Friday, November 23

What makes a blogging superstar?


Lately I have been thinking a lot about my blogging. I guess being a blogger and all that is not overly surprising. A blogger should be thinking a lot about blogging. The very nature of the act leads one to do so.

What I mean is, the last few days, weeks even, I have been paying more attention to my blogging outcomes and interactions. I know that all comparisons should be taken with a grain of salt, after all no two blogs are the same. I can't help but notice some blogs seem to attract more than others. Naturally I want to be in the more rather than less, deep down who wouldn't?

deep breath, slight choke, leading to a sigh

I have been at this whole blogging and Internet writing for quite some time. Like years. And years. This blog only dates back to 2008 but I do have a few things around the place that date back to 2007.

I worry that maybe I have peaked and somehow missed it all.

But then I remember how much I really want to be a writer. Not just a writer that is so, purely and simply because they write on a regular basis. That is not why I write. I write because I want people to read my words. I want to share and to connect.

I want much more than that as well. I want to inspire and bring hope. Let others know they are not along and all that. I want to spread love and laughter and bring happiness wherever I can. Really I just want it all.

Yet for some reason it just doesn't seem to be. And I can't help but ask why.
Deep deep down though I know I don't really need to ask, the answer is one I know only to well.


For as much effort as I put into to creating the wonder that is A Parenting Life I should be happy with the outcomes because really they are equal. If I want a greater outcome then it only stands to reason that I need to put in a greater effort.

I just want need to make sure that the effort is in the right direction and that is where in all my problems lay. How does one work out something like that?
Please feel free to offer any suggestions that you may have.

In the mean time I will keep ploughing through the some five hundred posts that are floating around here. I can't really explain why or how but for some reason I feel that the answers I am searching may be lurking in there.

Mind you some of what I have read already have made me shudder and wonder what was I thinking, others have made me give myself a pat on the back just for having a go and others have filled me with hope. If you subscribe to my Facebook or Google+ pages you will be privy to me sharing all my favourite ones.

Or you could of course have a poke around yourself. Go on I dare you. There are plenty of links in the side bar to keep you entertained for hours if not days.

Tell me
What is it I do well?
What don't I do well?
Do you think I have a worthy story to tell?

Go on spill the beans I need to know.

doing the usual Friday Flog WithSomeGrace

20 comments:

  1. Keep it up Rhianna. Comparison is a tricky one, and all it ends up doing for me is get me down, but you just need to stay true to yourself and your own personal reasons for doing what you're doing. xx

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    1. Thanks Francesca, generally I am not into the whole comparison thing but every now and then I think you need to stop and look at what others are doing, the outcomes they have and whether any of that may be relevant to what you are doing.

      Thanks for stopping by

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  2. I'm still a very new blogger (just celebrated 1 year) and so not in a position to hand out advice. My limited experience is showing me that blogging is a fickle beast and I'm really not sure what the secret is to being successful in this new environment. I try to post consistently and the few people that read seem to like it but I really have to find a way to devote as much time to the marketing as to the writing. "Build it and they will come" doesn't apply to blogging. "Build it then flog it to death" seems a more appropriate mantra, and one I have to get better at.

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    1. Yes blogging certainly is a fickle industry and one that few really seem to know with certainty about. Congrats on the one year mark as well.

      I think you are right about the whole build it and flog it thing. Which is where I fall down, even if I had the confidence to constantly flog my wares as much as needed I am not sure where I would find the time. Between writing, reading and commenting (not to mention mothering) there is little time left for promoting some days.

      Thanks for dropping in Janine

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  3. I think you just have to stick at it, and like you said, make the effort. It is so easy to think "why do I bother!??!" when you post something and get 10 hits or no comments or 1 comment etc. And maybe it's about getting back to just writing for YOU. I find the more I try to write something that people will relate to, the harder it is and the more forced it is. Plus there are sooooooo many bloggers out there! Just be true to yourself, I think you'll find it will all fall into place.

