Kind of a blunt title, eh? Don't worry -- I will keep reading the blogs of my wonderful readers! :) But there are a lot of blogs out there that I start reading, add to my blog reader (I use Bloglines), and stick with for a while. But each month I go through my list, weeding out various blogs that aren't making the grade for one reason or another. Here are the top five reasons I won't read your blog:
1. You don't blog regularly. If you haven't updated in the last week or so, I'll likely drop you. I want current!
2. You don't answer comments. I'm BIG on this one. I make an effort to answer every comment left on my blog -- I can't answer each and every one, but I would say I hit a good 75-80%. It's a point of pride with me, as well as a way for me to thank my readers for taking the time to comment. As they say on the airplane, "I recognize you have a choice in air travel." :) I appreciate you, and I want to let you know! Plus, I think blogging is about engaging others in conversation. If you don't want to interact with those who read your blog, why are you writing at all? Just pull out a little diary with a lock on it and share your private thoughts there.
3. You don't use images or photos. It's really hard to read big blocks of text. If you never use images or pictures, my eyes glaze over. I just can't do it.
4. You don't use the shift key. I'm sorry, but it is impossible for me to read blog posts with no capital letters. I know a lot of people do this, but it just doesn't work for me.
5. You do too many "round-up" posts. I like to discover new blogs as much as the next person, but if all you ever post is lists to other blogs, why not just cut out the middleman and subscribe to them instead?
What about you? What makes you unsub or stop reading a blog?
Your reason #3 regarding images...I particularly liked the image you put in your last post about LOAD.
:)
Hey, one question (and I'm looking forward to your answer): Do you answer comments with in the comment area or do you email them personally? I like to answer in my comments so others can see the answer, but I don't know how many people actually go back and look. I'm pretty positive my comment service doesn't send my replies via email like some do.
Posted by: noell | 02/01/2010 at 09:38 AM
I recently switched to Wordpress simply because I hated that I couldn't reply to commenters in Blogger! It is so nice to be able to reply to those who took the time to leave a comment.
Posted by: Christine Jensen | 02/01/2010 at 09:40 AM
Hey Lain! I'll do 2 exceptions to that - 1. I don't think Seth Godin ever has any pictures & I'm among many who love his blog; and 2. one of the Australian sites - Scrapgossip or Aussiescrapgossip or something like that - regularly has links and only links - and they are useful so I do check in w/ that one from time to time b/cs I know I'll get links there. :) Katie
1st Day of Load! Am I too late to sign up????
Posted by: Katie Scott | 02/01/2010 at 09:46 AM
Ok a reason I don't read a blog even if the content is interesting? They CENTER all of the text. Majorly annoying to me (I don't think majorly is a word but my husband says it all the time). Katie :)
Posted by: Katie Scott | 02/01/2010 at 09:47 AM
Great post! I must say that I love that you reply to my comments - it makes me feel loved. Here are my reasons to stop:
1. You blog too much. If I miss a few days and I see 16 posts, I avoid you, and soon you are at 30, and then unfollow.
2. You get to preachy. If I signed up for one reason, and find that your core values very different from mine, and you talk about them too much, unfollow.
3. No humor
4. Too long
5. No variety
Posted by: Maureen | 02/01/2010 at 09:49 AM
I hate it when a blog post doesn't show up fully in my reader. The point of using my reader is so I don't have to go to individual websites.
Posted by: Annette Kuusinen | 02/01/2010 at 10:06 AM
I am the worst about updating my blog(s). And I am even worse about putting in images/pictures, etc. I am working on weekly updates to my "One Word" blog, though. And one day, I will have the pictures to go with it!
Posted by: Olivia | 02/01/2010 at 10:32 AM
Well said! I think all the commenters are right on, too. I'd add that if i simply cannot relate to the blog, I lose interest. For example, there were some cardmakers and scrapper blogs that I just stopped reading bc our styles were so different that it wasn't even inspiring to me. This is no measure of their talent, but I just couldn't relate to them any longer.
Posted by: Abbie | 02/01/2010 at 10:41 AM
If you don't allow the full (or large portion) of your blog content to show up in an RSS reader. There are some great blogs out there that do this, but I don't have time to click through to every one. There's a reason I use the reader in a first place!
I especially don't like it when I can't read your full post in my reader, and then when I do decide to click through I get blasted with MUSIC that I didn't start (and probably don't like!).
I'm probably guilty of too many round-up posts. :( I do one every Friday as a feature, but every once in a while I'll do another just because I'm collecting ideas for a new project (or going off on another Star Wars tangent). I tend to post those, too.
Posted by: Melissa Stinson | 02/01/2010 at 10:58 AM
Posting too often can bug me too. One blog I really like will sometimes post 5 or 6 times in one day. I really like her projects, but I wish she would spread them out! I don't like when the entire post doesn't show up in my reader either. Several blogs I really like do this and it bugs me. I'll visit if I feel the need to comment (which I often do) but I don't like to be forced into it.
I don't use a lot of photos on my blog, but it's been a issue learning my photo software. That should change today since I have to post my page to flickr for LOAD anyway!
Posted by: Deanna - Fun Mama | 02/01/2010 at 11:00 AM
The no caps thing DRIVES. ME. NUTS. We have rules about the written word for a reason -- so you can be easily understood!
Posted by: Wendy | 02/01/2010 at 11:09 AM
Oh gosh, I am so picky, my list is really long.
1. Any kind of weird formatting, no caps, no paragraph breaks, centered text.
2. Partial feeds - I think SouleMama is the only partial feed still on my list, just because she is awesome. Even with that, I don't click over unless the title grabs me.
