This post was written by Deb
Why I Don’t Meme
Not a week goes by I don’t get tagged for a blogging meme. I used to meme with gusto and tag in return, but I had to stop. It got to the point where I had to wonder if they weren’t sucking up too much time and if my readers really cared whether I drive a black car or how I didn’t learn to drive until I was in my late 30’s. Here’s why I don’t meme:
Memes Take Time
I just don’t have the time to respond to everyone who tags me for a blogging meme. This might go back to my being a lazy blogger, but at this stage of my game, I’d rather post good relevant content to my blogs and bring in the masses that way. Since the people who tag are usually people in the blogger’s’ own circle, memes don’t generally bring in more traffic anyway.
Memes are Selfish
I enjoying adding personal anecdotes and amusing stories into my blog, but memes are selfish. I don’t want it to be all about me. I feel it gets boring and readers don’t respond well when it’s all about me.
Readers Don’t Always Get It
How confusing would it be to come to a blog for information on saving money only to read "5 Reasons I’m Like a Rhinoceros?" Granted, that’s a really silly meme but most memes are off topic. If I was a first time visitor and came across a meme post at my blog Simply Thrifty, for example, I might not be inclined to come back. If I was a regular reader, I might get bored at all the memes and wonder why can’t discuss coupon clipping, recycling and my DIY fence project.
Not all memes are off topic, but it’s my feeling those who want to establish themselves as authorities in their topics need to lay off the memes - or at least relegate them to a personal blog.
Memes Are too Personal
I don’t enjoy reading many memes for the same reason I don’t like writing them. They’re too personal. I know my readers know a lot about me because I do use personal stories to illustrate a post, but I also believe there’s such a thing as too personal. I know other bloggers feel differently but I don’t want to throw out information about my home town, my husband and son’s names, and other bits of information. I don’t feel it’s safe in this day and age to release too many personal details. Besides, who cares how many kids I have or whether or not I breastfed?
Do You Meme?
Do you meme? If so, do you notice a difference in traffic? How are the comments - are the only people participating the ones who are involved in the meme or do you get a positive response from all your readers. Am I the only meme grouch out there?
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10 Responses to “Why I Don’t Meme”
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Sometimes I meme, Deb, but not often. I don’t have time to do them all and I try to keep my blog on-topic. Some memes are fun and I plan to get back to them, but never do. So I pick the ones that I can relate to my blog and let the others drop. Of course, general ones about being nice to people are ok on any blog.
I meme on my D&D blog (my recreational blog), not my writing blog. The one meme I did for my writing blog I actually incorporated into my “about me” page.
I don’t like memes for the very reasons that you mention, but I always feel a little bit guilty when I don’t participate.
I used to get tagged for memes a lot, it seems, but it hasn’t happened in a long time. I was actually sorta surprised by this post because I thought memes were “so last year”- guess they’re still around after all. I only did them if they fit in with my topic, and sometimes they were helpful when I was searching for a post idea. I was a total grouch about tagging people though. I didn’t mind being tagged,but I just didn’t want to make people feel obligated to write something just because I tagged them.
I don’t like memes or Tuesday 13s or any of those blog extras. I’m not sure why. I never liked them. When I first started blogging I swore I’d never do one. I didn’t either, not for a while. It was literally years before I did one although I get tagged all the time. The reason I finally did one was because someone I really like tagged me. And then the darn thing DID bring in all kinds of crazy traffic. That didn’t make me like them though. I think I’ve done 2 since, both times out of guilt. And both times I was tagged by bloggers I REALLY like.
I used to meme on my personal blog as well, but not usually the professional one. I agree memes are too personal for business sites or blogs on networks. I don’t agree that they are too personal across the board, however. I have really struggled with the decision to talk about my kids (and even use their name) - even on my personal blog - because of privacy and safety reasons. However, in the end I decided I needed to express who I am, and my kids are a big part of that. Also, I figured it isn’t any more dangerous than posting pics of my kids on the cubicle at work and talking about them with co-workers. I am sure there will be disagreement with this, but I feel as long as I teach my kids internet/school/stranger safety, I don’t need to hide them in a bubble. (Not that you’re doing that, Deb!
) Oh, and on my professional blog, I will mention family and kids if it’s appropriate to the post, such as my last one about my daughter wanting to be a writer.
By the way, I haven’t actually seen too many memes going around lately. Do you think bloggers have become wise to the fact they really aren’t useful for anything?
I’m not a fan of memes either. I don’t like reading them, and I don’t like creating them (now I sound like the meme grouch:). For the same reasons you listed above. I usually skip over them when I’m flipping through blogs. The whole tagging others thing just isn’t for me either.
I don’t like them either. And I feel especially guilty if I do one and tag someone else. I’d much rather give appropriate link love with posts related to my blog.
This is a nicely constructed list of reasons not to meme, which is helpful because it’s important to spend my precious networking minutes wisely. I did try meming a couple of times, but ended up agreeing with your fundamental point. Blog entries must serve my readers, and memes are not on the top of my list of things I want to offer my readers.
Jerry
http://www.memorywritersnetwork.com/blog
It depends on the meme - usually I will if it relates to the theme of my blog but if not, I tend not to do it these days.