Some thoughts on blogging that have been rattling around my brain:
1. Sometimes I am asked by companies (like BlogHer, for example) to check a box which indicates what type of blog I write. I’m always at a loss. I know there are many, many bloggers who blog about one thing, whether it’s DIY, design, fashion, books, coupons, whatever. They’ve found their niche and almost exclusively write posts that have to do with that subject. I suppose that makes their blogs more marketable, in terms of ad revenue, etc. If I was to write only about decorating, for example, I would become known for that and eventually, sponsors and big corporations would take notice and all sorts of opportunities would come my way.
But here’s the problem: I have too many interests. I love to decorate. I love to read. I love to garden. I love to DIY. I love to write the occasional thought-provoking post about life. I could never narrow down all my passions to one. If I did that, I wouldn’t be speaking in my voice. I’d be shaping the blog with an end result in mind that simply isn’t me. I’m not at all saying that niche bloggers are doing that. Not at all. They are blogging about a particular passion. I’m just saying that, for me, it wouldn’t ring true.
You know I love my work in the theater. There are other teachers/coaches out there who live for their work. It is all consuming. I’ve never been that way. This may be a failing on my part, but I have too many interests other than theater and I like to make time for all of them. Same thing here on the blog.
I usually just check the box next to “Life” because that seems to make the most sense. I blog about my life. That certainly won’t appeal to everyone and I understand that. But it is me, warts and all.
If you had to, how would you classify your blog?
2. You all know I have advertising on this blog. It brings in some, not a great deal by any means, much needed income. I try to limit the amount of advertising so that the blog doesn’t become all about the ads. Right now, I’m just using BlogHer ads. BlogHer has been very good to me. Their support of all kinds of bloggers – giving their voices a chance to be heard, as well as the opportunity to earn some income – is admirable.
It’s a balancing act. The most important thing for me is to share my thoughts with you each day. The writing is, and always has been, the most important thing for me. Writing is cathartic. The discipline of writing a post each and every day has been enormously important for me. And finding the best way to put those thoughts down on ‘virtual’ paper, finding the right word, the right phrase, is what I love. I’ve become a better writer since I started this blog over 4 years ago.
I share the occasional book review and book giveaway and the rare sponsored review. But almost every post on this old blog is about my life – good, bad or indifferent. I want you to know that I strive for authenticity and this blog will never be solely about advertising or sponsored posts. Far from it.
Advertising on blogs has become accepted. Not long ago, many of us questioned whether there should be ads on blogs, myself included. Over time, I realized that bloggers put a great deal of work and research into their posts and why not be compensated? More power to them.
But it is a balancing act. Too many ads are a turn-off. Too many sponsored posts are a turn-off. Too many “look at what I got from such-and-such a company for free” posts are a turn-off.
I don’t claim to have the answer, but I will always strive for an original content-heavy blog. The words and photographs are the most important thing. Without them, MHC would be just another blog. Who am I kidding? Maybe it is just another blog. But it’s my blog and I’m proud of it.
Any thoughts, my friends?
I love your writing style, Claudia. I never know what I’m going to find when I come over here to visit. And that’s part of why I love it so! I have ads, because that’s how I help pay my bills. I too once thought I’d never use them. But life changes, and you have to go with it sometimes.
Brenda
I’ve wanted to start a blog, but like you, Claudia, I would have a hard time picking a catagory. I get bored rather quickly with blogs that are “one subject” blogs. And will not stay with a blog if it seems to be a “look at what I bought” blog. Sharing a purchase on occasion is ok, but not on a daily basis. I too have many things I’m interested in and have had a hard time narrowing it down to start a blog. Thinking of you and Riley.
I love your blog Claudia and checking in is part of my morning routine (with coffee of course!)
You have managed to keep your ads to a minimum, which I am thankful for. Some blogs are so full of advertising that I simply can’t focus on the blogger’s message. I praise you for keeping your blog “real”…it feels as though you are a friend :)
This is what makes your blog YOUR blog. I like seeing what you are going to write about on any given day!!
My blog has turned into a crafting blog which kind of makes me happy! It is a journal of things that I have made, and the story of my etsy shop, which I am proud of. I also throw in snippets of fun things I do besides sewing. I really try to make it a happy place to visit…kind of like a 5 minute vacation :) xoxo Debbie
I love to write about all sorts of things. That is what i feel blogging is about. Its our free choice to write about what we like..or how our mood is that day.
I have learnt a lot through blogging and made lovely friends. Its cyber socializing.
Some have ads, some sell on etsy..other have their own little “niche” so to say.
