So, in case you weren’t already aware (because I’ve only referenced it 1000 times), I recently came back from a year-long blogging and bookstagram hiatus. I just needed a bit of a break to focus on other things and there were a lot of big changes in my life! What I didn’t expect was how many changes would take place in the blogging community! So, I felt like chatting about it. These are just a few things in relation to blogging specifically that I noticed have either completely changed or shifted a little. This is a pretty quick little post, but let’s discuss!
1. NOT EVERYONE USES BLOGLOVIN’
A year ago, if I found a new blog 9 times out of 10 they had a link to follow their blog on Bloglovin’. I used it religiously myself. So I was quite surprised to find that when I was blog hopping some new blogs, I couldn’t find a Bloglovin’ link anywhere AND their blog wasn’t even set up on Bloglovin’!
What I also noticed is that people are starting to use other methods of following blogs – like Feedly – in place of Bloglovin’. In fact, I’ve even created a Feedly account to follow blogs when BL went down for a few days a couple of weeks ago. Not going to lie, it’s actually quite superior in making sure you don’t miss any posts!
Enlighten me those who have not been gone for a year – is this just me or was there a mass exodus?
2. TWITTER CHATS, WHERE ARE YOU?
When I came back from hiatus I was looking forward to jumping back into twitter chats so that I could, I don’t know, be hip with the cool kids. Alas, I couldn’t find any of the ones I originally participated in. They’d all just stopped (unless I’m just not seeing them). WHICH MAKES ME SAD. Why did they stop? Can we make them happen again? They were always so much fun to try to keep up with everyone and always failing despite honest attempts 😆
On a related note, I was also looking forward to Bloggiesta…and that seems to have reached its end too!
*I mean the weekly/bi-weekly chats
3. LOTS OF BOOK REVIEWS
Okay, this sounds silly since we’re in the BOOK BLOGGING community but hear me out: book reviews now dominate the scene versus discussion posts. I remember there would be a ton of discussions every week (of course, there still is!) but now that number seems to have gone down with the number of book reviews I see going way up! Don’t get me wrong, this is awesome! I’m seeing a wider range of books being reviewed instead of the same 5 new releases every month. Just color me shocked!
4. MORE UNDERHYPED BOOKS
On a related topic, not only are there more book reviews, there are more reviews for books that aren’t already all over social media – including more indie authors! In the last few months since being back, my TBR has grown exponentially. The amount of books on my Kindle Unlimited list has probably tripled – same goes for my Library ebook list!
So, maybe all of this is just me, maybe it has always been this way but my focuses were just elsewhere a year ago, or maybe things have actually changed! You tell me, have you noticed these things or am I just imagining things?
33 Comments
I probably should check out feedly because honestly, I never use my bloglovin anymore. I found it way too daunting to try and sort through the posts. Twitter seems to have become a cesspool or drama, but I did use to like the chats and discussions. I also used to love blogiesta. I have been blogging but I haven’t been to active with other blogs in the past year, which is bumming me out. So I am out of the loop as well. I want to get back into the blogspehere, so maybe we can find some events together!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Now that I’ve used Feedly a few times, I totally get that. I used to like that Bloglovin’ was like a real-time timeline but then I realized that I would miss A LOT if I wasn’t checking every few days. With Feedly, you get to see each blog & their new posts separately, which sounds daunting, but it’s actually super easy.
And yes! Maybe an event will pop up soon 🙂 Or, we can just create one lol
I’ve noticed there are more underhyped books lately and I love that trend 😀
It’s so awesome!
So true, I’ve noticed that about Bloglovin, too! Guess it’s time to make a Feedly account haha. Is there an easier way to transfer all the blogs you follow without doing it manually?
Yes! I was able to download the OPL (I believe thats what its called, or ompl something like that lol) from both Bloglovin’ and my WordPress Reader and transfer directly to Feedly!
It’s interesting to read the observances from someone who was away for a while. Things tend to happen over time so they might go unnoticed to others. Like the Bloglovin thing. I have noticed a few blogs that don’t offer that follow option but I didn’t realize it was more widespread. I use it myself but I should probably check out Feedly, too. Can’t say much about Twitter since I rarely use it. 🙂 And the book reviews… especially the less hyped ones… yes! I love it! Like you mentioned, it’s great to see a wider variety and something beyond the same half dozen books that everyone is reading and reviewing in any given month. Great post, Molly!
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com
It might not be as widespread as I think (the bloglovin’ thing), might just be me haha BUT Bloglovin’ did go down for a couple days like 2 weeks ago and I panicked because I didn’t have any other way of following blogs. That definitely prompted me to do Feedly at least as a backup lol. I don’t really use Twitter much either unless there is a chat so it’s such a bummer they’re basically gone.
It’s always interesting seeing someone’s perspective when they’ve been out of the community a little while to properly see how it’s changed. I know I’ve started doing fewer discussions but you’re right, reviews have gone up. For me, it’s a time thing. I always write some kind of review anyway and don’t always have the time to write a whole blog post. And twitter chats have fallen by the wayside! I guess we don’t all commit to the routine of being on twitter at a set time? Also, I feel like some folks have taken a step back from social media. I’d say start you’re own but there’s a whole time issue again.
That’s so funny because its the opposite for me! I have more time to write a discussion post than I do to read & then review a book. It takes me 2-3 weeks to finish a book! I need to just start setting aside more time for reading specfically. Also, that is true! I have noticed a lot of people have sort of taken a break from instagram/twitter/blogging what have you recently. I guess it does get a little time consuming and exhausting at times – heck, I took a YEAR break! haha
I miss participating in Bloggiesta too! I was considering asking the OG host if I could bring it back, because it was so useful and a really nice way of bringing the community together.
