Thursday, April 7, 2016

It's a Little Too Late Now, Blogger -



Dear friends,
Are blogs still relevant? I have noticed less and less traffic to my blog this year and I am wondering if this is a trend. I think Blogger really blew it when they limited readers to only those with Blogger or Google accounts. I lost so many faithful readers that day because not only do I post here in Blogville, but also on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Any readers from those venues would not have been able to comment or follow.

This past week when I went to write my post,  I have noticed a message from Blogger.

Coming in Late April! 
All visitors will be able to view your Blogspot domain blogs over an encrypted connection by visiting https://.blogspot.com. Existing links and bookmarks to your blogs will continue to work. As part of this change, the HTTPS Availability setting will go away, and your blogs will always have an HTTPS version.

I am sure most of you in Blogville have seen the same thing? But I wonder is it too little, too late? 

I noticed the shift a couple of years ago when many of my blogpals started posting more on Facebook than in Blogger. Slowly their posts went away until today they are solely on Facebook. Why? Well, for one thing, Facebook takes less commitment. You are either on posting a status or you are not. It does not require planning what to write about or how much to write. It is meant for the here and now in 100 words or less.

A lot of younger bloggers have defected to Twitter, SnapChat and Instagram. Why? Because Twitter, SnapChat and Instagram are  more immediate (and transient). Audiences can bloom overnight and with little effort. They can also fall by the wayside just as quickly. I guess for them it is more about instant acknowledgement and gratification. Then they are off to do something else.

But does it have to be that way? Blogger grew as a place to share ideas and events. It is a place to share immense joy and intense pain. It has also been a place of advice, information, and support. None of this can truly be dealt with in a short blurb in a quickly expanding page. If you don't read it today - too bad so sad because it will be gone to the bottom of an infinite "page".

I'm kinda out of ideas to be honest. I have watched my fandom take a huge hit when non Blogger people were eliminated. And despite this turnaround by Blogger, I don't think the readership is coming back. A blog is a little bit like a restaurant. Once people are forced to stop going there (say for reconstruction) they seldom come back. They find someplace new to satisfy their cravings or they change their cravings. In any case, they cannot be counted on to return.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear, dear Noodles,

We are faithful readers of the blog and would miss it terribly. We don't always comment, but we do always read. We don't use Facebook, Twitter or Instagram so if you only posted there we would be super sad not to see you every day. Don't despair. You have loyal readers. And what would the blogsphere (is that the right word) be without Bowl of Noodles.

Your loyal friends,
Daisy, Scooter Pugman and their Dogma

Katherine said...

You are awesome followers. I don't really plan to leave Blogger but it is discouraging to have sides readers and even fewer commenting😬. I can't really complain. I seldom have time to comment as much as I'd like.

anonymous said...

Please don't go. We would miss you.

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

Many of us have lost Followers... and we are SAD about that... and since that began... we have not gotten any NEW Followers...
We do NOT do FaceBark or Twitterpate ... WE are BLOGGERS.. WE Love living in Blogville... and we will be here.
A post on Blogger can be done in 100 words or LESS... so we don't see the problem... or the Need for FaceBARK or Twitterpate...
WE don't like the recent change.. and certainly have seen the New Alert... We just hope that ALL BLOGGERS STAY... and the FaceBarkers and Twitterpated ones JOIN US... THEY DO NOT know what they are missing.

The Ladies of Beaglebratz Manor said...

Me'n mom know what u mean. An'mom duz haf accountz on both FB an'Twitter, they won't take the place of our blog cuz fer one thing - mom talkz tue much fer Twitter. She duzn't like how little u can say there. An'even tho FB iza little better, our blog werkz the best fer us. We r kinda like Katherine sumtimez - don't alwayz haf a lot of time tue comment tho we due try tue read more. PLEEZE don't go anywhere - sumtimez it seemz like us pet bloggerz r a dyin'breed an'there iz enuf dyin'goin'on.
Lady Shasta'n Angel Lord Shiloh of Beaglebratz Manor

Adriana Robles said...

