I had no idea of the kind of world I was about to get myself into when I published my very first post at Theta Mom. The blogosphere is now a place I can’t imagine myself not being an integral part of. I love to communicate and discuss ideas with others that revel in the same passion for blogging.
I’m referring to women who can empathize with me as they understand the same battles that I face, as well as connecting with those who have the innate ability to share a different perspective and make me think – I mean, really think. When a true dialogue is started, this is the aspect of blogging that I find so rewarding. It’s those distinct moments when we relate and connect that is so empowering. This is what truly fosters the relationships we are establishing together.
However, blogging can be stressful at times especially if we begin to compare ourselves to other bloggers. We tend to look at others that are reaching more success than we are and we begin to ask ourselves – what are THEY doing that we’re not? Why do THEY have so many subscribers and why did THAT post get so many comments? I was recently blog reading when a comment written by another blogger completely struck me. She referenced how it’s so easy to get caught up in the numbers game when it comes to blogging which actually spurred me to write this post…
When I began my blog, I knew nothing about Google Analytics, Sitemeter, Alexa and other tools that help you to analyze your site’s traffic. However, once I learned about these resources and understood the specifics I was immediately hooked. Quite frankly, I found myself checking these sources so frequently to see where my traffic was coming from, I became borderline obsessed. I constantly wanted to know how many page views I was receiving, who were visiting, where the referrals were coming from, which posts were most popular, etc. all in an effort to convince myself that if numbers were increasing I must be doing something right. But as soon as those numbers fluctuated or began to drop, this validation quickly turned to self-defeating behavior as I immediately felt like I wasn’t doing “enough.”
This was around the same time I began to look at my Google Friend Connect followers. It was an instant high when I saw a new face pop up in that little box or when I noticed new subscribers through my feed. But it was also a very low feeling when I lost followers. I was left wondering what I did wrong that made them lose interest in my blog. This was coincidently about the same time I began to count comments. There were times I would pour my heart out into a post which took a long time to draft and if I didn’t get as many comments on that post, I was disappointed to find that the carefully chosen words that took so long to put together didn’t resonate with others.
I also began to feel pressure that if I didn’t return every comment or at least attempt to connect with those that shared with me, readers would not return. {However, returning every comment and visiting every blog is impossible and if you need to know how I came to terms with this self-deprecating behavior, be sure to read this post}.
I thought that if I didn’t update my blog everyday I would eventually lose subscribers. I was trying to keep up with other bloggers that were posting daily and I realized that this was a pace I could not continue. The moment I began to feel as though this blog felt more like a “job,” I took a step back. At the end of the day, this blogging thing should be nothing but fun and rewarding. The moment it becomes otherwise, it’s time to re-evaluate.
So, how did I move away from the followers-comments-numbers game? I immersed myself in rich content and focused solely on the writing. I still love a good review and giveaway here and there, but my drive is truly powered by the need to clearly articulate my voice through this platform – whether I am heard by 5 or 500,000. I can’t obsess over the numbers anymore because that’s just what they are, a bunch of numbers. They certainly don’t equate to my self-worth as a blogger or even the total worth of this blog for that matter.
Do I still use Sitemeter and those other resources as helpful tools? Of course I do. There are many benefits as to understanding your site’s traffic and how to properly market to your target audience. There is so much knowledge to be gained from these tools and when integrated effectively they can be quite useful. But measuring your worth against these numbers? Well, that’s when it becomes self-defeating.
I do not spend countless hours anymore playing the numbers game – because my time is valuable and better spent drafting words in context that truly have meaning.
And THAT has become my true passion and fulfillment.
That is MY validation.
I hope that everyone reads this post and follows your example. (Especially new bloggers.) It’s really easy to get caught up in the numbers game but it’s far more important to figure out why you’re blogging and blog for that reason only.
.-= Tracie´s last blog ..Party Time, Ex-ce-llent =-.
I don’t really understand how most of those traffic sites measure things and I know I am messing the numbers because I pop onto my blog frequently to check the comments or to click on the blogs I have in my roll that have new posts. I don’t really worry about it though.
I am quite pleased I have more followers now. Even though they don’t all read every post it’s nice to see
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..The Bark Mulch Cometh… =-.
