Why I won’t follow you back! 

As all bloggers propably do, I love getting comments and likes on my posts. I love interacting with people and I love creating content that is helpful, inspiring and fun. Getting a nice comment is a reassurance that the effort I put into my blog doesn’t go unnoticed. Thing is a lot of the comments I get consist of the phrase “I follow back.” Problem is I do not want people to follow my blog because I commented, liked or followed them. I did that with all my sincerity without expecting something in return. But other than that I get devastated because now every like or comment I see I think did they really mean it or is this an effort so that I will follow them? And this takes away from my success. Every follower is immensely important for me as long as they are sincere. So please, I would love to chat but don’t ever expect a follow back from me. I will only follow you because I love your content. So you can be sure you have a true follower in me. Love you guys. 

Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion and by all means I do not wish to offend anyone. We are all different and that is ok!

63 thoughts on “Why I won’t follow you back! ”

  1. Good points. So much emotional thought and connection in blogging. For some, it’s a relationship where you have expectations of people being equal – like for a like. I did that initially. But now… it’s more about making a true connection. Great post.

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    1. I know. I find it more important to have only one follower that truly enjoys and believes in what I have to say than a million who don’t actually care. Thanks for your time!

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  2. Really like what you’ve written. I have recently started blogging and have merely 30 followers but those are the ones who follow me because they like my content! I would rather have followers who follow me for what I am writing instead of me begging them to follow me!

    Youre doing a fab job! ❤

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    1. Thank you. It’s the best feeling confident in your followers. Trust me thirty honest followers equal to a thousand “fake” ones.

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  3. i understand. of course everyone has there own reasons,who wants to follow who ,why want to follow , why not. so … i am totally cool with it.
    love
    maneeha. ( mia)

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    1. Of course everyone is different and I don’t mean to offend anyone. I just presented my point of view. Thank you for your comment!

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      1. i understand that you don’t want offend anyone.you are just giving your message to the bloggers!
        :)(:

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  6. I’ve been reading a few of WordPress’s introduction to blogging and they are promoting commenting and liking on other pages just to get more followers. While I like the idea of building a community of like minded contributors, I will not comment or like a post that does not appeal to me or support my interests. In short, I agree with you, if I get a comment or like from an author that doesn’t appeal to me, I’ll not follow. Thanks for the thought provoking post!

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    1. Interacting and building a community is amazing when done honestly! I thought someone should say it…

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  7. I am glad you chose to speak about it!! I frequently search on how to get more traffic to my blog and each of the articles consist one point -commenting. Well, I won’t lie, I initially started commenting just to get more people to follow my blog and I have been getting great response. But, I have never really commented on anything without reading it, now that I have been commenting, I do it because I like it. I do it because I like reading other posts and I like giving my opinions, comments or views on it. It’s really great, I have stopped expecting anything in return. Because I hate it when people just like all your posts and give a few “great post ” comments to get another follower. I genuinely love this post and I know it is a really long comment, but I just wanted to get it out. Thanks ❤❤

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    1. Honestly I think every new blogger has gone through this stage myself included. When we start we don’t really understand what blogging is about. Add that to the superficiality of social media and you get a hunter for likes. That’s why I think it’s important to speak up about it. In all these information we get online we somehow lost the point of real life giving our all to the virtual one and this is not even close to beneficial for us. Thanks for standing with me on this.

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  8. I also follow people I’m interested in, after all I don’t want my Reader stuff with posts that I don’t like! But it makes me sad to see so many people following me, and then unfollowing because I didn’t follow them back. I can get that for Instagram, when numbers are important for people, but to me blogging is something more personal and deserves a higher value! Stay true to yourself x

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    1. I just wish that we could feel comfortable to be real on social media. This connects a lot with body image and creating self conscious individuals. I wish people would understand that if we were more real online not editing out the bad parts we would all feel so much better.

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  9. I think that you’re totally right! I only comment and follow blogs that I really enjoy reading, supporting people because I enjoy their content and their writing style, not just for personal gain. I’m so happy that you talked about this! 🤗💗

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    1. I was really nervous about uploading this post. I’m overwhelmed by the positive reactions it got and I’m glad that this post can be a starting point for more “uncomfortable” conversations!

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  13. I completely agree with you-I also don’t “boost” posts because I feel that paying for followers is weird! I have a lot different interests and post in many areas myself. I have followers who love food posts and others who are more interested in rock climbing. So, of course those I follow are in varying categories as well. I just want to have fun content, that I truly like, in my reader and inbox!

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  14. Agreed. I look for things that interest me, that maybe inspire me things and people who are different. I love fashion blogs, travel blogs and food blogs along with other tea and lifestyle blogs. Great Post !

