Before Vs. After: Who Do You Love?
So I've been wondering. What do you guys like to see? Are you all about the "live" action, seeing the ugly as it happens? Or do you like "all pretty all the time?" There's many ways to write a blog, but what do you like to read?
I think about this frequently as I'm working on things that aren't particularly photogenic while I'm doing them. Like right now I'm working on that slipcover, and the fabric hutch, along with the bathroom and Baby Girl's room (because we have company coming in a few months), and so there's lots happening, just not lots that's pretty.
So I thought about all the ways that I've seen blogs handle this, and I noticed a few common themes. I'm sure there's a million other ways to do it, it's not like this is an exhaustive list, but these seem to be the most common ways that I noticed.
1. The "Live Action" Blog . Everything that's happening gets shown, as it happens, whether it's pretty or not. Tutorials might come as you go, or might come at the end, depending on how fast the "live action" is going. Pro: You get to see things progress "real time." Con: You have to see a lot of ugly posts before you get to the "good stuff" (i.e. the reveal).
2. The "Before/After" Blog. There's usually one post showing a "before," then a lull, then one post showing the "after." If there's tutorials, they come after the big "reveal." Pro: Not a lot of ugly messy posts. Con: Lots of waiting for afters, and not a lot of visibility into the "real" process.
3. The "Keep the Conversation Going" Blog. This is a varation on the Before/After Blog, except that the spaces in between "before" and "after" are filled with other things. Pinterest posts, Features of other bloggers, discussions of style, decorating tips and tricks, linky parties, etc. Pros: Lots to read, see and discuss. Con: Still a lot of waiting to see the blogger's actual projects, and still not a lot of visibility into the real process.
4. The "All Eye Candy All The Time" Blog. This blog doesn't really have "befores" -- only afters. There's big afters once in awhile (rooms), but the rest of the time there are mini-afters (a basket, a box), pictures of thrift store finds, vignettes, "corners of my home", "little moments" that kind of thing. Pro: Pretty, pretty, all the time pretty. Who doesn't love eye candy? Con: Since the focus is on the pretty, there's not a big focus on tutorials, befores or any of the in-process stuff.
So. What do you prefer? Do you have a strong preference? Does one of these types of blog really excite or interest you?
In addition, I do really want to know what you want to read HERE at Cottage Magpie? Because I'd like to deliver what you are most interested in reading.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts.
P.S. Don't forget to follow with the new "Linky Follower" widget in the right side bar or on the subscribe page! :-)
Comments (11)
Barbara H.:
Cecelia:
Janice:
Krista:
Sweet Bee Cottage:
Thirkellgirl:
Anonymous:
Skooks:
Niesz Vintage Home:
Ashley Urke | Domestic Fashionista:
Cojocaru Anca-Valerica:
I guess I vote for #2. I definitely enjoy the before and after. I'm getting a little tired of the Pinterest posts and I'm definitely not a great fan of the linky parties - maybe you need to be another blogger to enjoy those so much. There's already so much to read and see - I don't like to use my time being bombarded with stuff that's not from the blog I chose to subscribe to. Some people post daily or almost daily. It seems to me that that takes a lot of energy to keep up with for both the blogger and the reader. That's my 2 cents.
Posted by Barbara H. | February 15, 2012 12:06 PM
Posted on February 15, 2012 12:06
I like the live action type of blog. It is interesting and educational to see the actual progress of a project. One could see the mess that an actual project really makes and decide if it is a project that you would really want to tackle on your own. And seeing the real progress figure out how to adapt what the blogger is doing to one's own projects.
Posted by Cecelia | February 15, 2012 1:07 PM
Posted on February 15, 2012 13:07
I love to see Before and After shots but with the camera in the same position in both posts and lots of pics! It allows me to visualize doing something along the same lines or to see a single element that I can use.
Thanks for askin!
Posted by Janice | February 15, 2012 3:12 PM
Posted on February 15, 2012 15:12
I vote for #1. I love the "live action" blog. I tend to really feel like I know the blogger and get invested in what they are doing.
I also agree with one of the prior comments about the usefulness of seeing/understanding how much is really involved in something before doing it on my own. I think some blogs make it look so easy that when I try it and it is really hard or I just can't make it work as well I get really frustrated.
I have really appreciated your keeping it real and showing your before pics and the as is.
~Krista
Posted by Krista | February 15, 2012 8:49 PM
Posted on February 15, 2012 20:49
I think you should blog in the style YOU are comfortable in - maybe a mix of all. The projects are great, but it's the warmth your blog oozes (and that's a good ooze) that brings me back. It's that personal (or sort of person since we don't really know each other) connection. So....blog from your heart. Show us what you want. We'll keep coming back!
Posted by Sweet Bee Cottage | February 15, 2012 9:12 PM
Posted on February 15, 2012 21:12
I like the live-action stuff. I like knowing what you're working on, whether it's pretty in process or not. :)
Posted by Thirkellgirl | February 16, 2012 6:42 AM
Posted on February 16, 2012 06:42
Hi!
I like it better when the blogs don't fit in any categories! I like when it's about real life decoration... Even if I like a good eye candy picture every now and then, I find it boring when it's only that and not really inspiring... Who has a perfect house all the time? Who would like it anyway?
I've been reading your blog for a while because I find there exactly what I'm looking for!
Posted by Anonymous | February 17, 2012 1:02 AM
Posted on February 17, 2012 01:02
I'm not big into fluff posts . . . or filler posts . . . or however you want to call them. I think you should post about what you want to post about and what excites you. That translates better to the reader than making sure you are constantly posting something (anything) . . . I just unsubscribed from a bunch of blogs a few weeks ago because though I do like some of their content, they were starting to post way too much filler and I was done sifting through to find the "real" posts. Does that make sense?
Posted by Skooks | February 17, 2012 8:19 AM
Posted on February 17, 2012 08:19
I'm not sure which category it would be... I love to see the dramatic Before and After's in a single post. Maybe a follow up post or "pre-post" of the process and/or materials used.
Of course, that's probably why I'm not posting on my own blog very often...I can't seem to get a project finished! lol
Kimberly
Posted by Niesz Vintage Home | February 17, 2012 6:40 PM
Posted on February 17, 2012 18:40
I love it all but...when I am not always able to check in on blogs, it is nice to see the final reveal with before photos or process photos, with perhaps links back to your other posts leading up to the reveal. That way readers who may have not came by in awhile or are visiting for the first time get to see the big picture in one post...also more likely to be pinned or shared when all concise in one post. :)
Posted by Ashley Urke | Domestic Fashionista | March 13, 2012 8:47 PM
Posted on March 13, 2012 20:47
This really made me laugh and I am guilty of some of these too!
Posted by Cojocaru Anca-Valerica | May 6, 2012 6:50 AM
Posted on May 6, 2012 06:50