Wish you good happy blogging days.
val
I love to read your blog Claudia not only because of similiar interests but as women we all seem to have the same things going on in life and it is nice to share with others. I guess I started my blog to share ideas about decorating which I love to do but after so much decorating you run out of things to blog about and then I found that I guess I am not as forthcoming about personal things even though it would be great to share with others. I just kind of freeze up creatively. Maybe I will be brave one of these days about doing that and change things up. For now I am grateful to have you to read. :) Hugs, Patti
Claudia when I started my blog it was about thrifty things, junking finds and the like! Now it’s a LIFE blog for sure. I love it this way. I write what is going on, what I feel. Oh I still Junk and Tablescape and share all that but my blog is my voice. I don’t have any ads on mine. I’ve applied to BlogHer twice with no results. It’s really the only ads that appeal to me. So for now I blog for love only…LOL. I enjoy your blog, your voice and would miss it so much if it changed! hugs, Linda
Hi Claudia, I enjoy your blog, especially when you write about your collectibles, gardening, decorating and your dogs. (I am hoping Riley is hanging in there okay).
A lot of blogs were started by artists, crafters, etc who like to talk about their work, and give people a place to link to their shops. I personally don’t like commercial ads on blogs, especially if there are a lot of pop-ups. I hate watching commercial tv. If it bothers me, I simply don’t read that blog. I admit I don’t read your reviews of products as I have other blogs to read and don’t want to spend time reading this type of post. Both my blogs are commercial free. When I have giveaways it is stuff I have purchased on my own. My book reviews are books I have purchased and want to share with people who follow my blog as I know many have same interests as me. My main blog is about all kinds of things in my life and love of nature, and my new blog is about the kittens I just rescued and am raising.
I do enjoy your blog and read it every day with my morning coffee. I hope I haven’t offended you with my stance on ads. No offense intended. I think you have a very interesting life that is a good read.
Claudia, like you say, many blogs target a certain audience.
There are decorating, fashion, mommy blogs, review blogs, like I tell my friends who don’t really know what blogging is, there is literally something for everyone.
Myself, I have 3 blogs now because I did not want to overcrowd my first blog and I have many interests. When I started my Heirloom Garden I wanted to have a blog about gardening. I am also a “Foodie” so I combined the two and my blog is a “Gardening & Foodie” blog.
I also restarted my Reclaimed Furniture business and because I have my Esty shops, which are connected to my first blog “Wicked Faerie Queen”, I did not want to confuse anyone with even more on that blog so I have my “13 Mockingbirds” just for my furniture.
Now my first blog and my true love is “Wicked Faerie Queen”. I started it because I was given advice that if you wanted to generate revenue for your Etsy Shops you should start a blog. At first I just had my art on there and gradually as I visited other people, like you, I realized that I did have interests that might be attractive to others.
I now post everyday, even if no one is reading, it is interesting to me, and that is really why we blog isn’t it. I call my blog “Wicked Faerie Queen” a blog about Life, Decorating, Art & Just About Everything Else”.
I have always thought of your blog & Brenda’s blog as blogs about “Living Life”.
I love to pop in everyday just to see what is going on with you guys.
I sometimes think when I have very little comments “is anyone out there” but you know, I don’t really care because I still love it and enjoy compiling my posts. I do it for me first and if anyone else enjoys it that is just a bonus.
Keep posting, I am reading, and I enjoy what you have to say.
hugs,
Sue
I particularly enjoy your blog because it IS about so many different things, and in my humble opinion, you are very skilled at balancing your content and ads.
Surely a “life” blog keeps all of your options open. I envy the passion of niche bloggers, but I know I could not consistently work at or write about one thing (that’s why there’s an ETC at the end of my crocheting blog title!)
I hope you keep doing what you’re doing. MHC is a great read.
Good morning. I too would be hard pressed to classify my blog into one particular area. I blog about life. My life has many interests! I blog about all of them. I did apply to Blogher but have not heard from them yet. I used to be totally turned off by a blog with a lot of ads. But as you said, we have a voice. And why not use our voices. I do keep that in mind when I post. I don’t usually blog about anything unless it is upbeat.
I thoroughly enjoy your blog!!!
XO Kris
I think you’ve hit the “right compromise” with your blog, sweets. I wouldn’t think otherwise about it at all. As I’ve said before, we all have to do what we have to do.
Yours is one of my favorite blogs to peruse when eating toast in the morning and your thoughts on life are certainly thought provoking. I’d call it a “life” blog also. I’d give that definition to mine too. I think I’ve also honed my writing and photography skills through the years with my blog and that was a goal of mine. While I don’t have many followers, that’s not my goal. My goal is to put my thoughts into words on paper and hope they touch someone to at least think about life positively instead of negatively. I’m such a positive person that it’s hard reading negative things.
xoxo,
Connie
Come and see Miss Caroline’s new “art” on her mummy’s toes! We laughed till we cried on that one. Great grands are soooo much more fun that just the grands!
Claudia, I love your blog. The rich variety of subjects all weave together the story of a woman’s life and that speaks to me. Your openness helps me feel as if I’m having a chat with a friend in the morning over coffee. It’s very comfortable.
On the subject of your ads, I appreciate how I’m not hit in the face with pop ups or music or auto-playing commercials when I come here. Running that gauntlet when I visit a blog makes me absolutely crazy and I’ve dropped a few blog subscriptions because of it. The ads on your site are tastefully placed and I don’t have to fight my way through to see what you’ve written.
