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Is There Such Thing As Blogger Etiquette??

I attempt to write daily to practice and this has just been on my mind. I’ve been blogging for about 5 years, going on 6 in August and always wondered if there was blogger etiquette. I taught myself about blogging and learned things from others along the way but I just feel like there is some kind of etiquette that goes along with blogging. I would think or maybe….

I think that everyone has their own rules for blogging, there isn’t a set of rules or unwritten rules somewhere. I tried doing some research and it was just many blog posts with opinions about blogger etiquette. There may be some bloggers out there that don’t think that etiquette or rules are necessary for blogging but I honestly think that there should be. Again, I’m no expert and a self taught blogger so don’t quote me on this lol.

Respond when someone comments on your post

I feel like this is known rule. The whole point is to interact with your readers and engage with them. You want them to come back don’t you?

I think it is only right that you respond when there are comments on your posts. I am a little notorious for answering a few days late but I always answer. I always thank my reader for stopping by and give a response to their comment. There have been times when I commented under some bloggers posts and there is no response back. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt if they have a schedule on when they respond to comments or received a ton but I notice if it happens multiple times. To me it seems like you don’t want to engage and I honestly wouldn’t visit again.

Is there such thing as commenting too much?

This brings me to a reason why people stop responding to my comments, I do too much. If I really like what you are writing about or video content, I want to post a comment about how much I like it or just being supportive. Can you over comment? Can you comment one too many times? Is there a rule for this? Sometimes I do feel like I over comment but at the same time I’m trying to be supportive. I’m conflicted on this one lol.

If you have someone who is always commenting or supporting, visit their blog and leave a comment

This is a tricky one because I feel this is something I think should be happening. You can’t make someone comment or visit your blog if they don’t want to. I feel as if I’m commenting on your posts and liking them, you should at least visit my site and leave a comment or like back. Again I try to give people the benefit of the doubt if they don’t know what to comment because it doesn’t relate to them or they have thousands of followers.

I just feel in the blogger community, we should all be supportive of each other and help each other out. I’m not sure if the number of comments help your analytics but if they do, we should be leaving each other comments every once in a while. I’ve had some fellow bloggers who’s content I really liked and commented often and there was no reciprocation from them. I could be making this to be something it is not but I just feel like once in a blue moon leave a comment or something.

I could only think of these couple of etiquette rules but I’m sure I will think of some more lol. Do you agree with there being blogger etiquette? If so, what are some rules you can add or follow? Comment below and let me know. See you guys next week!

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Sometimes It’s Hard….

I often visit my old blogging platform and came across this post I did back in July. It made me think about what is currently going on and about life. Life is not meant to be easy, there are going to be some rough times. I just wanted to spread some encouragement today. Enjoy!

You know when you keep thinking of something and you just feel like you have to get it out? That was me before sitting down to write this post. I had something else planned to write but I kept thinking…sometimes its hard and it just evolved from there.

We all heard the sayings, life isn’t fair, life is hard and so on. Sometimes life can be hard but we don’t experience it for long. There are so many things that I want to do but I know I can’t do a million things at once. I can’t just pick and go anymore, I’m someone’s parent now. There are times I want to but I know things have to be planned out now. I will get to those places I want to go, just have to be patient and plan it out.

It seems like we focus so much on what is hard about life that we forget about the easy stuff. We sometimes forget about all the good things that happen and to be grateful for getting through those rough patches. You may not like your living situation but you have a roof over your head and a place to call home. You may not like the place of employment but you have an income and can say you have a job. We are somewhat taught by society to focus on those hard times, it makes us forget about the good in the world.

I remember a time that I took my son to Chick Fil A and it was super crowded. I think it was one of those days that there was no school and all the parents were thinking the same thing lol. I kept thinking we weren’t going to find a a place to sit and I know he wanted to sit inside and eat. My son asked about where we were going to sit and I said I hope we can find a seat when the woman in front of me turns around and says to her friend to save a table and she said I got you. She didn’t have to do that but it made me forget the crowded place and the worry about finding somewhere to sit. It was such a nice act of kindness. I was super thankful and so appreciative. It made me think about doing more random acts of kindness to spread more positive vibes around. We need that more than ever today.