I really appreciate this post. I have been blogging on my food blog for 18 months and recently started my mom blog, so it’s only been in the last month that I’ve begun to connect with other bloggers and realize there is a big wide world out there I wasn’t aware of. Being a perfectionist – I, too, have been poring over tools, numbers, tweaking my website, trying to come up with post ideas…and it’s quickly gotten overwhelming. A fellow new blogger and I have been bonding over this. Thank you for the reassurance that if you write it, and write it well, people will just come – and not to worry too much about the noise.
.-= gigi´s last blog ..When Should Kids Get Trophies? =-.
Gigi –
I couldn’t agree more – perfectly said, “If you write it, and write it well, people will just come – and not to worry too much about the noise.” This is the space I am in now and it feels great.
I haven’t been doing this for that long, and already have encountered some of the feelings you describe above. I try to maintain a balance and not let the blogging stress me out. Just like you, most of all of what helps, is focusing on the writing. I simply want to write and am so excited to see how much material I’ll have at my fingertips after a while of all my hard work! And, the friendship and connections have been such a bonus! I have been really encouraged by the overall positive energy and gratitude of the mom blogger community. Anyways! Have a great day!
.-= Kristy´s last blog ..Lovefest! For Mama! =-.
I don’t even know what any of those number things mean, or how to get them, so I guess that’s a good thing.’
I blog b/c I want to write. I blog b/c I love pushing “Publish Post” then sitting back and reading it.
And if it moves someone to comment, that is the icing on the cake.
.-= Alexandra´s last blog ..Dead Sea Whaaa? =-.
I just wrote a very similar post actually.. I’m glad to read this. It helps me realize that I’m not the only one who feels anxiety about my blog sometimes.
.-= Natalie @ Hope Springs Eternal´s last blog ..Monday Melodies – An Innis Aigh =-.
I feel as though you jumped inside my head and took a look around. I would be very surprised if there was a blogger out there who hasn’t felt these same things. Life, no matter what area, it’s always a balancing act isn’t it? A very welcome post Thetamom Thank you.
Dana
.-= It’s Messy @Bungalow’56´s last blog ..Come Check Out My Drawers =-.
I think this is part of the process, whether you are a big or small blogger. At some point, these mixed feelings will arise and it’s how we balance it all that will make the difference.
so true…it’s very easy to get caught up in the numbers. it’s kind of like high school all over again, with the popularity contest. we just have to remember why we started blogging in the first place–to say what’s on our minds!
Numbers are bullshit. Mostly, because I have a theory that they’re mostly robots and aliens.
.-= Aunt Becky´s last blog ..Go Ask Aunt Becky =-.
You are so right….but I admit it, I am one of those people that always compares myself to other bloggers. I have never really “hit it big”— and since my switch from blogger to wordpress have struggled because since I have just a “regular” wordpress.com blog I dont have the capability of using Google Follower. I need to remember my purpose in starting the blog, to share my story- the journey, the chaos— and if people want to share in it with me- great. If not, that is ok too
(but I really do like seeing numbers go up).
Amen, sister! I got so caught up in the blogging thing for a while that I wasn’t having a life! And if you don’t have a life, what the heck is there to blog about??! I love to write and connect. That is why I started blogging. If I can affect even a handful of people in a meaningful way, I’ve decided that is definitely worth it. ;0)
Thanks for the great post!
Exactly. If you are able to make a connection with readers – whether it’s 10 or 10,000 – you made a connection – and that’s the beauty of blogging.
I have learned that if I am getting stressed by numbers or by trying to comment back on all my comments…it is time to walk away from the computer for a while and to play with my kid or do something else fun. Blogging shouldn’t be stress. Then I can come back refreshed and ready to put all those numbers and emails in perspective and have some fun writing!
.-= Tracie´s last blog ..Post-It Notes Tell an Important Story =-.
Wonderful post. It is quite obsessing in the beginning, those numbers… But I find that as soon as you have found your turf it kind of matters less
.-= mamapoekie´s last blog ..Quote of the day =-.