I had to smile when I read your post this morning. I’ve had a long night of wrestling with Blogger layout fail. For some reason they dropped my background and left my poor little blog stripped and nekkid for all to see. I finally got something up on the poor old girl but it’s not what I want and I came close to drop kicking the whole thing about 3:00 am this morning. You helped me to focus reminding me why I took up blogging in the first place and why I’m going glove up and go back into blog surgery -right after another cup of coffee. :)
You’re doing fine Claudia. Keep up the good work.
– Cassandra from ‘A Renaissance Woman’
Claudia so much of what you wrote seems to describe how I feel also. It’s hard to pick just one box, we are not one dimensional cut outs, we all have interests, loves, dislikes, and things change in our life.
When I started Muddy Boot Dreams it was a gardening blog, with the background of our hope to have those muddy boots one day. Now that we have achieved our dream of living up here, I am kind of at a cross roads…definitely I have expanded beyond the gardening genre, that was way to constricting for me, now I tick the LIFE box, but it doesn’t really describe me either.
I love your blog, you make me think, you make me wonder, and you make me dream. I look forward to reading about your life, and how you guys deal with it. We are all ourselves, and in the end that’s who we have to be true to…ourselves.
As for advertising, I was one of those never on my blog, actually I was embarrassed to start running them, but the cost of the server is high, and it’s nice to have a little bit of money to go towards the bills.
I vote we keep doing what we do best, which is writing like who we are…genuine people, with happy days, and some not so good days…
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I am drawn to “life” blogs. Those that are filled with honest, down to earth, day to day thoughts and activities. Some blogs I visit purely for inspiration. Others are like visiting an old friend … and those are the ones I go back to again and again. Wishing you a beautiful day. Tammy
Hmmm second try ~ first time bounced.
That’s why the readers, those not bloggers, come in to enjoy not only your comments, but all the fine women posting comments today : we come because you are not imaginary friends but real authentic people. Stay loose. All the best to Riley.
Claudia, I started my blog for me. My son suggested that I try it and once I started I couldn’t stop. I have some ads, but don’t make ANYTHING off of it. I have never tried BlogHer. Maybe I should. My blog is about my little life and my experiences. I started it to keep family members up to date on goings on. Our pets are a big part of our life, but certainly don’t replace our kids – hey we are moving across the country to be near them! I struggle with my blog identity because I feel I cover a lot of topics, usually frivilous. If I had to have a “theme” it would be “positive”. I always try to stay positive on my blog. Because in life I tend to dwell on the negative. So I’ve changed my mind. I would classify my blog as “therapy for the mind and don’t take yourself so seriously. We all have stuff, but let’s focus on the good stuff”. Claudia. You always make me think. So I feel you should label your blog as the “thinking persons guide to life”. Ann
Dear friend,
I am proud of you and your writing. Your posts are about life. The words life and love are similar in that both are broad and cannot be defined just described. As I have written before, I enjoy reading your posts.
I love that you write from the heart, Claudia. I would be hard-pressed to describe my own blog, too. I love so many things but probably tend to be a bit heavy on the grandkids’ posts…and humor…I have to have a bit of humor.
You just keep doing what you’re doing cuz you are perfect than me- xo Diana
I have been thinking about the same things, Claudia. I even wrote a post about it today, after taking a 2 month break from the blog world to regroup.
Your blog is one of my favorites. You have a talent for writing and your personality shines through.
I agree with you, I have varied interests so my blog is not about just one thing. I write my blog for me, I doubt any one else reads it but that is ok, I do it for me. I like to write so its a good place to pour that part of my world.
I enjoy your blog very much. It has a little bit of everything and that is what makes it so interesting. You just keep doing what you are doing.
The thing about ads and music on blogs:) If you are like me and live in a rural area…the amount of internet usage you get every day is limited by your provider…sometimes when there are lots of ads…it uses up you allotment. I think you have about the right amount, because it doesn’t move my hughes meter just to open your blog:) You are one of my favorite bloggers and I check on you and your dogs every day.
If I had to pick a category, I’d be in trouble..I take pictures of just about everything and then write something about them..I have dry periods throughout the year when I really have to struggle…Usually in the winter..Keep doing what you’re doing..I read it every day. I have very few readers and that’s OK I guess..I just like doing it.
Claudia~
what are my thoughts on this subject,you ask? Don’t you know? It’s like you are in my head already!
Just this evening, I was washing and cutting peaches for the latest new recipe I was trying out…and I was considering all these things. What is my blog about? Do I advertise or not? Do I zoom-in, presumably finding that one niche to write about day in and day out? How boring that would be. Does that mean I find other’s blogs, that blog that way,boring? No. Not what I’m saying. What I mean is for me– I need variety. It is what makes me thrive. I become too put off and tired of the same old thing. But when I read, and am searching for something– I DO gravitate to those niche blogs, if that is what I’m shopping for. But, when I want to become connected– I come to blogs like yours and others; that post daily about their lives. It keeps me grounded. Like I have friends all over; all of whom I am a part of their lives too.
Thanks for sharing OUR thoughts…{wink}…I couldn’t have said better myself! Pat
now, if I could just learn to write better. I don’t attend to that part of blogging and am afraid, I’m sloppy in that arena.