I was recently tagged by Lauren to write about stuff that annoys me about blogs, the things I’d love to throw unceremoniously into Room 101. I enjoy reading other blogs but some stuff does annoy me somewhat so I thought I’d give it a go. Here are my top 10 blog peeves.
- Poor Grammar – If you’ve ever read my ‘Top 10 Grammatical Bugbears‘ then this point won’t surprise you! Everyone has the right to have their own blog and that’s great, however I can’t read posts that are constantly littered with poor spelling and punctuation. Sorry!
- Pop Up Adverts and Subscription Boxes – This is more of an issue on mobile rather than desktop and I especially hate it when I go to click through to an article having landed on a blog homepage, only for an advert to leap up in my face and I end up mistakenly clicking that. I feel cheated!
- Non Responsive Websites – Another mobile issue. If your blog isn’t responsive then you need to get on it because not only does it make it a pain in the bum to read, Google are penalising non responsive websites.
- Automatically Ticked Subscription Boxes – I dislike it when I comment on a post, only to receive an email asking me to confirm my subscription. If I want to subscribe then I’ll purposefully seek out a way to do so, please don’t force me into it.
- Auto DMs – This is a Twitter thing rather than on blogs, but I (and many other bloggers for that matter) dislike the auto DMs when you follow someone, asking you to follow them on every other social media platform and then some! It’s not the end of the world, it’s just annoying and I’d much rather either nothing, or a hello tweet.
- Constant Streams of Sponsored Content – I’m bundling sponsored posts, reviews and giveaways together here. I don’t have anything against those types of posts and I myself do them, however I don’t feel like I know the person behind, or personality of, a blog when every single post is of this nature. I like the real life stuff, I’m nosy like that.
- Fake Reviews – I’ve seen it a few times where bloggers have ‘reviewed’ a product positively then either slated it in private Facebook groups or indeed put it up for sale as brand new and unused. It brings the authenticity of blogger reviews into disrepute and I don’t want to be lumped in with dishonest reviewers when I put the time and effort into trying products out before I write my balanced and honest reviews.
- Searching To Search or Follow – I like social media and search buttons to be clear and accessible on every page. Part of this comes via my job as a social media manager/blogger outreach type because I want to find and share reviews of my clients’ products and want to credit the blogger. Don’t make it hard for me to do that!
- Using Your Profile To Complain – I’m not talking about moaning about bad days or the such – goodness know I’d be a hypocrite if that were the case! I’m on about people who use their blog and social media as a way to complain about companies and services they’ve used outside of their blogging life. Had a negative experience with a review product or service? By all means tell us, it will help others to not have the same misfortune. Annoyed because Parcel Force lost your parcel that has absolutely nothing to do with your blog? Take it up with them then!
- The ‘Free Stuff’ Blag – Most bloggers will agree that the misconception that the review items we get are ‘freebies’ is a pain in the backside. We work hard to keep our profile raised, write about, photograph and promote the product. What bugs me, however, are the few who are constantly on Facebook groups or Twitter practically begging for stuff and completely abusing tags such as #PRrequest. It just looks desperate! If you want to pitch to a company then contact them and make a pitch, don’t beg for contacts on social media or tweet every 10 minutes about how you so desperately need a washing machine, using those sorts of tags. Buy a washing machine or save the money to buy one. I have lived without washing machines, microwaves, beds and sofas before. It’s not life shattering.
There are probably other things, but those are definitely my top 10 blog peeves and the ones I would love to see banished to Room 101! If any of those things relate to you or your blog then don’t take it personally, these are simply my opinions and what makes life great is that we are all different.
I am now tagging the following bloggers to write about the blog peeves they’d throw into Room 101:
What are your blog peeves? Anything you dislike about my blog? Let me know in the comments below or get in touch on Facebook or Twitter.
Leslie Rickerby 10th March 2016 at 6:50 pm
Hannah you make me laugh! I feel as though I’ve just been told off and I don’t do any of those things! Haha.