I just want to encourage all of you reading this to think about the good more than the bad. Yes there is a lot of horrible and bad things happening but it takes a few seconds to think of something good and it could change your whole mood. 

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On A Personal Note….

2019 has started out on a good note so far. I’ve been so busy with so much and can’t wait to share. I’m so happy to be seeing another year and my birthday later this month. I can’t believe I’m turning 35 this year!! How Sway?? I’m grateful for looking so much younger than 35 but I’m just thinking about how old I’m getting lol.

I’m also happy that 2018 is behind me. I’m thankful for all the lessons learned and all the people I left behind that no longer benefit me. I am ready to move forward in a more positive direction. I have to keep reminding myself to tackle things one at a time so I don’t get so overwhelmed and stressed out.

I feel like 2018 was a real teaching moment for myself. My eyes were open to so much that I did not see before. Last year came with a lot of challenges, tears, fears, meltdowns, chaos and so much more. I felt like I was walking around most of the time lost with no direction. I felt so all over the place and couldn’t figure it out until it hit me one day. I’m just so thankful for that light bulb that finally went off.

I was trying to do too much at once and push too much. I got so overwhelmed and drove myself crazy. I had to realize I can’t do everything at once. I know things will flow better once I manage my time better and have a better daily schedule. I’ll get myself back in the gym, have better eating habits, make time for my family and friends and much more. I can do it all….in moderation lol!

I don’t make resolutions anymore but my theme for 2019 is Level Up and my word is consistency. I’m ready to be a better version of Drea and stop living in fear. I’m just ready for what the rest of 2019 has in store for me.

What is your focus for 2019? What are planning to improve on this year?

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Is Social Media Ruining Our Life?

When you hear the words social media, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it a place where you share your life or a place where you are trying to become “instantly” famous or a place to promote your business?

I feel like social media is driving everything and somewhat ruining our lives. I remember one day last week YouTube went down. I didn’t know anything about it until I logged into Twitter(which I am struggling to utilize lol) and saw the commotion. Like what would everyone do if YouTube went away? What would you do if all social media went away? Would you still be able to promote your business by word of mouth or the old fashion way before social media took over? Would you be able to function in society without being glued to your phone?

I remember being out one day and I saw a family out to eat and all of them were on their phones. No one was talking to each other, they were checking emails, sharing memes, taking pictures of their food and so on but no actual interaction. It made me think about how much social media has changed this world. We have to capture everything on our phones but not live in the moment. I am guilty of it when I’m out eating, out with my husband, out with friends, at a concert, at an event, I am capturing stuff. There are times where I will live in the moment and not be on my phone but I am still trying to capture those moments.

I use social media myself to promote my blog, my brand and just for fun but I feel some people just overshare their entire life online, like everything. I feel that you should keep some things to yourself. I personally don’t share everything and feel there are things that you need to keep private. There are people who hide behind the keyboard and write hateful comments all day which I don’t understand why. Why waste your time following someone you don’t like just to post ignorant comments? I honestly will never get it. There are people on social media that I do not care for and I just don’t follow them or pay them any mind. It is that simple if you don’t like someone, there is a thing called an unfollow or block button. There are people who use social media to try to be the next big thing after seeing other people do so. Success does not happen overnight and if it does, it was by luck. I have been working so hard on being successful at what I do, trying to get brands to notice me and just chasing those goals that I have been working for. Sometimes it is posting the right thing at the right time or having those right hashtags and so on. Sometimes it can be too much trying to get noticed for the right reasons.

I feel like social media is kind of ruining things. You can become consumed in trying to be like those #Goals you see and stop being in touch with reality. There are people on social media who front and pose like everything is perfect, they have it all together when they really don’t. The biggest thing I have learned is just to be yourself and be authentic. You should not try to live outside of your means just to be noticed on social media and be famous. You should not act like something you are not just to “fit in” with the social media norm. You should be your genuine self and I have seen being authentic work in the right way.

What would you do if social media disappeared tomorrow? Would you be able to survive?

Have a great start to your week and see you guys Thursday!

~**Drea Notes**~

My family and I finally went apple picking! We had so much fun and I think we got too many apples lol!

It seems like we skipped over Fall and Winter is here! It has been so cold and windy lately.