1.02.2015

How to Be a Better Blogger

I had another another post in mind for today, but when I sat down to write it, this is what came out. As I read through everyone's resolutions or goals for the year, a lot of them mentioned their blogs: growing the blog, making blog money, getting traffic, and so on. I also saw lots of posts on how to do those things. And that got me to thinking--what if we could be better bloggers first?

via my Instagram


fall in love with blogging, not just the paycheck/freebies
This is a big one! We all have different reasons for starting a blog--to help people, to find friends with similar interests in your hobby, to showcase your talents, to share your life, to make money, etc. And nothing is wrong with having any of these as a motivation, but once you start writing just for the money or just for the free stuff, you'll become burnt out and start to resent it. I've seen it, y'all. Despite what family and friends may think (personal experience) blogging is hard work and does take a crazy amount of time. Sometimes the business part gets in the way of the creative. Don't forget how fun blogging is.

it's ok to like different types of blogs
My biggest blogging struggle I have is proving that my blog is for everyone, not just makeup fanatics like myself. I read all types of blogs. I'm not a cook, but I read food blogs. I don't have kids, but I read mommy blogs. I read style blogs, wedding blogs, daddy blogs, fitness blogs, house repairing blogs--all are out of my genre and my interests. And you know what? I've learned stuff from them! It's ok to like different types of blogs. Step out of your faves zone and see what's out there.

quality, not quantity--content is king
When blogging first started, it was more like a diary. You posted when you had something to say. But any blog, blog conference, or book will tell you to post often--like 5 days a week. That's what works for me (I personally would post twice if I had the audience) but since becoming sick these past few months, it's slowed me down, and I couldn't post every day. It's made me focus on quality content.

Really good content used to be the focus of blogs, before numbers, followers, and views came into the picture. I see a rebirth of blogs with content once again becoming the focus.

write for you, your blog, your audience, not for pinterest
Majority of my views are from Pinterest--I'm guessing that is the same for many of us. I've caught myself more than once creating a post just because I knew it would "pin" well. I'm tired of seeing "clickbait" posts--you know what I'm talking about: THE BEST this, THE BEST that, knowing good and well that post was just created for traffic. You can't build an audience that way, and it's one of the things that is killing blogging and the integrity of blogs. Pinterest is amazing for traffic, but not for building an audience. I want an audience.

be original
Nothing is worse than stealing another blogger's ideas or content. If you do use that post as inspiration, fully credit them on that. I get that certain topics are going to be covered by many, but how can you put your own spin on it? Make it your own?

"comparison is the thief of joy"
I'm so guilty of this. Are you? Why did she get that sponsorship? Why didn't I get asked to participate in that giveaway? Why does she have more followers? Why don't I have more views? Honey, I've even had girls ask me why I got something and they didn't! The simple answer to the these questions is: because. Because. That's it. You didn't and they did. Holding onto that comparison turns into jealousy and maybe even hatred. Take a deep breath, keep your head down and focused on you and your blog. It'll happen.

Earlier I talked about getting burnt out--focusing on comparing your blog to others will do that. It's so easy to get caught up in "the game." Don't let that happen to you. You're awesome and so is your blog.

it's ok to take a break
Sometimes I feel like I'm writing 6 blogs. I've got to have links to articles for Facebook. I respond to questions on Twitter. Is this pic Instagram-worthy? Does it have text on it? Viewers hate text on a photo on Instagram, but love it on Pinterest. I'm always behind 200 emails. I've got blogs to visit and comment on! And don't forget my Youtube channel! I'm exhausted just talking about it. I feel like I have a million things at once. It's ok to take a break and to not do all the things all the time. Take a social media break. Taking a blogging break. You got this.

Become a better blogger, and you'll have a better blog.
Thanks for reading.

73 comments:

  1. Really cute mug! i like your tips and encouragement to take a break sometimes. It can become overwhelming keeping up with it all!!

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  2. Awesome post, Elle! While I'm not after monetizing my blog, I firmly believe that we can all be better bloggers. Thanks for the great advice!

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  3. Great post, Elle! I loved reading your tips. I'm excited that this year my goals are much more centered around being a better blogger(and human). I do have goals to try new things, stretch myself, and work harder, but with the purpose of growing myself above just growing my blog (not that I don't want that too). Thanks for sharing!

    xo, Mae

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  4. Totally agree with every one of your points. I also am guilty of comparing myself, something that I need to work on more, it really does ruin the fun of blogging when you compare yourself to others and get upset when you aren't doing as well as them. I just have to sometimes remind myself to take a step back and remember that my blog is MINE, it's unique. Thanks for sharing this Elle :)
    It'sMyLife

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  5. Sometimes the best posts are the ones you churn out unexpectedly - I LOVE this post, girlfriend. It's so honest and gives such amazing pointers! I think it's human nature to be comparative, but it's so true that we need to do much less of that and just take blogging for what it is. I'm definitely going to work harder this year on just being happy for myself and for others - even with blogging! Awesome post, beautiful! xo

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  6. I was just explaining to my family over Christmas some of the behind the scenes stuff. My cousin said "So there really is a business side to it, huh?" Some people have no idea how much it takes! Heck, I didn't even know! I agree with all of your tips...especially the break. Sometimes, you just have to step away!

