Friends, I am noticing a change this year. No, not "the change" but changes in what seems to be a new era of blogging. Have you sensed it? Ever since this article from Poppytalk earlier this season, I (and I imagine others) have been pondering what our online presence means now 5 years after the big design boom online. How do we navigate blogging, selling our wares or social networking in what seems to be a completely saturated market. Where do we find ourselves in this ocean of familiarity?
Recently, I have taken a more honest and forthcoming approach to blogging. Instead of just submitting pretty pictures, I try to put myself, my personality, and dare I say my vulnerability into my posts. And it seems other bloggers are beginning to ask hard questions on their sites as well. This post by my friend Christina of Down and Out Chic got my wheels turning this week with her honest struggle of feeling lost in a popularity contest. And then there was the Alt Summit last weekend. Have you been reading all the post-summit posts this week? Here are a few:
Design Sponge Biz Ladies : Online Etiquette and Ethics
One theme that resonates with me on nearly all these posts is authenticity. Presenting yourself, your ideas and your continued creative inspiration seems to be the key to keeping afloat in this ocean of blogging. No one else has your unique voice. So keep those wheels turning and sing your song with courage! This ocean needs you.
On that note... what are your thoughts on this new direction. How do you navigate on these high seas of change?
image: one of my design heriones at All The Luck in The World and she has a lovely shop too!
This is such a juicy topic. I have only been blogging 1.5 years (well...sort of...I once had another blog), but I started reading blogs 4-5 years back.
I see a lot of friction right now, but I think it’s because blogging has entered a time of adolescence. More is required of bloggers from a reader’s perspective, and we’re all being forced to mature a bit.
Bloggers are expected to dig deep: Many early blogs succeeded simply because no one else was out there. Now that blogging is more mainstream, there’s a lot of competition. Sometimes I wonder if the some of the top dogs that emerged 5 years ago would even register as a blip today. A lot of their commentary on how new bloggers are capitalizing on their hard-earned success reads as insecurity.
On the flip side, a lot of people are in it for the quick buck: So many blogs that exist now see that money can be made…and are out to make a quick buck. But, as above, I don’t think too many of those people succeed. You really have to offer value to your readers, or else they’ll move on.
And, just like in a real adolescence, there are cool girls and mean girls and dorky girls. Oh..and boys, too! But we all do eventually grow up.
Posted by: Brigitte | January 26, 2011 at 11:49 AM
thanks for your comments brigitte. you put all i was trying to wrap my head around so eloquently and a great word picture. did you read the Down and Out Chic post because she talked alot about this time right now feeling like high school! i had never thought about it like that but its so true!!
thanks for your clarity and your point of view.
Posted by: Heather | January 26, 2011 at 12:01 PM
You've hit the nail on the head, Heather. This has been a preoccupation of mine since I started blogging. For me, I think part of the problem was that I was using existing, established blogs as a template for what seemed to be "the right way to present oneself," and it never quite rang true for me (hey, I'm just not that fabulous!).
I'm actually in the process of migrating to a brand new blog with a new name and everything, starting anew -- hopefully with a stronger sense of myself in the posts. Less anxiety, and more fun!
It's tough, because if you have amassed X number of readers by presenting a certain thing in a certain way, if it's not really "you," it can become very restrictive.
Awesome post. Yay, you!
Posted by: lisa h. | January 26, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Hello...I really think this is a very insightful post. I consider myself to be pretty new to this; I am a year in and I have learned so much along the way. I honestly never considered so many of these points before I started to blog. I do think that the person behind the blog is what makes me stay for more. There are sooo many and the volume is just phenomenal. I follow blogs and then realise that is just a tiny corner of the blog world. I think the posts your referred to are also very interesting; the concept that if you are selling a product and you have built up effectively a client-base through a blog, then that has been a hard-won exercise. I suspect that newer bloggers like me may make mistakes that experienced bloggers wince at. I guess the key is to be true to what you do. I try to give credit 'correctly'; although there are no rules to check by. I try to acknowledge other blogs by commenting when I read something that moves me. I find it bizarre that lots of people who read my blog never comment and only came out the woodwork when I ran a giveaway. And giveaways to generate traffic - well what is that all about? I experimented with it, got some new followers, but then did that enrich me and make my blog 'better'? Hmmm... ;-) It's funny because I posted today about something along these lines, so I guess old or new, it's on our minds. Lou xx
Posted by: LouBoo | January 26, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Thanks for your thoughts Lisa! Im glad you stopped by to share. I feel like I am learning from all of you right now with these amazing and telling comments. I completely understand about using top blogs as templates (me too!) until I realized that the comparison went too far and I would get frustrated and jealous and sometimes just stop reading them or wane on writing mine. I hate that voice that says "Im not that fabulous" ... I have it too ringing in my ear WAY too often. But I beg to differ! You are fabulous. You are uniquely you (and so am I.. just in case he's listening).
As far as a new blog and new look and embracing the real YOU more, I wouldn't worry about the numbers or readership because what if you build better relationships, and more quality readers with your authenticity than just numbers being someone you are not.
I am finding that my readership has changed slightly. New friends have come. Some that remained faithful (thank you!) But I feel that I am offering my true self and engaging more with like minded women and that is my heart's mission.