I don’t know what weekly chats are happening nowadays, so if you find any let me know!
That would actually be really awesome! I’d be totally down to help out if you end up doing that!
The rise of WordPress has created quite an interesting dynamic. Bloggers abandoned Bloglovin and there’s even a bit of a stigma for bloggers like me, who still have a blogspot blog. I, like Michelle, use Feedly. I like the interface and having all the blogs in one place. I like book reviews and hyping the under hyped. It’s great to see different books getting some love out there.
Feedly and Bloglovin’ are very similar but I do find Feedly a bit superior in ease of use. It’s not so flashy as Bloglovin’ if that makes sense haha
Hey Molly!
Yeah I have to agree that I don’t see Bloglovin’ used as much (or maybe I just don’t use it too often?) Usually I follow blogs on WordPress to keep track of them, however the downside is that I can’t follow non-WP blogs! I have a feedly account but I should definitely use it more 🙂
I haven’t noticed it until you point it out, but YES I do see more reviews on the blogosphere compared to discussion posts compared to 1-2 years ago!
Great post 😀
Yeah, I actually never used the WordPress Reader because I can never find it without a google search for the link >.< hahaha That's probably just me, though. And yes! See! It's so cool to see more reviews BUT I do miss some good discussions sometimes.
Definitely. I love discussion posts 🙂
“I’m seeing a wider range of books being reviewed instead of the same 5 new releases every month. […] On a related topic, not only are there more book reviews, there are more reviews for books that aren’t already all over social media – including more indie authors!”
It’s great that you were able to notice this! It’s probably easier to notice such things when you’re not caught up in the flow for a while. I, for one, couldn’t seem to do that. That makes me happy though, because underhyped books are the very reason why my blog exists!
Roberta R. @ Offbeat YA
That is very true! I also don’t know WHAT books are the super hyped ones really? I mean, now I do because it’s been a few months but when I first came back I literally had no idea what released in the last year besides like 5 that I had been waiting for lol & That’s very awesome that you focus on underhyped books 🙂
I’ve noticed a lot of these changes too, especially the increased review postings. To be honest, I’ve fallen into that myself. I’m already reading the books and reviews are much easier for me to smash out in a half hour vs a discussion post or guide or some other sort of content. It comes down to time and there just isn’t enough with everything, especially managing a bookstagram account now too.
It’s funny because I feel like I don’t have time for reviews because I NEVER FINISH BOOKS hahahah I finished my first book for august like 2 days ago >.<
I read in phases so I’m either finishing book after book, or I can’t get through anything which is really just not helpful
Basically me lol
That’s interesting, I had not really noticed that about Bloglovin’ but now that you mention it, I think you’re right! And I do hardly see any Twitter chats anymore, that’s true. It’s funny how things can change so much so quickly!
I’ll have to look into Feedly, I’ve never used it!
Yeah, and I think me being out of the community for a year made me notice those things more when I came back. Whereas they probably slowly changed for someone like you, who didn’t take a hiatus!
Welcome back to the blogging world! It’s nice to hear your thoughts on what changed from your point of view. I once tried to connect with blog lovin’ but for whatever reason it simply didn’t work so I gave up on it pretty quickly hahah I am glad that you see more reviews though. It might be due to the fact that the bloggers you follow might have explored a lot of the very common discussions and have less and less discussions to share hahah 😀
That is a good point on discussions! I try to follow new blogs every week but it could be that the ones I regularly follow already discussed everything basically hahah There’s honestly only so much to chat about without getting repetitive.
I noticed a lot of people started using Feedly too! For me, it was more bc bloglovin was blocked in my country (idk why either) so I rely more on wordpress and blogger reader. I think I should give it a try! I also love the current trend of appreciating underhyped books- whether it was a backlist or indie or just plain underhyped. It’s refreshing instead of seeing the same book over and over again!
Oh, how weird! Let me know how you like Feedly if you try it 🙂 And yes, it is very refreshing! I’ve added so many new books to my TBR because of it !
I REALLY want to write more discussion posts, and I have lots of ideas, but then I always question myself (do I have anything different/new to say?) or I just never sit down to write them! Either way, I keep them in my mind, and do plan to write them… soon! 😀 I’ve noticed MANY differences over the many blogging years. The shift in blogging (so many I used to know are no longer bloggers) or fun Twitter conversations makes me sad. Glad to have you back, Molly.
Write them! I think that just because lots of other people have talked about a topic, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t! You’re bringing in your opinion and your voice and that’s what makes it different 🙂
I think the Bloglovin thing happened because people were noticing that their posts could be taken and claimed as Bloglovin’s own material? I don’t remember for sure on that. But yeah, there hasn’t been as big of a deal as that. I feel like I still see a lot of discussion posts, in fact those seem to be the ones I comment on the most compared to reviews. Sadly I do mostly reviews these days. Twitter seems to be so negative these days I rarely get on there other than books for trade, or other book giveaways. Great discussion! I know I’m way late to comment, but I’ve been saving my link to this so I could come talk about it!
I remember that! With Bloglovin’s policies. People weren’t happy about that. It’s actually funny how you said Twitter is negative because I occasionally jump on to post something but get very little engagement, but when I posted a little mini-rant yesterday…I got engagement. I don’t know what it is about Twitter that makes it just a place for negativity!