5 Things bloggers wish they could say

With over 500 million blogs on the web to date, it seems as though everyone and their dog has a blog. There are just so many sites to peruse through that very little thought is actually given to what goes on behind the scenes. Before becoming a blogger, I didn’t quite care much for the writers and just sifted through the articles looking for the best pieces. Now that I am a blogger, I have so much more appreciation of what actually goes into starting and running a blog. Since I was on the other side of the screen just a few months ago, I get it. I thought it would be fun to share with you some things that bloggers wish they could say to you, but won’t.

Your feedback on posts helps with content creation

Are you guilty of silent love? You see great content, watch or read it then go about your day? That used to be me on YouTube because I never really saw the vloggers as real-life people. They were more like personas that got paid the big bucks and showed off their lives. My sentiments were pretty much the same for bloggers.

Now that I have my own blog, I find myself analysing the stats to understand just what my readers what to see more of. And by stats I’m not just talking about views. That’s definitely a given, but it is the feedback on posts that I find more insightful.

When you tell a blogger that their post was very relatable, it automatically tells them that they should give you more of a similar style. When you stay silent after reading a post, it is almost as though you either didn’t like the content or could’ve done without it. Something as simple as a ‘like’ can really make a difference.

Related: The frustrating side of blogging

Bloggers wish they could say that you need to click on ads

I really hope I don’t get in trouble for putting this out there, but it wouldn’t be an honest post otherwise. When bloggers put ads on their pages, it isn’t because they like the look and feel of them. If you’ve come across an ad or two on a webpage, the blogger is trying to monetise their platform! I used to feel some type of way about this before, when trying to find the post under a sea of ads. Now that I have my own blog, I know just how much time and money goes into running a blog. It doesn’t justify having a thousand ads per page, but a writer can hope someone will click right?

Although there are many ad providers out there, the most common types of ads you might see on a site are WordAds, Media.net, or Adsense ads. (Hmmm is that how you say it?) The first pays bloggers based on views, but the other two pay bloggers per click. So when readers click on the ads, you are supporting the blogger and encouraging them to continue bringing content.

We don’t mind giving advice but won’t do it consistently for free

Blogging advice is a very sensitive topic in the blogging world. The thing is, we praise the community for being so inclusive and supportive. But by the same token, many bloggers are trying to make a hustle. When other bloggers or newbie bloggers reach out for advice, there are just a few things to keep in mind.

1. You are not entitled to a detailed response
2. If the blogger sells blogging plans or hosts courses, it is inconsiderate to expect to be assisted for free
3. If a blogger is kind enough to promise you tips and tricks for free, you can’t expect them to drop everything to give you what you need immediately.

I cringed as I wrote that but it really had to be said. Personally, I see blogging as a fun hobby so I don’t mind giving advice for free. But just because I am happy to do this, I don’t ever expect the same in return. I also don’t want to spend hours each day responding to emails with explanations of things that can easily be searched online. Everyone’s goals are different. Everyone’s motivation is different.

Your likes, comments, and views open doors for opportunities

Have you seen a few blog posts that tell you not to care about the stats? But then the very same bloggers turn around and share their income reports, milestones, and whatever else has happened? If you’re wondering how bloggers can be so bipolar, the answer is simple. We don’t want to care too much about superficial things, but this is what opens doors for opportunities.

Many bloggers write because it’s fun, and are satisfied once they post a new article. A lot more bloggers would be grateful for sponsorship opportunities that come along the bigger your blog is. Since I have a full-time job outside of WordPress, these opportunities aren’t as essential for me. But I really would love to head in that direction. Now just imagine a blogger that has decided to blog full-time!

Bloggers wish they could say they need a break

I know there are many bloggers out there who churn out content like there’s no tomorrow. Those bloggers are absolute #goals in my books! But when it comes to reality, life does sometimes get in the way of things. Real-life events can make it impossible to stay consistent. Even though things may seem to be picture-perfect from the outside, the writers behind the screen also need a break. A break from life, a break from blogging, a break from spam, a break from judgement… It’s a little ironic since we put ourselves out there, but we are human too.

One of the things that annoys me quite a bit is the spam… If I could take a permanent break from random comments about “Doctor XXX cured me from herpes.. blah blah blah… contact him on +44xxxx” I would be eternally grateful. I’m not sure if these comments come from real-life people or from bots, but my life would be so much better without them on my blog! Why is that even a thing?

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If you are a blogger too, what else would you add to the list? What are some other things that you think bloggers wish they could say?