#socialbloggers 26 – Reasons You Return To a Blog

Following the success (which was not without some criticism!) of my post: 5 Reasons I leave your blog and never return, I had a few requests to write a post about 5 things that made me return to a blog.

I thought it would have been a bit redundant to write that post myself, because it would have just been the opposite of everything I wrote in the original post. Then I decided to make it into a #socialbloggers chat topic, so we could see what the most common things other bloggers say make them follow and return to a blog again and again.

I KNOW I’M I GENIUS, RIGHT?

NB, 26th #socialbloggers chat = 6 months of social bloggers chats! That’s a big deal, I think!

So, in my 5 Reasons post, I came to the conclusion that the main reason I left blogs and never came back was the lack of a personal touch. I really like to learn about the bloggers lives, because that’s what makes me want to:

• get to know them more
• keep reading
• value their opinions.

Example – you would be much more interested in hearing about what your friend had to say about a new mascara than say, a random person you’ve never spoken to before, right?

And that’s how I feel about blogs, as much as I love reading reviews and fashion posts, I enjoy them so much more when I know some background on the blogger and have had some sort of interaction with them. This is where my loyalty sets in and I start to hold their opinion in high regard – because it’s a bit more like hearing the opinion of a friend, rather than the opinion of a blogger. Ya dig me, homeslice?

A lot of people in this weeks chat said that they enjoyed reading personal posts, lifestyle posts and getting to know people. It was hands down the number one reason for people following a blog.

An interesting thing followed – a lot of people then ALSO said that they didn’t know how to write personal posts, or struggled with coming up with ideas for personal posts. This gave me an idea for a post myself:

I’ll be writing a post with some ideas for some personal posts this week to get you started off.

Being personal on your blog does not have to mean exposing your secrets, talking about things that are scary and uncomfortable – it can mean many things.

I’ll have the post up by friday, internet friends.

Now let’s read the chat – your opinions are welcome (and encouraged!) in the comments 🙂

Q1 – What’s the main thing that pushes you towards clicking the ‘follow’ button on a blog? #socialbloggers

@bloggerforums attractive layout and posts!

— Alisha xx (@LilacLipsBlog) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums the thing for me is purely finding a new blog to read, if I like the look of previous posts I follow #socialbloggers — Laura O (@LollyLovesx) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums Clear photo’s and descriptive writing 🙂 <3 #socialbloggers

— Jamie Johnston (@J4mieJohnston) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I love when blogs have creative posts and have big, clear, bright photos  #socialbloggers — Michelle ?? (@MichelleAlicex) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums it’s as vague an answer as possible but sometimes you just get a really good vibe off a blog #socialbloggers

— Kel (@kellovestea) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums A clear, focused design style and layout. I’m not that into chaotic blogs. Less is more. #socialbloggers — Kelly FlatEleven (@KellyFlatEleven) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums a1) beautiful pictures. If the photos r good I’m pretty much guaranteed to follow #socialbloggers

— Sally (@Wheelingalong24) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums A1) blog layouts dont really make a difference to if I follow or not as I view all blogs through bloglovin #socialbloggers — Becca (@Becca_J_Goddard) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums all of the above, also think it’s really important that the ‘follow’ button is easy to find! #socialbloggers

— Alison Hope (@AlleyHope) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums a1 If I want to be friends with them in the real world, even if I don’t always agree, we’d have good chats #socialbloggers — inher30s (@inher30s) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums design + photographs. Has to be an easy to follow and read design with big photographs. #socialbloggers

— Tilly (@PaperCrowned) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums a different perspective, something that looks interesting to read, something that has individuality #socialbloggers — Ludo / Animation (@aminae14) August 16, 2014

I need to be drawn in by the first few posts, if I can’t be bothered to read them then why follow #socialbloggers

— Emma Luxton (@essaysandwine) August 16, 2014

Q2 – Is there anything that you wish you saw more of on other blogs? #socialbloggers 

@bloggerforums honesty…. #socialbloggers

— charley pearce (@thisischarley) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums more of people being themselves and not playing up to a crowd #socialbloggers

— Laura Budd (@daisychaindream) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums more healthy posts to be honest. I feel inundated with junk food photos sometimes on blogs! #socialbloggers

— Jenny (@healthjenblog) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I love more personal posts, not many bloggers do them nowadays #socialbloggers

— Laura O (@LollyLovesx) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I really enjoy opinionated posts on the fashion and beauty world 🙂 #socialbloggers

— Albertine (@DippyWrites) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums Lifestyle posts! I love seeing what bloggers have been doing… Does that make me nosey? Haha 😛 #socialbloggers

— Jamie Johnston (@J4mieJohnston) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I wish I saw more posts that were less ‘Pinterest-able’, ppl’s lives r’t perfect & I kind of like to see that #socialbloggers

— Sally (@Wheelingalong24) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums people’s opinions! Everyone is scared of people hating on them but you never know unless you try #socialbloggers

— Letmegoxo (@letmegoxo) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums A2) Originality, more creativity. Fearlessness. Well, that’s saying something. It’s all too bland now. #socialbloggers

— Somdyuti Datta Ray (@hellodyuti) August 16, 2014

Q3 – How do you follow blogs/bloggers and keep up with their posts? #socialbloggers

