Many bloggers, myself included, have lost a significant number of blog followers in recent weeks. It’s always a boost to your ego to see numbers rise but things going in reverse isn’t so pleasant.
It turns out that the major reason is that Blogger has made changes to who can follow our blogs via Google Friend Connect in what they call an attempt to ‘streamline’ things. Basically, if you don’t have a Google account profile but follow blogs through Blogger, you will now no longer be able to do so and will be removed as a follower. Your options from now on are to either get a Google account or else to follow using readers like feedly.
I know that it’s only a number, that I don’t blog for the stats and that this recent change was beyond my control. But it’s still hard not to take it personally. I’ve been blogging for six years now and have enjoyed seeing my readership grow and treasure the friends I have made through my writing. I have a Twitter and Instagram account for this blog and while I enjoy using both of these platforms, blogging is still something I enjoy very much and put thought and effort into. I don’t blog as often as I did in the early days but putting posts together using my own material along with references and research where necessary is still part of my everyday life.
I like how my blog has changed to reflect who I am now compared to who I was when I started Sydney Shop Girl. I like that what I write about isn’t forced and that I haven’t had to fit my writing into the usual pigeon holes that bloggers seem to get defined as. I’m delighted that you’ve been along for the ride and I hope that you’ll stick around to read the blog in some capacity if it can’t be as an ‘official’ follower.
I don’t know when and if my blogging life will end but I am determined to not let the numbers determine this.
If you’re a blogger yourself, has this change in the follower system affected how you feel about your blogging?
I’ll be returning to normal programming for my next post but in the mean time, have a lovely weekend.