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  7. You give great advice here! I totally agree with your advice regarding quality and quantity. A better written post is always better than a million silly posts.

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  8. love this post girly. i dont get paychecks or freebies so i really love doing this for the sake of doing it. and very true about quality vs quantity. i don't know if my stuff is actually quality but i feel better about it when i'm not posting 5 days a week, i just can't keep up. and all i do is write - you post videos and all sorts of fancy things. kudos to you my dear.

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  9. I completely agree about not just doing it to get paid or freebies, it's ridiculous. I love being a diverse blog as well! I do make-up reviews but I also do film, books and serious topics in life so I agree with you. :) Great post :)

    Anything & Everything

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  10. This is such a good post Elle, and it really echoes what is on my mind as well. I definitely struggle with comparison and time management, and I put so much pressure on myself. And I agree 100% with liking different kinds of blogs--I like to read a variety because I love learning about all kinds of different things. Great advice, as usual!

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  11. Smart words. I try to heed your wise advice, even when it costs me readers. Some of my diverse content doesn't appeal to my average viewer and I need to remind myself I'm blogging for me, not them. Plus, since there's no money or freebies involved for me, there's no reason to post anything except what I want. Blogging is an invaluable forum for self-expression and that's what I use it for, even if nobody else is listening.

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  12. Great post! And I love that photo :)

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  13. Great tips! Here's to a great 2015!

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  14. I totally agree with posts that you know are just for pinterest clicks. Blogging can take up so much time and overwhelms me a lot but in the end I do love it, and the connections to awesome people like you.

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  15. Great advice... sadly or maybe not... I don't focus on half of the stuff you mentioned nearly enough. I just write what I feel like writing. But the comparison thing gets me. I have to learn to stop that!!

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  16. Love this post. Blog break are a must. I took a few myself last year. I hope you have a great weekend

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  17. I love all of this advice!! It's so true that you can see a blog selling out when they get caught up in the followers. I too want an audience and strive to be authentic and write from my heart. IN the end I know I'll never make a living by blogging and I am totally ok with it

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  18. Had to life at the idea of having multiple blogs because of all the social media! It's overwhelming sometimes and I agree, breaks are good!!

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  19. This is one of your best post, Elle, very well written and articulate. I especially agree with 'Quality over Quantity', I've seen a few bloggers who kept churning out posts after posts and the writing is just not quite there. These are great advise, something that every blogger should take note of.

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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  20. These are great tips! We have never made money from our blog and have always just blogged for fun and not for sponsorships or freebies, so a lot of that doesn't apply to us. But the comparison thing is definitely hard, especially with Instagram and the other social media out there. It can be tough to just not care and realize that the number of followers and "likes" really doesn't matter. It is not reflective of you as a person and how great you are in real life. But it still gets to me sometimes! Great post! We love you and your blog and it is clear all the hard work you put into it!

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  21. I follow many different types of blogs and I'm so glad I do! I've noticed that when there's a blog I'm constantly visiting it's because it doesn't focus on one particular topic. I like a healthy mix. (:

    www.accordingtokiki123.blogspot.com

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  22. I love these Elle. One of my big goals is to grow my blog and a lot of these points hit home for me.

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  23. I love these tips! You are so right! When people start writing and posting just for the free things/money the content becomes redundant. I am never sure if they are showcasing their own opinion/style or just have to wear it/use it because they got it for free. I try to keep all that in mind when I do sponsored posts, too.

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  24. What a great post and reminder. Blogging is a ton of work - ask my husband who complains on occasion! At any rate - thanks for the great reminders as we kick off the year!

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  25. so interesting post...thanks for sharing
    kisses

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  26. I totally agree! My own blogging resolutions have more to do with being a better blogger and not a lot to do with numbers or a paycheck. Personally, I don't mind when other bloggers do sponsored posts, but usually the subjects aren't that interesting to me. That has really made me think about if that's something I want to do or not. Great post, Elle!

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  27. Great post! Especially the comparison part, it can be discouraging!

    www.behindtheleopardglasses.com

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  28. Lovely post, Elle! These are all amazing pieces of advice for bloggers!! I've often thought about using pinterest for my blog, but I decided against it because I like to make friends with my readers! I don't think pinterest would help with thatl lol!

