When I first began blogging, everyone in my little Blogger community was so sweet. That’s the only way I know how to describe them. We all did our crafts, shared pictures, sold things on Etsy, and left encouraging comments. It was the best! I never really felt like there were rules because we were all just figuring this blogging thing out. But now the blogging world is bigger than ever and since several of us tie our blogs to our businesses, practicing good etiquette is more important than ever. Read on for five things I think we all should keep in mind when engaging with our readers and fellow blogger friends.
1. Give Credit Where Credit Is Due
If you use images or any form of content that isn’t your own, always leave a link to the owner. And make sure it’s okay in the first place to share their work. This is not only a respectful thing to do; it’s a legal issue as well. Nobody has time to get caught up in a lawsuit over a blog image.
2. Don’t leave spam-like comments
When you leave a comment on someone’s blog post, it’s totally okay to link back to your own site. Of course you want people to visit your blog – we all do! Just make sure that your comment is thoughtful and doesn’t come off as a ploy to get followers, and you’ll be golden.
3. Reciprocate the love
I hope you never feel like you have to follow back every single blogger or Instagrammer who follows you. You should definitely stick to what inspires you. Still, it’s a really kind gesture to acknowledge when someone compliments your work or reaches out to you. For example, when someone leaves a nice (non-spammy) comment on your blog, let them know that you appreciate it. It’ll make their day. :)
4. Be honest about your expertise
Whenever I want to know anything about blogging, coding, or design, I look to bloggers who consider themselves experts in those fields. If you’re passionate about sharing your knowledge with the rest of the world, honestly, thank you! However, it’s okay not to have it all figured out and not to be an expert in certain areas. Be genuine about what you know and don’t be afraid to admit when you’ve got a little more to learn. We’re all in the same boat.
5. Be inspired, but never steal
Do you ever find yourself emulating the style of someone you admire without even realizing it? I do! All the time, especially with what I wear. On the interwebs, it’s more than okay to admire someone’s blog content, design, etc. But it is so important to change it up and create a style that is your own. When someone else’s work is copied, people notice and things get messy. See tip #1.
Do you think these are important practices to keep in mind? If you have anymore tips on blogging etiquette, please feel free to share them in the comments!
Katina Lindaa says
Completely agree with ALL of these! Lately I’ve found that there’s quite a few people who have been using my blog for ‘inspiration’ but they take a little too far and it’s just highly frustrating. I’m totally over spam like comments too. I just don’t understand it! Like if they leave a spam comment that isn’t going to make me click through? I know you’re bluffing that you ‘read’ and ‘enjoyed’ my blog post, but they always say the same thing on every post – ah just stahp it hahaha! Great post x
Katina Lindaa | http://www.katinalindaa.com
Berry Dakara says
Could you maybe write on the difference between inspiration and copying? It’s recently been coming up a lot in the Nigerian blogosphere.
Another point to add is responding to comments. I’ve found that some people really find it offensive if they don’t get replies to their comments. Of course, it’s tough if you have lots of comments, so it can be understandable.
Berry Dakara Blog
Momina Arif says
This is such a thoughtful and intelligent post. I am personally trying to do the first one as much as I can. It is very hard finding out where an image belongs. I usually take stuff from tumblr and I use links of where i reblogged it from. But I’m not sure if that is the way. It would be really helpful if you could do a post or infographic explaining in detail how to give credit for images an gifs that people find on the internet.
Tonya says
I’ve been looking into increasing my blogging, which will probably include linking to content on other blogs, lately. This post is certainly helpful and gives me a few great things to bear in mind as I proceed. Networking is one thing but I certainly have no desire to step on any toes.
Thanks for sharing your experience/insight.
Jennifer says
I’m glad this was helpful for you, Tonya! Networking can be hard, but it’s always worth it to connect with like-minded bloggers. :)
Molly @ Molly's Book Nook says
Lovely post. Honestly, I agree with all of it so I don’t have a whole lot to add. I think commenting back makes a HUGE difference with blogging (at least for me). I reply to every comment on my blog and try to comment on other’s as often as I can. And not just the people who comment on my blog, I like to find new blogs to read as well. So, yeah, definitely being active in the community is a great place to start for people :)
Jennifer says
Hi Molly! Yes, commenting is so important! It’s kind of crazy how many people read (and love) blog posts, and the blog author never even knows it. We’ve gotta keep sharing the love. :)
Michelle says
I appreciate this post. I would also appreciate if you were able to elaborate or do a post on sharing, like when is it ok to just link back to give credit and when is it appropriate to ask to share the work?
Maureen says
I am in the very beginning stages, haven’t even started yet. Trying to educate myself as much as possible before I do. This article is exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you…