@bloggerforums I use @bloglovin, twitter (with @pocket!) and even Instagram to keep up with new posts! #socialbloggers

— Tilly (@PaperCrowned) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums bloglovin’ and twitter! I often find that I read blogs through twitter and don’t follow on bloglovin! #socialbloggers

— Letmegoxo (@letmegoxo) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums @bloglovin is a huge one for me but I also love finding posts on twitter #socialbloggers

— Laura O (@LollyLovesx) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums feedly! Much easier to use and has a great app 🙂 #socialbloggers

— Cat (@moreaboutcat) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I try to follow bloggers on twitter if I like their posts, &I follow blogs on bloglovin its so easy to use #socialbloggers

— Becca (@Becca_J_Goddard) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I have a few I look at everyday – otherwise just through bloglovin/twitter #socialbloggers

— Hazel Jane (@hazeljaneblog) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums bloglovin and occasionally twitter or Instagram. Wish insta would allow links on the post though #socialbloggers

— Alison Hope (@AlleyHope) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums Q3 – Bloglovin and Twitter! Without these I would never be able to keep up/stalk my favourite blogs/bloggers 😀

— Sarah (@saloca) August 16, 2014

Q4 – Do you read/comment on all the blogs you follow? #socialbloggers

@bloggerforums I love commenting on blogs, it’s important, you might ‘think its gd’ but you need to let the blogger know 2 #socialbloggers

— Laura Fox (@Ms_Urbanfox) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums Couldn’t possibly. I just read the posts that interest me, some blogs I read everything from though. #socialbloggers

— Emma Luxton (@essaysandwine) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums Nope, many I just read silently but will comment if they say something I really relate to. #socialbloggers

— Victoria Talia (@treelinedavenue) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums a4) not all blogs, there are some blogs I comment on loads but when I read a post I always intend to comment #socialbloggers

— Sally (@Wheelingalong24) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums But I do comment regularly on loyal readers’ blogs to show my appreciation 🙂 #socialbloggers

— Victoria Talia (@treelinedavenue) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I follow so many it’d be impossible to comment on them all but I do as much as I possibly can! #Socialbloggers

— Sam (@SamGriffBlog) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I read the posts that interest me, and comment as much as I can. People seem to comment a lot less lately xx

— Michelle TSNC (@tsncblog) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I don’t read every post and don’t comment much either. Sorry, I’m that bad blogger you all hate #socialbloggers

— Alison Hope (@AlleyHope) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I’m very rarely on my laptop unless I’m writing a post. I’m always glued to my phone. I tweet instead to show the love.

— Erin Louise Hunt (@erinlouisehunt) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I’ve made an effort to comment on 90% of my bloglovin feed if I like it. I like it when people do on mine! #socialbloggers

— Letmegoxo (@letmegoxo) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I try & comment on around 5 posts a day, more on the weekend but I don’t comment on every single post I read. #socialbloggers

— Sammy ? (@daintyowlblog) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums Yes, I do. Infact I love doing so. However, when I can’t, i just share their posts on my social media. #socialbloggers

— Somdyuti Datta Ray (@hellodyuti) August 16, 2014

@treelinedavenue I’ve so many unread on bloglovin I’d loose them. I open them in a tab on my tablet so I remember to comment #socialbloggers

— Sally (@Wheelingalong24) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I think it’s important to network and support other bloggers too. I enjoy commenting on blogs every day. X #socialbloggers

— Renata Burden (@SpeakinBeautyUK) August 16, 2014

Q5 – Is there anything that makes you unfollow a blog? #socialbloggers

@bloggerforums if it starts to bore me, no sense in following or cliking for the sake of it #socialbloggers

— Fashion Worked (@fashionworked) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums arrogance. I can’t stand it. I like people who are down to earth and approachable. #socialbloggers

— Apoorva (@tea_and_music) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums Excessive swearing (it’s not as if I don’t myself in real life) – I just don’t want to read it on a blog #socialbloggers

— Not Dressed As Lamb (@notlamb) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums not relatable or seem like a not very nice person! #socialbloggers

— Letmegoxo (@letmegoxo) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums A5 Bad grammar/ spelling or if I’m not interested in the topic! #socialbloggers

— inher30s (@inher30s) August 16, 2014

@tea_and_music Aahh! anything that stands out in particular? Arrogance around what? #socialbloggers

— Corinne (@bloggerforums) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums if I can’t read what they’ve written! Tiny fonts & anything that makes a blog difficult to read make me exit #socialbloggers

— Aimee (@CloudAimee) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums I lose interest in blogs that have too many pictures for one OOTD. It’s my fashion blogger pet peeve. #socialbloggers

— Chicademics (@chicademics) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums either the holier-than-thou attitude or the I’m-far-more-important-than-you. Both of which are a turn off. #socialbloggers

— Apoorva (@tea_and_music) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums and if bloggers are really bitchy on social media for no reason #socialbloggers

— Charlotte A (@booksandbaby) August 16, 2014

@bloggerforums If I discover some mean truths about her (I did once) or I no longer like her because of her sudden arrogance. #socialblogger

— Somdyuti Datta Ray (@hellodyuti) August 16, 2014