Happy Wednesday Y’all!! I want to start off by saying THANK YOU to everyone who sent well wishes for the family emergency that has recently occurred. I appreciate it a lot. It has not been easy to deal with but I know there is a reason for everything. Now on to something positive…. Today I am sharing with you on why I read your blog.
I’m Learning Something From You
I love when other bloggers share DIY projects, reviews, blogging tips, recipes, etc because it is expanding my knowledge on a certain topic or product that I may or may not be familiar with. Let’s face it I am not the most creative person on the planet or the best cook, so anything you can teach me in those departments is even better. I also love seeing reviews on products that I want to potentially try,etc. Bloggers are people I trust to give me their honest opinion, so if they think something sucks I am going to take that into consideration. Of course I also love learning new tips on how to blog or improve the one’s I already know. You’re teaching me something I don’t know. That keeps me interested.
You Are Real
You don’t sugar coat anything because you are honest. Sure being positive all the time is great but not everything we experience as bloggers is perfect. You express yourself and not afraid to be vulnerable. I like that because it makes me be able to relate to your more.
Your Images
I am a sucker for visual images that are appealing. No this doesn’t mean you have to be perfect at photography (lord knows I am far from it) but your images help make the post stand out even more. They also help tell your story.
I Connect With What You Have To Say
I love reading blog’s that I can relate to. When I find a blog that I really connect with, it keeps me coming back for more. I want to know more about you and what you have to say.
Your Blog Is Easy To Navigate Around
I love visiting a blog that is organized and neat. It makes it easier for me to be able to get around and explore all of your posts.
These are just a few reasons why I visit other’s blogs. What are some of your reason’s for visiting someone’s blog?
These are great points and definitely gave me something to think about with my own blog. I totally agree – I read blogs if I can relate to the content, learn something from the blogger, or if the blogger has a unique experience to offer. I’m also really attracted to witty topics and awesome photos.
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
Allison, I wanted to be able to do something positive as far as this post. I always see a lot of posts about ‘Why I Don’t Read Your Blog”, so I figured this is a great way to bring some positive light to reading blogs. 🙂
I don’t actually read any ‘educational’ blogs on a regular basis–I’m definitely drawn to quirky lifestyle bloggers who have a sense of humor about themselves and life in general.
Rachel, I have not read many educational blogs either but a lot of the blogs I read have DIY, reviews,etc which is always helping me learn. Funny blogs are great as well. 🙂
All of these! I also love reading other people’s blogs to see what cool things they’re doing creatively. There are so many talented people out there!
I agree Crystal! I love seeing how other bloggers come up with interesting ways of doing things,etc.
My reasons for reading various blogs vary but honestly the reason I read a lot of them is because I have built a relationship with that person somehow. It may not be that it is a topic that really is in my niche or interest range but because I “know” the person I am invested in reading, Does that make sense? You have some great reasons here and I echo them but I also add because I want to build more of a relationship with you!
Beth Ann that’s a great point as well! If I have made a connection with a blogger I try to keep up with their blogs. Even if another bloggers does not have a niche similar to mine, if what they write interests me, I will be reading. 🙂
I definitely like to learn something and feel te person is real. However, sometimes I just like to see what people have been up to. Nice post.
Wendy I agree! It’s always nice to see how other bloggers are doing and seeing what they have accomplished,etc. I enjoy supporting other bloggers.
Yes to all of these, especially the second one! I love reading real posts, by real people and hearing their 100% true thoughts on a subject. This helps me really connect with the writer/blogger and makes me want to keep coming back to their blog for more. Great post! 🙂
Cara I agree. Being real is something that you have to be when you are a blogger. I know that sometimes being real means being negative at times but that’s what makes bloggers real. I like that. 🙂
I love to read blogs that have beautiful photography to go along with the content!
Dana I could not agree more! Pictures draw me in a lot when it comes to reading blogs.