Hannah Budding Smiles 10th March 2016 at 6:59 pm
Oh Leslie that made me laugh so much! Once a teacher, always a teacher I guess hehe I’m quite a Dickensian “Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts” kinda gal ? xx
Louise (Squished Blueberries) 10th March 2016 at 7:06 pm
I hate the auto DMs on twitter too! When I first started my twitter profile I replied to one, she never replied back to me!! Just rude
Sian QuiteFranklySheSaid 10th March 2016 at 7:36 pm
I agree with all of these especially the blaggers one, I see it a lot and it makes the rest of us look bad! I’m probably guilty of the back to back reviews one, but I’ve been proactively trying to reduce the amount I do as I want my personality to dominate not my reviews x
Karen 10th March 2016 at 7:41 pm
I thought it would be a good idea to have a read and check I don’t do anything to annoy people. I can hold my head high and say I don’t do any of these! Although I hope my grammar is up to scratch?
Donna 10th March 2016 at 8:17 pm
Grammar!!!! That’s such a huge one for me! x
Sarah Rooftops 10th March 2016 at 10:02 pm
All of these. There are anti-spam laws forbidding pre-ticked opt in boxes AND auto-DMs are a breach of Twitter’s terms and conditions unless the recipient has expressly consented to them so those two particularly annoy me.
Caro | The Twinkle Diaries 11th March 2016 at 7:30 am
Aah grammar – that’s one of my biggest bugbears too!! But most of these of definitely an annoyance – particularly pop-ups when you’re reading on a mobile as sometimes they’re impossible to get rid of!!
Joanna 11th March 2016 at 8:40 am
I definitely agree with some of these!
I wrote a comment on a blog the other day and was automatically added to their email subscription. Another blog keeps reloading every time I try and comment and takes ages so frustrating!
Harriet from Toby & Roo 11th March 2016 at 9:35 am
It’s funny isn’t it – I have a fair few of these in my pet peeves list. I don’t like auto DMs on twitter – truth be told I get a little excited when I get a message on there and then see it’s auto makes me feel cheated. I don’t have an issue with lots of reviews or sponsored posts as long as they are something real and useful – such as a lifestyle post that incorporates a review. I will be honest I rarely read actual reviews unless I’m in the market for that kind of product
Hx
Dean of Little Steps 11th March 2016 at 11:20 am
Ditto to everything you said. Although I’ve never come across “fake reviews” yet. Goodness, do they really do that, especially flogging off items they’ve reviewed, that’s really awful! I was guilty of the auto DMs but I’ve stopped that now. Thank goodness for that. What really ticks me off is when you’re trying to leave a comment, but they make it really difficult for you. I just automatically leave that blog and stay clear off it.
Zoe Alicia 11th March 2016 at 11:42 am
I find those automated DMs so rude! Why do people sign up to them? x
Rebecca | AAUBlog 11th March 2016 at 1:34 pm
Ha this is brilliant. I have a lot of the same ‘pet-peeves’. The #prrequest one can get quite ridiculous and its so annoying. I’ve seen them ssaying things like I’m in London on so and so date and would love to review a hotel. Wouldn’t we all lol. I do need to space out my sponsored content and reviews with more normal stuff, though – its hard fitting it all in sometimes.
Lucy Melissa Smith (Hello Beautiful Bear) 11th March 2016 at 1:51 pm
I agree with ALL of these but the grammar, urgh, that is the big one! It puts me off SO much.
Also, trying to see what’s going on on Twitter and if there’s any opportunities but sifting through mountains of rubbish on the hashtags! X
Tim 11th March 2016 at 3:25 pm
I nodded in agreement with all of these but my single biggest bugbear is probably the lack of follow buttons on blogs. So often I discover a new blog I like and want to subscribe to, only to find there is no subscription option. Or that the only option is Bloglovin, which I don’t use as a blog reader and don’t want to use. All it takes is an email subscription box and you have a new loyal reader!
Sarah | Digital Motherhood 11th March 2016 at 4:32 pm
Haha yes agree with those. Bad spelling and grammar drives me insane, so many popular blogs with awful, awful spelling and grammar!
