In case you missed it, I basically missed my own birthday last week, but here's what I posted on Saturday...
On Instagram, like a month ago, I posted a realization that I had come to:
Because I wanted to recommend a facewash that my friend told me about but I felt like I couldn't for some reason because there was no "click here" or "swipe up" or "link in profile" to add. Like, it's just a $5 charcoal wash from Target (and it. is. amazing.) but it seemed pointless to talk about it without linking to it...
And then I realized why.
At this point, in 2019, blogging is all about buying things and recommending that others then also buy those things.
Literally.
I came across a post a few weeks ago. Someone was linking 5 or 6 clothing items they've bought lately and have loved and you should check them out too. There were no pictures (if you put pictures, I somewhat cut you metaphorical slack and also if you put the actual item names so I can look them up myself, not just number them with links). I would love to see those items, but they're Shopstyle links and I don't like the idea that someone makes money off of me just looking at something on J.Crew's website.
Don't get me wrong.
I like seeing what others buy. I'm always slightly in awe of how much money some of these bloggers spend, to be honest. I mean, these last 7 months have taught me that there's not actually much I need because the SAHM-life isn't brimming with opportunities to dress up and, when we do go places (that aren't grocery stores), I just need to have like 4 or 5 go-to outfits that I love. I'm actually in a state of shock, still, about how many clothes I needed as a teacher. I can't imagine having a closet that full again.
And I can't get over how much people buy their kids. Wells already has more toys than he knows what to do with and they were mostly all gifts, so I can't imagine adding to the pile.
Clutter is my least favorite thing and part of the stress I've felt lately is that we had x amount of stuff in Wyoming, y amount of stuff in Colorado, and z amount of stuff in storage. x, y, and z all needed to get sorted, donated, sold, packed, etc and be put en route to Pennsylvania. This was/is my issue with moving all the time. I'm convinced that we were not meant to be slaves to our stuff in this way.
I'm also in awe of how. much. money. some bloggers spend on repetitive items. I usually buy one good purse a year ("good" meaning $80+). Currently, I'm still using my $28 Target bag because it has multiple pockets and I don't care if a bottle leaks in it, and it has held up like new over a few cycles in the washing machine. It's great for traveling and for everyday use.
Anyway.
Blogging used to be about sharing non-affiliate link related things. Stories, recipes, things that happened to you...that aren't weekend recaps. There's nothing wrong with a good weekend recap, but the formula of blogging is just getting to be tiring when all you post is the places you went to eat over the weekend, some (usually whiny) confessions around mid-week, and then a recap of your favorite things on Friday...which usually includes no less than 7 affiliate links.
You can say what you want about how I may need to just get over this and I will at some point, I'm sure, but I feel like it's the big pink elephant that has slowly crept into the room over the last few years and no one wants to point it out.
This actually made my morning. I like writing and I started my blog as a personal way to keep track of my running and family activities - then cut back on posting because I didn't want to drag in any personal comments related to my divorce. Along the way, I started following so many bloggers ... which then made me cut back on writing in my blog because I thought "I don't have anything to recommend. I'm just writing this for me so why hit 'publish'?" Plus the stress of feeling like I "needed" to have recommendations or links or whatnot ... Anyway, I agree with your post. :)
ReplyDeleteYes! I think that is why I have struggled to blog recently. I am actually not spending on unnecessary things through a contentment challenge through the end of March. I love my wardrobe as it is, have plenty of items for my home, and can get away with the minimum in beauty.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I'm fed up with 99% of bloggers because I rarely spend money on anything and I'm SO TIRED of people telling me what I need to buy. It really is shocking how much people spend.
ReplyDeleteYes. All the yes. I work from home. I live in yoga/sweat pants. I can't justify spending all the money on clothes when I have no social life. I would rather spend my money on experiences. The kids know this too. Sometimes I fall in the trap where I feel like I need something because every on social media has it, but I can normally talk myself out of it, cause that's dumb.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I hate when there is no pictures and I keep going to stuff I wouldn't get, I didn't know you get paid just when I hit the link, I thought if I bought the item you got something. I think I am going to stop looking at stuff. I liked when bloggers just wrote about their lives, recipes or book's .
ReplyDeleteI've been so suspicious of all links for the past few years. I don't mind you making some money if I buy something you recommend but when I found out you make money on ANYTHING I may buy, and that may be that day OR the next day(!?), that put me off. I'm so sick of the swipe up too on Instagram.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree!!! You should follow me!!!! I am all about good old-fashioned blogging...just relating stories and experiences from my sometimes "less than exciting" life - HA!! Annster's Domain
ReplyDeleteThe good old blogging day was a lot more fun and a lot less "I bought this and that". I do link things but only things I actually love, or have used for at least a few weeks. To each their own but I truly get what you're saying.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree. This is why there are only like three blogs I bother reading these days. Also, partially why I quit blogging. I just couldn’t deal with the “blogging community” anymore.
ReplyDeleteYes!!!! Oh my gosh yes!!! Between things like Stitch Fix and everything, it's just excessive.
ReplyDeleteYou KNOW I'm with you 10000% on this. I've never one time had an affiliated link. I just - personally - no offense to anyone - dont get how you can be honest & legit when you are all about making a dollar & doing what you can to please vendors instead of just sharing your life. I'm not about it. I've stopped following a lot of blogs when you can tell that's all they're there for.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, so much yes. I noticed this a while back and am constantly in awe at the amounts some people have spent on stuff. Most of the outfits or products that I find myself really loving are so far out of my price range it is ridiculous. I just can't fathom spending that much money when there are more important things I need to buy. I understand an advertisement post here and there, especially if they truly love the product... But blogging has changed SO much in the past almost ten years.
ReplyDeleteI have just stumbled upon your blog and THIS!! This post is everything!! And well, most of the times, I read blogs when its quiet at work and a lot of the sites are blocked, so I quickly lose interest in said blog when I can't really see what they're buying because they want me to go to a link.
ReplyDeleteI hate that too, and the shopping guides. Ugh. I love the real, honest, genuine bloggers, and they're a little harder to come by these days.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Blogging has changed so much. I understand affiliate links make these bloggers money, but I miss actually reading about people's lives and thoughts. Very few blogs I follow still share these tidbits.
ReplyDeleteI've been blogging for 9 years and agree that things have changed. I do have affiliate links on my blog, not gonna lie. But I post about everything from family ramblings, reviews and giveaways, and whatever comes to mind. I'm not an exclusive "buy, buy, buy" blog. I've never really been into fashion so I'm not one to click on a link to purchase a $90 blouse anyway.
ReplyDelete