I really needed to read this post today. Yesterday I was getting so frustrated, I do the social media thing, I comment on other blogs, and real comments, not the generic “Nice blog,I hope you come read mine”. Truth be told,I started to think there were some pretty rude bloggers out there. Granted, my blog is new, and I know it is going to take awhile to build a following, but it does seem like so many people are worried about the numbers than anything else. I probably have 5 loyal followers, the ones who read my blog as soon as I put a new post up, and I in turn do the same. I needed to hear this today, I needed to hear “it’s just numbers” because at the end of the day the five loyal followers I have mean more to me than 5,000 followers who never bother to read a thing I write. So, thank you Theta Mom for putting it out there.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..My very gay BFF =-.
Jennifer – It’s the truth! It does take some time to build a readership and at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many followers/comments you have. I have since learned that I need to write for ME – and the rest is just a lovely added bonus.
Great post ! In the beginning it was all so exciting about the # of follower but now i really enjoy the comments and getting to know the bloggers
.-= Connie ´s last blog ..A Sunday Angel game =-.
Great post. While I still do love comments and new followers, I realized quickly that blogging could completely take over my life. So now I blog when I can, and write what inspires me.
.-= Katherine´s last blog ..Post Call Haze =-.
I have truly found that being busy in life has prevented me from putting as much desired time into my blog, and have also realized that this is both a good/bad thing. Yes, I would love to have some more time to dedicate to reading other blogs, commenting, and writing for my own. However, it has also prevented me from even having the time to obsess too much about it! I do not necessarily post every day either. If I have the time, once or twice a week I will participate in a meme because it is not nearly as time consuming and gives me a chance to visit with other bloggers I may not know. It helps prevent me from feeling too bogged down with writing too- blogging should be something you enjoy, because if it’s not, you’ll never keep up with it.
For you Heather, you have a huge following, and are very much considered a big blogger to the rest of us. I don’t think you have anything to worry about! Insightful as always.
.-= Ashley @ Just Another Mom of 2´s last blog ..Saturday Spotlight: Work, Wife, Mom.. Life! =-.
Done that, been there…
Now I blog only 4 times a week.
I don’t have time for more plus I want to visit other blogs. You can’t do all that and keep your sanity!
Those who I follow, who post daily, I visit only couple of times a week others I leave a comment to almost every post…
.-= BLOGitse´s last blog ..bits and pieces from Casa… =-.
This is a great post (especially for those of us celebrating anything over 5 comments).
The truth is I was really confused by the whole numbers thing in the beginning (which wasn’t too long ago). I wanted people to read my blog because they wanted to read it. I hated the idea of people following me just because I followed them or commented on my post just because I commented on theirs. How do I know if people actually like what I’m writing?
So I’ve taken the same attitude of just writing and not worrying about the numbers. (Besides, my numbers are skewed by the fact that I visit my own blog more than everyone else combined
Oh well!)
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Christmas in April =-.
Kim –
How do you know if people actually like what you are writing? When they return time and time again, whether you can comment on their blog or not. When I comment on someone’s blog, I never “expect” a comment back. I comment because I truly liked the post – but I don’t think all bloggers “see” this quite the same way…
Thank you for this post. I am new to this. 10 weeks old. I have had the best days and days when I’m ready to shut down and I do check the numbers all the time. I love numbers. But I love a great comment and post more. Thanks for the perspective.
Since you are just at the beginning of your journey at 2 months, you will find that the more your blog grows, the more there is a feeling of “pressure” of keeping up with it all – finding a balance is key, something I’ve found myself recently.
Hey–when did you sneak inside my head and listen to my mind’s monologue? A wonderful post with timely advice. Again. Thank you, Heather. I will do my best to heed your sage insights.
.-= musingsdemommy´s last blog ..Shifting =-.
thank you so much for this reminder. i have actually begun to limit my compulsive site-meter visits to once a day. i cannot believe how much time and energy this has freed up for me to live my life! i’m so new to blogging, and there is such a vast territory of unknown (to me) tricks of the trade. i’m torn between making myself more savvy and making myself a slave to stats trackers. surely there is a middle ground in there somewhere…
.-= themsrevolution´s last blog ..mothers of invention: mary =-.
