearly all of those. If anyone has “slagged me” I know nothing of it. The follow/unfollow is so annoying…
Carly Bloggs
I hope no one has ever slagged me off… I’ve definitely never seen anyone do it about you.
Lena
I agree! When I first started blogging I didn’t realize how much work it would be. I’ve slacked (as life has a way of getting in the way) here and there but always try to bounce back and show all of my readers, and then some, some love on their blog!
Lena // http://www.ourchaoticmess.com
Geraldine
I agree to all of the above! I haven’t experienced #4 or 5 yet but I can see it happening. And it’s so sad to hear that bloggers bash other bloggers like that. Some do think it’s a competition. Absolutely hate that follow – unfollow game!
Shannon Matthews
These are so true. The blogging community is definitely divided into two groups- the supportive and the tear downs. I cant say that I’ve been a victim of the tear down bloggers but I certainly have seen it and know people who have. Its a shame really but I guess you get that in any industry that you work in.
And yes, people absolutely have no idea how much work goes into creating a blog and the posts and that is quite possibly the most frustrating thing about blogging.
Cockney
So true! Have only been blogging 10 weeks but still totally relate to all of these points! Great post thank you xx
Chloe Chats
I agree with so many of these! Before I started blogging I also thought oh it doesn’t seem like that much work, but then when I started I ended up realising just how much hard work is put into it! I hate when people just drop their links too, if I participate in a Twitter thread I will always take time to look at other blogs that have also added their latest posts to it – I might not get around to looking at all of them but definitely a good bunch of them! Also its absolutely fine to add your link at the end of a comment on someones blog post but at least show that you have actually read the post! Great post 🙂
Chloe x
http://www.chloechats.com
Stacey
OMG I think the follow/unfollow game is probably my number one pet peeve! It is literally so pointless x
Carly Bloggs
Totally agreed!! It’s just annoying x
Ashley Firth
Thank you for sharing this – I am so tired of the follow/unfollow game – I’m tweeting this post because I think it’s important, (especially for new bloggers), to read 🙂
Jen @ The Frozen Mind
All this! Oh my, I really have nothing to add! Great post!
Amy
Oh my god, could not agree more! So damn annoying… All of these things are terrible! People in the blogging community can be awful. You’re brave for posting this! Well done x
Holly Bird
Love this! It is so true! You wrote everything I was thinking!
Olli at Olliviette.com
I wanted to write a post about blog/influencer drama because sometimes NOT ALL THE TIME it’s really an issue where someone is saying “this annoys me” and then someone gets hurt. Sometimes people use another person as an example of “this annoys me” and it’s an issue because you’re naming someone. Sometimes it’s just pure shade.
What I DON’T like about the drama in the blogging community is people like to pretend this community is ONLY rainbows and glitter farts. It’s not! And I don’t like when someone tries to police it to be that way. I think some things become dramatic because some people always play the “nothing to see here” card when some things do need to be talked about.
But if someone is just badmouthing another blogger for whatever reason, no sir. That’s some hot mess.
Carly Bloggs
It’s definitely not all the time but it does happen. I do think it’s part of life, people have different opinions but there’s a difference between having a discussion and being outright rude about someone. It’s definitely not rainbows but luckily it is a good community (most of the time).
Natasha
I don`t have anything to add, you have hit everything that would be on my list! This is a great list of pet peeves though. You definitely wrote what was in my mind in terms of blogging pet peeves. I have not experienced any tear down, and I try super hard to support all bloggers, but I have heard that people do get this. It is terrible. We should be building eachother up! Blogging is tough! Writing is really only a small portion of it!
thanks for this post!!
Carly Bloggs
I’m glad you liked it! I think it covers most people’s blogging issues. I hope you never have to see the bloggers tearing down other bloggers, it’s not nice.
Jane Frith
I’m quite new, so have not experienced all of these (yet!), but find it reassuring that I am not the only one with the follow/unfollow mularky and the one way street. The first time I joined a follow train, I followed everybody, about 40 people. About 8 followed back. But I love the community and the support. Most people are generous and helpful and really friendly.
Carly Bloggs
Oh yes, follow trains run as smoothly as real trains 😂🙈 I’ve kinda given up with them now.
Nicole B.
I agree! One note, from my perspective, I don’t think all of the follow/unfollows are legit. I know I have had to refollow people on Twitter and I have never unfollowed anyone on purpose. Twitter is just funkified sometimes I think. I can’t provide any insight on that for Instagram, though. I still don’t like Insta…I just don’t get how people are supposed to find me there. But anyway, thank you for sharing your thoughts. As you can see from comments, you are not alone.
Joan
Hey Carly, I appreciate all your comments. Recently, I’ve become especially frustrated with comment threads. I will comment on a dozen or more posts and then see no comments on my own blog. It’s disappointing when it happens but for me, it’s especially irritating because I only have a very limited time to invest on the blog everyday. Bloggers who write tips always encourage other bloggers to participate in comment threads, but I’m sad to say I may have to give them up soon if I don’t begin to see more reciprocity. I’ll keep reading the blogs I love of course, but probably won’t be going out of my way to read so many new ones any more.
Joan
Daisy
Yes! Relate! The follow/unfollow is a big one. Atleast on Twitter it shows by the name if he/she is following. I wish Instagram has that feature too. I feel better knowing I’m not the only one who feels this way about the 5 you mentioned. Take care.
Amanda Wilcox
I totally hate when people do nothing in return. Especially on a post where it says drop links and show love. The thing is though, I want genuine followers who actually comment and like my stuff rather than those who don’t so the way I see it is that I’m not really losing out anyways. Oh well.
Hazel
The follow unfollow game kills me!! I really do not get it at all! I mean I can see you doing it and everything….
Great post! Xx
notyoumate
It depends on how you treat it really, in my opinion. I’m of an age (and I certainly don’t feel 47 !) when I’m not too fussed, and also with two young kids, I simply don’t have the time. With time and space, I believe I could put out really good content and pictures, graphics etc etc and promote, promote, promote.
My only little goal is to increase my Blog views month on month……..Month 2 beat Month 1. And Month 3 is (very) nearly at Month 2 level. I have almost 60 people Following the Blog, I’m somewhat amazed to be honest………but I always Follow back anyone that Follows my Blog and I’m making time to read and comment on as many as possible – life is one big learning opportunity, you can find out great things from EVERYONE.
Please feel free to check out my very basic blog : notyoumate.wordpress.com
Daydreams of a Mum
These are all relatable. I especially don’t understand people who choose not to interact. One of my absolute fave things about blogging is the hole community vibe !!
Congratulations someone loved this post so much they added it to our #blogcrush linky
Just Muddling through
These frustrate me to, I have spent time reading others blogs, liking and leaving comments. I receive very few comments. I’m starting to feel completely disheartened and that I am boring everyone. It’s a lot of work making the effort to do the work and then no one seems to like it.
Carly Bloggs
I know how you feel. Some posts get 0 comments and it’s really disheartening but it will pick up I promise! I can always tell the days when I haven’t been active much,my stats are always low.
Sophia Ismaa
I wonder if those who do the follow/unfollow game ever look at us all complaining about them and feel guilt! Like you said, we would just unfollow back. Otherwise, I’ll be honest, it doesn’t really bother me that much, but the link leavers annoy me… someone has taken the time to read and comment and you’re just like.. nah? However, now if I do use these threads, I will just read the posts that I’m interested in and at least that way I don’t waste my own time.
Great post, I think you’ve summed up some negatives of the blogging experience.