Atlanta Content Creator Inspiring [life] style

Monday, October 23, 2017

Direct Messages

So glad you all liked my gold top from last week. I hope someone was lucky enough to get their hands on it before it sold out. The night before my friend's wedding, he and his bride-to-be hosted some friends and family for a cocktail get together. Obviously, I needed something to wear to that, too, and Shopbop came through once again. This Keepsake messages top was actually what I was going to wear to the wedding if the gold top didn't get to me in time. What I love so much about it is the flared silhouette and the uneven peplum hem. And remember the velvet backless flats I bought during NYFW to keep my feet comfy? Well, I brought them with me to Miami to wear with this look, too.

In non-outfit news, this week I made the decision to leave my last two comment pod groups on Instagram. If you're not familiar with this -- a comment pod is where a group of like-minded Instagram accounts come together (in an Instagram DM) and share their posts. These were created once Instagram changed from being chronological so that we could still see each other's posts even when they didn't show up on our feeds. We would like and comment on posts that were shared via direct messages, aka, pods.

So I left my last comment pods for various reasons.

To be honest, I never wanted to join a comment pod in the first place. I never wanted Instagram to change its algorithm and virtually force my hand to join comment pods. I wish every day that Instagram would go back to the way it was, but that wasn't happening so I joined a few comment pods. It was the typical adapt or die situation. And don't get me wrong, I'm happy I joined a few comment pods because they really helped during all the Instagram algorithm changes, and most importantly, I was able to truly engage and get to know some like-minded bloggers. But after being in the pods for so long, I was simply feeling drained by them. I never like when blogging becomes a chore, and comment pods were starting to become a chore.

There were times when people would drop their photos without first catching up; there were times when people would drop three photos a day; there were times when I simply didn't feel like I had a good comment to leave on someone's photo, but I had to comment anyway because them's the rules. Basically, I didn't want to feel forced anymore, and I wasn't sure if being in a comment pod was helping engagement like it used to in the beginning. So I made sure I was following everyone in the comment pods and then I removed myself from the DMs.

This will be my first week in many without being in a comment pod. I don't yet know for sure how this decision will affect my engagement, but I had to do this for my sanity and hope for the best. If blogging (and all the social media that comes with it) is all work and no play, then what's the point? What are your thoughts on comment pods?
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26 comments

  1. I've never heard of comment pods before. It definitely sounds like a lot of work and something I would not be interested in.

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  2. I so love this look and your shoes are adorable. When it comes to IG I do it the hard way, it may take longer to grow and engagement is hard but I can only say something nice if I have something nice to say so comment pods are a hassle. I think it's fine with like 5-8 bloggers that I personally love but anything bigger than that is a no.

    xo
    Pinksole

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  3. That top and those shoes are pure perfection!

    xoxo Christie
    http://www.icanstyleu.com/blog/

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  4. I couldn't agree with you more. I left ALL of them 2 months back and these two have been so much better without "having" to say something even when I didn't want to ... in other news you already know I love this outfit. Comfy shoes are the best shoes. Hands down!

    ❥ tanvii.com

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  5. Cool outfit! I love the colors and how it fits on you. I have never heard of comment pods before, unfortunately, as I don't have an Instagram account. But they seem like a lot of work! I don't blame you for quitting them.

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  6. That top has such a unique style. Looks amazing though. I may be a little old for that kind of blouse, but I just would want to say that you look gorgeous in it! Those shoes are to die for too!

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  7. I'm not in IG that much .... so I have no idea what these comment pods are. But if it feels like work I can see why you'd leap out of there.
    Oh and your top, it's a work of art.

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  8. This top is just fab, Cheryl! Love this one too:) And yeah...as for IG, I gave that up a loooooong time ago so I can't even comment really on what's going on there:(

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  9. This top would've worked wonderfully for the wedding as well. I've been asked to join a few comment pods for IG and from the account of your experience I'm really glad I I haven't.

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    1. I just want to clarify that comment pods aren't a bad thing. I enjoyed being in them and I met a lot of great bloggers from being in them. Just after a while they didn't seem worth it anymore.

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  10. Very cute shoes and that was a good decision you made. When blogging, social networking or jobs become a chore and not as enjoyable as it ought to be, then there is need to make changes. I decided to take a break from active blogging for the same reason and I'm really enjoying the break. Hopefully, I get back to it again because blogging can be fun when it is not a chore.
    Happy Monday.

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  11. Love the top and shoes! I've never joined a comment pod because I know I don't have the time to do all of the commenting.

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  12. I can't say no to anything with frills. You wore this statement top so well!

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

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  13. I am in three comment pods and I only like one of them. This good group is supportive, amazing and all of the girls in the pod have amazing style and their feeds are great, so commenting doesn't feel like a chore. The other two pods are CHORES. The people do all things you mention: drop their pics in a million times a day, won't catch up and some of the accounts are frankly - terrible. I'm not comfortable commenting on their pics.

    I have been thinking of leaving these two pods now for a while. Let me know how your engagement goes. If it works out well, I think I might leave those two terrible pods as well!

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    1. It's been one day, but so far so good. I think you should remove yourself from the two that are a chore and just stay in the one good one. :)

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  14. I joined my first comment pod a few weeks ago. Thankfully I like all the bloggers in the pod but I agree that being forced to comment is becoming a chore. What I changed though is to ask a question on the caption to make commenting easier and that made my regular followers comment as well.

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  15. This top is gorgeous on your girl. Comment pods are definitely a touchy one but I'm glad you're writing about it!

    xx, mel
    http://melinspired.com/inspired-tokyo-4-lessons-learned-travel-editorial/

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  16. Ughhhh, INSTAGRAM. I'm with you- I wish things would go back to the way they were before the algorithm jacked everything up. There are bloggers I've followed for years who I have to periodically go and hunt for via search and then catch up on their posts because they aren't in my feed anymore. Suuuuuper obnoxious.

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

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  17. That top is really interesting.

    I didn't know about comment pods but it seems like something I would grow tired of doing too.

    Joy to the World

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  18. I love, love this top on You. Comment pods? First time hearing about them here.
    http://www.madamtoomuch.com

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  19. I have heard of them and recently joined one. I have chaos at home so it's hard for me to commit to a lot of time on social media. it's also cool when it doesn't go both ways. But I do always try to like and comment on the photos of blog buddies ;)

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  20. I agree with you in that pods can be good and I've meet some amazing bloggers through them, but recently left one as well. I don't like that social platforms are changing so much with algorithms, seems like a game. Your top is great! Blogging or social media should never feel like a chore--that's when I step back and take a break haha.
    FASHION TALES

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  21. Aw man, I just joined a comment pod, I don't know if it's started yet but I'm in facebook follow for follow threads and it's so draining, I know the people who follow don't really care about my blog and such.I miss the old instagram too, not just as a blogger as a user, I want to see posts in order especially time sensitive posts it doesn't make sense!

    Second loving this top, it's so fab!


    ZoeVogue

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  22. Comment pods? What are they? Oh well you got an amazing pair of shoe. Looks lovely.

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  23. You look so fabulous! I love your top and your smile is so beautiful. Glad I found your blog... I'm following you now :-)

    Edwige | http://www.hypnozglam.com

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  24. Never even heard of comment pods. This top you have on is so gorge!

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♥ Thank you all for leaving your comments! ♥ Remember to find inspiration in everything! ♥

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