I love blogging. It started as a fun, happy place for me to record things that were special to us, things we wanted to remember, pictures we wanted to show the children when they were older. A bit like a photo album/scrapbook that we could pass on to the next generation. Since then, it has grown and developed in ways I could never have imagined and given us so much more than I could have dreamed of. It has provided me with a part time income allowing me to stay at home with my baby. It has given my children the opportunity to try new products and experience amazing days out. It has opened up a whole new world to me, a world full of new people I am proud to call my friends.
Sadly, it has also shown me another world. One that is such a small proportion of the blogging community, yet one that makes me mad. There are a small group of people who seem to think that blogging entitles them to certain things, that statistics and visitor numbers make them ‘better bloggers’, and that their little corner of the web is far superior to anyone elses. This is, quite frankly, bollocks.
Every single person who blogs has a different subject matter, a different opinion, a different reason behind the words on the screen – and that’s what makes blogging what it is. If we were all the same, if we all wrote identical content, blogging would just die a death. No one wants to read the same post over and over. I love being able to log on to my computer and read posts about parenting, make up, clothes, decorating and random stories about cats and pencils. Everyone has their own corner of the web, and that’s exactly as it should be. NONE of us are better than anyone else. We all have our own voice.
Blogging DOES NOT entitle you to free stuff, complimentary days out and family holidays. If you get these things, then great, well done you – you obviously have an amazing little blog that companies love and people like to read. I honestly couldn’t be happier for you. Why on earth that would give anyone the right to rain on your parade is beyond me. Even if you get a little touch of the green eyed monster occasionally, just congratulate people on their good fortune, move on and write for yourself. You never know, something else might be just around the corner. If you can’t manage that, then you’d be better off saying nothing at all. No one likes a moaner – especially when you have worked damned hard for something.
Blogging is a happy place. I write for me, for my kids and for my readers. If opportunities arise that make me squeal with delight, then I will shout about them. Why shouldn’t I? If the same happens to you, shout it from the rooftops. The genuine bloggers and readers will congratulate you, and be pleased for you. Their big moment will come. The people who shower you with negativity? Well, locate that unfollow button.
Great post hun! As with everything in life, you win some you lose some its just sad that some cannot be happy for others as I am sure they would expect the same should it have been the other way around. xxx
Great post Kate. So true. Yes I get jealous of what other people achieve and get but everyone has thd same chance of getting opportunities whether they’ve been around 6 months or 6 years. Someone has to get it and others don’t. But there is a need for professionalism, especially as it makes all blogging look bad.
Great post and I completely agree with what you have said. I saw some awful behaviour on Twitter last week and I can’t believe people think that’s an acceptable way to behave. What’s the old saying – if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all? x
Great post and I wouldn’t put it any better myself.
What drives me mad are “new bloggers” begging.
When I see a #PrRequest tweet begging for free stuff I just feel so sad for this person.
I have no problem with #PrRequests in general but please at least have something to show for yourself.
Why everyone thinks that blogging = free stuff all the time?
No real blog posts on the blog but 100s tweets asking for collaborations… I sometimes can’t believe that they really put all these requests out in the open like this.
Getting freebies isn’t a reason to blog… blogging is a hard work… and yes, some of us are better situated than others when it comes to PR connections… so what?
I don’t get many offers but I love to read what others are up to.
Am I jealous sometimes? Yes, ofc I am but can you imagine what would happen if every blogger got the same freebies and opps… total chaos and madness… just like you said… blogging would die.
I hope sometimes people would think more before opening their mouth.
and one more think…
this time more to all established bloggers… how come you always get a “perfect” items to review?
I get an idea of sponsored review, but I simply don’t believe some blogger put the truth out there… this makes me mad as well… I buy something after blogger recommendation and this something is nothing like described in the blog post… why some people find the need for sugar coating everything… if the product is rubbish shouldn’t we just say so…
I am going out of topic now so going to finish…
Again, thanks for a great post.
Sadly, this is such a common thing in the blogging world! I’ve been book blogging for over 5 years now, and I’ve seen my share of nastiness, ugliness and acting mean. People slamming others just because they have more followers or got this new hot book everyone else was pinning for – “oh she gets all her followers from giveaways!”, “oh she gets all those books, she must be sucking up to the publishers”, etc etc. It never happened to me personally, but just seeing that kind of behavior upsets me a lot. We are a community, more over – we’re a community of people trying to be brave by putting our thoughts and opinions out there for the whole world to see. Why can’t we just support each other, or at the very least, not put each other down? This is something I will never understand.
Wonderful, thoughtful, spot-on post! I am new to family/lifestyle blogging, but if this community is filled with people such as yourself, I am already liking it here! Thank you for sharing!