Why Bloggers Shouldn’t Read Other Blogs

47 | Posted In Life & Mindset by David

Bear with me a bit. What I’m about to say might seem a bit counter-intuitive, however it will all come together in a moment.

I was talking with another blogger recently. He was finding that he was paying so much attention to conversations happening on other blogs that he wasn’t getting enough work done. He’d find himself unable to resist chiming in with a comment and that would inevitably lead to more comments. You get sucked in. :)

Google Reader (1000 ) Another blogger recently commented on Twitter how he was slowly working his way through Google Reader. He expressed triumph at the idea of getting below that dreaded “1000+” count for unread items.

With the first blogger (won’t mention names), I shared what many bloggers may find as sacrilegious. But, since this is a “confessions” blog, here it is:

Don’t Worry About Reading Other Blogs!

Now, before you jump down my throat, let’s put this in perspective. :)

Of course I read other blogs. I’d be an idiot not to. However, look at this fact…

You’re either producing or you’re consuming. And you can’t do both.

In other words, when you spend that time buried in Google Reader, that’s time that you’re not producing. You’re not writing posts. You’re not working on building your list. You’re not working on any product offer. You’re really not working on a frickin thing that has much use to you, are ya?

One argument might be that you’re furthering your education and getting ideas. Fine, however you probably wouldn’t spend a few hours per day reading magazines, would you? Why are other blogs that different?

Blogs are a form of media and the medium is CRAMMED with content. There are so many bloggers producing great content that you can’t possibly keep up. SO WHY BOTHER?!

I actually don’t spend nearly as much time as many other bloggers digesting other bloggers’ content. It isn’t that I don’t care. It is just a choice I make so that I don’t get so distracted with all the shiny stuff that I don’t get my own stuff done. I really don’t have the mental fortitude to keep track of all the great bloggers out there and still keep up with my own stuff.

I tend to check Google Reader maybe once every week or two. I scan headlines and I use the “Mark Read” button an awful lot. In other words, I go into “reading mode” and I’ll purposely set aside time to read other blogs. Honestly, I’ll probably try to increase this and do it a bit more often, but it is controlled. Google Reader should NOT be treated the same as your email!

When I find some downtime and I’ve got my Iphone handy, I’ll check out Google Reader. I sometimes make use of the Regator Iphone app to keep tabs on things, too.

Get It Under Control!

If you’re constantly sucking on the spicket of other people’s content, you’re going to always be short on time to do your own stuff. You can’t eat and talk at the same time, can you?

So, my suggestion is:

  1. Set up a schedule for digesting other people’s content. And learn to abide by that schedule.
  2. Lean on the side of digesting LESS. Information overload is a HUGE problem for bloggers and part of the reason why is because they’re constantly sucking on that spicket. It leads you in a thousand directions at once, and if you haven’t yet decided on our own direction, you’ll find that all those other viewpoints just confuse you and you never get started.
  3. Do not keep Google Reader (or any RSS reader) open all the time. It isn’t email. And now that I think about it, you shouldn’t keep your email open all the time either.

We can all only process so much information at a time. We have a certain throughput. You need to learn to manage that throughput.

Of course, if you’re just an information junkie, then by all means, knock yourself out. I’ll just continue to laugh at you as I go cash my checks. ;)

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  • stephaniemanley

    I think you have an interesting thought there. I have been reading other blogs, as my niche is recipes to look for trends, and as a sounding board for new ideas. I do make a point to comment on other people's blogs at least 10-20 a day. I can see not getting hung up in what people write, and loosing your focus. I limit my RSS feed time to about 30 minutes a day. I can't digest everything that is online.

  • http://www.integralwebsolutions.co.za/Blog.aspx Robert Bravery

    WOW, I was about to bite your head off thinking you've gone off your rocker. But reader through I can relate to what you're saying.
    There are so many blogs to read, but I just do not have the time. I so wish I could get round to them all, leave comments. Not only for the benefit of the blog, but I believe I derive some benefit as well.
    The difficult choice though is how to choose between so many good blogs.
    What we need is a direct memory translation straight into our brain stem.

  • wendymaynard

    I feel really guilty for reading this post.

  • http://potpolitics.com jsinkeywest

    Wow I actually agree with 100% of what you said. I would also sadly add that it's also a good idea to limit your time with people that aren't serious.I don't use Google Reader and usually try to do my best to visit people back etc but there comes a point where you have to assess if that is even worth it. Anyway Happy weekend.
    Thanks for opening up the thought process on effective use of time.