Exactly – If I write to my heart’s content and I am proud of what I publish, then the rest is just icing.
Well said Heather! I couldnt agree more!
It is so easy to get caught up in the numbers game– and blogging can definitely become stressful particularly when you are comparing yourself or are being pitched by so many companies “review my stuff ” “no review my stuff”.. post, post , post!!! Which is why I’ve taken a step back from most reviews.
The numbers game is just another part of unecessary stress in blogging. When you arent monitoring and just blogging from the heart when you can— stressfree— that is when people connect most. The traffic, I find come from those moments.
.-= Complicated Mama´s last blog ..Mr.Complicated is a STEEL-er. What Kind of Sharpie are you? =-.
I couldn’t agree w/ you more! My blog has gotten me stressed out at times and that’s when I take a step back and remember I started this as an outlet for me at the end of the day when the kids are asleep (and mostly on nights when my husband is traveling). I’ve taken a step back the past few months b/c I realized there are much more important things in life than my blog
Great post!
.-= Jackie @ 3 Little Ones´s last blog ..My Blog is Carbon Neutral – Is Yours? =-.
Thanks for the post! I’ve only been doing this “blog” thing since February. It is definitely easy to get caught up in the numbers game. I’ve been trying to break into PR and so I’ve place tremendous pressure on myself to get more traffic to my site. It can feel a bit like a job if I let it.
Thanks for the reminder that it’s about the writing and content, not so much the numbers. I wish you the best of luck!
Sarah B.
.-= Sarah B´s last blog ..Speaking of Parties . . . . =-.
Excellent post – so glad I stopped by today! I can barely keep blogging along currently and that is just fine for me. I so appreciate the many who do visit me and comment and wish I do, visit and be more frequently. But I have to keep blogging in perspective for my life. I doooo soooo enjoy it though!
Kristin
.-= kristin´s last blog ..{lovely lovely lovely} =-.
Thank you for this….I obsess over the same things…. I am way too tough on myself with the blogging, and I find myself lacking in the writing department…how do you get ideas?
.-= No, Don’t and Stop!´s last blog ..Post-it Note Tuesday! =-.
I write when I am inspired. An idea usually pops in my head and I immediately write the “idea” down so I don’t forget it. Then when I have the time, I spill my heart out…
I love blogging. My husband loves blogging. We are new and it’s hard, just like you said when you don’t get any comments on a well thought out, heart felt post. We thought we would have friends and family wanting to comment and get involved…LOL!! Now we are just blogging for us. We will still put a great deal of thought about what we write but we are doing it for us. Not writing to get readers.
thanks for the kick…I will re-read this post when I need it again.
xoxo
Kerry
.-= Kerry´s last blog ..Thanks For Leting Me Open Up, Internet =-.
Thanks for the fabulous post! You connect with little ole’ me.
I have been feeling bummed about my little blog because of statistics. It seems like all the cool kids want a whole range of stats for joining them and the stats are about impossible to attain…. I even got a @reply from Alexa ranking saying that their rank only matters to the top 100K sites. Their toolbars aren’t even accurate for the rest. How many of our blogs will rank up there with google & yahoo? Not many.
So, I will keep beating my own little path through the blogiverse and hopefully some friends will join me along the way.
.-= Owen’s Mom´s last blog ..Swing Into Spring! =-.
I’ve previously found myself getting caught up in the numbers game too but now I don’t post every day unless I absolutely feel like it and I try not to check my stats every day!! Here’s to blogging being fun!!! Yay!
.-= Emma´s last blog ..Adventuring with an English Grandma!!! =-.
i can definitely relate. when i first began blogging, i looked into all the traffic analyzers, and eventually decided against trying to incorporate them. i keep telling myself that ultimately, i am blogging for ME. my blog is like my bedroom closet… i dump all the extra thoughts there that just don’t have room in my everyday life. i keep it neat and orderly, and try to remember that not everybody is going to like it. i love each and every one of my [very few] followers, and try to be a good blog host… but ultimately i have decided against any attempt at publicizing myself. i think the situation you described is something that every blogger goes through at some point, and also has to work it out in his or her own way.
love this post… very nice insights.
.-= Nobody´s last blog ..Back To the Awkwardness =-.
