That is the question a lot of folks ask. Or they don’t think about it, start a blog and then wonder what they got themselves into … and how to get out of it. Preferably without losing face with everyone they’ve told on Facebook, Instagram, the neighborhood, family & friends … complete strangers in checkout lines, etc. So I guess the answer to the question is, “Yes, but go into it knowing it’s probably not going to be a walk in the park.”
To many most people, Blogging . is . not . easy! I read a lot of great blogs and their owners make it look SO EASY! Do they secretly have “people?” You know … people. People who write blog articles for them, people who take photos for them, people who post on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? People who cook and clean for them while they run around creating awesome videos and taking beautiful photographs of perfect food or their well-behaved children and pugs (color coordinated, of course). Cause, to most people (NORMAL people and I loosely include myself in this group — those of us without “people”) the thought of writing all those great articles every week is intimidating!
They ROCK!
Me?? Not so much.
I respect them. I admire them. I want to be them. I hate ’em. Yeah … there’s just a teeny, tiny bit of jealousy-inspired hatin’ goin’ on. (Not really … but kinda.)
I spent most the entire year of 2016 with barely a blip on the blog scene. Why? A few reasons. This post explains a lot of it. The rest of the reason(s) are:
- I didn’t know what to say
- I didn’t think I had anything to say
- I had something to say, but thought it was dumb
- I had something kinda smart to say, but I talked myself out of how smart it was (see previous bullet point)
- I spent time on other people’s blogs and started feeling VERY inferior
- I over-complicated the whole process until I was too tired to finish or care if I did
- I felt I had to have the right photos, better photos, a video … a marching band …
- Other bloggers had already said it better, prettier … with a BIG, clean kitchen and a pedicure
- I talked myself out of it because it was too overwhelming to even start
Sound familiar? It hits a lot of bloggers about 3 months in … again after about a year. Or, if you’re like me, almost every day since Day 01.
Here’s what I know from talking to other bloggers and especially successful foodie, cooking and crafting bloggers.
Having a successful blog site is like watching a beautiful swan swimming on a pond. Everything appears calm and placid on the surface while all the hard work (and all the sh*t happens) beneath the surface.
Why do you expect your blogging experience to be any different? Just keep paddling!
Don’t expect everything to be perfect. The important thing is to actually Publish . A . Blog . Post … as often and as consistently as possible. Everybody’s “possible” is different. Live up to YOUR reasonable expectations. Don’t base what you should be doing on what another blogger is doing — you don’t know their situation (they may have People)! Your visitors (and Google) will love you for every post you create. OK, so you don’t may not have great photos (me, neither) … or the perfect kitchen with the right amount of lighting (ditto) … or a pedicure (sorry, The Hubster recently treated me to one of those).
Believe me, just writing the post and getting your thoughts out there will probably make someone’s day. Maybe make them laugh or give them something other than their own problems to think about. Shoot, if it’s a recipe – you may save someone from fast-food-itis for another day! And that’s always a good thing. McDonald’s doesn’t need any more of our hard earned money!
Here are a few things that I’ve learned from other bloggers. As an FYI, writing this and getting it out there will also serve to keep me on my once-or-twice-a-year-pedicured toes!
- Just do it!
- Don’t over-think it … you can always go back and touch up a post later or add a new photo
- Write your article, save it as a draft and then go get a bite to eat or do something else for an hour or so. Then come back and read the article again (I use WordPress, so I hit Preview). Add or change anything that needs it. Then Publish it or Schedule it for Publication. Do NOT leave it in Draft mode.
- Buy a BIG monthly calendar. The kind that you can write on the day blocks. Keep it in your kitchen or in a room you spend most of your time in. Do NOT be tempted to shove it in the spare room or the broom closet. Seeing it every day will help keep you honest and on target. Write article ideas down. Write down when you plan to video something or take recipe photos. I write my ideas on post-it notes so I can move them around (especially when I get off-schedule due to Very Important Matters like washing my hair, herding dust bunnies or drinking wine!)
- Start planning holidays (and holiday posts) 6 months in advance. The most successful bloggers say it is key. I’m working on this now but it’s tough. Let’s face it, it’s hard to think about snow, winter and mittens in July. I’ll get over it — so will you.
- When you get used to planning holidays 6 months in advance – start incorporating more of your ideas into this forward planning.
- If you use WordPress, install Editorial Calendar. You’ll have a better way to see what articles you are writing and what you have scheduled. It’s free and very easy to use.
- Join Facebook group(s) for busy (and successful) bloggers. It’s easy to think you are all alone out there, but you’re not. There are many others who are going through something similar to what you are. There are plenty of bloggers that can help, offer suggestions or just commiserate with you over a virtual bottle of wine!
- Everything is better with WINE!
- If it’s not better after WINE … add comfort food and CHOCOLATE!
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