But I'm talking about my fellow bloggers on blog forums. How many of you actually follow this rule? I mean I'm not complaining if it's something you don't do. But what about the ones that post their blogs to boards, forums, discussion?
All I'm saying is don't follow the train if you don't want to play the game.
Now here's a little etiquette 101:
1. If you really don't want to do something don't ask others to do it for you.
2. If you've gotten enough followers, let it be known that you will not be participating any further.
3. Don't complain that you need more followers and then upon checking we find that some have followed you and you haven't followed back.
Now for me I'd like some constructive criticism. If I've followed you from one of these events and you've chosen not to follow back. Let me know what you saw in my blog that turned you away. We're all adults, I won't cry.
Notice I've only said from these events. But if someone's chosen to follow you of their own free will then it's your choice to return the favor.
This is Mica, giving you the truth as I see it!
Follow or not to follow - there are a number of followers I get that I do NOT follow back. They are spam or marketeers or topics I have no interest in following.
ReplyDeleteNow the 31dbbb group, I used that tweepml to follow everyone, then I went through and put them all in a list called blog31dbbb. A number of them had followers but few they followed. There were over 500 on the list(s)
The ones usually like that made it difficult to even follow them.
Someone introduced me to a tool that can look at those who have not followed you - I will check it out in a month.
I don't expect some people to follow me back like because they have over 5000 friends on facebook - they just cannot have all that chatter.
I did not know there was an etiquette. Makes sense. You follow me, I follow you.
After the challenge, I know some will fall by the wayside but for now the idea is support and community.
Love the post. Glad to be part of 31dbbb
Eileen
Eileen, I'm not referring to twitter as it's different in how we follow. But I'm talking about blog forums when there are discussion forums for us to post our links to get more followers. If you post a link and say you'll follow all who follow you then it's only right to do just that. But I've found a lot of them don't do this. I agree that 31dbbb has been a great asset to my blogs.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Great post! I do try to follow legitimate tweeple back -- but as Eileen said, I am not following spammers, marketers, or those not speaking on sensible things back.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely follow you back though -- love th blog!
Thanks Serenity I totally agree with the twitter issues. I was referring to blogging sites or forums where you're ask to follow & follow back. I edited my post to reflect this now.
ReplyDeleteI try and follow back if someone follows me. It might take me a couple of days to get to their blog but I try and do it. I wonder if there is a tool that let's you see who you have followed back on GFC.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those people that are very particular about following. You have to show me, quickly, that I want to visit or hear from you again.
ReplyDeleteI didn't follow the first time because I very rarely follow blogger blogs. They are hard to comment on and they are 1 in a million, you have to be pretty darn special to impress me on blogger. Sorry just being honest.
But with interacting with you on twitter I came back for a second and a third visit. And now that I know you a little better I want to follow you because you are personable, you are fun to interact with, and this post shows you have some great things to share.
Twitter - I do have a rule you need to have a balanced amount of followers vs following for me to follow (unless you are a celeb or newbie). Just a quirk I have.
FYI I really like your new layout
Why hello? Love your blog. Love its design. Very Fresh!!! Following you, so you can follow me back! :)
ReplyDeletePepper,
ReplyDeleteThanks for being so honest! I went to your blog and signed up because I liked what I saw on your page. That's different. There's a numbers game out here in blogger world. If you follow, I follow. I'm not sure how much interest these put on the content of what's on another site but just to get there numbers up. But a lot of them want you to follow but not follow back.
If I solicit, I really don't expect a return unless they're interested as these are the ones that'll continually visit your site.
Mica -
ReplyDeleteI don't play the follow me follow you games, I've tried but saw no benefit in it.
Yes there is a numbers game in blogging, which is just sad. And I feel like the follow me follow you is just inflating numbers.
Are they really getting readers from this or just numbers? I don't care about my numbers, I care about my readers.
And just like you said why expect someone to return the follow unless they like your site?
Thanks for the response.
I the opposite. I have an inability to not to follow back. I just feel bad. I have worked so hard hard to try to gain readers and get followers so if someone follows me, I feel its only right that I follow back.
