I imagine I started out like so many others... I love to read blogs, and for 7 or 8 years now I've subscribed to several blogs of different genres that I read each day. After a long time of lurking, I put together this blog somewhat on a whim. It was coming up on the holiday season, and I love to decorate for Christmas, so I figured I'd put together a Holidays decorating blog and see what blogging is all about.
Looking at my archives you can easily see that I went fairly strong for about two or three months, and then, nothing. Crickets. I disappeared for a long time. Years!
This year I came back, and have been somewhat active for about a month or so. I've vacillated between two points of view: "I'll just post what I want and if no one reads it, that's ok." and "Let me try really hard to get more page views, comments and pins."
I feel like I haven't found my voice yet. I haven't been sure what I'm aiming for. Do I want to have lots of readers - which probably comes with more of a concerted effort and potential for feelings of obligation for putting out content? Or do I want to take things as they come, post what interests me, and not worry about gathering up a big viewership? (Is it just me? Do other bloggers have these questions as they go along????)
In everything I do, I'm usually an "all or nothing" investor of my time and interests, so it's kind of strange to consider a "chill out" approach. But I think that's how I'm leaning. I mean, I'm retired now and I don't want to do something that feels like a job! I have goals in other areas of my life, most notably my Sweet Adelines singing, performing and coaching efforts. I want to focus there, and I don't want this blogging thing to get in the way of that success.
So, I think I'm going to take this approach:
- I'm going to make my Gratitude Project 2014 my highest blogging priority. I treasure the daily practice of focusing on gratitude, and I like the continuity of a daily thread of affirmations of the blessings in my life.
- I'm going to continue to host my Happy Tuesday link party - I love the idea of people gathering together with their positive, inspiring, uplifting posts. The party may never grow to be a huge thing, but I'm grateful for everyone who joins in, no matter how large or small, and I believe in the idea of sharing a positive message, so I'm going to keep it going.
- I'm going to continue to visit and read lots of other blogs of different types. It's my favorite thing to do each morning! I'll make more of an effort to comment and interact with the blog owner, since I know how much I appreciate comments on my own blog.
- I'm going to allow my blog posts to occur naturally, organically, out of things that are happening in my life. If that means home decor, craft, food, gardening, then great. If it means more reflective, narrative pieces, ok. I'm not going to worry about the fact that my blog title references "Holidays". I look forward learning and creating and stretching my boundaries here.
- I'm going to relax about "marketing" my blog. For instance, if I have time, I'll join in link parties, but if not, that's ok. I don't want this effort to be about how many views I get.
:) Hi Jenny. I bet all bloggers struggle with the same questions. When I first started my blog, I didn't know anything about blogging but I was tired of wanting to do something around my house and not being able to find a tutorial on how to do it....so that's how I decided to start writing tutorials. I figured, if I'm going through this learning curve then I might as well document it so others can benefit. Well, people are now always telling me "you should do this", or "you should build this" because they think it will get me a lot of views....but I have the same attitude as you! I don't want to vary my builds and posts around what will bring me more views. I'm just going about my normal life doing the projects I need for my house then making a post about it. I hope people can benefit from it and like it, but if not then maybe the next post they will. I think by doing it this way, it takes the pressure off of blogging and lets it be an enjoyable hobby instead of a job. So I really think you will be happy with your new direction. : ) Unless you are getting paid full time for blogging, you shouldn't feel like it's a full time job. I say just enjoy yourself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, April. Every once in a while it seems I have to re-learn the same old lesson - "Be Yourself." Also, do what you love and do it the best you can, and results will follow in ways you can't predict. That has ALWAYS served me well, and so of course, it should work here in blogland too, right? I'm happy that you took the time to comment - thank you!
DeleteBTW - I hopped over to your blog and am now following in my RSS feed reader. I love watching other people do cool things, and am looking forward to projects you have lined up.
This seems to be a pretty common "blogger's dilemma". I've gone through so many phases with my own blog, I know. It's sad, but I recently watched one of my favorite bloggers work so hard to become like the "glossy", money-making blogs - she called it "growing" her blog. Lo and behold, after a year of it, her blog was not recognizable and she was burnt out, feeling that she lost her own "voice".
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a creative outlet for me - I enjoy the writing and sharing. I don't do lots of crafts of projects, I don't cook much, I don't have a perfect home or a solution for everything - and I don't have a photo for every post! (gasp!!!) But, I still enjoy popping over onto my porch and cranking it out once in a while.
Follow your heart and keep it happy!
Thanks Jane. I definitely want to avoid the situation that you described! I have to say, just writing down this post has made me feel much more relaxed and confident about what I'm doing. I guess I just needed to get it "out there".
DeleteI love reading your blog, and I never mind when there are not photos for every post. Thanks for affirming that there are as many valid approaches as there are bloggers. :-)
I will read you regardless of what you post! As others have said better than I ever could, just do what you want and feel like doing. I don't always comment, but I do always read!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree that most bloggers go through the exact same thing.
Thanks so much, Tammy! I really appreciate it!
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