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THE BUBBLY BLOG IS BOILING

by Norma Thomas on 03/30/12

I know, as you do, some people simply weren't raised with manners. It's sad, but true. It's not limited to the "new" generation. There are folks my age, older and younger, that have no comprehension of courtesy let alone common sense.

As it pertains to Twitter and this website, I want to be perfectly clear on a few things:

1. There are people I "follow" on Twitter and some that "follow" me that I simply adore! They are kind, gracious, talented, funny "tweeps" that are utilizing the social network to try and promote their businesses and products. I admire and salute that and do it myself.

2. Many of the "tweeps" I have been fortunate to meet on Twitter have links to their various businesses or products on this website.

3. This is where I need to be perfectly clear: I make those choices. Just because someone chooses to follow me on twitter does not automatically "entitle" them to a link on this website. My taking the time to tweak and develop a graphic for the link and my including a link from this website does not mean it will stay here. I can remove the link even more easily than I created it.

I have been sent a few messages in the last few days from a couple of Tweeters demanding I place a link to their site from mine. Suffice to say, the fact that you would send this message pretty clearly explains why you weren't offered or provided a link in the first place.

I'm not the most popular website on the internet . . . yet (LOL), but I receive a minimum of 100 hits a week. Not blazing a virtual trail, but I can't afford a search engine ad campaign, so I'm quite proud of the growth. As the website reaches more and more people, I want it to be truly representative of who I am as a soap maker, as a crafter and as a person. Before I place a link on this site, I keep in mind that the link is, to a degree, a reflection on who I am because including it was, as previously state, my choice.

Which brings me to my last "grievance". I have been questioned about the wisdom of putting links to other soap maker's soaps on this website. It has been implied that I'm not terribly bright to be including links to the site of the "competition". I don't see these folks as "competition" . . . and, no, that's not a dismissal of their abilities . . . quite the contrary. Each of these talented soap makers is an artisan in their own right with something unique to offer soap making. I think those that visit this website should be afforded the opportunity of introduction to their skills and products.

Though I am giving serious consideration to running limited order offers for actual soap production, I am not currently selling soap on my website. Most of the soap makers represented on this website are. I want the visitors to this website to visit them as well.

Finally, placing a link to a site from this website is a gift I am happy and humbled to offer my Twitter friends. That said, should someone prove to be a "fair weather" friend that sticks around just long enough to get the link, I double check and cross reference the links a couple of times a month. If they cease following me on twitter, the link gets pulled and stored until such time the reconnect on twitter or until I delete the graphic.

I love my Twitter friends and do whatever I can, with my rather limited resources, to promote them because they have illustrated, to me, time and time again that they are more than deserving. That's why they are represented here. And that is the standard by which all links on this website will be determined.

Down, now, to a simmer. LOL

Norma

Comments (3)

1. Ken said on 3/30/12 - 02:51PM

Hello Norma, When I read this, I thought to myself I completely agree with you on all points made and I feel your frustration. Then I checked and noticed that I was one of the culprits who had unfollowed you. That was a mistake on my part and I can assure you it wasn't on purpose :) Hopefully you're not too upset with me and although having a link to our site from your blog is extremely generous of you, it is not a prerequisite of our connection on twitter, and I was in no way taking advantage of you for that. As for the people demanding links, well as you said, they have shown their true colours. I apologise Norma...please forgive me :)

2. A Joyful Creation said on 3/30/12 - 06:42PM

Thank you for the very nice thing you have said here and thank you for including my site here! : )

3. Graphic Allusions said on 3/31/12 - 07:43PM

Hi Norma! It's me, GA from Twitter, nickname 'Adrella' (real name Cheryl, btw hope I haven't totally confused now, ha ha :) Anyway, I agree ABSOLUTELY with what you wrote! To have someone else retweet/link/help promote you etc. is a PRIVILEGE - not a right. I too, have people who contact me and ask that I link/retweet etc. in exchange. Fair enough to a certain extent, but their manner sometimes irks me a bit. I feel like saying to people if you retweet me, you don't have to ask/demand I do it in return, because I will generally just DO IT (apologies to Nike ha ha). I feel it's a courtesy, not a right. You are one of the most generous people I've met via Twitter, so keep on being you, and all the pushy people can go to...(er..promote themselves.) :-)

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1.	Ken said on 3/30/12 - 02:51PM
	Hello Norma, When I read this, I thought to myself I completely agree with you on all points made and I feel your frustration. Then I checked and noticed that I was one of the culprits who had unfollowed you. That was a mistake on my part and I can assure you it wasn't on purpose :) Hopefully you're not too upset with me and although having a link to our site from your blog is extremely generous of you, it is not a prerequisite of our connection on twitter, and I was in no way taking advantage of you for that. As for the people demanding links, well as you said, they have shown their true colours. I apologise Norma...please forgive me :)
2.	A Joyful Creation said on 3/30/12 - 06:42PM
	Thank you for the very nice thing you have said here and thank you for including my site here! : )
3.	Graphic Allusions said on 3/31/12 - 07:43PM
	Hi Norma! It's me, GA from Twitter, nickname 'Adrella' (real name Cheryl, btw hope I haven't totally confused now, ha ha :) Anyway, I agree ABSOLUTELY with what you wrote! To have someone else retweet/link/help promote you etc. is a PRIVILEGE - not a right. I too, have people who contact me and ask that I link/retweet etc. in exchange. Fair enough to a certain extent, but their manner sometimes irks me a bit. I feel like saying to people if you retweet me, you don't have to ask/demand I do it in return, because I will generally just DO IT (apologies to Nike ha ha). I feel it's a courtesy, not a right. You are one of the most generous people I've met via Twitter, so keep on being you, and all the pushy people can go to...(er..promote themselves.) :-)