I was inspired by another blogger who discussed several reasons why she wouldn’t read other people’s blogs and I agreed with several of her reasons, a few I didn’t and I had a few of my own to add. I try to stop in to several blogs each week and read them but between a full-time job, a 1.5 hour total commute each day and 2 boys in soccer (that practice 3 times a week at 2 separate fields), I sometimes go 4 days without washing my hair. Don’t judge, that gives me 20 minutes more of freedom. Below are the quickest ways to totally turn me off from a blog.
Too Long
I’ve heard one expert say keep a post under 500 words, another said 750. I try to keep about 90% of my posts under 750 because I know people are busy and lose interest fast. It’s soul sucking when you begin to read a blog then you realize you have 5,000 more words to go and your like “sweet Jesus, when will this be done?” I’m not saying some posts don’t warrant 3,000 words because some do and some are really good but if every single post is 3k+……well……..
Writing Like I’ve Read Every Post And I’m Completely Caught Up
I’m not. I try very hard to write each post as if the reader is visiting for the first time. What turns me off from a blog I’m reading for the first time is referencing people and past events that I have no idea about. Here’s an analogy, you’re not going to be engaged in a movie you began watching half way through, right? When I reference past events, I make sure to link to that blog post for context. If I mention my kids, I state their ages so there is again context of what I’m dealing with. If I discuss work, I state my position.
GIFS
I’ve used roughly 3 GIFS in the past 2 years. I’ve seen entire posts of nothing but GIFS. And seriously, this may just be my issue but I cannot read text while out of the corner of my eye, I see someone jumping off a house….over….and over again.
Politics
During the election, I wrote a few humorous posts on the candidates but made it a point to keep it neutral. After the election, I even wrote about who I voted for and why. If your post is about the best blueberry muffin recipe on Earth then you add a negative political comment, a comment that has zero place in the text, I’ll stop reading. I’ll stop reading because reading blogs and punching out blogs is my therapy, not a debate or battle ground.
Stories
Like the GIFS, this is totally my issue. If you blog chapters of a book, I just can’t get into it. I feel really bad about this but we all have preferred genres (mine is humor) and the stories usually aren’t it.
So what makes you not read a blog? Be honest guys! There has to be something you don’t like or am I just an ass hole? Wait, don’t answer that.
I’m with you. If I look at a post and see too many words I won’t read it at all. My ADD just won’t let me. Same with GIFs. It’s like out of the corner of my eye, squirrel…… Seriously though, my blog fits all the requirements that you requested, so you have no choice but to read my blog.
You crack me up! I’m glad I’m not the only one!!!
I steer away from politics too…mostly because my own philosophies seem to be an anomaly so I go by the mantra, “You do you, boo!” 😉
And how DARE you for not being all caught up on my blogs? In all fairness, I don’t keep up with what I write, since I delete every blog I ever start…lol
I’m picky on reading stories…if it doesn’t catch my attention within a paragraph, I’m probably going to pass it on. Granted, there are a couple of authors I read, but then again I have the attention span of someone with ADHD on a cocaine binge, so there isn’t much in my mind that lasts longer than a second or two.
And yes…you’re an asshole, but not the only one 😀
LOL! That last sentence made me laugh out loud. I’m gonna take it as a compliment and/or a term of endearment! How many blogs have you had?
ugh…many, many, many…
-This one
-Tarnished Soul (one of my favorites, and I really regret deleting it…I used it to come to terms with my sexuality)
-Assentively Yours
-Acquiescently Yours
-Wang Feltersnatch (Don’t ask…)
-Etc….
NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE ON WHY I WAS SO CONFUSED ABOUT YOU! I thought I was confusing you with someone else then you do the ole’ switch-a-roo and now it all makes sense! No more switching! I’ve taken all your switching cards! 🙂
Yes, well…lol. I’m sorry. Sometimes I am just too in my head…it’s a scary place, ya know? 😉 But I’m glad you remember. You are one of my favorite blogs to follow.
Oh…and I meant that last line, purely as a compliment! 😀 <3
I thought so!
Ugh! GIFs… they hurt my brain while I’m trying to read a blog. If I can, I try to scroll to the point where the GIF is cut off, which is impossible when there are dozens of them!
If I start reading through a post and the grammar is atrocious, I quit. I. Just. Can’t. You’re ‘trying’ to blog for Christ’s sake! Take the time to edit! If you don’t feel you post is worth a quick glance through to clean it up, then I don’t think it’s worth it either.
I agree and there have been times I’ve skipped proof reading, come back months later and I’m like, WTF? Did a toddler right this? I then correct it. I also try to read most posts out loud to ensure they flow nicely. And I do the exact same thing you do, I try to cut the GIF off so I can focus. It’s hard sometimes!!
People who only reblog the works of others. Write something damn it!
OMG! That’s right! I forgot about that. And I like to ask folks before I reblog. I don’t know the rules on that but think it’s nice to ask permission because you are using someone’s content. I’ve maybe reblogged 5 times in almost 2 years??? I agree with you that you need your own content and define your blog!
I don’t care about sharing, but definitely have your own content. If you only share work then I find that creepy as hell.
Yeah, It’s like the easy way out and doesn’t really brand your blog. Ya’ know?
It doesn’t. Who are you? What are you about? What is the purpose of you sharing all these posts if you write nothing?
Right! Your nothing more than a triage for blogs!
I’m with Tikeetha on the reblogging! Or if people say they are a travel blog and every post is literally just a picture from google – I’m out.
I get bored with long posts too sometimes. And then I feel bad because some of my posts are like 1000-1500 words but I re-read them and it only takes me a few minutes so I post it but then I go to check other people’s posts and I’m like “omg when will it ever end?!?!” lol Maybe I’m just a hypocrite? lol
Exactly! I also go back and during editing I look for unnecessary words or try to rephrase things.
Me too but that sometimes backfires because I’ll take out like 2 words and then add an entire sentence or three…
My pet hate is crazy colours. If the blog is bright purple and the letters are bright yellow it hurts my eyes and I find it hard to read. It’s the same with blogs that use a rainbow of colours for their posts – it just makes it less readable for me.
I’m the same as you for chapter blogs. I LOVE reading, but I find it really hard to get into writing presented in that way.
I love the humour blogs. I wish I was half as funny as you guys.
Thank you Josy! Man, you guys are coming up with additional pet peeves I forgot. May have to extend from 5 reasons to 10 now. Yeah, I’m with you! I don’t like busy colors. I don’t want to be uncomfortable while I read a blog!
It’s also that it makes it sooo obvious that you’re not working. Heh. No professional website would look like that!
I will not read blogs with terrible grammar. If it is poorly written, it is a hard pass. I agree with Tikeetha, too. If all the blogger does is reblog, I am out. I will also stop reading/following if the posts are a picture (taken from elsewhere) and a sentence or two of text. That to me is not blogging or writing, it is Instagramming (and not even being original, either)!
I totally agree!!
I totally agree with GIFs and Politics too… And for that matter even when its too long a read!
So I’m not crazy! Sounds like it’s a pet peeve of several.
Totally!