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    1. Yes being true to yourself is the key Aroha isn't it? I like to think I am it is just hard some days to not get caught up in it all. I write because I want people to read me and if I can't see that happening I find it hard to write. I guess I just have to keep putting myself out there. Thanks for commenting

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  4. A friend once told me we should blog for our own satisfaction - not that of others. I've stuck with that and it works for me. I do like being in control of my own blog.
    That said, I do love visiting yours! :) x

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    1. Awe shucks thanks lovely. I do agree that we need to do it for ourselves, it is just that one of my needs is the need to know that people are reading. If only I could let go of that. Thanks for stopping by :)

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  5. Keep up the great job you're doing. As the others have said, blogging is fickle and the market is flooded, but you have a readership that likes you for being you. I guess there are lots of ways to step up the marketing/networking/PR if you have the time, but I like to think the old 'do what you love and the money will come' adage is true - keep enjoying the writing foremost. Blogging is also a kind of therapy for most of us though I reckon, which means lots of self doubt and questioning one's direction is somewhat inevitable!

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    1. Thanks Lara. I have spent along time holding onto that do what you love concept and every now then I can't help but wonder if that really will be the case. Questioning and self doubt can be tricky but sometimes needed to spur us on.

      Thanks for stopping by

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  6. I am a new blogger (started in June) and so far I have found your posts very inspiring...
    Keep going lovely lady, its a pleasure to read your blog xx

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    1. Oh Beck thank you for your kind words and right back at you. I really appreciate you dropping in

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  7. Oh and in case any one is interested I have already done a follow up post to this
    http://www.aparentinglife.com/2012/11/things-i-know-about-blogging.html

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  8. I love your style of writing (especially the fiction!) and enjoy the variety of things you blog about too. If you are keen to grow your blog then I have heard that the pro-blogger e book "30 days to a better blog" is very good.
    You could also consider approaching a blogger you admire and asking for some mentoring.
    xx

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  9. I haven't been blogging even a year yet, but from what I have learned it's all about effort (and time honestly). But even when you feel like you contribute a lot you often don't reap any kind of rewards.

    So even sometimes effort isn't enough. So no idea sorry.

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  10. I have the same thoughts at times Rhianna. In my case though I know it's all down to me. I know that I don't have the time to devote to the blog properly or the time to comment everywhere or be on social media 24/7. I also know, deep down, that I'm not the best writer or blogger anyway so I have learned to lower my expectations for the blog and be happy with what comes. That doesn't mean I'm not jealous of newbies who are popular straight away or not envious of bloggers who are freakishly talented - I'm often a shocking shade of green! But I suppose I have come to terms with my place in the blogosphere and I'm now trying to concentrate on building up stronger relationships with those bloggers I like and admire most. BTW, you're one of them! Keep on doing what you are doing and I really liked your follow up post too :)

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  11. Just keep writing honey, that way you will continue to connect and share etc. but also parallel that with reading really good writers as you will find it sinks into yr DNA and you can start crafting and experi,ending with ur writing more, my faves ... Ernest Hemingway (although I'm not a hunter) and Patrick white. He's not an easy read but his prose leave me breathless. x

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  12. Sorry about the typos in last comment.

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  13. I think you're very good at keeping true to yourself in your posts. That's why I keep coming back.
    I find that with blogging that it's not just about making an effort for your own content but what you give to others - the comments that you make, the sharing of other people's posts, etc.

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  14. I guess it comes down to what you want to achieve with your blog - for me, I get satisfaction in writing posts, taking photos, and working on my blog. I find it interesting to see my stats grow, but I don't really care whether or not I have a huge following. I have no plans to monetise etc so it is all really just fro me. So long as I am true to myself, the rest doesn't matter.

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Fairy wishes and butterfly kisses to you, thanks for stopping by, it really means a lot, you taking the time so say hi. I try as much as I can to write a reply but if for some chance I don't get to it please know that I always read them.