I’ve been blogging for more than 10 years now and have seen a lot of changes in what works and what doesn’t for the medium. One thing I’ve noticed lately, perhaps you have too, is that it seems like more content is being shared beyond blogs than on the actual blogs. Meaning, social media channels have become the primary place for posting, blogs secondary. Which is the opposite of the earlier days of blogging, wherein a post would be published on a blog then promoted on social media.

I suppose that’s because far more people use social media — Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter — than visit blogs. So savvy bloggers (and bigger media) focus more on social media, with social media posts that seem to me more like blog posts of the past: lengthy, stand-alone pieces that tell the whole story, whatever the story (or sales pitch, for sponsored posts) may be.

In my effort to be like the popular kids, I mean, the savvy bloggers, I’ve tested out longer social media posts for the past couple review things I’ve done. For example, this kinda-sorta review of Halloween books from Candlewick for kids, which I published on Instagram (then automatically to my Grandma’s Briefs Facebook page followed by a condensed version on Twitter):

View this post on Instagram

Scary stories for the season: Collection of cute, clever, and creepy kid books from Candlewick. 🎃 Check out these ghoulishly good reads for kids. Scroll through pics for a #1stPagePeek of each (descriptions via @candlewickpress): 👻 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 (𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙀𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚-𝙤𝙣-𝙎𝙚𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨) By Thomas Taylor, illustrated by Tom Booth Ages 8 to 12 It’s winter in the town of Eerie-on-Sea, where the mist is thick and the salt spray is rattling the windows of the Grand Nautilus Hotel. Inside, young Herbert Lemon, Lost and Founder for the hotel, has an unexpected visitor. This lighthearted, fantastical mystery, featuring black-and-white spot illustrations, kicks off a trilogy of fantasies set in the seaside town. 🎃 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙖 𝙋𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙠𝙞𝙣 By Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis Ages 3 to 7 The creators of Pick a Pine Tree are back with a joyful, energetic celebration of a Halloween tradition. 👻 𝙅𝙤𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙣’𝙨 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙩 By David Almond, illustrated by Dave McKean Ages 12 and up There’s a poltergeist in Joe Quinn’s house, and Davie is determined to discover its source in this lively, hopeful graphic storybook. 🎃 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙈𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 By Kim Norman, illustrated by Bob Kolar Ages 4 to 8 A silly pirate skeleton seeks to put its bones back together in this rhyming romp beneath the waves. 👻 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙨𝙩 By Amy Rose Capetta Ages 14 and up The spellbinding tale of six queer witches forging their own paths, shrouded in the mist, magic, and secrets of the ancient California redwoods. 🎃 #picturebooks #halloweenbooks #booksforkids #halloweenstories #scarybooksforkids #candlewick #candlewickpress #malamander #pickapumpkin #joequinnspoltergeist #givemebackmybones #thelostcoast #books #bookstagram #sp

A post shared by Lisa Carpenter (@grandmasbriefs) on Oct 25, 2019 at 1:05pm PDT

To be honest, the savvy bloggers and bigger media may be on to something. At least in terms of Instagram, where that post got far more likes and comments than I’ve gotten on review blog posts in a while.

I don’t know, though. My blog still feels like home base to me, with social media channels my second choice for posting.

What about you, fellow grandparent bloggers? Do you agree? Let me know in the comments what your experience (and practice) has been lately regarding blog posts versus social media posts. I’d love to compare notes.