My Two Cents

Posted by Fresh | 11:15 AM | 8 comments »

I don't know how to properly set this entry off so I am just going to go in head first and put my personal thoughts and opinions out there. If you have a specific question that you would like to address that I didn't cover get at me in the comment section.

I have been saying that blogging has been getting old to me for a while now, so I can feel where Angel is coming from. I won't say that I know because her opinions/issues may be different from my own, but I do think I have an overall idea where she is coming from. Angel has been very helpful to me in the past on so many levels, so if you think that she isn't down with blogger unity I suggest you think again.

She has given me advice on a lot of things regarding running a site and I am thankful for that. I'm not going to act like I have all the answers about maintaining a blog, so if there is something I have a question about I ask. She would have been well within her rights not to help me out but she isn't like that. People like that are hard to find, both on and offline.

Angel and I have a great understanding about the black celebrity blog scene because we started off around the same time. She is more familiar with blogging since she has been doing it longer, but I believe that was moreso on the personal side of the fence. [If I am not mistaken]

During the time we created our black celebrity focused sites you could easily count on one hand the number of other sites doing the same thing. Literally! Back then the circle was a lot smaller, and that made it easy for us to network with one another and build relationships.

At the time we weren't in it for the money, we were in it for the love. I know that sounds cliche to some of you but that's the honest to God truth. I created my site because I love talking smack and sharing my opinions with my friends. I didn't start utlizing ads until I realized that it could be a business for me! At the time I was in between jobs and the only thing that kept me sane [I am a true Knowles at heart, a bitch must work!] was blogging about celebrity fuckery. It wasn't until I spoke with Felicia from SOHH.com that I realized what potential I had to take my style to the next level and get paid for it.

Back in 2005 things were a lot different. I'm not trying to say it was the land of milk and honey or no shit but it was a much more friendly atmosphere where all the attention was being focused on the reader.

As blogging started becoming more popular [read: people started making $$$] things started to shift, people started getting shady in an attempt to protect their own brand, and folks began to do a lot of foul shit to each other. I'm not going to pretend that I was always cool about things. There was another blogger that I felt was always taking pictures from me without giving credit, so I emailed them and we went back and fourth for a few correspondence. By the time we were done I realized that they meant me nor my site any harm and it was a big misunderstanding. After that I promised myself that instead of being defensive about things I would try to be more of a team player.

And that shit gets hard, I mean really hard. I don't want to put a big ass watermark on pictures but I have to just because a lot of sites do not give proper credit. I am a lazy blogger, so any extra work I have to do as far as messing around in photoshop works my nerves. I would much rather throw that shit up on the page and move along to the next topic, trust me. But I also come to realize that some bloggers don't understand the linking back process, so that's my way of familirizing that ass with it.

Unless they are waiting for another blogger to post pictures from the same event or have an incredible hook up, we pay for every single event picture/exclusive candid that is posted - - and its not cheap!

So again, I feel Angel's frustration. You want to know why I don't post certain shit and stay on the fuckery side of the fence? That would be it.

I am going to continue writing about what I think of smaller sites, etc in a couple of hours because I have work at C+D to do but I just wanted to voice my opinion. I'm not taking sides because I still don't know the whole story but I do feel like I can give a little light to the situation.

8 comments

  1. Hassana // April 14, 2009 11:59 AM  

    HOE IF YOU THOUGHT I READ ALL THAT ESSAY..

    i sure did. :|

    I miss blogging, but I'm glad Im missing all these shananigans, cause you know I dont got the patience for it!

  2. Fresh // April 14, 2009 12:02 PM  

    Hassana! Me love you long time, where the hell you been?

  3. Lil' Creole Pimp // April 14, 2009 1:01 PM  

    My nigga, if anybody feel ya. I feel ya.

    You may not know about me, but I too have/had/will not have in the future a blog.

    My blog is not like your blog, but it is inspired by your blog.

    It is not Beyonceitis, but it houses a lot of stolen merchandise from Beyonceitis.

    I tried to be different and not do what the fast bloggers do, but it's HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARD. People expect you to give 'em that New-New shit everyday. I be having shit to do.

    I can't be funny on cue. That shit just flow and when I sit down with intentions of being funny, I got nothing.

    I know this is bout as relevant as Cherri Dennis breathing, but I just wanted to state my claim and hit ya up.

    How's life? Brunch later? No? Okay, cool...

    Keep ya head up.

  4. n0days0ff // April 25, 2009 10:54 AM  

    Damn freshalina since when did you start being all vague. This was like a rick ross interview: I have no idea what we are talking about. Are you talking about angel from concrete loop? What happened? I just wanted to say I luvs your blog like shi shi loves cake

  5. Shelli // May 18, 2009 9:48 AM  

    Okay, I know you dont know me but In my head you are one of my best friends. C&D and you brighten up my life, my fam's, and my friends. So listen to your best friend, when I tell you dont give up! Hopefully me and your other mass followers will give you strength........ For my own selfish reasons of course lol.

  6. Daimon // May 20, 2009 6:41 AM  

    Freshalina,

    Just an old time reader here (Dame) saying Hi and congrats on all your success.

    Your (original) site has gotten me thru many bored afternoons I'd otherwise be picking cuticles in my cubicle.


    I like that I can actually expect you to read my comment here, on this less popularized (more personal?) blog?

    Oh, and your cousins look my cousins, 'cept we got some lite skinted ones up in the mix too.

    Much love.. Oh, I'm back in the A and a daddy/hubby btw.

    Hit me up via email if possible. Maybe you need an in the A correspondent. You know our people are entreprenurial!

    And why did you have me telling all kinda folks that that man's name was really Gaymon?! Dead.

  7. Dede // June 3, 2009 2:57 PM  

    Fresh,

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have been trying (off and on for the last 3 years) to build a blog AND to have people to read it. It is easy for readers to assume the work of a blogger is easy, but I have found it to be very hard, especially since I am not focusing on celebrity gossip.

    It is amazing how you have built your own business based upon what you love and I hope to be able to reach that level of success that you have reached today.

  8. Invisible Woman // August 26, 2009 12:58 AM  

    great post---i get tired of blogging sometimes, but i always come back when someone gives me an award, or emails me about how much they like my blog....i do it for the readers like you said, they give me love and i want to give it back.

    you are one of the funniest bloggers out there---maybe you should slow down, but don't give it up :-)

    glad i found this blog--wasn't aware of it...found it through someone on twitter