Lifestyle

Ask not what your blogger can do for you, but what you can do for your blogger!

May 9, 2018

How long is this title though?

Blogging is hard work people! I always thought bloggers were dramatic…shame, free products?? Boo hoo! Such hard work! Honestly, now that I’m on the other side, I need to state that I was wrong. It is flippin hard work. Writing, editing, taking pictures…learning to take better pictures!!! People think anybody can start a blog…I assure you, it’s not for the faint-hearted. Many ‘failed’ bloggers will tell you that it’s a lot easier than it looks.

What starts as a hobby or a passion, can become something more. I can work on campaigns, earn money, something any of us could use I’m sure. I can be added to amazing PR lists, which in turn helps me create more content for you and to stockpile for giveaways. There are quite a few opportunities that comes with blogging…if you have the passion and put in the work!

Blogging is a resource, heck, a public service!

Think about it, how many times have you wanted a recipe, a review on a product, a recommendation of where to go on holiday? I personally love first hand accounts, and this is what a blog aims to be. A resource. I spend the money on the crappy products so you don’t have to. A mom blogger shares potty training tips. A food blogger cooks and takes her time perfecting a recipe, so that you don’t have to faff around in the kitchen. So all the time I spend testing products, wasting money on products…taking the time to put it all in a blog post, eventually maybe 10% of the people who follow my page actually end up seeing it. Why? ALGORITHMS. It’s become the ‘Voldemort’ of the blogging community! Social media algorithms are killing our reach, and as a result, the amount of people who read our blogs. Nothing we do seems to help. Besides paying for adverts to increase our reach. That works out well for you, right Mark Zuckerberg?? If reach is down, engagement is down. The less engagement, the lower the reach…it’s a vicious cycle. One I personally can’t get ahead of.

We bring you this content, because of a passion. We bring you giveaways…..because we want to give back. You know…relationships are give and take. Don’t be the person that’s only taking. Not when giving will literally take you 20 seconds 😉 How do you give…how do you ‘give back’ to a blogger? 

1. Like the post on social media

Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Just acknowledging that you’ve seen my post, helps me. You don’t even have to click on the link (but please do click on the link!), just the little thumbs up! That is all. Good deed done for the day!

2. Comment on the social media post

Look this one may take more effort, and this is where you decide how invested you are. You don’t feel like actually reading the blog post, so don’t (but please do)! Bluff on the social media post: ‘Can’t wait to read this later!

Your bluff comment, pretending you want to read the post, tells Facebook…hey somebody actually commented on this. Maybe more people want to see it? If another person comments…it’s like a domino effect….a good one! 

3. Comment on the blog post

You’re a die-hard reader. You’re subscribed. You read every post, but I don’t know your name, because you never engage. Life is busy…I get it. I actually appreciate the incognito reader, because views (reads) are what count in the end, but know that a comment is SO appreciated! If you enjoyed the post, take some time occasionally to state that fact.

4. Don’t be the ‘win and run’ reader

I think that the first time I discovered a blog, was when I stumbled upon a competition. Pink Peonies, All Dolled Up, In my Bag, Make it Rayne…these are all the beauty bloggers I started following at least 3 to 4 years ago..some longer. I discovered them due to some or other giveaway I probably entered, but over the years…I’ve stuck around. As I started my own blog, I don’t have the time to comment as much as I used to, but I read…I’ve stuck around. Many many people…don’t stick around. It’s fun to enter and win….and then unfollow and never go back. For some people.

To us bloggers though….it’s rude. For me especially…it’s very rude. Most of my giveaways are funded out of my own pocket. I have a lot of kids. You guys know that! Also we’re a one income household, so when I buy something to give away, my hope is that it will be appreciated. Whether you own no makeup or whether you’re a hoarder (like me..there’s no shame in it)….I just want it to be appreciated and used and loved. If you don’t want it, don’t enter. If you have no desire or appreciation for my blog….stay away. I want to reward loyal readers and potential new readers.

Even if it’s a sponsored giveaway, we do posts that have no ‘value’ for us some times, purely to do a giveaway for you, so think about that.

5. In the words of Barney, ‘Sharing is Caring’

This one, to me, may be the most important one. You love my blog, you read it…why not share some of the good stuff? Not every post, but maybe just one you really really really enjoyed reading. Click ‘share‘ on the Facebook post. Retweet on Twitter. Finished. Klaar. Finito. Your work and support is done. I think you’re an amazing friend for doing that…and maybe it gets you brownie points in the next competition 😉 Okay it won’t, but we can pretend it will. *wink wink*

I may be pushing it here, but if you add a few words with the share, like: ‘Read this post by the world’s most AMAZING blogger!‘, it has more than an impact than just a blank share. #JustSaying

I think I speak on behalf of myself and a lot of bloggers out there when I say: We appreciate the support and the time it takes to read a blog post. In today’s day and age….in the land of You Tube and Insta stories…in a few years there may not be a space for those of us with a love for keyboards and way-too-long blog posts! Until that happens though, we’ll be here…tapping away at our keyboards <3

PS Fellow bloggers, this applies to us as well! We also need to support where we can, but it also needs to be authentic. <3

Okay, so who’s sharing this post? Don’t all raise your hands at once!!

