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In the world of blogging, there’s a curious trend I’ve come to notice. People subscribe to my blog, which at first feels great—it seems like they genuinely appreciate my work. In response, I check out their blog, and if I like what I see, I subscribe back. But then, it happens. Not long after, I find that they’ve unsubscribed from mine, leaving me following someone who clearly wasn’t interested in a mutual connection.
Here’s the thing: I never subscribe to anyone just to play the game. I subscribe because I genuinely like their work. If I follow someone, it’s because I’m invested in what they’re sharing. So when people treat subscriptions like a numbers game, it starts to feel disingenuous. And it’s not just frustrating on a personal level—it’s really bad for stats, too. When people unsubscribe, it creates sudden drops in your follower count, which messes with the growth metrics and overall engagement data. For bloggers who take their work seriously, this can have a lasting impact.
Why do people do this? Is it about trying to boost their own follower count while dropping others? It seems like it’s all about inflating stats rather than building real engagement and community.
Blogging, to me, is about creating connections and sharing ideas that resonate. It’s not about superficial numbers. Moving forward, if I subscribe to someone’s blog, know that it’s because I genuinely value their content, not because I expect anything in return. Honestly, if you truly like something, most would just hit the ‘Like’ button anyway—I know I do. And if someone subscribes to mine, I hope they feel the same way.
After all, it’s not about the numbers—it’s about authenticity. Otherwise, what’s the point?
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Thanks for your understanding, which is refreshing. Some people can and do get very offended, but I can’t Like a subject which I don’t understand, or which I don’t consider myself qualified to comment on (a lot of the USA election stuff that’s around at present). Fortunately you blog about a wide range of subjects, so there’s always something for me. Thanks again for your support for my posts too. Have a good week. 😊
You’re very welcome, and thank you so much for your thoughtful words! I totally understand where you’re coming from—there’s no need to like or comment on something that doesn’t resonate or that you don’t feel comfortable engaging with. I really appreciate your support, and I’m glad you find a variety of topics in my posts. It’s all about connecting in ways that feel right. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead as well! 😎
I’m still subscribed to you, and vice-versa, and I’m good with that. I only subscribe to blogs that look like my kind of thing, although if someone subscribes to mine I’ll go and check out their blog. Sometimes they don’t work in subjects which appeal to me, so I won’t follow back, and if they unfollow me that’s okay. You blog far more than I do, and not all your subjects resonate with me–so I don’t Like those, but just those which I literally do like. I hope you’re okay with that, but I don’t want to Like things just for the sake of it. 🙂
Thank you for your honesty, and I completely understand where you’re coming from! It’s always better to engage with content that genuinely resonates with you, and I appreciate that you’re thoughtful about it. We all have different interests, and that’s what makes this platform so diverse. I’m glad we’re still connected and appreciate your support. Keep doing what feels right for you! 😎
I definitely feel this way! And I have been unsubscribing a lot recently because I didn’t feel that connection with some (and have followed too many, probably for the reasons you stated). So now, I am paring things down to what I can manage. I never thought about it hurting someone’s blog stats though. So, I will keep that in mind and perhaps go back to simply turning off notifications.
I completely understand the need to pare things down to what resonates with you. It’s so easy to follow too many and then feel overwhelmed by all the content coming in. Turning off notifications for those is a great alternative if you still want to support a creator without the constant influx of updates. Thanks again for your insight—I always appreciate it. I hope you have a great day, Sheila! 😎
Thank you for another perspective on this, John. I wasn’t sure I was doing the right thing or not, even though I have been blogging here for years! Ha! I am always willing to learn!
I blogged for years without many followers. I agree with you that building meaningful relationships here is what builds a following. I am up over 100% in views already this year over the whole year of 2023.
You’re welcome, Sheila! I definitely get where you’re coming from—sometimes, it can be hard to know if we’re doing the right thing, even with years of experience. But, like you said, being open to learning is key. Congratulations on the impressive growth in views! That’s amazing, and it really shows the value of building meaningful connections with your readers. Keep up the great work, and I’m sure you’ll continue to see that success grow! 😎
You see? You said that so much better than me! Love it! Thank you, John.
You’re welcome, Sheila! I hope you have a great night. 😎