My "Following" Policy
Note: I may earn money or products from the companies, products, or links mentioned in this post.
I just wanted to take the time to say “hi” to all my new followers that I have gotten recently either from the blog hop or the blog carnival, or from just browsing around! I was shocked at how fast the numbers went up!
I also wanted to take the time to explain my “following” policy and tell why or why not I may not “follow” someone and their blog. I know that some blogs require you to follow them in order to get into a contest or that some people expect a follow back if they follow you. These things are fine for them, but I view things a little bit differently.
I want people to follow my blog because they want to. Not because I required it, and not because anyone forced them to. I want them to follow my blog because they like it and want to read more. As far as requiring people to follow as a requirement for contests etc. I do not require that because I do not think it is necessary. Again, if someone wants to follow me, I want them to do it, contest or not. I am not saying that those bloggers who do this are wrong, not at all, this is just a personal opinion and I wanted to explain it.
As far as doing a “follow” for a “follow” I will sometimes do it depending on the blog. If I like a blog I will follow it. Sometimes I choose not to follow a blog, not because I do not like the person or they have a bad blog, but more because it’s just not something I have tastes in. If there is a blogger that blogs about crafts for example, I may not follow it just because I do not have an interest in crafts.
I also really love to read blogs. If I follow every single blogger out there, then I will not have time to read the blogs I really want to read. It would take more time to sort through them all and get to the ones I really do want to read and want to keep up with.
If someone does take an interest in my life and my blog and I am not already a follower I do follow them. I will take an interest just as they did with me.
I also do not follow blogs with swearing and inappropriate content.
I hope that you all understand what I am trying to say and that I have made it clear. This is totally my own opinion and I respect other bloggers who do it differently. Again, thank you all to my loyal readers who always comment and make me smile, and also to those who are new I hope you find this blog to be helpful, uplifting, and fun!
I read your blog ALL of the time! =) However, here's my first comment post. LOL. It gives me a little bit inside about you, and it is a blessing to have you as one of my Silent Ranks sister. Keep up the good posts.
I think it's good that YOU know what YOU want to read and follow, that is what is amazing about your blog. You wont change your standards when others do. It's to be admired.
I've been known to follow a blog for a while and give it a chance to really grab me, and sometimes it REALLY does and I love it and I stick around. Other times I lose focus and realize it's not the kind of blog I want to read and stop following.
I don't mind when I see followers drop from my sidebar because I know a lot of people feel the same way. I've been blogging for almost 8 years (seven with my blog I have now). I've learned a lot from those years and am so happy I have. : D
WOW, i wish i had that many followers! then i could have a policy too đ thank you for following mine!!! oh, and Happy (belated) Mother's Day also…sorry i haven't commented in awhile, but things have been busy! i enjoyed all of the military posts you just did, especially both of the Top 10 ones…i was SO with you on everything! hope things are going well, take care sweetie <3
Well said! My thoughts on following others are similar – and it is difficult since I often find new blogs I want to follow but don't have time to read them all!
Totally understand! =D I follow waaaay too many blogs… but I'm selective with the posts I look at. If I have time for a certain post, I look at it! Deal! =P
Happy (Belated) Mother's Day! đ
Hugs!
Chare
First let me say that I love your blog and really enjoy reading it…and would read it even if you did not follow me =)
Secondly, I think this was very well said.
=)
Very well said! I was doing the follow for a follow thing for while, but I had to cut back on how many blogs I follow because I honestly started to feel overwhelmed.. If I didn't log on Blogger for a day or two I would come back to a million posts–I would feel bad for not commenting on them but there's just no way I could read them all!
I am sorry I haven't been by in a while. My little one is going to be here in just over 2 weeks and your sweet Adam will be here shortly afterwards! I hope you're doing wonderful and as hard as the last month is, I hope you'll be able to enjoy these last days where you will not have to share him with anyone! đ
God Bless
I love reading your blog but don't comment often. After reading this, I feel very special that you follow my blog.
I completely agree. I love followers who I know read and value my posts.
Aww man. I'm sorry I missed the Blog Hop. I'm a fellow AF wife & have followed you for quite some time now, but I've been out of it for about 2 months, very sick. I'm not back in the saddle (I HOPE). Then a PCS in July! Things shall never settle down… you know that all too well đ I TOTALLY agree w/ your following policy. I do the same. And I enjoy linking up to things, but hate when someone just posts "I'm following you now, come follow me". Um, no. Lol… I need to at least like what you've got to write! Good luck w/ the birth =)
Arrgh. That was supposed to say NOW back in the saddle. NOT doesn't make any sense with I HOPE following it… silly me. NOW NOW NOW!!! I'm NOW back in the blogosphere! (i hope) đ
This post is simply perfect! Recently it has been all about "who has the most followers", "who has the most giveaways", "get an extra entry if you post on twitter, your blog, follow me… blahblahblah!". I am all about quality and the person behind the blog.
This was perfectly said and I love you for it!
i meant to comment on this when i was here the other day.
i couldn't agree more.
it's my biggest pet peeve when bloggers go from blog to blog to blog because they are follower hungry and follow EVERY SINGLE BLOG. i think it cheapens you, as a blogger.
usually when i get comments asking me to follow them because they followed me, i don't, purposely.
I COMPLETELY agree with yu. I don't want to fell obligated to follow every blog but I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. That is why I do not do follow Fridays and such. I did do a military blog hop and enjoyed it.
I totally agree with you. I follow quite a few blogs (okay, quite a few for me, but not for some people- lol), but I only have two followers. This really does not bother me at all because I do not spend the time on this blog like I do at Xanga. With Xanga, I'm all about a 2-way relationship, so I really prefer it if we are both following each other…because I have friend's lock on and CAN do that. Over here, it's a different story. I want people to follow my blog b/c they want to and not because they feel it's necessary. I don't have time to comment every post on every blog I follow, so people shouldn't feel that they have to do the same for me.
All that being said, thanks so much for following my blog! I have been absolutely amazed at how many followers you got so quickly after switching over from Xanga! And also on that note, I'm sorry that I don't usually remember to copy over my posts that I blog on Xanga. I'm trying to get better about that, but I don't include any of my entries that have pictures of them over here so that really limits which ones I can post over here.
I'm a new follower and have been going through and checking you out. I love this post! Don't follow me, I'm so lame and you have more important things to do with your time! I completely agree with everything you have said! I think it's ridiculous to follow everyone who follows you! I only have about 20 followers, but I don't follow them all. I do follow some who don't follow me though. Should be no hard feelings!
Congrats on the baby! Almost there!