"Tiger and I thought it might be time to start a meme to discuss some of the frustrations that are unique to book bloggers. What happens when the hobby you love becomes more of a chore?This meme will appear on the first and third Mondays of the month. One of the hosts will give us a question to respond to and a linky for sharing our responses and developing community.
This week's question is: Following: How do you follow blogs? Do you use Google Reader? Are you on an e-mail list? Are you more apt to follow people who have less followers? Would you follow a blog to enter a contest? What makes you unfollow a blog?
Because I have a Blogger blog, I most commonly use Google Friend Connect to follow blogs. I keep up with the blogs I follow through my Google Reader. I have directly added a bunch of non-Blogger blogs to my Google Reader. The only time I go to the actual blog is if I am participating in a meme or want to leave a comment - which I don't do as often as I should.
I tend to follow the people who comment on my blogs. I also follow people I "meet" on the memes I participate in. I am constantly discovering new blogs to follow. I look for blogs that concentrate on books and blog about the genres I prefer reading. I am more likely to follow someone who has fewer followers because I know how much I treasured those who were kind enough to follow my blog when I began. Also, I am usually already following the "big bloggers."
I just checked my Google Reader which tells me that I am following 738 different blogs right now. I follow authors, teachers, librarians, tech people, and bunches and bunches of book bloggers. I also follow a couple of cooking blogs and even one that keeps me up to date with what Duchess Kate is doing and wearing.
Every once in a while, I will go through my reader and delete blogs. I usually stop following if nothing new has been posted for three months or so. But I only go through my blog list a couple of times a year at the most. I have also stopped following blogs because the focus of the blog has changed and I am no longer interested in the topics discussed. Having bunches of dead blogs in my Google Reader isn't really a problem but I do like to go tidy up once in while.
I haven't ever followed a blog in order to enter a contest. Of course, I can't tell you the last time I entered a contest. I already have many more books than I will be able to read in a very long lifetime. The thought of winning one is more likely to send chills up my spine than it is to encourage feelings of delight. I also have enough discretionary income to buy any books I want to read. I prefer leaving contests to those who like them or depend on them for books to read. On the other hand, I like holding contests and usually participate in many of the giveaway hops hosted by Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.
How do you feel about following? Are you selective or inclusive?
I follow a lot of blogs too. I only stop following if they quit posting or the content isn't what I'm interested in.
ReplyDeleteI try to follow those that are just starting out too.
I must give my usual plug for the "next" button. I used to use google reader, but I've installed the next button and now I can visit blogs and comment easily, but still get through them like when I used the reader. Here's more information if you are interested: http://annettesbookspot.blogspot.com/2012/06/loving-next-button.html
Great topic! I love my google reader, as don't think I'd be able to keep up otherwise! I used to follow blogs to enter contests, but don't any longer as its just a way to pump up numbers IMHO.
ReplyDeleteI find myself more open to following new blogs with few followers as I want to support new voices. Every follower I have is cherished, and I sort of want to pay it forward... :)
Great post! I'm pretty selective as to which blogs I follow. I would love to follow other types of blogs besides books as well, but I spend so much time just following the book ones that I don't think I can add any more.
ReplyDeleteI like to participate in giveaways too and I should do more, but again, I feel so busy that so much time seems to pass and I haven't done one in a long time.
I love hosting giveaways but I rarely enter any. I have more than enough books so I only bother if it's something hard to come by on my own but I wouldn't follow just to enter.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that I don't enter contests as much anymore. But wow that's a lot in your reader.
ReplyDeleteThats a lovely list of 700+ bloggers, and other folks that you follow! The duchess blog, is that the one on Duchess Kate? I read that the other week since it was linked to from Go Fug Yourself, my fav fashiony blog.
ReplyDeleteI get the three month thumbrule - I should probably do that, most blogs that haven't updated since June will probably not update for the rest of the year...