These are wonderful points, even before reading I pinned your image because it’s such a gorgeous image! loved this post, definitely things to keep in my mind
Jess beautifulbreakable.com
Thank You Jess! That’s really sweet that you liked me image! 🙂
I am a very visual person. I love a good image! I know that is why I come back. Images and humor:)
Linda I am also a very visual person. I think having pictures on blog posts are really important. Don’t get me wrong the words on the post are as well but I really love pictures. 🙂
Great! Love the positive points! Thank you!
You’re welcome Jenn! I am glad you enjoyed the positive points.
This makes a lot of sense. I guess one of the main reasons I read a blog is because I connect with it. That’s really important. When I read about something like ‘Dealing with life in your 20s’, I’m bound to read it because it’s something I’d write! 🙂
Aishwarya I agree with reading blogs that I can connect with or see myself writing something similar to it.
I definitely try to do all of these things. I’m working on making navigation easier and cleaner with a totally new blog design so I can’t wait for that!
Becky I try to remember these things as well when I am writing my posts. I know that not everyone may want to read my blog but if I can reach out to at least one person, that’s always great. I can’t wait to see your new blog design!
Definitely great points and I agree with them. My blog is still a work in progress. It’s a learning process so, as a blogger, these tips help me to know what I need to do with mine. As a reader, I agree with all of them!
Leslie, my blog is a work in progress as well. I am far from a perfect blogger but as long as someone enjoys what I have to say, that makes me happy. 🙂
I read blogs for the same reasons 😀
I’m glad you read blogs for the same reasons I do Joanna. 🙂
Great points! I especially love blogs that allow me to peek into a different lifestyle. To me, it’s fun to see how other people live their lives.
Emily that is another great point for reading blogs! I also like seeing how others lives are going or what exciting things they are doing.
I completely agree. I really like when I feel like the blogger is talking TO me and not AT me. I also love when it’s easy to navigate!! It makes it so much easier to enjoy the post. I love these points. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Mattie, I could not agree with you more. When a blogger can really touch me, I love it. 🙂
I totally agree with this list! Love that you took what is usually done as a negative “why i don’t read” and spun it into something positive too 🙂
Nicole I wanted to be able to make this a positive post. I know that there are a lot of bloggers that probably don’t care to read my blog and that’s okay but I feel that as bloggers, we should support each other. Sure some blogs may not be of interest to me but that still doesn’t mean I’m not cheering them on for success. 🙂
I like blogs that are easy to read visually.
Rhi I agree with you!
Great list! I’m also a very visual person. I hate blog posts that don’t contain images or blog layouts that are cluttered and unorganized. Everything should be pretty and put together 🙂 and of course I love when I connect with the blogger. I love finding others who are going through the same types of things that I’m going through.
Thank You Keating! Having images helps a lot when it comes to blogging. I love blogs that have everything completely neat and not cluttered as well. If everything is cluttered and hard to navigate around, I won’t read the blog as long as what I would for a blog that is organized. 🙂
YES YES YES to all of this! When people are real I always come back
I agree Neely, being real is very important when it comes to blogging.
These are all so true and a lot of them are how I decide on which blogs I like to keep up with as well.
Good images are must — mine used to be really atrocious so I am glad I upped my game.
xoxo, Jenny
Jenny my images used to be atrocious as well. I have slowly stepped up my game. I’d love to be able to go back to old posts and update all my images. That may take awhile but I think it would be worth it. 🙂
I follow blogs for the same reasons! and also because of a good “about me” if I feel an instant connection with a blogger just from their tiny “about me” blurb, I know that I’m going to love what they have to say in a full post.
Cassandra that is a great reason to follow a blog as well! I think it’s really important to be able to connect with the blogger.
I love that you gave a different prospective about blogs. Wonderful tips that make me think about what I need to focus on in my own blog.
I’m glad you enjoyed it Tina. I wanted to make it very positive. 🙂
I read blogs for these same reasons too!
I’m glad that we both have the same reasons for reading blogs. 🙂
I am a sucker for images and I totally agree, you gotta be real!!!
Natalie I love when other bloggers are real. It makes me be able to relate to them more.
Great post! It is nice to know what readers are thinking 🙂
Thank You Jessica! 🙂
These are great points! I think it’s definitely important that a blog be easy to navigate around and easy on the eyes. Thanks for sharing this!