I’m Simone, a mom of 3, a wife...obsessed with my family, makeup and books!

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70 Comments

  • Cherralle
    May 9, 2018 at 7:13 am Reply

    Very interesting! I have a thought on blog post commenting – . From my side i have been reading blogs for years (before I created my own)but I never commented. I never felt I needed to comment even though articles have saved my life. Example I obsessed over baby sleep, I even subscribed to these blogs. I got so much out of it but I never felt A need to comment. I also followed one SA mommy blogger AND baby sites but I never commented although I loved the stuff. Only when I started blogging I started commenting: in my view the average person does not typically comment? That’s just a humble view. So We should not factor that in when We measure goals (which is views, and time on page, etc). Commenting on insta and Facebook is quick and I think that’s easier for readers. Anyway my five cents !

    • Simone
      May 9, 2018 at 7:54 am Reply

      I did say the view is the more important thing, but just a comment once in a while I feel is a nice-to-have 😉

      I was personally a stalker type commenter…lol….I LOVED engaging with my favourite bloggers…so I think when I started blogging, I also hoped that I would have stalker type engagement. ha ha

      I definitely get it’s a schlep….lol.

  • Kerry
    May 9, 2018 at 7:17 am Reply

    So glad you wrote this. It’s getting harder which leads to discouragement BUT just keep doing you. And we have to keep supporting each other as bloggers because we know what goes into it.
    I’ll be sharing 🙂

    • Simone
      May 9, 2018 at 8:11 am Reply

      Glad it resonated with your Kerry. I think we are all complaining about the algorithms, but I realised…does a reader have any idea about it? I reckoned, let’s break it down…and see if it makes a difference.

  • Prettiful Blog
    May 9, 2018 at 8:21 am Reply

    Such a great post Simone. Support is always appreciated, even the little things. And I don’t think many people see the person behind the blogger, we have those demotivated and down days when that little appreciative comment just gives us a boost to get creating again. Well for me anyway.

    http://www.prettifulblog.com

  • Sandisiwe
    May 9, 2018 at 8:42 am Reply

    Thank you so much ! as a new blogger I so related to this. I am at the stage where I need to tell my friends to share my links and leave a comment. The support is great and people will say its great but I am like please say that in the blog. Kudos to all those long time bloggers so much respect.

  • Melanie Sillifant
    May 9, 2018 at 9:20 am Reply

    This is such a good post. As a fellow blogger I know the struggles. Retaking of pictures because we weren’t happy with the first take, being up after 11pm to finish said post! The list goes on and on. I whole heartedly agree with you! Not only would a comment or a like be appreciated from our readers, but it would mean even more comming from a fellow blogger. Well said!
    Melanie’s Nook

  • Vannah Piers
    May 9, 2018 at 12:48 pm Reply

    Can i just say i love the pics on this post!
    Also the post was okish –

    LOL only kidding, great post as usual!!

  • Nasrene Sheik
    May 9, 2018 at 12:57 pm Reply

    Well this explains why a lot of posts don’t show up on my feed anymore. 🤔 I’ll comment and share more.

  • Donna Moodley
    May 9, 2018 at 2:42 pm Reply

    Well my friend. Awesome post as usual… your pics are up there my friend. I will follow you… follow you wherever you will go. Lol
    I really enjoyed this post moni…thanks for all the info.
    I’ll share… But I’m not on Facebook.

  • Nadine
    May 9, 2018 at 3:35 pm Reply

    I love love love this post.
    I agree 100% on every single thing you just typed.
    For me… fellow bloggers sometimes forget to show appreciation too. How can we expect people to like, comment, share, etc when we don’t do it ourselves. I get that bigger bloggers might be busier than the smaller ones but they shouldn’t forget that they were also once a baby blog with only 50 followers so receiving some love from them would mean alot as well.
    Just my opinion.
    Thanks again for a great post!

    • Simone
      May 10, 2018 at 8:17 am Reply

      I think there’s definitely been a shift…bloggers are stepping up and being supportive. There are the selfish ones in between…but don’t ever let it get to you…just keep swimming 😉

  • Pam
    May 9, 2018 at 9:08 pm Reply

    I started clapping my hands to this the moment I saw the title. Love it! This post should be on the landing page of every blog. Thank you for this

  • Diana Studer
    May 9, 2018 at 11:17 pm Reply

    I follow the blogs I read via Feedly – no algorithm to interfere – I choose what I want to read.
    But yours I found via the FB SA bloggers group. Again I don’t let the algorithm decide my reading.
    But the the FB page for my own blog, yes that gets smothered by the algorithm.
    There are so many blogs out there now, we have to work much much harder to get engagement – and you win this round!

    • Simone
      May 10, 2018 at 8:11 am Reply

      That is so true Diana…there are also just too many blogs…we have to work so much harder for engagement and to stand out.

      Ha ha…thanks!

