What is it about BLOGGING that attracts you to it?
For me it was traveling the world in the comfort of my own chair!
Being allowed inside other homes and meeting NEW PEOPLE!
I found it all VERY EXCITING!
They would share recipes, fashion tips,places to visit!
In a matter of months you felt that YOU were their FRIEND and were inside their HOME.
Enjoying each others thoughts,and ideas.
HOW LONG has BLOGGING Been around?
“It’s generally recognized that the first blog was Links.net, created by Justin Hall, while he was a Swarthmore College student in 1994. Of course, at that time they weren’t called blogs, and he just referred to it as his personal homepage.”
“The early 2000s were a period of growth for blogs. In 1999, according to a list compiled by Jesse James Garrett, there were 23 blogs on the internet. By the middle of 2006, there were 50 million blogs according to Technorati‘s State of the Blogosphere report. To say that blogs experienced exponential growth is a bit of an understatement.”
SO, there you have it!
TWENTY THREE YEARS.
But really did not take off until TEN YEARS AGO!
WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES US READ A BLOG?
INFORMATION
HUMOR
PHOTOGRAPHY
NEWS
For me it is ALL of the ABOVE.
I get to step into YOUR world for a few minutes and see what YOU are UP TOO.I can share a LAUGH or a Cup of TEA with YOU.I can see what roses you are growing that I may NEED!But mostly a friendship builds especially if you are a regular COMMENTER.Because you get to KNOW THAT PERSON through her/his written words…………….and other COMMENTERS AS WELL.
I look at it as a diary of your LIFE.
THIS BLOG IS A DIARY of MY LIFE.
Think about that for a moment.You have NEVER met face to face but yet you feel YOU know what makes this person TICK!I would compare it to the LOST ART of a PEN PAL.But yet we have photos to help make that person become REAL.
BLOGGING has CHANGED in the last year………….
Infact, a few of you that went to BLOGGING CONFERENCES said that BLOGS were on their way out!That VIDEO’s were going to be the next IT THING!
I think I heard this two years ago and thought to myself well, if that is the case I’m out of here……..I can barely upload my photos!I still do not know how to add a video to the BLOG!Not that I have anything to share in movie form EXCEPT that ADORABLE Tea CUP pig that lives with ME NOW!!I do have a few short video’s of HIM learning to SIT and eating treats off his SNOUT!OH, and the BEST is the STAIR MASTER……….Yes, BANKSY had to climb 100 steps to get inside!THIS YOU CAN SEE ON MY INSTAGRAM STAGE; oh excuse me I meant PAGE!
WHAT HAS CHANGED IN BLOGGING?
THEY ARE MAKING MONEY NOW!
IN the beginning they were for your own personal space.
Now, it seems EVERYONE is linked up to an ADVERTISEMENT.
They are ALL over the page or JUMPING in from the side bar when you are trying to READ or LOOK at a PRETTY PICTURE!
I have RESISTED!
MY reasons………NOT TECHY ENOUGH to DEAL WITH IT.
NOT enough VOLUME most of these blogs carry.
I am NOT after THE NUMBERS………..
I like to know my READERS!
YOUR comments make me smile and laugh and bring OUT MORE STORIES from the depths of my SOUL.
DO you come back to check YOUR comment?
YOU should because in a day or two I try to ANSWER them.
Then there is the SELFIE PHENOMENON.
Do you remember how we all said,”OH MY GOD I am not going to do THAT!”How silly!
HOW SELF~ABSORBED!
That FEELING did not take LONG to dissolve did it?
I have been thinking about WHAT THE SELFIE has DONE for PEOPLE.
It has given them a CREATIVE OUTLET.
Especially OLDER WOMEN!
POWER OF SELF EXPRESSION……….LOOK AT ME I’m GREAT………….I think I’m BEAUTIFUL TODAY so I will SHOW YOU HOW I LOOK.But truly it is a FORM of SELF VALIDATION that YOU can BE YOU and get immediate FEEDBACK from people YOU do not even know.
It is an IMAGE ENHANCER. IT BOOSTS your SPIRIT.Makes you feel GOOD.Makes you be CREATIVE.I am always trying to get THE BEST BACKDROP and be ARTSY for ARTSY SAKE.Bottom line it is just plain old-fashion FUN!Fun does not come often to LADIES over 50……….and there is a TROOP of them over on INSTAGRAM who DELIVER and CAPTURE some of their FINEST ARTISTIC WEAR.
I may be GUILTY some DAYS but DO try and break it up with A PIG<GARDEN>CAT & A DOG.
AGAIN this is done by ME ALL in GOOD HUMOR…………..
BACK TO BLOGS.
HOW MANY BLOGS DO YOU READ IN A WEEK?
HOW MANY BLOGS MAKE YOU SPEND MONEY?