I agree Christina! I love being able to easily navigate around a blog because it keeps me on the blog longer. I also love blogs that are easy on the eyes. Having a crazy back ground or font that is hard to see, makes it harder to read a blog.
I agree with all of these. The last one is the most important for me because even if a topic seems interesting but their blog takes years to load up I tend to just leave.
Jazmine I could not agree more! I love blogs that load quickly and are easy to navigate around.
I read blogs for many of the same reasons. Some blogs I will read mainly for the recipes or travel tips, but others I come back to because I connect with them on some level, whether how they live their lives or our interests, and because I feel like I actually LIKE the author as a person. I’m also very much a visual person, so the design of the blog and the photos are often a big draw.
Marlynn, all great reasons to read a blog. I love reading blogs for so many different reasons as well. Being able to really connect with the blogger is a huge plus for me. Blogs that have recipes and travel tips are one of my weaknesses. I love finding new things to cook and new places to travel.
These are such great points. I think it’s most important to be real. You can’t personally connect with everyone, though so many bloggers try to. Be real and you’ll gain real readers who like you for who you are 🙂
Sarah I agree as well! I feel that if I can get my words out there and have at least one person relate to me, I am happy. As you said, you aren’t going to connect with everyone and that’s okay. Being real is so very important. 🙂
Bookmarked! I NEED these reminders as I try to grow my silly little bloggie. It’s not like someone’s going to tell you what’s wrong or right about your blog — you have to know what others are looking for. Awesome stuff.:)
Love your honesty and agree with the points you have raised, fab article!
Thank You Bree!! I tried being very honest and positive at the same time.
This is so great. I love your positivity. It gives me that much more motivation to keep up with my blog. So thank you!
Thank You Brittney. I wanted to bring some positive energy to the blogging community. Definitely stay motivated with your blog! I’m sure there are a lot of great things to come for your blog. 🙂
I agree with all those. I like reading blogs that are ‘real’ and ‘personable ‘, that share things that I can relate to. I’m a food blogger so I’m also a sucker for any blog with delicious eats ?.
Jessica I love when blogs are real and personable as well. It makes it easier to relate to the blogger or the situation they are talking about. I love food blogs! Finding new recipes is always nice. 🙂
Great points! There’s something to be said about honesty and vulnerability in blogging, which is great.
I agree Kim. Being vulnerable is not always easy because you may be afraid that others will judge you. I like that aspect of reading other blogs.
Great points, thanks for sharing! I’m always curious about what other bloggers are looking for in blogs they read!
Thank You Jackie! I have seen a few posts on why other bloggers read blogs and it’s always nice to have positive things.
I will read a blog post because I find the title interesting (as this one is!). I will return to visit again and again when the topics covered resonate with me. I also like authenticity and a sense of connecting with a real person via the blog.
Trish I agree. I love blogs that have catchy titles, images,etc. It’s also great when you can connect with that person through what they have to say.
My husband swears that he could make a job out of being a “secret shopper” for websites. He loves critiquing websites. Having recently switched to a gluten free lifestyle, I would love to take the time to bake more and figure out recipes.
Great post! I love finding new blogs that teach me something, AND allow me to connect with the blogger. When I can find that combination, I’m definitely going to stick around awhile. And a pretty design with great images doesn’t hurt either!
Thank You Erin! I read so many blogs daily and I love how they are similar but may be very different at the same time. I’m constantly learning from other bloggers. A pretty design and images are always a plus as well.
I totally agree with these. My biggest two are easy to navigate/looks nice website and then good grammer and spelling. I can’t handle reading blogs that don’t have those two things!
Britt I agree with you as well. I know sometimes we make mistakes when it comes to typing things out, which is okay at times but grammer/spelling is a big thing.
These were some great tips in disguise! x
http://www.theprettycitygirl.com/
Thank You Rutuja!
LOVE this post, Mistle. It’s so refreshing to see a positive post instead of “why I DON’T read your blog”. Awesome point here – all are relevant for me to come back to someone’s blog.