As someone relatively new to the blogging game (only six months old) I am also obsessed. I want to make sure I am doing well and writing stuff that people will like. I want to change lives. Silly, I know. I look at my analytics numbers a few times a day. I check my overall visitors versus new visitors. (“Do they like me enough to come back? Are they sharing posts or RTing me?” It’s very draining.
You’re right, of course. Numbers shouldn’t matter. I’ll try and remember that the next time I go to check my stats.
Exactly – I was getting drained, feeling as though I had to keep “topping” a post that was previously successful – and I realized I was putting unecessary pressure onto myself – at the end of the day, this should be FUN – so I needed to find a balance and remind myself of why I began to blog in the first place – to write.
i am feeling this now, the “follow you follow me” game. I mean really how many blogs can we all really read in one day when we are also writing meaningful content on ours. unfortunately for those of us who do reviews and affiliate marketing the numbers matter. marketing executives look at the numbers not the richness of the content or in my case the fact that my reviews are more like stories, case studies, and providing education to my readers. I do have to let it go though!
.-= dina´s last blog ..Lavender Essential Oil for Burns =-.
I think the “follow me follow you game” happens in the beginning when bloggers are trying to get established. The problem is, this kind of reciprocity doesn’t build readership, this only builds numbers. Chances are, those peeps are not returning to read – so it’s kind of like, what’s the point of following?
And yes that’s true, bloggers that perform reviews the numbers “do” matter (i.e. companies will work with a blogger with a bigger following over a “smaller” blogger) BUT these numbers should not define them.
Wonderful post. I really needed a post like this to come to terms with my obsession to return to all the comments I receive on my blog. I recently decided to relax about my blog and since then I am enjoying it very much.
.-= MsBabyPlan´s last blog ..Guess The Date =-.
great discussion. as a new blogger i am ashamed to admit that i do get caught up in the numbers games. but i remind myself that i do this for me. as i mentioned in one of my posts blogging is the ultimate form of narcism….but oh it is such fun. and building up my community of blogging friends (allbeit a small community) has been so rewarding.
wuld love to have folks drop in on my site and give me any feedback on how to improve it as a medium to share what’s important to me and the way i see my world.
dianeswords.wordpress.com
I can relate to this post wholeheartedly! I have recently done a post of which I was a little bit proud. It was called The Bird Whisperer. It wasn’t ground-breaking or bold or daring, but it was a nice story injected with a little humour.
I checked my stats and I was getting a few hits, but zero comments. I usually average around 5 to 10 comments as I have a small following of around 100, but it was a post that I spent a lot of time creating, so I was disappointed at the lack of interest.
Then this morning I was drafting a post that included my favourite posts and despite its fizzle, I wanted to include this post, because I liked it. Then I realised that’s what really counts. I do this blog thing, because I really enjoy it. I shouldn’t be too concerned with my stats and followers, because ‘if I write it (and I write like I enjoy it), they will come’.
Thanks for this post. It was really good food for thought.
Shelly
.-= Tropical Mum´s last blog ..Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo =-.
Amen! I wholeheartedly agree. Numbers are nice, but if I touch one person with a post, it was worth it. Have a wonderful day!
.-= Tonya´s last blog ..Ultimate Blog Party with 5 Minutes for Mom =-.
God I love you! You always talk about issues I am currently dealing with or have dealt with. I have felt this way so many times! Its so easy to get caught up in numbers and often times I feel like it is a full time job {one I do NOT get paid for}. With my new blog, I am trying to concentrate on well written articles – content vs quality. I want to connect with my readers and create dialogue but at the same time try not to get caught up in feeling like I have to keep up with everyone else. The reason I started to blog is because it became an outlet for me and a great way to connect with others that are in a similar situation as I am. I can not forget that.
For me, this is when blogging is at its best. I write a post I am really damn proud of that truly RESONATES with someone, like yourself. THAT is why I blog and THAT is what I will not lose sight of. The numbers? In the end, all of that is just gravy.
