There are days when blogging makes you feel on top of the world – your stats are soaring and your posts are on fire!
Then there are days when you feel like walking away from it, not posting anything and cursing the poor soul who came up with such things as blog statistics.
Sometimes these negative days grind you down and you find yourself in blogging no man’s land. You start asking yourself things like ‘what’s the point?’ and ‘where will it lead to?’
Here are some tips on staying focused during these bleak blogging times:
- Have a break from checking your blog statistics. Go back to just concentrating on writing some good stuff. Sometimes we get so caught up in those things called statistics that we lose sight of writing good content.
- Reassess your reasons for blogging. I have been through many patches of feeling disillusioned with blogging. Each time I have asked myself why I blog. I remind myself that I am a writer and I blog because I need to let off some creative steam. My blog cheers me up when I am feeling gloomy or having my own pity party. My blog is a place where I catch up with online friends who share a passion for writing. It’s like an imaginary coffee shop where different people pop in each day. Once I have this conversation with myself it is like someone removes the weight from my shoulders and I go back to merrily creating posts. Blogging is so much more than statistics.
- Write a post and share your feelings. There are so many bloggers out there that there must be bloggers feeling the same way as you. Sometimes reading a couple of ‘me too!’ and ‘I feel the same way!’ type comments can make you feel a bit better.
- Review your social media strategy. Sometimes a small change to your social media plans can have a positive impact. I have recently started Instagram and that has been really useful for me as a writer. This was after I felt disillusioned about blogging. I am making contact with some amazing and very creative book readers, book bloggers and book reviewers (eeek!) through my photos and pictures of my blog posts. I feel like my blog posts are helping me build links with reader networks.
- Remember you are doing something amazing! No matter how small your blog is – always remember you are out there doing something creative! A lot of people (believe me on this) sit at home wishing they had the guts to start to a blog and put themselves out there. You are one step ahead of them. Even if you only have 5 followers you are doing something that some people can only dream about. Be proud at what you have created and work through this phase!
So, come on, pick yourself up, grit your teeth and keep going!
Happy blogging!
Photo: Stocksnap
Hi Lucy, I know what you mean. That stats page can sometimes take over. When you feel in a blog low make sure you pop by this café and tell me about it. I’ll make sure you’re cheered up and left feeling good about blogging again. Because you just rock!!
Arrrrr thx Simon – will do!! Happy Friday!
Happy Friday to you too Lucy! Keep smiling!
Thx for this – happy Friday!
Your posts so good my early morning treat. Blogging became fun for me when I gave up trying too hard and found a way to just be me…for better and for worse! I have my little measures of what works and doesn’t quite, infinitesimal to the big hitters but meaningful to me. My comments can be quite emotional when someone’s words so move me, and sometimes I can’t quite find the words yet need to more than ‘like’…and then there is the really naff stuff…I hold my hands up…when I blog I’m me.
I like your comments Eric! I also think your comments get better as the day goes on 🙂 happy Friday my friend!
Sitting here on my fat ^*!” thinking what to write and my screen sheds a little flood of likes…thank you…my first measure of the day all down to you. Later in the day maybe I’m a little less inhibited…by then I’ve usually been wound up by and American or two! Catch you later on the train…
Lol – have a good day 🙂
Did you get a seat or you letting gravity do its thing? See you at the ‘Writing Club’ … have a great weekend Lucy.
😂 hey Eric! Have a fab weekend!
I think half of WP decided to swear off blogging for Lent… It IS a struggle to stay in the game sometimes. 🙂
Yes it is Victo Dolore – sigh! Happy Friday to you and the medical world!
Dear Lucy
Eat cheese
Yours Dr cheddar
Thank You Dr Cheddar!! Happy Friday
Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Oh boy, this could not have been posted at a better time. Thanks for talking me off the ledge.
Lol Don! Hope it helped 🙂 happy Friday to you
Wise words, Lucy. Have a great weekend 🙂
Hope the concert went well 🙂
Thanks, Lucy. It was fab. Hope your weekend is going well 🙂
I know exactly what you mean. I was feeling a little low in January and briefly wondered why I was working so hard, sticking to a blogging schedule that at times seems like no one really notices. But then, out of nowhere, I received an email from a friend, a friend I only know as a result of blogging, and it reminded me what, and who, I would miss if I dropped out of cyberspace.
I would miss our intellectual discussions :-))
Indeed. Imagine if we co-wrote a book: Ruminations on Cheese: Letters between Lucy and Allie. It would be studied alongside Emerson and Walden.
Oh my goodness – it would be studied for years to come in the future! Sigh! I want to be studied – life dream 😉
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
This is so totally me today 😦
Hey Sinawo – keep going my friend 🙂 happy Friday
thanks ❤
I know the feeling oh so well. Then somebody leaves a brilliant comment on one of my posts and I’m in blogging heaven again. 😀
Oh Hugh – yes!!! The smile is back on face!! Happy Friday 🙂
I never check blog statistics. I’m not sure how to properly check them if I wanted to. (I should probably learn that…) So, Instagram. Wild. I wrote a post about that – wondering how it helped writers. It was an Instagram vs. Pinterest post and no one seemed to know what to do with Instagram. I’m really excited to see what you do with this. Just keep swimming! 🐠
Hey Lemon Shark!! Let me know link to your post! Are you on Instagram?
I’m not on Instagram. It was a poll and Pinterest won. 😜 And yet… Still haven’t set up my damn Pinterest. *sigh*
Please do it – love to see what images a Lemon Shark will pin!
Thanks, nice ideas. Needed that 🙂
Hey thatscribbler – happy Friday!
Happy Friday 😀
I need to learn how to not check my stats. But these advice are great to keep in mind. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Thx Amina Berg 🙂
I’ve had days like this, especially today, because I’ve been out all day and wonder how I will ever catch up. Eke.
Yikes! Thx for stopping by Tess 🙂
I can definitely relate to what you are saying. I think it’s healthy to take a day or two break from it all now and then and interact in the real world! That always gives me a good perspective about blogging!
Great idea! Thx Book Club Mom 🙂
Thx for this – happy Sunday!
I’m not really a person who checks stats a lot. But I do sometimes feel like I could be doing more to attract more readers to my blog. And that is the plan. If I can find the time, and figure out how. This reminded me that just having a blog in the first place is a pretty cool thing. Thanks. 🙂
My pleasure Phoenixgrey85 🙂
I feel disillusioned quite frequently but posts like these help spur me on! I did quit blogging for over a year but then found that I missed the creative outlet 🙂
http://www.quirkylittleplanet.com
Hey am glad you came to back to it 🙂 thx for reading 🙂 happy Sunday
Reblogged this on Still Another Writer's Blog.
Great advice – thanks Lucy!
Thanks I needed to hear this.
Thank you for reading & happy Monday 🙋🏼