Thank You Summer. I wanted to make it positive because I also see those types of post. I know that my blog is not the best blog and not everyone is going to want to read it, but I feel as bloggers we should support each other. 🙂
I am attracted to decor and lifestyle blogs. I like clean looks without all of the pop ups. I just started a new blog and love it more than my 4.5 Year old blog.
Great post!
Kay Tee, I love decor and lifestyle blogs as well! I don’t mind some pop ups but when it’s the first thing that comes up when you enter a site, it kind of drives me crazy. Congrats on your new blog! I will have to check it out. 🙂
I am the same with visuals, that’s why I know this is my weak spot on my blog. My pictures are not great quality I need help in this section!
Lilly I am far from perfect when it comes to my pictures on my blog but I have improved over the time I’ve been blogging. It’s still a work in progress.
These are so true!!
I always try to keep these in mind when I post something.
Thank You Alix! I’m glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Such a great post. I read this the other day and I enjoyed your POV. Thanks for sharing!
Thank You so much Angie! I’m glad you enjoyed.
Thank You Angie! I am glad you enjoyed my POV. 🙂
Yes to all of these things! Especially the being real part. I’ve stopped reading more than a few because they were always positive and bubbly – it was annoying! Be your true self. And yes to having an easy site to navigate!
Paige, I have to read blogs that are real. Let’s face it, I am far from happy 24/7. Do I always want to portray that on my blog..no, but being real is a plus. If I can’t easily navigate around your site, I tend to not stay on there very long.
I completely agree with these! I love finding and reading new blogs! You can learn so much! So many ideas! 🙂
Whitney I’m glad that you agree with all of these! I love finding new blogs to read as well. 🙂
Love this – all great points! And… do I need some help with my pictures and images… but I am working on it! And all your points, very practical and helpful points! I try to be “real” and have my personality shine through …. hope so anyway!
Clare, believe me my pictures are far from perfect! I have slowly been trying to get better with my photos and learning what works for me. I am glad this was helpful for you! Being real is always important. I think if you show who you are that’s what counts. 🙂
Solid tips here, thanks! What is an example of great navigation vs bad navigation when you read a blog, what are you looking for?
I’m glad you enjoyed the tips Rachel. For navigation I like where I can click on the post I want to read and be taken to it directly. When you have to click on several links just to read a post, that can take away from me wanting to continue to read a blog.
I like that you took a positive approach to this topic. I was able to mentally go through my blog and check all these things off my list, so it was very helpful.
Lisa, I really wanted it to be positive because there are so many posts out there that say ‘Why I Don’t Read Your Blog”. Blogging is tough and we may all have our differences but we all have the same goal. I’m glad it was helpful for you. 🙂
This honestly a great post, I can totally agree with you and that’s why I’m sharing it.
I’m glad you enjoyed it Daniela! Thank You for sharing my post! I appreciate it. 🙂
These are all great reasons. They are the reason I read too – especially number 1!
Thank You Tiffany! I find that most bloggers agree with why they read blogs. I enjoyed being able to bring some positive light to why I read blogs.
I relate to all of this and couldn’t agree more. I especially like blogs that are very easy to navigate!
I’m glad you are able to relate to these Ashley. Being able to easily navigate around a blog is so important. 🙂
These are great, and so so true for sure! Thanks for sharing!
Thank You Kelsie! I’m glad you enjoyed. 🙂
I love reading blogs where I feel like I’m learning something, or they offer some really valuable insight. My favourite bloggers do all those things you mentioned, great look, fab pictures, etc.
Emma I love visiting blogs that teach me something. It can be about anything but if they have something that interest me, I will be constantly coming back to read their blogs.
Yes! I love that you focused on positives. Now I need to make sure I remember these when I blog ?? thanks for sharing. Would you link up at 100 Happy Days? http://www.akreativewhim.com/stir-crazy
I am glad that you loved that I focused on the positives of blogging. I really wanted to bring some light to the good things I love about reading blogs. I will check out the 100 Happy Days link up! 🙂
These are all great, but my favorite one is “you are real.” All my favorite blogs have one thing in common: the writer seems genuine. That’s what I love most about blogging; getting to know other people I wouldn’t have otherwise. Thanks for sharing!