  • Leanie
    May 10, 2018 at 1:55 am Reply

    Thank you for writing this post and I can also agree 100% with this post that you written. I work in this field (job) and I’m a blogger too. Sometimes i do wish more people would understand what effort we put into creating post and creating images. I’m sharing this one on my Facebook profile.

    • Simone
      May 10, 2018 at 8:09 am Reply

      I definitely think people don’t realise the work that goes in to it, and also that some bloggers try to support their families with their blogs. I hope the post helps us all out! Thank you so much for sharing!

  • Sherry De Ponte
    May 10, 2018 at 7:20 am Reply

    Interesting article. I follow a couple of bloggers for various reasons, I can relate to them on motherhood etc, great tips on make up and reviews and competitions too are a bonus but not the reason why I follow. I mostly read when I’m stuck in traffic for 3 hrs a day so it’s not always possible to comment but I do like. I don’t share because my Twitter and Facebook use is personal and don’t follow friends on Twitter and vice versa. However something really bothers me about bloggers. I support by following and reading yet a couple of times I have commented and specifically asked bloggers for advice and tips and I just get blatantly ignored. What is up with that? Too busy? Can’t be bothered? I’m not another blogger? We are always busy in our frenetic lives we live but if someone reaches out asks you a question or tries to engaged with you is it not just common decency to just reply?? Even a short yes or no or whatever to keep it short and sweet would be appreciated

    • Simone
      May 10, 2018 at 8:08 am Reply

      I appreciate the feedback Sherry and let me say, as an avid blog reader as well….this is my pet peeve. Asking a blogger a question and them not responding. I used to judge bloggers that don’t reply to comments….. but lately I have been struggling to keep up. I am a mom myself….3 kids, homework, supper, full time job…I take some time to reply, and I may then forget later to reply to additional comments. So I am more tolerant of the blogger that does not reply to all comments.

      If you have a question though, send an email, a DM…most of my readers contact me that way and I believe I do reply to everybody. If the blogger still doesn’t reply though…then by all means….unfollow. lol. Again, thanks for the feedback 🙂

  • Cindy
    May 10, 2018 at 12:13 pm Reply

    Simone, I love reading your blog and your Instagram page is really cool.
    I am one of those people that don’t comment usually even if I like the posts.
    I was not big on engaging on social media even if I followed lots of people. I thought it was okay just to follow. Perhaps it was my personality too – I’m okay being on the side line and not interacting but observing and admiring.
    But only in the last 6 month, have I realised the importance of making those connection, even if you don’t know the blogger personally.
    There is no harm in supporting each other, in fact, we might just make some new and life long friends.
    Well done on your success and good luck with all your future endeavours
    😊❤

  • Nisa
    May 11, 2018 at 9:23 am Reply

    Every single thing you said is true and I’m ashamed to say I’m guilty for most of it. It’s vrek hard work and I need to give back and support more. Thanks for this reminder babe 😗

  • Jeanne-Riëtte
    May 12, 2018 at 5:46 am Reply

    Well you will certainly have all your blogging blog fans commenting here! 😊
    Fantastic post, definitely gets the message across in an informative and honest way. I am sharing! ⭐️

  • Siobhan Yeatman
    May 14, 2018 at 3:54 pm Reply

    Great post! Will definitely share this – it deserves a mention 😉

    And Sherry had a great point – I can see someone is living their own life, and like you, busy with kids, homework, dinner etc. But often you find other bloggers who repeatedly ignore comments and questions.

    I myself have messaged some bloggers and never had a response to my (several) comments. I try to respond to every comment, even if it’s just a heart or a smiley face. If it’s a genuine question (and not just a comment on the picture or post) I try and answer. I get so many DMs as well, that it’s sometimes hard to keep track. An email is the BEST way to get hold of me because I always reply.

    http://sugarspiceblog.co.za

    • Simone
      August 7, 2018 at 2:56 pm Reply

      I was never the blogger that didn’t reply to comments, but I feel like lately I’ve been slacking. NOt because I’m an asshole, but if I reply to the first few, I tend to not go back to that post. I actually need to check myself about this and do better.

      We do respond to so many DM’s and emails though…plus life….so it’s a struggle on the posts that get a crap load of comments.

  • Scarletpiper
    May 15, 2018 at 9:58 am Reply

    Nicely said! And it’s so true hey… What’s worse is your friends and family follow your blog and enter your giveaways and I personally feel so bad to let them win that I choose other people instead, not to be biased, but if they are my biggest supporters should I feel bad when their names are drawn?

    • Simone
      August 7, 2018 at 2:57 pm Reply

      I totally understand this. I actually did a poll on Twitter and people said that they never let family and friends win… I am not sure how I feel about that, because do we rather reward the hit and run entrants??? Or people invested in our content….but they can’t reap any rewards because they are friends??? Difficult one,

  • Nicola
    May 22, 2018 at 9:51 pm Reply

    Simone….Simone….Simone……I’ve been wanting to write a list like this again…I’ve done something similar in the past but there’s a definite need to reiterate and I love how you so eloquently expressed what needs to be said. You’ve saved me an entire blogpost 😉 so I will most certainly be sharing this, thank you!!!

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