3. No take-aways. I subscribe to very few personal blogs. It's not because I'm not interested in people or their lives... it is just that I don't have enough time.
Posted by: Jennifer @ Simple Scrapper | 02/01/2010 at 11:22 AM
I'm so guilty of #1 and feel bad about it. I used to be better but I got out of the habit.
I just unsubscribed to all the manufacturers blogs I had in my reader. They were posting WAY too much during CHA, I've never won a contest (and rarely even have time to enter), and I'd already seen their product reviewed on other blogs.
I'm finding my time very short lately and know I need to unsubscribe from some more but I have a hard time letting go.
Posted by: canadacole | 02/01/2010 at 11:33 AM
Great list as usual Lain. Like Maureen, I feel the love when you reply to my comments. I have to say that I don't do that usually on mine unless there was a direct question... Mmm, I hope my friends don't think I don't care about them.
I'm with the others with the fact that the full post doesn't show in my reader. And I don't like it either when people update their blogs 5 or 6 times per day since it makes me feel bad about the fact that I can't even update mine at least once a day! LOL
Posted by: Nathalie (famille1999) | 02/01/2010 at 11:37 AM
I stop reading a blog when I realize the owner of the blog I am reading has an even more boring blog and life than I do. My blog and life is painfully dull enough.
I cannot read the day in and day out documentation of every graham cracker someone's two year old eats while watching Dora the Explorer. I want to get to know the person writing the blog.
Oh and don't use too many big words. I can't concentrate on them while Dora is on. I gotta focus my brains on keeping that pesky Swiper at bay.
Posted by: Chris O- boring blog owner | 02/01/2010 at 12:00 PM
There are soooo many great blog that I enjoy. Very few of them reply to comments. In answer to Noell---NO, I do not go back and read replies made in the comment sectionso it is best to email if you are wanting to reply.
I don't like blogs that have busy backgrounds---makes it very hard to read!
Posted by: {vicki} | 02/01/2010 at 12:15 PM
I think you are so super awesome for answering comments on your blog! Though I haven't updated my blog in a couple of weeks so hopefully you won't ditch me haha!
Posted by: Danielle | 02/01/2010 at 01:04 PM
I agree with a lot of the commenters ahead of me - if you don't blog often enough, I stop reading. I also used to follow one but then she got real wordy and talked a lot about nothing - sorry my time is too important for that. I also love that you respond to my comments. Once when you had emailed me and I was typing a response, my 20 yr old daughter asked who I was emailing. I explained who and she was like "Mom, seriously, you don't even know this lady!" But I beg to differ. I've read your blog long enough and had enough back & forth convos to say that I think I know you quite well Lain! I just haven't met you in person. Big deal - right?! Hope you have fun in Load a Day - I'm going to try to do it on my own. We're still following the Dave Ramsey plan so I didn't have any extra cash to play along. :)
Posted by: Laurie T | 02/01/2010 at 01:51 PM
If I'm uninspired or if it doesn't catch my attention anymore.
Posted by: Lissa | 02/01/2010 at 03:46 PM
I don't read that many blogs, it's more of a time issue with me. I don't mind if people don't update regularly, I'd rather read them sporadically with great content than every day with mediocre musings. But weird or hard to read formating will also make me not read a blog.
Posted by: Gaynol | 02/01/2010 at 04:40 PM
I just want to say that Lain truly is WONDERFUL about responding to comments. You are one of the friendliest bloggers I know :) I have followed you since scraphappy and glad I recently discovered this new blog and found so many insightful/entertaining posts here. Keep it up, we appreciate your time and effort.
Posted by: Andrea F. | 02/01/2010 at 05:12 PM
Reasons I stop reading blogs:
1. Not interesting to me.
2. No posts for eons and then a whole bunch of them.
3. Posts that give out too much information.
Lain, I'm pretty new to your blog but am enjoying it very much AND am impressed with your replies to my posts. Thank you.
Posted by: Sue | 02/01/2010 at 06:10 PM
sooo, i'm pretty sure i just got unfollowed. LMAO! don't worry - i still love you....even if you don't love me! LOL
Posted by: jodie mcnally | 02/01/2010 at 06:14 PM
My reading of blogs depends on my mood. Sometimes I'm grateful for a whiny post, lets me know my frustrations aren't alone and that they are somewhat validated. Sometimes I like reading uplifting posts. But if a blog is always whiny, or always sugary sweet, I stop reading.
If there is variety and honesty, I tend to stick around.
One of the quickest ways to get me to stop reading a blog? Play music. I can't stand listening to someone else stream their music.
This post reminds me. I need to get the latest batch of photos uploaded to my blog. I've lacked motivation. Felt like I have nothing to say. *sheepish grin*
Oh! Regarding comments? Thank you for responding. It definitely makes a difference.
Posted by: FuzzyCricket | 02/01/2010 at 06:52 PM
How do you respond to comments? Do you get an email saying "so-and-so" commented, and then respond to that email? Blogger is slightly painful for answering comments...
I get a bit slack with capitals if I'm typing one-handed (while holding/feeding bubba), but it drives me nuts constantly in blog posts... or strings of dots...... do it to me, too.... ~lol~
My other dislike is mentioning "something-and-something, I've posted it on my other blog" - but I'm reading your blog now! Share the link, or post everything to one blog!
Thanks for taking the time to answer comments, guess I should start doing the same for my one-or-two commenters!
Posted by: cate | 02/01/2010 at 07:49 PM