You'll notice some big differences on this blog today! Everything has changed! A month of indecision has given way to a new focus and a fresh start.
It began with me thinking I really wasn't too happy with my blog site. Oh of course, it was nothing to do with the way it looked. My dear helpful friend Angelia, and her lovely sister Nee, had seen to that. |
The puzzle begins
I went through a ruthless process of my blog examination. My goal was to define who I am and want to be in the blogging world.
I should tell you I am still a little apprehensive about my decision.
For me, so far, it has also been fairly uncomfortable. In an effort to find out why, I started asking myself some questions. It was interesting because the answers were not what I expected!
Your friends all say your site is great, even though you know it isn't
Your site-stats show you aren't gathering views and subscriptions
Some of your shiny new pages are a chore to keep up
Worst of all, even though you know you want to relate all of your writing to your passionate interest that started you off in the first place, it just isn't working for you.
You know you need to scrap most of your blog but you're scared of starting all over again
I've worked hard on this thing, and I've really only just begun. Right now though, I've had time to think about possible consequences of my decision, and I'm actually feeling pretty good.
I feel free. I know how everything can be incorporated into this blog with excitement, certainty and enjoyment.
Success will not depend on me, only on my commitment to you, and your reciprocal actions, so that halves the load, at least that's what I'm hoping!
Dynamite questions to ask before you build a blog site
Why do you want this blog site?
You may want to just have a site for you and your friends to meet. You might want to think about monetizing your site at some point. You might want to disseminate important information, or you may want it just so you can link to it from another site.
Definitely two schools of thought here. Some believe you need one niche topic, and only one per site! Others swear by a few different ones, so that they can use their creativity, and viewers can view whatever their choice may be. There seem to be successes in both camps.
You think so, but you might find out a whole lot more about yourself and your site, by taking 30 minutes and writing down about 50 to 100 tag lines that you can think of.
These are the terms that people looking for your site would punch into the search engines. This can be an Aaaagh! Moment. It sure was for me. talk about a 360° turn in a hurry!
What action do you want from your viewers?
If they aren't interacting, you might need to find out why? Another reason may just be that the format is not appropriate or conducive to sharing. When your topic is grieving and bereavement, people seem to have a built in resistance to engaging with it! It is almost as if doing so is taboo, and might lead to the demise of a loved one, or, God help us, even yourself!
I am fully aware that of all my articles i have written, those on bereavement and loss have least interest for most people. but I also know how important they are for those who grieve.
So if you decide to blog on a topic that brings involuntary resistance and shudders to viewers, but
know that it can be inspirational and helpful to all of society, you have to make a considered decision. Will you go for the long haul, knowing that your viewers are there, but you need to find an effective way of finding them, or do you go for the popular route of business, video games and technology?
I have chosen the long haul, knowing that my viewers comprise at least the whole of adult society.