WHICH BLOGS MAKE YOU LAUGH OUT LOAD?
Which BLOGS teach YOU NEW RECIPES?
DO YOU FOLLOW A BLOG just for the PHOTO CONTENT……………..?
BE WILD
AND LET US SHARE IN THE COMMENT SECTION ALL BLOGS THAT MAKE UP YOUR WORLD!
I have to say READING BLOGS is SO much MORE FUN than reading a NEWSPAPER these days.
LIFE IS A FEAST……….and this CANADIAN SIGN SAYS IT ALL.
!!!!!!!!!!!!ADVERTISEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A LONG WOODEN TABLE
THIS SON OF MINE IS MAKING BY HAND AND SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!
PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW!
cindy hattersley says
Blogging certainly has changed since we began that is for sure. I am not a big fan of the pop ups either but I guess we have to realize that for many this is a business. Personally I don’t pitch a product unless I would want it for myself. If it means keeping my blog small and personal so be it. As you said there will always be changes. I guess what I have learned as a parent…never say never!
PPP says
Ma Chere Contessa,
What an appropriate post for today which has been publicized as a Women’s empowerment day!
Your blog has inspired so many women to have the courage to take action. Don’t just think about what you want to do, get out there and do it!
Explore your talents, make new friends, see new places! To paraphrase your sentiments:
“Don’t build fences, get a longer table and get to know more people”
Keep being that inspiration, I love to hear from. 0pening your latest blog is pure joy!!!
LA CONTESSA says
WELL< THIS MADE MY DAY!!!!!!!!! HAPPY WOMEN's DAY TO YOU TOO! XX
Katie Clooney says
Hello dear Contessa… Love the birthday photos!! And the one of you and your handsome Italian!! I was reading through all the lovely comments. So many blogs out there that I never heard of. I’m going to go and visit. Banksy is so cute. Hope you have a perfectly glamorous week!!
LA CONTESSA says
IT IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION my week!!!!!!!!!
YOU ENDED UP IN MY SPAM!!!!!!!
HEAVENS NO SPAM FOR YOU!
XX
Catherine says
Elizabeth. I couldn’t wait to get home from work to answer your questions about blogging. In fact, you’ve inspired me to write a post about blogging. I’m such a damned copycat. Not an original bone in my body–LOL!!
You touched on everything and why we read blogs. As far as ads go, I always have one dopey ad from WordPress that is at the end of my blog but I’m afraid to start fooling around to take it off because one move leads to another and I know I’ll screw it up.
I LOVE your blog because it makes me happy! That’s the plain and simple of it. I like being happy and I enjoy things that make me me happy! Your blog is always upbeat and I love to read about Banksy. So much that I share all the Banksy photos with Bonaparte. He loves them! I also feel a connection with you because you are married to an Italian–as I am with a Frenchman!
You make me laugh. You are an incredibly generous woman and if blogging became a thing of the past, I would hope that you would still blog away!
Now–for the answers to the questions. I don’t know how many blogs I read a week. I have my “regulars” and 99 percent of the regs are blogs written by older women. How much $$ do I spend from being influenced by blogs? Nada. Actually that’s not true. One of the women who reads my blog and is a friend, got me hooked on iT cosmetics lip vitality and now I’m never without it. I also have purchased a few cosmetics based on other bloggers but that’s it. Yes. Some blogs really make me laugh out loud–yours in particular. Recipes? Yup! My regular go-to-Kale salad is one that I found on a blog about two years ago. Do I follow blogs for photo contests? Hell noooooooo! You’ve seen my pics–they are all taken with a phone, and my crossed eyes lend themselves well for out-of-focus photos.
This post was so much fun. It made me happy and inspired me!! I’m glad we are friends–even though we’ve never met!
LA CONTESSA says
I BET WE WILL MEET ONE DAY!HAVE YOU TWO SEEN SAN FRANCISCO?XX
Anita @ Vue at Jindivick says
Elizabeth, I believe the photo of you and Giampy may be the very first photo I saw on Instagram……..the chair, the Fiat, the Italian and you. Maybe it was one of Carla’s photos, I’m not sure. I think its fantastic that you’ve stuck to your blog. Keeping one fresh and interesting is a hard things to do. Longevity, another. Many have come and gone, but yours has remained a constant………and I thank you for that.
Cheers mate
Neat xx
LA CONTESSA says
NOT CARLA’s PHOTO but my neighbor DREW WRIGHTS PHOTO………….
He made a fun book of the TWO of us…….He wanted to do one more shot and I said ,”I”M OUT OF LOOKS!!!!”IT was a FUN DAY………or was it TWO DAYS?
HOW FUNNY THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT!
SO GOOD TO CHAT TODAY…………hope the BROWNIES turned OUT!
