Why I Can’t Follow Your Blog

~ beetleypete

I have been very lucky to have attracted a great deal of new followers lately. Among those trying to sell me something, or asking me to promote their blogs or ideas, there has been an unusual number of genuine and interesting bloggers too. Many have just started out, with just a few posts on their embryonic blogs. I have enjoyed reading some of their posts, and left encouraging comments on occasion too. However, I am unable to follow them back.

So for anyone who wonders why this ungrateful old grump doesn’t follow back, here is an explanation.

I set a limit of being able to follow just 90 blogs. Even allowing for the fact that I am retired, this still takes up a huge amount of my free time, and some days borders on a part-time job. Including those bloggers who have more than one site, I currently follow 99 blogs, almost all of them very active.
I like to be a committed follower. I like to read everyone’s posts, leave likes and comments, and also engage with others who comment there too. This means that I just don’t click ‘Like’ on every post in the Reader. I actually read them, and try to leave a comment that is pertinent to the subject covered, and one that hopefully makes sense too. This takes close to three hours most days, sometimes four, allowing for managing my own blog followers and posts in the meantime.
So, If I don’t follow you back. Don’t take it personally. It’s just because I don’t have time.

My best wishes to all followers, old and new. Pete.

55 thoughts on “Why I Can’t Follow Your Blog”

  1. Refreshing for someone to be so honest, Pete! Something that i have struggled to get my head around since blogging is the competitive element of follows, analytics etc etc! I am just really pleased to have found you…via a reblog I think….and then finding the link from our London hospital days. I am going to enjoy reading your medical posts at my leisure – one of my flatmates was a Kiwi LAS paramedic – that was a very medical flat! Hope you realise that you have started a series of rambles from me now….apologies in advance!! C x

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    1. No problem, Claire. Ramble away, I will enjoy your comments.
      I hope you enjoy my Ambulance Stories, when you get a chance to read them.
      I always try to be honest about blogging. It is too easy to be overwhelmed by stats, following, and followers. As people drop off the radar, I follow someone else to take their place. That way, I never exceed my capabilities.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  2. I completely understand why you do this, Pete! It’s a lot of work to keep up with your followers. I know, I have been having a hard time lately balancing life, family, blogging and reading lately. You have a great system and I definitely understand why it feels like a job to you because I have been feeling the same way recently!😨 I think that’s why I started monetizing my blog and advertising with Amazon to make a percentage of stuff people were already going to buy because it takes a lot when you’re a disabled mom so I should at least leave the opportunity where I can get back a small percentage just by people clicking on my Amazon links even though people haven’t used it really and I haven’t been doing it much lately but with monetizing doing the affiliate think you just put up a link on your page for the UK link and is link and people can click it and search on Amazon for what they want as long as they stay on the link you originally sent whatever purchase they purchase you get a percentage and there’s many other sites that do this where u can get a percentage without doing anything and helps you maintain your blog. I think it’s nifty but I know I am just rambling on. Lol. But I totally understand why you feel this way is what I was just trying to say! Hehehe!😉 Much love!😍💜💖💜💖

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  3. I know what you mean though, I don’t want to follow too many because I’m happy trouble reading everybody I do follow at the moment and I don’t like things I haven’t read. Hell sometimes even the ones I’ve read I don’t like because I only press like for things I like. Strange I know eh? 🙂

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  7. I must admit I try to read an comment on the blogs I get notifications for but sometimes I rely on other people sharing interesting posts. I understand completely. Thanks for always being there for me.

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    1. I have always been very happy to follow your blog, and to exchange occasional emails too. I would like to see something about your return to Spain, when you get the chance.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  10. There are so many wonderful blogs out there and it’s not easy to find the time to read and comment on all you would like to. But it’s a fun hobby to have and we just do the best we can, right? And everyone who blogs understands the dilemma. 🙂

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    1. I agree that most experienced bloggers understand, Susanne. I still get emails and comments asking me to ‘follow back’ by some new bloggers though, hence this post. I still believe that many people transferring to blogging from Facebook and Twitter just expect it.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  11. You are right, Pete. Like you, I am old school and do the right thing, which is reading, replying to comments on my blog, and leaving a comment on the blogs I follow. I will not compromise on that. That is (should be) what fellow bloggers do. I wish I could always respond immediately, but I cannot as I’m teaching full time. I do read the blogs I follow, because I enjoy them. That’s why I’m a follower. It’s time consuming, a labor of love. Like you, I cannot follow any more blogs, yet some creep in now and then that I have to follow. Best to you, Pete.

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    1. Thanks for your thoughts, Jennie. We are both from the ‘letter generation’, when a reply was considered to be good manners. 🙂 One of the best things about blogging is the time difference due to the varied locations. Some comments arrive here during the middle of the night, and some at the same time I publish.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  12. And I thank you for following mine and commenting. It can be hard work some times! I stopped following people who post 5 – 6 times a day as I couldn’t keep up. And I do try to pop in to leave a comment now and again on people who kindly leave a comment on my posts, even if I don’t actually follow them.

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    1. Once I started to follow blogs at the beginning of my blogging journey, I soon realised I would have to set a limit. Over twenty of the blogs I used to follow have disappeared now, so as one goes, I add one from ‘the list’. But I do follow quite a few bloggers who have never followed my blog.
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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  14. I can relate. Currently, I’m following over 200 blogs. Most do not post daily, and some not even weekly, but there are several who post 5 to 6 posts a day. When I find myself overwhelmed, I check to see who has clicked like to my blog posts and I pay it forward by visiting their blogs first. A problem with that however, is that not all bloggers have their blog URL on their gravatar profile.

    When I’ve taken time to comment on blogs, but the blogger doesn’t take time to respond, I stop commenting, although I might continue to follow.

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    1. 200 is a lot of blogs to follow, Xena. I could never cope with that many.. If someone follows my blog, I always leave a comment and a thank you, even though I can’t follow them back.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. Last night, I went to the Reader to manage the blogs I follow and discovered it was closer to 300. LOL! I did unfollow a number of blogs that haven’t published anything for over a year. Since I opened my blog in 2012, things have changed. A number of blogs that follow me and that I follow are no longer active, or as active as they were. Some people now work full-time. Some have retired. Also, the issues have changed the landscape of interests. I understand and can’t complain because I no longer publish posts like I did in previous years.

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        1. Many American bloggers have become (understandably) consumed with the political issues since Trump became president. People who used to write about a variety of things have become fixated on the political polarisation of that country. A similar thing has happened here, with leaving the EU.
          Best wishes, Pete.

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  15. Lately I am picking up followers who should be screened out by WordPress before I ever see them, I think. With names like “Pyramid Schemes” it’s clear they are commercial! At least interesting writers are following you!

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    1. Thanks, Sarah. Some of the blogs I follow only post once a week, but some post 6-7 times a day, or more. I will only follow a blog if I can fully engage, otherwise, I see no point.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  17. I understand your viewpoint on setting a limit on the number of blogs you follow. Since I also like photography, I follow more blogs than you do, since a photo does not require the same amount of time to read as a post of 500 words. Like you when I follow someone, I like to read the entire post so I can learn something for myself AND respond in an intelligent manner. Good luck and have a wonderful week! Peter

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  21. You are right Pete, it can be like a part time job reading all the posts, writing and engaging. But it is good fun. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
    Ian

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