Thank You Katie! When bloggers are genuine and real it’s so easy to relate to them. I love being able to connect with other bloggers through their words.
I love visiting a blog with a strong voice. (A good example of this is Aussa’s voice at aussalorens.com – she writes about hilarious things in her life and also serious things, but with a really relatable and funny voice!) I get sucked in with humour and insight as well. I love when someone is thoughtful!
Thanks for sharing this — it kind of makes me wonder if you’ve ever reviewed blogs before!
Having a strong voice while blogging is a great thing to have. I love seeing a mix of everything when it comes to blogs. I have never reviewed any blogs.
I love this. I’m often curious why people read blogs, and what draws people to them. Thanks for sharing what makes you interested in others’ blogs. Something that draws me in is humor. I love funny.
Lana thank you! I love reading blogs. Of course being drawn to a blog that keeps me coming back for more is great. I also like blogs that are funny!
All fantastic points and I completely agree with them. Images are so important nowadays but feeling like you connect is so important.
Lindsey, I completely agree. I love seeing blogs that have images to go with what they have to say.
Wow loved this post! I love being able to learn things from other bloggers and connecting with them.
I am go glad you enjoyed it Rosie! I could not agree with you more on learning and connecting with other bloggers!
I completely agree with this. I have subscribed to so many blogs then later unsubscribed because I have lost interest when the author failed to post new, engaging content. It’s a struggle as a writer to be unique when almost everything has been done before.
-Betsy
http://www.goldwilldigger.com
Betsy as a blogger it is hard to constantly come up with new and interesting content. I try my best to keep my readers engaged. We aren’t perfect but at least we all try when it comes to blogging. 🙂
Great read I appreciate this view and the tips I can apply to my own blog thanks!
Caroline I am glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Hi, Mistle. I appreciate hearing about how you choose which blogs to read with your valuable time. There are a lot of great blogs and it’s affirming to see that you are supporting other bloggers with your readership. And honestly, it is a great way to learn.
I was really impacted by this –>”You don’t sugar coat anything because you are honest. Sure being positive all the time is great but not everything we experience as bloggers is perfect. You express yourself and not afraid to be vulnerable”
My blogs are typically about arts and cultural events and I want to support artists and nonprofit arts organizations by being positive but lately I’ve been wondering if an honest critique wouldn’t be better in some cases. So, thanks for the words of wisdom.
Hi Kendra! Thank You! I enjoy reading blogs daily and supporting other bloggers. I love blogs that are real and the blogger is not afraid to say what they need to say. Being positive is a great thing but being honest is also great as well. 🙂
Great tips! I agree with all of them.
Thank You Brittany! 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I am in agreement with all of them especially the website being easy to navigate. There are some sites that have great content but I don’t come back to them because their site was cluttered.
You’re welcome Amanda! I agree that visiting a site that is cluttered does not keep me coming back. I love sites that are clean and not cluttered.
It’s so important that people be real. My favorite bloggers are the ones who tell it like it is and aren’t afraid of being who they are. It’s so important to be real online because their are so many bloggers, you need to be you.
Dia I agree. I try to be as upfront as I can be without being overly negative. Let’s face it bloggers are humans too, we have bad days sometimes.
Yes! I subscribe fully to being authentic. Blogs are an extension of you and your personality, and nothing should ever compromise that. I also love reading other blogs, because everyone is so good at different things, it’s a large diverse learning community!~
Joyce I agree! Being authentic is so important when it comes to being a blogger. I feel that if people do not like the real me when they read my blog, then that’s okay. I am not going to chance because they don’t like me,etc. I love reading blogs because I always learn something from someone else. Thank You for reading!
Love the insight! You have made some great points that I 100% agree with. This is so much better than the “reasons I don’t etc…” posts Im always seeing.
Thank You Tara! I really wanted it to be positive. Let’s face it us bloggers need to support each other, not hate on each other.