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  16. Usually when I comment on a post it is because I loved the post and wanted to let the author know that, or I have a further idea to contribute. However, one thing that I love about commenting on a post is being able to connect with the author. The blogging community is always so friendly and I love gradually getting to know the creator behind the blog.

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  18. I know you were probably nervous posting this, but thanks for speaking your truth! Especially with something like a blog, it’s important to know that people are actually reading and caring about what they read instead of just getting the number of followers have up!

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  21. Dear OHHH MMMYYY GOOODDDDDDD!!!!!

    You just talked directly from my heart!!’ Really I could have said this words! You expressed something what I mentioned before….and I knew that many of my followers aren’t reading the texts and just click on like bottom to get likes back; and I ve wrote something similar like this (yours is so much better) to make them clear that I will read and follow them without expecting anything in return…

    Love you so much for this write up!!!! Ty❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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  23. I get so frustrated by people who obviously leave comments just so you can look at their blog (e.g. great post! I also have a blog…), it just feels so underhand. Follow people you like and want followers who actually read your content, otherwise what’s the point? 🙂

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  24. Sounds sassy but true. 😅I only click follow when I feel that I will like to read more from that blogger and not for just one article or want that person to follow back.

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  25. This has definitely inspired me to make some decisions of my own. I don’t always follow back, but I have a tendency to. Luckily for me, most of my followers have amazing content. You’ve inspired me to cut loose with what I don’t really connect with. This was beautifully put. Thanks for writing it.

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  27. I’m a newbie to blogging and I completely understand where you’re coming from. What disappoints me is when people simply comment “great post.” It makes me feel like they probably didn’t read it and just want something in return – a follow back or a comment on their posts.
    I will only comment on posts if I genuinely like it, have questions or am interested in the topic. Then I like to leave at least a couple of sentences on posts to show that I actually read the content, and that I want to take the time to interact with them. After all, writing/blogging isn’t easy. When I get a good comment, it makes it all worth it.

    Thanks for keeping it real!

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  31. Yep, that is EXACTLY how I feel. I had a conversation on the job yesterday (that this blog posts puts me in mind of) I am currently doing a remodel project for someone who does not get along with very many people in life….period. …long story short, he told his kids recently he really really likes me (and my son) who is helping me on the job….so much so that he said to me last Friday “I love you” (he is not gay, at least I don’t think so)..in response I told him “Thank you” 🙂 ..anyway, his wife pointed out to him, that I did not say “I love you too” in response…and first thing out of his mouth yesterday when we started back to work was that conversation and my response on Friday. I looked at him and thanked him again for his appreciation, but said I do not use those words lightly. and only if I really mean it. Same way with blogging..If someone takes the time to comment on something I’ve read, I don’t take that for granted, and try to give a thoughtful response…but never, ever are there any strings attached . Life is too short.

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  32. I totally agree with you. And I even can’t follow everyone back because then the blogs I truly love would get lost along all these blogs I would be following just because they followed me or because they commented on my blog.

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  33. Follower are not likers, likers are not follower. Followers are supporting, they read, they comment, they encourage. Likers are the for clicks, not to grow. Great truth in this article. Thank you for sharing.

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  36. I agree with this a lot. Even though I don’t get a lot of attention on my blog and it’s more of my online journal – I always think that comments and follows are not sincere. It’s very heartwarming to know that I’m not the only person who like comments and follows people genuinely and for the sole purpose of simply liking their blog and wanting to read more from it.

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    1. I know! I get really excited to get a new follower and I instantly think what if they just want a follow back? It isn’t nice.

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      1. Exactly, I want people to like my content genuinely. it’s like complimenting someone and expecting one back. it doesn’t work that way because it’s never honestly said.

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  41. I love this. I’m on here blogging for myself. It helps me. I also love reading about people. Not how much money you make or the makeup your into, but your goals and achievements, what makes you smile.
    I’m following you because so far, you make me smile, your words relate to me and my life and some give me hope and inspiration and just the thought of “wow, people do go through and think the same as me occasionally”
    So thank you for you post!

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    1. I get what you are saying. Sometimes we get so caught up on sharing trends that we forget about emotions. I personally hope to balance both. Thank you for your kind words!

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  43. Legit. Honest. To the essence. We have a message to get out there, not a dinner recipe to share. Unless you love cooking, no sense in participating. Strong point. Respect.

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  44. Pingback: Why a WordPress Like Means Much More than a Facebook Like – My English Paradise

  45. I select carefully. If I get comments that show my post was written carefully I may have a look at their blogs. And I might think of following – but all without an expectation, same like you.

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