I Love You This Much
Monique | Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 4:37PM I realize that my hiatus from regular blogging was only about a year, but in truth I have not been paying attention to the blogosphere for a while, between life, wanting to hide and other things I have made myself scarce.
In finally taking a trip around, I see that the scenery has changed dramatically. And not in the best of ways...
Ads, reviews, giveaways, traffic - all of these topics have been mentioned on blogs (including mine) before. But, I look around and I see how much of these things KILL an amazing blog!
Ads are literally taking over blogs, making them, in some cases (especially when you're primarily mobile!) almost impossible to navigate. Reviews are posted as every other entry, sometimes I've missed good entries because a review was posted so quickly after. Rent this space, your ad here, read this review... blah blah blah...
And all of that is cool, if that's what you're aiming for. Blog ads, reviews - especially if you have the traffic and can network like a God- can sustain an existence these days! Word of mouth is HUGELY important!
That is not the direction, I want this blog to take. Back when blogging was blogging, writing because you had an available medium and compelled audience, back when ads were only on your blog because that was the only way your host saved you from spending a dime on your habit... THAT'S what I'm doing here! The BLOG is sorely lacking these days. And THIS is a BLOG.
Years ago, when BlogHer Ads finally accepted my blog to host their sidebar ads, I was giddy! I assure you, I did not get paid a cent and up until recently, didn't even know that it could be a paid gig. I wanted BlogHer on my site, because it connected me, and you, to other amazing blogs, writers, mothers, people and ideas.
BlogHer is still the same, from what I can tell, and kudos to them for that! However, even they will not grace this site, this time around.
If I find something awesome, I will make it my bitch and I will pimp it like... well, like a pimp would, damn it! But for no reason, will you ever be in the throes of commenting only to be cockblocked by a Dominos ad! (especially since their pizza is so super untasty)
At some point, the sidebar may contain some of the things I support, or am passionate about, some of the things I participate in - But from what I an tell, no one gets paid for any of that.
I give you my word, this blog will remain as ad free as humanly fucking possible.
Now! Reviews are a bit different! I appreciate a good, honest, helpful review that doesn't sound like a TV commercial or when they are the ONLY thing a blogger blogs about (review blogs made for the sole purpose of completely separating reviews from entries of importance are of course, the exception) so there will be none of that here.
I will always, personally, tell you that I hate Dominos pizza, and their "improvement" did nothing to improve the pizza, in fact, it made it yuckier. And that I totally dig my CoverGirl Eye Light eyeliner, after almost 10 years of being devoted to ONE eyeliner I'm glad I was finally forced into trying something different.
I want to do reviews, I don't care about being paid for them, and if it is mandated that an ad be placed on my website, I will happily decline.
I will, however, not decline any awesome giveaways!! Promoting small businesses, work at home parents, uber cuteness and giving back to you in some small, fun way is one of the coolest trends in blogging. There are like, 3 zillion giveaways every 15 seconds and if I hear of cool ones, or am ever given the option of hosting one myself, I will always spread the news.
However - I will not allow my personal blog to be overrun with reviews, or make giveaways my only "claim to fame".
The topic of a blogroll was approached very briefly and I've decided that this time around, I will not create one.
They are a pain in the ass to upkeep (you know this if you've been keeping up with my ever-changing URL) and people get all cracked out offended if you're on theirs and you don't reciprocate. Nope! If I find a cool blog, trust that you will know about it, and don't feel any obligation to add me to a blogroll for any reason beyond actually enjoying the crap I spew.
I am not anticipating any reason to deal with Press anything, and so I will not address it. I'm certainly not looking to become an author of anything beyond this blog.
I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have guest bloggers occasionally! (email or @ me, seriously) And when I can, I will certainly participate in memes. Things like Nanowrimo, Nablopomo, Blogathon and Delurking day will all be participated in!
Traffic is of minute importance to me, the devoted friends I have reading now make me the happiest clam in the sea! I do always encourage comments, always! I love when people pop out and say that they enjoy an entry, my blog, or can give me an idea or answer to a question, or simply a different opinion, a different perspective - that's the WHOLE purpose for blogging!
But how many people subscribe to my feed, what my Google rank is? Unimportant. Just be here and let me love and appreciate you for it!
Replying to comments, for me, has always been tricky, and I have found that responding to comments IN the comments is the best and easiest way to interact with you. I will do that to the best of my ability.
I want to keep my blog a blog, the place where my bitching, complaining and awesome Minion stories are not overshadowed or beaten out by conglomerate bullshit.
You're here out of curiosity, and hopefully you stay because, for some God awful reason, you're entertained. Let's keep it simple, that's all I want.
The appeal is high, I will admit, but what I really hope to achieve with my blog is what I just mentioned.
And now that I have turned into a prune, my bath water is freezing and my teeth are chattering so loud I sound like a damn helicopter, I will stop endangering my life by keeping this ipod so close to the water and shut the hell up...
Reader Comments (6)
;-)
I love you.
Just what we talked about last night. You're awesome
Still say you should write a book. :)
So glad you're back blogging. Have loved reading yours since... 04? Back quite a while at anyrate, when msn groups were big.
xx
I argree Donminios pizza is the WORST!!!!!!!!! Blach.
Yeah, u should wright a book when you wright and i read it it either leaves me laughing or crying. If u do then i would own it.