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  29. Great post Elle! Comparison really is the theif of joy which is why I think it's important to REALLY love blogging. Happy New Year!

    Shannon
    Clothes & Quotes

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  30. I really appreciate this post. Thank you for this!

    http://jordan-fawn.blogspot.com

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  31. Wonderful advice! It's so easy to get stuck in the comparison trap, but it really is the thief of joy.

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  32. i love reading all types of blogs, especially running blogs...it's a nice break from the norm.

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  33. Great post, I agree with all your statements:)

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  34. I feel the same way about getting tired of posts that were made for Pinterest. I am pretty sure it is clear that my posts are so not Pinterest worthy 98% of the time and I am totally fine with that. It becomes too exhausting to worry about making everything pinnable! I am with you on trying to just keep up with good content, commenting, responding to comments, etc. Its a lot of work and if I had anything else to worry about, I would probably get burned out. Blogging is fun for me but its not my job and I dont let it become a chore.

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  35. What a great post Elle. I'm always trying to figure out why I don't have as much traffic as other bloggers or why I don't have as many followers. I love blogging and so glad I stuck with it.

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  36. Fantastic post, Elle! I know just how you feel sometimes-- there are days when there is just too much! I burned out on sponsored content and stopped taking it on this year.

    I'm hoping to do a lot of things differently in 2015... we'll see. Happy New Year!

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  37. Great post! I am not sure where my blog will go this year, but I do enjoy the whole process. Even though it doesn't make money or lead to freebees, I love reading different types of blogs and learning new things!

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  38. Such a lovely & well written post ... u inspired me in some way... I know what to do now :)

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  39. Brilliant post, You rocked it Elle :):D

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  40. Oh, how does blogging work through Pinterest? I've never heard of this before. I think it's really important to blog because you love it :)

    Heather x
    http://heatherrrrm.blogspot.co.uk/

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  41. If you haven't got an audience, who does?! I mean, Elle, your blog is simply amazing. I'm admitting I feel some kind of burnout here because I feel that things aren't taking off as quick as they should and then I start thinking maybe I'm just doing it wrong and I get really confused. It's so upsetting :S

    http://taleofthegreat.com

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  42. What a great post. Luckily, I'm doing most of these! Also, you should know that I don't really follow beauty blogs, just yours!

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  43. So very true! Too many realize blogging is the new "in thing" to do and to possibly get freebies out of it, but that will show quickly in the quality. Great post!

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  44. This is a great post. You really have some great points here that 95% of us bloggers can relate to. Thank you for writing this!

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  45. 1) I love your mug

    2) I love your blogging philosophy. Yes, I would eventually love to monetize my blog, but that's not WHY I blog. I blog because I love to write, because I want to share the sort of advice I needed but couldn't find when I was younger, because I want to teach feminism to others, because I want to inspire! All of that is less important than one day making money.

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  46. Love & totally agree with this post. I come across so many blogs that are almost exact replicas of other blogs. My wish is that bloggers won't leave their personality and voice at the door - hearing someone's "self" come through in their posts is what draws me in and keeps me interested in what that person has to say. :)

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  47. Oh, Elle, I loved this post! Yes, I tale breaks sometimes, yes I write for myself as a diary and yes, I also see comparisons. It's outrageous that someone asked you why you got something and they didn't! I also know about bloggers who compete and feel like that "she got and I didn't". It's a competitive world, but that's it! Lovely post!!!!

    DenisesPlanet.com

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  48. Such a great post, Elle! I like your point about not creating solely for Pinterest. Just this AM I was reading some "tips" on growing traffic and the author was really hammering on the importance of crafting and scheduling with Pinterest. It made me a little self-conscious of how little time I spend doing this. I still think I'll try to get better about posting my blog posts there, but I won't stress about it so much!!!

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  49. I agree with pretty much everything, Elle. And I hope this year, including blog year, will go exactly as you would like it to be. And I sincerely hope you feel well and healthy x

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  50. Great post Elle and I agree with the points you've made!
    xoMadiha

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  51. Love this list. I agree, especially with the Pinterest part. I am loving the traffic I get from there but then realize it's just because they liked an image and not the post itself. So I am writing to write for myself and my audience rather than for the pins and traffic I might get. :)

    Happy 2015!!!

