Followers

Following blogs is an integral part of blogging society, especially for those advertising or hosting giveaways. I think it is too much so. I hate insincerity, both from me and others. I recently decided to tidy up my reading list based on the following criteria:

Stopped following:

• Personal blogs: I believe personal blogs should be separate from giveaway, business, and other types of blogs. If I don't know you, I honestly don't care about what you did last weekend. If I do know you, I will put you on my blog list on my personal blog.
• Cluttered blogs: I hate blogs that have so much advertising, buttons, links, and photos, it takes forever to download, leave a comment, or navigate anywhere on the blog. If you freeze my computer, bye bye!
• Boring posts: I don't like every post to be photos of things you like. Every now and then with commentary is fine to learn your interests and discover new things. Nor do I care to read posts advertising every deal you find on the web. I want to read about your ideas.

Continued following:

• Homemaking blogs: I like blogs that teach me how to do something: easy crafts, yummy recipes, party ideas, etc.
• Informative blogs: I enjoy reading about new ideas on health, parenting, spirituality, saving money (including occasional good deals online), and the like. I want to come away from your blog feeling enlightened.
• Giveaways: Of course, I will follow a blog as a giveaway entry. Once the giveaway is over, however, it must meet the above criteria for me to keep following. The only exception is blogs that host giveaways everyday: it's just easier to stay a follower then undo and redo it every time I want to enter a giveaway.

With that clearly said, I'm sorry if you follow my blog but I stopped following yours. If you stop too, I will not be offended. I would rather have genuine followers than superficial ones; that's why I never make following my blog a mandatory giveaway entry but an optional one. And thank you to those who do follow me!

How do you determine which blogs to follow or not follow?