Interesting post (as usual!). Here’s the thing: how do you get advertisers so you can make some money? The quick answer? Have lots of traffic on your blog. So that’s why a lot of us are trying to do what we can to get visitors, followers, etc. Frankly, it’s exhausting. And I suck at self-promotion. I do not follow everyone who follows me, because sometimes their blogs just don’t interest me, for myriad reasons, or I simply don’t connect with them.
It’s tough not to compare: I’ve blogged for almost four years – and believe me when I say it’s nice to think if you write it, they will come, but the truth is, once I got into the social media game, I went from 12 followers to 73 in about two months. That being said, others have blogged for a month and have ads on their blogs and 100s of followers. I can’t help but think, “What am I doing wrong? What more could I be doing?”
My favorite posts I’ve done are the ones, like yours, that spur dialogue. My favorite blogs to visit are those that do the same, or maybe I just relate to the writer – and the writing had better be good!
Sorry for the novel here! It’s a topic that’s been on my mind lately!
.-= SpecialSauce in the House´s last blog ..Day 1: X’s Allergy Patch Testing =-.
I agree, sponsorships come with blogs that have traffic but I don’t think this should be the main reason why someone should choose to continue blogging. And you’re right, in order to build a bigger following, you need a strong presence in social media. When you asked, “What am I doing wrong? What more could I be doing?” Those questions are at the very heart of this post. I think every blogger at some point feels this way, which is why I chose to be so candid about it.
And, “My favorite posts I’ve done are the ones, like yours, that spur dialogue.” I totally agree! As I mentioned to another blogger, THAT is the reason I continue to blog and THAT is something I won’t lose sight of – big numbers or not.
Theta Mom, I always love what I read from you and have never once left your site without some really tasty food for thought. I must say however, that you have undone yourself with this post. I really value the wisdom you have chosen to share and this post felt so personal to me, just as it has with all of your commenters. It is so good to know that out of the millions of blogs in the universe that yours is always one that will offer me truth and I count on it with every return visit (no pressure or anything). I admire the work you’ve done here and I thank you again for an enlightening post that really feels written just for me.
.-= Your Mommy Friend Lori´s last blog ..Weekend Getaway =-.
Thank you so much for that comment. I love to write about my experiences and when someone else can relate to this – it is SO rewarding. I appreciate you taking the time to tell me. 😉
This post couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I just lost my first follower and it really bugged me. Not in a “awww, that sucks kind of way” but an “OMG I must be the world’s worst blogger and I am a terrible writer” and blah blah blah, you know how that story goes.
Content, not numbers hmmm. I can promise I’ll try.
.-= Completely Eclipsed´s last blog ..Addictions =-.
A comment further up caught my eye. She wrote that she blogs because she loves to write and to hit that “publish post” button. I couldn’t agree more! Shoot, just ONE comment makes my day. I love writing. Period. Thanks for a great post!
This is actually what my New Year’s resolution was this year. To worry less about numbers, and just blog for the love of blogging. I have to say, it has made ALL the difference in not only my posts, but in the quality of my life this year. I am no longer stressing myself out over my blog and ENJOYING it again.
I really needed to read this today. I’ve been blogging since July 2009 and I’ve gotten SO MUCH from this experience. It has been my therapy (which is sometimes a scary thought, when I really think about it.) But it allows me to sit and really write what is in my heart, and I love the freedom it allows me. I also love the friends I’ve made. However, lately I’ve been concerned that my followers are not increasing as I’d like. It became a focus of mine, and I lost the “stories” that I love to tell. So, I’m back to writing what comes into my mind, when it comes. And I’m trying to not focus on a lack of followers! ; ) I started doing this for ME, and I’m continuing to do it for ME.
.-= Leanne´s last blog ..Simply . . beautiful! =-.
Hi! Found you through another blog I follow. I really like your style and look forward to reading more!
I hope you don’t mind a little dissension but I have to say, although I do agree with the point you’re trying to make, it’s also pretty easy to let the content drive you when you have 2200 followers. Yes, I love to write, and yes I get a ton of satisfaction hitting that “Publish” button whether people read my stuff or not. However, part of what makes blogging exciting for me is the self-imposed challenge of improving my numbers.
I started blogging 3 weeks ago, more or less. I have a grand total of 6 followers – five of whom know me in real life.