XX
Catherine says
No. We’ve never been. But I have a feeling when we do get there, we will be having dinner together!!!
LA CONTESSA says
YES WE WILL!!!!!!!!!
COME WEST YOUNG DAME………..COME WEST!
XX
Pat says
I only read one blog…YOURS! Why go any further when I’ve found the best? But, I do love following the sheep on Living Rug’s Instagram. There are days when the news gets me so discouraged, but then I see your blog….or those English sheep…and you make me smile.
LA CONTESSA says
AND THAT IS MY GOAL!
I think YOU would like PREEPY EMPTY NESTER………..check her out!She writes about BOOKS A LOT!Plus, she is HYSTERICAL!!!!!!PLUS, I have LUNCHED WITH HER in RHODE ISLAND………….GRAZIE for READING ME!XX
Selina says
I’ve been reading blogs for years and I’m on my second one. My first was a lifestyle blog but I deleted it after personal things happened in my life. Now I have a less personal niche blog of fashion style. I prefer it this way for me personally and I’m terrible at taking selfies but I do love seeing everyone else’s personal lives 😛 I follow certain people on Instagram because their blog content is boring and they post too many pictures and not enough text and for those who write enough text, I follow their blog and usually their IG too so I get the best of both
LA CONTESSA says
I understand what you are saying…………….there is a bit of overlapping and I found people tend to POST the SAME stuff on FACEBOOK as INSTAGRAM.I”m ready to leave FACEBOOK behind…………..I KEEP SAYING THAT!MUST ACT ON IT!
THE SELFIE STICK TAKES PRACTICE…………..keep AT IT!
XX
Karen says
Hey, Lady…WONDERFUL POST! I only read 3 blogs anymore: your, Preppy EmptyNester and Rough Luxe Perspective. You 3 have the best content and are the most entertaining by far. So glad I met you all on the internet and now on IG!
LA CONTESSA says
YOU DO KNOW I MET THE PREEPY EMPTY NESTER RIGHT?MAYBE THAT IS HOW YOU FOUND ME!
THANK YOU for YOUR ADORABLE THANK YOU CARD!
XX
D. A. Wolf says
For me, as a writer, blogging is all about doing what I love most — writing! And when I don’t have writing clients, it’s a way for me to keep up my skills (at least minimally). That was one of the reasons I wrote daily on my blog for years (with only a handful of days off) — crazy though that sounds.
While I don’t do the selfie-image-picture thing much myself, I do enjoy it on other people’s blogs (like yours).
As for making money at blogging and advertising, I believe there is still a gross misperception that you can “just write” or “just post” and make bucks. Not true! For me, the few ads I have barely cover the out-of-pocket COST of keeping my site up — hosting, software, licensing of images (so as not to violate copyright) — and of course, they don’t compensate me for my time.
That said, blogging is indeed a creative outlet, sometimes serious and sometimes purely for fun, a marvelous way to connect with a vast community of fascinating people, and for writers, a way to do what we love, to further a cause and people we believe in, and yes — to keep up our skills in a space we can call our own.
xo
LA CONTESSA says
YOU HAVE STATED IT BEAUTIFULLY!
I AM BEHIND ON YOUR POSTS……….will try to catch up TODAY!
XO
Robin Fink says
Hello dear Elizabeth,
I so look forward to all your blog posts; your outlook is so refreshing. Your posts are upbeat, and heartfelt.Your photos are SOOO good- I wish I could take photos like your’s.
Much appreciated, all the time and thought you put into each and every post.
Thanks a million!! XO Robin
LA CONTESSA says
CIAO BELLA!
WE need a phone CHAT This WEEK!
Let me know when YOU are around……..OR has SPRING FEVER GOT YOU IN THE GARDINO?
XX
Emily says
Elizabeth, I really enjoy reading your blog. It does remind me of the “old” days when people were just being themselves, little promotion, and nothing to prove. I get that it has changed. Blogs and social media really provide a paycheck to people and I think that is great, but it is the ones who know the art of doing it well, without always feeling like they are a sales ad….those are the ones I still love.
And I agree about your insights with selfies. I think it gives many people confidence and a creative outlet. HOWEVER, I think this is with the older woman, not the younger girl. I’ve read how much it affects their self esteem in the opposite direction. Comparing themselves to others, not being good enough. I read an article on how eating disorders are formed, they search for hashtag #anorexia, etc. I think those girls need mothers and grandmothers to guide them. YOU would be the perfect role model for them!
Keep up the good work Elizabeth. Following your heart is what you do best, and it shows!
Yaya says
For me, blogging is about one thing…inspiration. That is what I find I am constantly seeking. Your beautiful blog is filled with that, and I thank you for taking the time to write and share.
Blessings,
Yaya