Posted by: Heather | January 26, 2011 at 01:08 PM
Lou,
Thanks for your honesty here with me. Like the rest of us, you seem really hard on yourself about your blogging expectations. Not that I'm an expert but I don't think there that many rules to blogging. Seems like we are all navigating through uncharted territory together. The Design Sponge post was pretty heavy on crediting and sourcing correctly but I like to think of it as having an underlying current of the best rule of all: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
As far as the commenters coming out for a giveaway, yes. that happens. True. I used to think I needed to do frequent giveaways just to get more readers but the truth is that wasn't the kind of relationship I was seeking and once I started writing a mission statement for my blog it helped me see that what I truly seek is intimacy and connection with my readers. I want quality rather than quantity. (most of the time). Yes, I still fall prey to checking my daily stats because deep down we want to know we are loved and if there is a formula to evaluate that, it seems to bring some sort of comfort. Some reassurance.
The main thing is knowing we are in this together, so thank you for being here today with me sharing your story. I will be curious to see what this year brings to us all!!
Posted by: Heather | January 26, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Heather - I read and commented on the Down and Out post after reading your post. I really enjoyed it. I think that some bloggers put these issues out there with sensitivity (like you!)...and others, not so much. You know this topic is on my mind nearly every day! I am finally finding the courage to write about the topics I care about. And I've been noting that my readership is changing. I'm still striving to find the right mix that makes sense for me -- and for the people who come to visit. It's all so very complicated! But, you know I come down on the "let yourself shine through" side of the divide...and I love, love, love seeing more of your personality in your posts this year.
Posted by: Brigitte | January 26, 2011 at 01:24 PM
Thank you for diving deep into these issues, Heather. I'm the newbie of the comments: I've only had my blog since August. But I instantly began to seek validation from the number of pageviews and comments. And when I pour my heart into preparing, photographing, and writing about a recipe, and there are only 50 pageviews (many of which are mine because I can't get the stupid thing to stop tracking my own pageviews!, I think "Just hang it up. It's not worth it." But why do I love doing it so much? Why does it bring me such joy to plan, prepare, photograph, and write about the steps? Why does it feel like this is one of the purposes I was created for? But there are a million food blogs out there. When The Pioneer Woman cleans out her closet and is giving away an Anthrolopologie coat, she gets 23,000 comments. But I am who I am. I will keep plugging along.
And I will keep coming to your blog for my heart's medicine. Every day.
Posted by: Ginny | January 26, 2011 at 02:26 PM
heather- you're awesome! thanks for linking to the post and i hope this conversation continues as we all try remain inclusive while being genuine. thanks again.
Posted by: Down and Out Chic | January 26, 2011 at 08:48 PM
Well I don't get to post as often as I like because I work a lot. Of course I have an Etsy shop and occassionaly sell on E-Bay. But I Blog because I really enjoy sharing stories, art, pictures and more. I enjoy meeting new people and sharing ideas and techniques. I truely love the world of Blogging. It will be just a year in March, but it seems like it's been longer.
Posted by: Penny Patten | January 27, 2011 at 06:36 AM
We are fairly new to the blogging word - nine months in - but it is an amazing concept. Whenever you think you are getting a handle on this world you realize there is so much more to learn. It's a fabulous experience and the "meeting" of new friends along the way is the best!! Thanks for all of the thought provoking text this morning...
Posted by: designchic | January 27, 2011 at 08:43 AM
What an insightful observation and interesting conversation this has sparked. Thanks for sharing what you've been observing, Heather.
I hesitated to comment because I am so very new and don't feel close to the pulse of the design blogging world. But I do feel like I'm learning a good deal about myself and about how to relate to others through technology on this venture (you'd think I'd be a pro with that last one, since I met my husband on the internet...but surprisingly, I think I'm still in the awkward teenage stage of online relations!)
I've learned what I primarily want from my blog, I think. Namely, #1. to be a vehicle that helps me do the things I want to do anyway and be the kind of person I want to be...I guess mostly via accountability, but also there's something to writing things down and including pictures that feels like it solidifies things in my brain. Under that piece is the sharing part: #2 I'd love to inspire others...open possibilities for people, show different vantage points, encourage joy. And #3 I'd also like to give really wonderful people, ideas, ventures exposure (whatever amount I can).
As a newby, I'm definitely still experimenting with what all that looks like...what the specifics are under those gigantic umbrellas. And I'm still learning how my personality best interacts in the on line world: what are ways I need to grow, what are my limits, etc. For example, I'm probably not someone who can leave a ton of comments on many blogs, just like I'm not the person who can float around at a party and talk with everyone. I'm the girl that talks to a smaller group, but I get to hear and share a kind of depth that happens when you can linger for a while. And I'm to a point where I can enjoy that fact about myself; just like I enjoy the personalities of the social butterflies among us.
On that note, I leave you with my VERY LONG response ! :)
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 27, 2011 at 01:05 PM
Well, for me the change last year was that I STARTED blogging. Not because I wanted a quick win (I have a job and blogging is just a hobby), but to share what I find on the internet and what I do in my interior. First just with friends and family (my first and biggest fans), but slowly people from all over de world started to visit. And it proved to be such joy to share all the beauty I find with complete strangers! So I do not feel any competition, I keep doing what I love, showing what I like (and I am definitely not trying to copy what others do). And if people only visit and do not comment, that is fine by me (although it is nice to see people appreciate what you do, of course). I do not feel the urge to show too much of myself in words, my way of expression is through the pictures I share.
I appreciate that you are showing more of yourself, but I hope that you do not try to hard to arrest the attention or to be different. Remember the truly original people (like yourself) will not be forgotten.
Hugs, Iris
Posted by: Iris | January 27, 2011 at 03:06 PM