Blogging Babble: Blogger/Follower Expectations

 Well I’ve been blogging for over a year now and I have yet to post discussion posts regularly… Actually I think I’ve posted a total of 2 since I started blogging.  It’s just sad really.  BUT I have been working on lots of ideas, so hopefully this is going to change moving forward.

Today, I wanted to talk with my fellow bloggers about blogger/follower expectations…

When someone hits that follow button, a connection is formed between the blogger and the follower.  All human connections (or relationships if you will) have their own set of expectations.  Blogging is no different.

Expectations get a bad rap.  Personally, I think having reasonable expectations in a relationship/connection is completely normal.  If it helps, think of expectations as rules or standards for the purpose of this post.

If you are a blogger, you should have a set of expectations that your followers can expect from you.  At least, I do.  I find that this helps keep me accountable.  Also, I find it equally important to have expectations for what I do and do NOT expect from my followers.

Here are some examples of what I am talking about…

What can my followers expect from me?

» Consistency

I am not going to drop off the face of the earth, at least not without a very good explanation.   I have been blogging over a year now, and not once in the time I’ve been blogging have I not managed to get at least one post up per week.  This isn’t to bash on people who need to take short hiatuses for very legitimate reasons (vacations, personal reasons, school/work related commitments, etc.) every once in a while.  I am referring to the bloggers that post once a month, or are not active for months at a time.  Sorry, you all are stuck with me.

» Honesty

If I can promise you one thing, it’s that I am honest.  This applies to book reviews, all other posts, comments, replies, etc.  You can always count on me to tell it like it is.  Now, in regards to book reviews, I am not out to bash on anyone’s work.  I always take into consideration the time and effort an author takes to writing a book, so I am never going to be that reviewer that is brutally honest.  While those types of reviews can be funny, they are not my style.  I do my best to always see some positive in EVERY book I review and give constructive criticism.

I am so honest that I will even be honest when it doesn’t always paint me in the best light.  Don’t believe me?  Check out my review for Small Great Things → Book Review: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.

» Personality

I would like to think that my personality shines through in my blog?  I mean isn’t it my charm and wit that keep you coming back?!  No?  Well I’m a charming and witty person damn it! Basically you can expect me to be me, and not a robot.

» Variety

I do my best to provide a variety of posts: book reviews, weekly memes, book/blog tags, book events, wrap-ups, TBRs, discussion posts, and of course my kids’ corner feature.   I get bored of blogs that only feature one type of post, so I try and have a variety in my content.  Maybe you are not interested in reading book reviews, but you love to know what people are planning on reading (TBR lists) or what they read over that month (wrap-ups).  Maybe you are not interested in the book event recaps, but you are a parent and are interested in children’s books or middle grade reads.  I try to appeal to a wide audience with the content on my blog.

I also promise variety in my  reading as well.  I read most genres within the children’s picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult realms.  I may not always be reading and reviewing a book you are interested in, but odds are I will at some point.

» Entertainment

Technically I can’t really promise this, but I would like to think I am entertaining.  I mean, I have a few followers now, so I can’t be THAT dull right?

» Interaction

If you take the time to comment on one of my posts, I will always respond to that comment.  Granted, it may be a few days later, but I WILL respond.  If you even take the time to type out “Great post!” or “Great review!” I will still take the time to respond.  I love interacting with my followers.  It is one of my favorite aspects of blogging.

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What do I expect from my followers?

» Be respectful

This is a very broad expectation, but probably one of my biggest expectations.  I expect you, my follower, to be respectful of me AND anyone else that interacts on my blog.  I do not tolerate any type of disrespectful comments.  This includes any comments that are harmful against a person’s race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, social class, language, nationality, etc.  I will not tolerate it.

» Call me out

I expect my followers to call me out.  If you see a spelling error: call me out!  If you are a part of the grammar police, and I made a grammatical error: call me out!  Most importantly, if I say something offensive or harmful, please call me out.  I am human, I make mistakes.  The last thing I want is to say or do something that is offensive or harmful to someone.

Now when I say call me out, the rule from above applies.  There are appropriate ways to call someone out in a respectful manner…

» I do NOT expect you to read every post

*But it would be nice… ((wink wink))

I do not expect my followers to read every post I publish.  Why?  Because not every post is going to appeal to everyone.  If I review a book that you have no interest in reading, then skip it!  If I post something for the kids’ corner division of my blog and you are not a parent nor have any interest in children’s literature, then why would you read it?   Read the posts you are interested in and skip the ones you aren’t.

» I do NOT expect you to read EVERY word

I realize that your time is important.  I do not expect you to read every word in a post.  I promise there won’t be a quiz at the end.  Feel free to skim!  I expect most of my readers to skim, that’s why I bold important thoughts and ideas.  This way you can still get the basic gist of my post even if you didn’t have the time to read the entire thing.  You’re welcome.

» Speak up if you disagree with me

Do you have a opinion that is different from my own?  Then speak up!  I want to hear your thoughts and feelings just as much as I want to give my own.  One of the reasons I love book blogging so much is that it can be like my own personal book club.  I love discussion and even a healthy debate.  Always feel welcome to speak your mind as long as it is done in a respectful manner.

 

» Loyalty

Ways you can express your loyalty to me…Get my blog name tattooed on your body • Offer me your first born child • Build a shrine in my honor • Choreograph an interpretive dance the represents my blog • NEVER stop following my blog…

* This is obviously a joke.  I do not want your first born child.  I would be highly amused if you decided to go for any of the other options though 🙂

Let’s Chat!

If you are a blogger, what can your followers expect from you?

Do you have any expectations for your followers?

Comment below and let me know 🙂