Michelle 11th March 2016 at 4:57 pm
The only one I do here is the subscription box but while I have it on my sidebar on the desktop, I noticed the other day that in mobile it shows up as I’m scrolling through. I don’t know how else to fix that though so I’m leaving it for now until I can figure something else out. I haven’t seen blaggers yet, or if I have, I haven’t noticed them. Bad grammar can get annoying when it is every other word. That makes it hard to read, causing me to just forget reading the rest and leave the blog. #effitfriday
Michelle 11th March 2016 at 4:58 pm
Oops! I am sorry I meant #thelist. Too many linkies, LOL
Tori Gabriel 11th March 2016 at 6:21 pm
Totally with you on the Twitter DM’S. Instant unfollow! It’s so rude and spammy.
I also hate people who follow your blog FB that have no actual interest in it and then will comment “liked. Like mine back!” Erm, no.
Zena's Suitcase 11th March 2016 at 7:45 pm
I hate subscription boxes and pop ups too. They are really annoying. I’m also with you on the poor grammar, even though when I’m tired I know I make a few mistakes. Great list, and I think you have covered most of my bug bears too
Amanda Jenner 11th March 2016 at 8:14 pm
those twitter DM ones ahhhhhhh so annoying and pop ups grrrrr.Grammar I can be more forgiving with – some people really struggle in this area, but they just want to have their space on the internet too and still have some fantastic things to say. xx
Ickle Pickle 11th March 2016 at 8:33 pm
Great points! I too hate Twitter Dms – I get excited when I see I have a message – this quickly turns to being annoyed! Fab post. Kaz x
Cheryl 11th March 2016 at 9:12 pm
A great list! I agree with all of them especially the grammar and automated Twitter email messages. I’m pretty hopeful that I’m not doing anything you’ve mentioned on my blog! #TheList
Sarah 12th March 2016 at 12:32 am
Haha I was nodding along with everyone of these… especially the one about dms I’m forever getting inboxes after following people just given up reading them now or responding. Prefer the more personal touch xx
Charlotte 12th March 2016 at 3:34 am
The automatically ticked subscription boxes really get me too! there are a few blogs that also have a setting that signs you up for all of the comments on the post – there isn’t an unselect so I get hundreds of emails – I avoid them now, so they are the ones who miss out
Grant R 12th March 2016 at 7:02 am
I was holding my breath, reading through the list, to make sure I didn’t do any of them!
I got as far as nine before I failed. Ah well. I have room for improvement then!
Chloe 12th March 2016 at 7:41 am
I agree with all of these. It’s nice to hear someone relates. I especially don’t like it when they have auto subscribe buttons in the comments. I sometimes forget to uncheck them and then have to go through the process of unsubscribing when I get notified of posts. I do subscribe to blogs, but only ones that continually write posts that resonate with me. x
Kara Guppy 12th March 2016 at 4:00 pm
This, this, this and this. I agree with all these points. The automatic subscription is very annoying and ads in the middle of posts drives me mad!
Emma 12th March 2016 at 8:54 pm
So many of this I get – the pop up adverts is my biggest bug bear I think. What a great meme!
Katy 12th March 2016 at 10:03 pm
I read a few ‘big’ blogs (not parenting ones) that all have a big pop up ad that blocks the entire page – annoying on my PC, but on my phone it means I have to stop reading as I can’t get rid of the ad without clicking on it, and using the Back button takes me fully away from their blog. I do wonder if they know that this is a problem!
The Twitter DM’s are definitely on my list – if anything, I’m less likely to check out your facebook page or anything else from you sending me one!
Life as Mum 13th March 2016 at 5:03 pm
This is great! Love the way you have written it!
Rachel 13th March 2016 at 6:52 pm
The one from your list which annoys me the most is the pre-ticked subscription box, it has happened to me a few times with bloggers now and it winds me right up x
Emma T 13th March 2016 at 11:09 pm
Ooh I agree, Auto DMs and Grammar/spelling are my most annoying ones, but I’d agree with lots on your list. I just wish pop-ups I could turn off my mobile version of the blog. I’ve added mine back on, but it is annoying on mobile…but then less than 20% of my readers read on mobile so until that number increases I’ll stick with it. (it is easy to click off though and pops up at the bottom)
Ana De- Jesus 14th March 2016 at 8:03 am
I have to confess I need to go through some of my posts as some of them might have a few spelling errors doh! But I find automated subscriptions so annoying too.