  • paulg2

    This post kinda goes with one I just made on my blog about taking positive action. Reading everyone's insights and tips is great, but if it is taking you away from accomplishing your own goals then you're in trouble. People need to realize that there is a time and place to read all the great content out there. Another great post.

  • http://www.ameaningfulexistence.com/ Karen Ruby

    Hi David, I've come to the same conclusion myself and have drastically cut back on the blogs that I read. I will subscribe to some of the blogs that give me the most bang for my buck and then other ones will stay in my Reader for only a week or two while I decide if they are worth it. I have folders for the must-reads (under 10 blogs) and get to the other ones when I can (50+).
    I don't feel any obligation to read everything under the sun produced by people in my niche. I am too busy trying to come up with great content for my own site, plus trying to create some products.
    Also, while I think that it's important to reply to comments on my own blog and have discussions, I've had to cut back on the comments that I leave at other sites. It takes up a lot of my time. Sometimes I'll spent 3 hours straight on a Saturday or Sunday morning leaving comments to pay back people, but you can never keep up. This is in addition to the comments I leave when I'm not busy at work.
    It's all about priorities. Once you have accomplished what you have to get done, you can give back to others (or pay it forward). There's only so many hours in the day. Maybe those full-time bloggers have more time on their hands, but those of us who work for 'the man' don't and have to choose.

    Karen

  • aaronmielke

    This came to a head for me about a week ago.

    I had to turn the noise down, unfollow the blogs I wasn't reading, and really evaluate what I was getting from those that I do follow.

    I'm now focusing on the bloggers that I've connected with, learning from them, and applying what I learn to my own projects.

    Your post is dead on. Nice work.

  • http://website-in-a-weekend.net/ Dave Doolin

    I just mass unsubscribed to 385 feeds.

    It felt good.

    But I'm a softie, I almost always RSS subscribe if I read or comment. I”m back up to 50 or so already. I use Mark Read a lot.

    I can see another mass unsubscribe in the near future.

    My productivity always goes up when I strictly limit my email. And twitter.

    And it all flies out the window when I haven't had enough sleep, or exercise, or I'm if dehydrated (caffeine you are my heart and soul, why must you abuse me so?).

  • http://jimijones.com/ Jimi Jones

    This post is right on the money, David.
    Having just retooled my busier than I should have allowed it to get schedule, this is a refreshing read. Now I'm not going to stop reading blogs, including this one, but the amount of time spent traveling the internet and doing so has already been greatly reduced for me.

    You could not have said it better… “You’re either producing or your consuming. And you can’t do both.” That's all anyone needs to know.

  • http://blog.adsdevshop.com Robert Dempsey

    I used to follow a few hundred blogs and Twitter searches, up until this morning. I removed about 2/3 of them and my productivity instantly went way up (or so it felt).

    I've heard the same advice. Stick with a few blogs and read books.

  • http://HowtoBeExtraordinary.com Cameron Plommer

    Sounds like you are advocating against being a consumption whore. I’ve written about this before actually and advocate against it as well (http://ow.ly/1rtSj).

    I also wonder sometimes who benefits more from a blog: the reader or the writer. In terms of other bloggers reading other blogs I think that sometimes its a waste of time and would be better suited to be writing.

  • http://twitter.com/bluepop13 Eric

    I think reading other blogs is a good idea if you don't take it to extremes. Like you said, David, set up a schedule or something. Make sure you're getting YOUR work done FIRST and then reading those blogs. Blogs are important to be read and we all want others to come and comment or leave their mark but it's more fun when you actually have something to show in case someone clicks on your name after your comment and goes to comment back. It's really about prioritising things.

    Good stuff here dude!

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Ha! :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Even when you're doing it full-time, if you have to choose your battles. It is a struggle which never ends, really.

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Seems several of us were having the same thought at the same time. :-)

  • http://davidrisley.com David Risley

    Of course, it'd be nice if there wasn't a big fat typo in that phrase you quoted from me. ;-) [edited]

    That's what I get for writing this post in 15 minutes as I was about to leave with my family.

  • http://www.nextlevelblogger.com/about Christian Russell

    I wrote a post a little while back called Get Control Over Your Dang Schedule, People! …or something like that. I'm totally down with this. It's so easy to get sold on the idea of doing everything, when in fact you can only ever do one thing at a time. And time is short, so that one thing you're doing better be productive.

    Education is crucial. But production is what pays the bills. Of course education should never come to a screeching halt, but if you ever want to have a substantive business, your priority should be production.

  • http://www.nextlevelblogger.com/about Christian Russell

    80/20 baby. which of those blogs are actually giving you the most benefit? ditch the rest.