Agreed; the traffic has really gone down. :/
I understand they're trying to get more people to create Google+ accounts for their own benefit, but it's really been backfiring since they even updated the app.

VEGETARIAN COURTESYFACEBOOK

Idaho PugRanch said...

We are bloggers and do not do Facebook or Twitter. We do have an instagram account but rarely post anything on it.
Blogging is more personal to us - we will stick with it
and hope you too!
hugs
Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

Samantha said...

Really? I haven't had that problem at all. Hmm.
Well I read your blog everytime you post!! Xxoo

Julie said...

Don't worry Noodles I will continue to stalk…sorry I mean follow you on blogger 'cos I don't do Facebook or other thingys
I did get all excited the other day 'cos I nearly got to 100 followers..WOOHOO but then blogger did its thingy and I lost a load of followers and have only just crept back to 99…that magic 100 still eludes me *sigh*
Loves and licky kisses
Princess leah xxx

stellaroselong said...

Dear Noodles:
I will always be your blog friend. Its as simple as that. What is hard for my mom is although she loves to blog, and loves her blog family, the other part of her life just takes over and she has to swim upstream to get back to blogging. She could never let it go by the wayside though, because that would be like letting the kindest people in her life go. And in todays world KIND is KING. (or should be) We do have a facebook page, and sometimes it is quick just to jot a few lines, but our blog is where our soul comes out, and that is where it is going to stay. We also lost some followers. Hugs Stella Rose and her MOmma

Two French Bulldogs said...

There are so many social media networks I think people tend to get a bit overwhelmed where to look or post. Nutty
Lily & Edward

Millie and Walter said...

We don't always comment but we do read your blog. Our blog is on Wordpress and we use Feedly as our reader so some of your percieved lessened traffic could be because people are using readers that don't always show up as actual traffic to your site. Our mom does have a Google and Blogger account that she lets us use to be able to comment on our friends blogs. We guess what we are trying to say is we like to visit with you here and hear about what is going on in your life.

The Devil Dog said...

I used to try and respond to all the people on my reading list, but that was taking an hour or more a day. I don't always comment, either, but I read. I am on facebook but I don't post a whole lot there. I am mainly on it because of the karate studio. I just don't have the time to post on FB like some people do. Also, I don't know that I have that much to say sometimes. Sometimes I think about not blogging but then I feel I am not ready to stop, so there you have it. Words from another pug mom.

Roxy's mom

Unknown said...

I use FB and my blog Terra Toby both. I find they fill very different needs for me. I stopped worrying about blog traffic a couple of years ago when I revamped and changed the name of my blog from Training Toby to Terra Toby - I lost almost all of my followers and started almost from scratch. If I don't worry about the numbers too much I find I'm happier about blogging. I don't post as often - about twice a week now- but I try to put extra time and thought into what I do post (usually!).
I saw that message about https too…
I think this is my first visit to you, I am visiting from the See Beautiful hop. Your 281 followers on Google Friend Connect would have me dizzy with joy :D I have 32 BOL!!!

Pug Slope said...

We're still with ya, Noodles! My dad and I try to limit our Facebook time as we find we end up just endlessly scrolling down and not really even paying attention to what we're doing - it sort of makes the mind go numb. Also, like you said, we appreciate blog posts because we know it takes time to take the photos and try to write a captivating post. We hope some of your readers come back - they don't know what they're missing! :)

-Love,
Sid.

Barbara said...

I noticed it long before I stopped blogging. It wasn't worth my time after a while and then I got so nuts with caring for my mom and brother. I've tried to go back to blogging, but my heart isn't into it.

I've been away so long, I didn't know that they blocked viewers. I'm not sure that it's because FB doesn't require a commitment, because the folks I follow on FB (like you) post all the time. I think it falls under the "more immediate" platform.

That said, I do miss the stories that bloggers tell. It's way more personal. It's like getting a letter instead of a tweet.

Love you!

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