Other than Facebook and a little Twitter, I haven’t really figured out how to get the blog “out there,” but I do see it as a bit of a puzzle to solve. If I do this, will I get more hits today… if I do that, will I get a new follower…. I don’t take it personally, but the numbers do keep me motivated! Of course, I completely understand that just because someone is “following” you it doesn’t mean they’re reading your posts or enjoying what you’re saying… but at least I know I’ve caught someone’s attention long enough to get them to think they might visit again.
Thanks again for a very well written post!
Elisa –
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. Since you are at the very begining of your blogging journey, you are very much in tune to trying to “promote” your blog to let others know you exist, something you should be doing to build a readership. But as someone who has been down that road before, I can tell you that the higher up the food chain you go in the blog world, the more “stress” there is of maintaining a certain number of followers or quality posts. So this was the point I was tring to make – it IS just a number. Yes, I have tons of followers which I worked hard to build, but that number actually made me stress more over my blog. How do I top the last post? Why did my numbers fluctuate? Why did THAT post not receive many comments? Am I doing enough? These are the questions that became self-defeating and ultimately had to stop.
Now, I am writing again for ME whether all of my followers read or not, and I’m ok with that. So does it make it any easier to write for that many? Not really.
Quite by accident and due to circumstances beyond my control, I was forced to step back a bit from my blog somewhat recently. It actually was a great thing for me, because once I HAD to step away from it I was able to reassess why I was blogging and bring my volume of posts more in line with what is appropriate to my present routines, obligations, and priorities in life. It’s easy to get caught up in numbers, but much more fun to get caught up in ideas and well-crafted posts and projects. I may not be posting daily anymore, but I’m keeping it real and nothing is forced. I thought stepping back might ruin my blog, but it’s actually given it (and me!) some new life.
Thanks for another excellent post.
.-= Skooks´s last blog ..Ironing . . . and That’s About It =-.
I agree…although my posts arent nearly as thought provoking as yours or other blogs, but I just do what feels right. Mostly, its my kids and every once in a while I get a “good” post in…when I feel I’ve got a good one, I “hear” (see) crickets! Its a weird blog world and all we can do is what feels right to us and who ever likes, it likes it (yay) and who ever doesnt, who cares!
.-= Trish´s last blog ..I am SO not down with Mondays =-.
TM – Thank you for this. It helps me to validate what I am doing too. Sometimes I feel so “repelled” from blogs that steer clear of a main message, that do too many giveaways to get readers, etc. I love to make a one on one connection, and I can only do that through good writing (or writing at all, ha!).
Yay for ThetaMom!!
.-= Sarah M.´s last blog ..Photo Sunday: Vacation Edition =-.
The numbers are easy to get hung up on. It seems to give more of a quantitative reason for even having a blog. I think you’re right though, if you’re going to do it you have to look at a the bigger picture. I placate myself by keeping in mind that I really don’t know how many people are actually reading. (Sitemeter would tell me definitively that it’s never been more than 70 in a day). People could be crowding around one computer couldn’t they?
.-= Joey @ Big Teeth & Clouds´s last blog ..Another Big Teeth Award =-.
Yes Joey – in an arena around one large screen, in the thousands! Now that’s the spirit!!! 😉
Actually, the bigger my blog grew, the more stress that I had to keep up with it all – and I have learned to let that go. I am back to writing for ME and making a connection with those who relate – and THAT is the reason I blog.
Thanks for replying to my comment.
Yup, I can see where wanting to go from 5 followers to 15 followers to 100 to 1000 could turn into a slippery slope. I’ve got an obsessive personality so I have to watch out for that. Maybe I’m just an attention hog, but learning from all of your experiences it sounds like there’s a bit of “be careful what you wish for” I need to be aware of.
By the way, in re-reading my note it sounded a lot more accusatory (or something not nice!) than I meant it to. I’m so sorry if I came off rude – ugh, what a terrible first impression to make!
PS: I really like the idea of people crowding around the computer reading my blog. Made my smile.
.-= Elisa´s last blog ..Negative Feedback =-.
You didn’t come off rude at all – you shared your perspective and that’s the one aspect of blogging I find so rewarding – the dialogue!