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, I found you on bloggy moms & was coming to follow, lol. Follow back, if you'd like, at http://www.onelittlemister.com/
For anyone else...I DO FOLLOW BACK! ;)
Nicole
Right back atcha! I'm following you now. :-) It's like good karma... you can't cheat a fellow blogger in the "following" dept!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting... hope you enjoy!
Stephanie @ http://www.southernMOMentum.com
I don't automatically follow everyone who follows me, I have to relate to them somehow. But having signed up for the Under 100 Followers group on MBC, I am definetely trying to follow all of those people who follow me through that group.
ReplyDeleteI have a similar complaint about "comment groups." I have commented up a storm on blogs that say they will comment you back...only to never hear from them. But, that's really okay with me. I want people who are interested in my perspective and what I have to say to follow and comment. I don't need to simply accumulate numbers.
Gone on and on about this, haven't I?
Oh, and btw, I'm following you now! ;-)
I believe in the same thing as far as comments. Though blogger can be an inconvenience because there is not a reply button. You'd think with all the money and resources they'd fix this issue. I signed up for the follow group because I'm new to all this and felt that would help show people I have a blog. But like you I want people to enjoy what they read.
ReplyDeleteI have really mixed feelings about all of these "Follow me and I'll Follow You" groups. I'm a new blogger and it's really great to be exposed to so many interesting new blogs but I have to admit to being somewhat particular about who I follow, especially as it's just too overwhelming to follow everyone. I don't think there's any point following someone if their content is not of any interest to me. It's just churning and not a reflection of true followers. I certainly wouldn't want anyone following me who isn't interested in my content. What's the point of that?
ReplyDeleteAnd BTW I absolutely LOVE your Blog Design. Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhen ever I post about getting new followers I also say "If our blog resonates with you please follow" We know our writing isn't for everyone. I don't expect someone to sign up to follow us if they really are not interested in reading the material.
ReplyDelete~Carol
Hey, I found you via 31dbbb, and I am your newest follower! I love the way you write, it's very real and refreshing! :) Glad to "meet" you!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I spend a bit of time every day reading a few different new blogs from the 31DBBB and leaving comments. To be honest I don't see the reciprocity. But, I believe it will work out in the end. Those that don't "follow" won't keep their following.
ReplyDeleteI'm part of the "Follow Me, I'll Follow You" group on Bloggy Moms and I'm thankful for the exposure it has given me. I'm a bit different, (read: anal, perhaps) in that I do actually follow every blog in the group. Some I may only visit once in while, others, like this one; I follow every day.
ReplyDeleteOn that note, I've nominated you for the "Versatile Blogger Award" as I truly love your blog, Mica. You speak from the heart, give great advice to upcoming writers, and you aren't afraid to be honest in your views. I admire that.
To learn more about the award and to see the announcement: http://cramazinglife.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-first-award-versatile-blogger.html
Thanks to everyone who've left a comment and I'm so mad that I can't post individually to you all. Gayle I thank you for the wonderful nomination, I really appreciate this and you've helped to make my evening and added to the smile already on my face. This makes two nominations today!
ReplyDeleteI'm picky about following. I follow most but not all. I look at the content of the Twitter posts. If there are too many "I'm at the grocery store" posts, I'll pass. It has taken me a couple of years to amass the followers and those I follow now. I will definitely follow you. :) You content is great and the design is stellar. I found you through the SITS girls.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you...I join the train to get additional readers and build an audience...if you hate what I have to say...you'll stop visiting or let me know! I'll do the same - it's only fair! I'm still learning twitter, and totally need to spend more time there just don't have it! Thanks for following me this week so I had the chance to check out your site!
ReplyDeleteWell, you followed me. I've checked your site. I like you. So now I'm following you too.
ReplyDeleteHey there! Thanks for stopping by my blog and following me!! I returned the follow and now following you! Very fun blog!! Love the layout!!
ReplyDeletehttp://chicnsavvyreviews.blogspot.com