A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a new number on the right-hand widget bar here on the Nine Pockets blog.
I've got 50 followers!
Huge news, right? Time to update my status to "influencer".
Jokes aside, noticing the number on that widget did give me pause for thought. A milestone like this would have been a much more meaningful occasion back in the heyday of blogging. I can imagine well-known bloggers from various corners of the internet celebrating every 100 followers they gained, for example.
But in today's online world, there are quite a few additional forms of social content that grapple for our attention:
2-sentence posts
10-second video clips
Single-panel memes
News clips
How-to videos
City walks
Virtual tours
ASMR videos
Endless sports highlights
Live streams of all sorts of events
Stories that disappear after 24 hours
Reaction videos
Unboxings
The list goes on and on.
And that's not to mention the emergence of the aforementioned influencers, and their millions of followers across various platforms. Put that all together, and it means bloggers aren't exactly pulling in the numbers these days.
But do you know who still reads blogs?
You do.
You're undeniable proof that blogging is still here. You, and other folks like you, still enjoy reading the unique content that blogs can provide. I'd even like to think that one day, folks might grow tired of the barrage of content and alerts coming in from all those other platforms, reduce the amount of time they spend tapping, swiping, and aimlessly scrolling, and replace it with some quality time reading blogs again.
Sure, it might be naive to think that way. But I'm sticking with it.
And that's why I'm setting aside a few minutes to celebrate 50 followers.
As small as our little corner of the internet is, there's a lot of value here—and a lot of great people, to boot.
If you're one of the 50 followers, or even if you just stop by Nine Pockets every once in a while to read through my thoughts about trading cards and the nostalgia they bring about, I'd like to issue a sincere thank you.
Your time spent here means a lot.
Keep enjoying the hobby. And if you're a blogger, keep on doing what you're doing.
More good content to come.
I probably don’t show us as a Follower because I’m subscribed through a different aggregation reading app - so consider it 51! Thanks for the stories and memories, I hope you and the other good blogs keep it up, so much more enjoyable and entertaining than the social channels
ReplyDeleteAgree that blogging is the most interesting and enjoyable reading experience when it comes to cards. I've been involved with a few other social media forms (but drew the line at Instagram and Tik Tok), but never dropped blogging because you lose so much if you stop -- I'm pretty sure the term "brain rot" was not the result of reading blogs!
ReplyDeleteI do remember when the followers widget was the bright new blogging gadget. I can't remember noting milestones on it, but I do recall checking it a lot.
I have been a reader for quite a while. You now have 51! Your "50" tile above could be from a 1964 Topps Mickey Mantle or a 2013 Topps Heritage Curtis Granderson. Nice milestone.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I hope card blogs are here until the end of my lifetime, because I'd rather read a blog post than watch a YT short or video on cards.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the milestone! Thanks for posting!
ReplyDelete