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  52. Elle this is a great post. And I think it's so true. I've never been interested in any money or freebies but for those who are, this is great. One interesting thing that has happened though is that I've lost so many of my commenters. My friend said it's because more and more people are using mobile devices to view social media and the technology to comment through mobile devices is not up to par. Interesting. The other interesting thing is that more than half the blogs I follow have stopped blogging. I guess they've gone to other social media? I't's all very interesting. I'm not even sure what you mean when you say you get a like from Pinterest is this on your blog? I'm so nerdy Elle, I know nothing!!! But I love my blog. And I will always have it. By the way can you refer me to someone who can help me redesign it? And someone who is reasonable? Always love reading your blog, Happy New Year,

    Shauna xoxoxoxxo

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  53. Love this so much! it's definitely okay to take a break from blogging... it really can get stressful sometimes. I like reading a lot of different blogs too :) that's awesome that you get a lot of traffic from pinterest! I'm hoping to start using pinterest more so I can get some traffic from there... right now most of my traffic comes from twitter and bloglovin!

    Jessica
    the.pyreflies.org

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  54. wow this is helpful! thank you darling and happy new year :) xx

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  55. I found myself nodding along with all of these. Here's to becoming better in 2015!

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  56. Great advice, as always! I've been a little naggy on myself lately because I have neither been inspired nor ready to take a full on break... I reconfigured and decided to just go for something I knew would reignite my excitement even though it means basically learning how to blog in a whole new direction... daunting, especially when you have an audience but I think it'll be worth it. Anyhoo... so much of what you've written here resonates, like, RIGHT NOW... Nappy New Year to you and YES, here's to a remarkable 2015!!

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  57. You made some really great points! I've had my eye on that mug for a while haha!

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  58. Hi Elle,

    What an inspiring, well-written post! Perfect way to start the year! I definitely blog, first of all for the love of it. Dressing up has always been a passion of mine, and being able to share what I love with my readers is an amazing feeling. Wishing you the best in 2015! Here's to better blogging!

    xoxo,
    Merrie K. @ www.PetiteCareerGirl.com

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  59. Elle, I enjoy reading your blog and this post is no exception. The points you make seem to resonate with me. I like and read different types of blogs too because that's my personality. I love to learn about things. Thanks for the tips!
    ~Kizzy

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  60. This is such a good post to start the new year! Your tips are inspiring!

    Jill
    Doused In Pink

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  61. Great tips...so on point!
    Debbie
    www.fashionfairydust.blogspot.com

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  62. Very nice post Elle! You speak from my heart! You are still one of my favorite blogs out there and I look up to you and your ideas. Well done!HAPPY NEW YEAR MY DEAR! xoxo, Sissi www.beauty4free2u.com

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  63. I honestly hate reading posts I can tell have been written to be pinned. If something is naturally pinnable, great! But trying hard to get it there shows and it's not authentic.

    AMEN on taking a break. I can't do all the things all the time. I can't even do half of the things all the time. It is what it is.

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  64. Aww I really am feeling this post for so many reasons. I haven't been blogging long but I've been feeling down about myself because of the comparison of myself to others, I was just feeling bad about it but I know I shouldn't compare but it's really hard or I say to myself I'm just not good and I know it's bad that's why it's one of my goals to be more positive and not compare myself to others. But yeah I want to say I'm not a beauty blogger but I love reading your blog because I'm not very good in this subject but I love reading about from your blog and I learn so much from your blog.

    Nina
    http://curvymod.blogspot.com/

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  65. Really great post! Blogging for a year and I'm still learning so many things. Like viewers don't like text on Instagram...oops! :) Thanks for this great post Elle! :)

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  66. Great great tips!! Seriously i echo so many of these sentiments!

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  67. YES TO ALL, ELLE! Excellent post. I hope a TON of people read it and take it to heart. You can always tell when someone has written a post out of obligation, and they're no fun to read. Blogging is about sharing - yourself, your love for something - not about gaining followers or getting numbers. At that point it's just a business, and that's not what the spirit of blogging is about. I love is writing posts and taking pictures and getting thoughtful comments from people who clearly read the post and have something to add. It drives me nuts when I see someone just starting out asking people directly for a follow. WORK FOR IT! Make people want to follow you because they like your writing and your POV, not because they feel obligated because you put them on the spot. That's something I would add to the list of things to absolutely NEVER do. If you really want people to be interested in your blog, be interested in theirs! Leave comments because you were moved to do so based on the post, not because you want to leave a link back to your blog. When I see someone leave a one or two word comment that illustrates that they didn't read any of the post but they left a link back to their blog, it's unreal to me. When someone mentions something deep and personal and someone only comments that they liked the color of the lipstick in the picture, it's so awkward! Focusing on making your blog the best it can be and striving to be better and better is what matters above all else. That Teddy Roosevelt quote is one of my absolute favorites! It keeps things in perspective.
    Again, great post!

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  68. "comparison is the thief of joy" I like that line! I like these goals. Originality is definitely lacking in the blogging world. If I see one more white background layout on Instagram!!! lol

    Great to see you opening up on your blog :)

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  69. I read all different types of blogs too! Yours is the only beauty blog I read because I really trust you and your opinions. You haven't led me astray yet! :)

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