  • http://blog.adsdevshop.com Robert Dempsey

    My thoughts exactly. It ended up there really was no need to be reading as many as I was. It turned out to be a lot of them. Lesson learned.

  • http://www.nextlevelblogger.com/about Christian Russell

    right on man :-) Yeah it means passing on some otherwise great material. It's really tough for me to do that, but if you have a business to run there are just things you gotta do! There will never be time to consume all the great content out there. Pick and choose or die! Congrats on making the tough choices…

  • http://www.dotcomnote.com/ Dotcom Note

    Excellent post. I stopped reading blogs for almost 9 months. Specially, the top bloggers in online marketing topics because most of the time their content is useless anyway (except Probogger and Zen habits who are not into make money blog and a few financial bloggers). I only use online marketing blogs for posting comments and everybody knows what it really mean. No, it is not for getting traffic. I really don't want any traffic to my blog. I don't make money from blog. I make money by selling useless health related products to financially challenged people and blogging is just an entertainment for me.

  • http://www.notaproblog.com Jordan Cooper

    I'd comment on this, but I don't read your blog anymore. :-)

  • http://www.integralwebsolutions.co.za/Blog.aspx Robert Bravery

    LOL, you crack me up

  • http://janebradbury.com/ Jane Bradbury

    I wrote about the same thing last week. Nice to know I'm on the right track. :o )

  • http://www.wakeupcloud.com/ Henri J

    Couldn't agree more with everything you said. At the same time, I got sucked in by your headline and had to read the thing, just so I could agree with you in the comments.

    Anyway, yes, I have been reading less and less. It helps me produce what I feel like producing and not constantly thinking about what other people are doing.

  • http://dwaynehuggins.com Dwayne Huggins

    Hey David

    To right with this one. As my blog became more popular (based on increase in comments) I found myself bookmarking everyone's blog then diving into their content. This started to get a bit much and as you say cut into my productive time so I had to reduce the time I spent with other bloggers.

    There are some which I visit daily, the others get my downtime time. I also use my iPhone to keep up, I will have a look at the Regator app in sec, thanks

    Have a great weekend
    Deayne

  • http://www.themoviescene.co.uk/ Andy

    Fortunately I’ve never been sucked in to keeping tabs on lots of blogs or felt the urge to subscribe to lots of feeds. But I’ve always kept to a simple schedule that first thing in the morning I quickly scan through those few I subscribe to, and then again last thing before I stop for the day. If I spot something that I feel may interest me, then I often drag the link to my favourites so that when I am having a few minutes break I can return to read it and comment, without opening up the reader again and possibly being distracted by more new posts.

  • http://hotblogtips.com/ Keith Bloemendaal

    I cleaned out my Reader of blogs I don't really pay attention to any more this week, I will admit that I get addicted to consumption and I comment on a lot of blogs, but since taking on 2 more JV's in the last couple of weeks my time is becoming more limited.

    Guess I will hit the Reader again and get more personal with myself on the blogs that actually do have value to what I am trying to accomplish and learn…..

  • http://evengrounds.com/blog Julius

    I agree that having a scchedule for reading blogs really allows you to have the right amount of time for your main tasks. For me, I normally read blogs early in the morning before work.

  • http://twitter.com/rwperkinsjr Richard Perkins

    You are so right here. I am a old wannabe marketer that has just finally jumped in the blogging world. I read other blogs to keep up with what is going on but like you said I also start making comments and it goes on and on. Next thing I know my day is over and I have not completed anything I wanted to. But… is this so bad? Does this mean my day is shot?

    Sometimes I feel like it has been a waste of the day until I see that the comments I have left on other blogs has prompted interested people to visit and comment on my own blog. Obviously you don't want to get caught up in this every day of the week, but it is nice to just relax and comment on the hard work of others sometimes.

  • remarkablogger

    Here's what I do (and I subscribe to an ungodly number of feeds). I have Google Reader set to show only headlines. I use my folders and list of subscriptions on the left to hit what I feel are the most important blogs first. Then I hit a few others and scan the headlines.

    Important lesson in headline writing: it has to stand out to someone skimming over 700 posts in their reader a day.

    Out of over 700 feeds a day, I might look at 5 – 10 posts and read half of those.

  • http://www.nextlevelblogger.com/about Christian Russell

    Don't quit reading Risley though; he's one of the ones worth keeping around ;) ha. just sayin…

  • http://www.nextlevelblogger.com/about Christian Russell

    I started hitting “mark all as read” recently. Spend half hour…an hour or whatever time you have, and then just be finished. I got all anxious and nervous the first few times. LOL :-) It gets easier.

