I don’t find writing for my Red Bubble journal particularly compelling. It seems to serve little or no purpose except for that brief moment of glory in seeing your latest post listed on the Red Bubble home page.
Which is a frustrating moment. Your carefully crafted essay is bumped off the list by several people who all made mundane, one sentence entries that failed to challenge or even record any kind of thought provoking observation. Fleeting, minimal, throw away comments.
For a short time, whilst you’re on the home page, your post may attract comments. Grateful though I am to those of you who have. There is nothing to notify you of receiving a response so you may check back in – if you remember. If you’re up for continuing the discussion.
The Red Bubble journal page seems to serve no purpose unless I use it to write about the art that I have uploaded. Then, maybe, it can provide further information. However the description, included along side the artwork, is more than adequate for this so the idea seems redundant.
Perhaps sharing more of myself makes me seem more human but who really factors in the quality of writing in an online journal when making an art print purchase? Do buyers even read these journals or is it just a lot of navel gazing by us creative types? ... oh look a bit of fluff!
Perhaps these entries are for the joy of writing or for recording your work in progress? I’m sure there are any number of possibilities. I already have a blog for my joy of writing. I already have a blog for my work in progress. I have several other neglected blogs that contain a few gems of writing (if I do say so myself).
I don’t find the Red Bubble Journal compelling. There’s little to set it apart. It needs more work. More features. More to encourage reading, communication, interactivity.
What about a list of my 5 previous entries in a side bar? What about an additional list of 5-10 related entries by other writers in a side bar (lets get those tags working)? What about notifying people via email or on their profile when a journal entry they’ve commented upon receives a comment? What about being able to respond to a journal entry with a journal entry of your own?
So maybe Red Bubble isn’t really for writers…maybe it’s more about the art. Selling prints. Well why not add similar features there? Imagine looking at an image and seeing five more related image thumbnails in the side bar?
There is so much more that could be done to make this site extraordinary. There’s so much more that could…no would…bring this community closer together.
Bridget a'Beckett, about 1 year ago
Thanks for the suggestions etourist. I agree with you that it is frustrating that all these great thoughts disappear so quickly off the home page. Rest assured we’re working on it!
In the meantime, there will be an ‘activity log’ coming out in April that will notify you of comments, sales etc.
Pilgrim
,
about 1 year ago
Agree with you completely on all points (frightening really) – esp as I am more writeerly. Lots of work to be done and I can assure you everybody is very busy. I think the April release will help somewhat with the activity monitor and also a capability to add journal entry’s to your favorites (for reading later etc). You will also be able to share them more easily via email.
We are committed to keeping the balance between writers of short works and the image related stuff. I also agree it would be nice to separate the more “twitter” like comments from the more serious written works. Havent yet got a full plan to do this but addition of groups and messaage boards (about May) will help separate things a little
Xavier Russo, about 1 year ago
Thanks for your very considered feedback, etourist. Some great suggestions there that we will take onboard, and some that are already in the works (as per comments above). It’s early days yet, but we are keen to make RedBubble an extraordinary place for creative people.
Also, I think it’s worth noting that the journal plays different roles for different people. As a diverse community, RedBubble includes a range of artists, writers and interested onlookers. Those with visual content to display can use the journal as a blog, or to promote an exhibition, or just share their thoughts and experiences. The many writers on the site often use it to publish short stories or poetry. And we shouldn’t forget that the journal gives a voice to people who don’t (yet?) have content to upload but still play the very valuable community roles of audience, commentator and customer.
etourist, about 1 year ago
Thanks for the comments on my thoughts.
I do think Red Bubble has made a compelling start up and I have read about the updates coming in April. At this point I feel I’ve discovered the site a little too early but I’m trying to keep interested in it because I think it has the potential to be the best site of it’s kind.
I’m hoping you’ll steer clear of becoming more like an artwanted.com and perhaps take some inspiration from sites like youtube.com and helium.com which have both mastered the art of delivering their core concept in a way that encourages further user generated content.
Tags are a very powerful thing. You could easily (well relatively easily) serve up images that relate to the theme of a journal entry. That could prime people to being more likely to make a purchase perhaps?
I really should stop now…it’s far too easy to imagine and quite another thing to implement. Great job so far though. Looking forward to April.
AnnH, about 1 year ago
I have been with RB from the beginning and have only ever belonged to the audience commentator, purchaser category and have followed etourist’s thoughts along the way. I guess that is one of the problems or advantages. One never knows who is reading and being influenced by one’s thoughts. But then that is life!!! You may only discover years later that something you said, did or wrote has had a (hopefully) positive influence on another. Our ego wnats to be noticed NOW.Forget that. Go on thinking, saying and doing what is right even if it is never noticed, (I think the Buddah had four noble truths of which these may be three). Etourist from the responses from the management team I think that you are making a very positive and creative contribution to the success of RB and agree with this journal entry. I love your cats. You live in a beautiful part of the world.
etourist, about 1 year ago
Thanks Ann about my cats… I certainly appreciate the management team taking the time to notice my words (as well as yourself of course) and put forward their thoughts. It is one thing to be a Dreamer and quite another being the person who must attempt to realize the dream.
I have noticed lots of suggestions being made across the site…over time this site will evolve I’m sure. It’s not just our ego’s that want to be noticed NOW …but also we just want everything NOW.
Patience….grasshopper ;-)