  • http://www.jungleoflife.com/ Lance

    Great thoughts, David. And one I am have been implementing recently. The benefit: more time to create, which is great (mostly behind the scenes right now, as I've been putting off some design stuff that feels good to be getting at).

  • http://www.financeblues.com/ corporate finance careers

    The individual is either producing or consuming. He can't do both the acts simultaneously. This is aptly stated in the article. The article provide very good suggestion like, Information overload is a HUGE problem for bloggers. It leads us in a thousand directions at once, and if we haven’t yet decided on our own direction, we’ll find that all those other viewpoints just confuse us and we never get started. Thanks a lot for providing all these precautionary measures.

  • http://www.riverwoodwriter.com/ Elizabeth H. Cottrell

    THANK YOU for giving honest voice to the need for balance. I was feeling totally overwhelmed and thought others must have some sort of secret technique that allowed them to stay on top of things. Now I know it's just what my daddy always said, Self Discipline. Darned…I would LOVE to have learned a secret technique…:-)…

  • http://www.reviewmylife.co.uk/blog/ reviewmylife

    I do agree. My Google Reader account can be quite hypnotic if I'm not careful, and before I know if several hours have gone!

    Setting aside a specific time for reading blogs is a good idea. Once you've read through your blogs, don't look again until your next allocated time.

  • http://bloggersmarket.com/ Jeffrey

    Sorry David,
    I just can't do without my daily dose of “David Risley.com” After the birth of your latest child, you're like part of the family. Come to think of it, that's how I feel about most of the people whom I follow. I don't have to sacrifice my day to be part of the community!

  • http://www.allthingsgerman.net/ Graham Tappenden

    I'm reminded of the title of a children's TV show from the 1970s-80s in the UK, which I am sure many of my generation will remember.

    Perhaps a modern version would be “Why don't you just stop reading blogs and go and do something more productive instead?”

  • http://twtrcoach.com TwtrCoach

    Yeah.. my numbers was up there too.

    So found out had to use Google Reader more efficient else I would just defeat the purpose. And since I subscribe to some Twitter and Facebook feeds numbers jump up fast.

    But I use my Google Reader also on my iPhone, and that helps to keep all items numbers down.

    I appreciate ideas that help me organize my info even better. Also I found out that for some unknown reason I had not subscribed to your feed here David..

    Cheers.. Are

  • AmeliaBrazell

    For me, spending uncontrolled time reading other blogs is procrastination. So, my biggest challenge is managing the time I spend on other blogs. I scan headlines in my Google reader about once per week. Perhaps the most effective thing I do is when I add a new blog to my reader list, I delete one that I no longer get value from. Keeps it lean and clean.

    Every couple of months, I ruthlessly edit my Google reader list by deleting those that I no longer find valuable. I do the same thing for email subscriptions. Seems to keep things manageable.

  • AmeliaBrazell

    For me, reading other blogs can be procrastination. So, my challenge is controlling the time I spend reading rather than writing. Using Google reader has facilitated the process. I read the headlines weekly but rarely everything that has been posted that week.

    One of the best tactics I use to manage my Google Reader is that when I add a new blog to the list, I delete one that is no longer valuable. Keeps this process lean and clean.

  • http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

    I subscribe to about 100 blogs, and about twice a week I skim through the headlines. Then, I star the ones that I find interesting. That's usually between 10 – 20 posts. I hit “mark all as read” ones I have starred the ones I'm going to read.

    Basically, I find it important to read blog posts, but only blog posts that I find interesting and ones that I might learn something from.

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  • wahab

    There's lot of blogs outside there, Its a good thing to read them if I want. But isn't it better to read our own, improve and update them?

  • http://jennifervalerie.com Fruitfulvine2

    Awesome advice. I usually end up on Google reader after I've accomplished a few things so you find that I may end up commenting on a bunch of posts on someone's blog all on the same day.

    I've unsubscribed to a whole lot too and the weeks that I get to go on Google reader daily I choose the most important ones and leave the rest for later. The over 1000 number used to bother – now it's just a number and I do use the mark as read button after having read the most recent items on some of the blogs I subscribe to.

    Doing this has helped me not to get sucked in.

  • http://jennifervalerie.com Fruitfulvine2

    Awesome advice. I usually end up on Google reader after I've accomplished a few things so you find that I may end up commenting on a bunch of posts on someone's blog all on the same day.

    I've unsubscribed to a whole lot too and the weeks that I get to go on Google reader daily I choose the most important ones and leave the rest for later. The over 1000 number used to bother – now it's just a number and I do use the mark as read button after having read the most recent items on some of the blogs I subscribe to.

    Doing this has helped me not to get sucked in.