No matter if you celebrate Christian holidays and New Year’s or not, December brings with it high-level stress to finish year-end tasks, send the books to the CPA for interim numbers, close the business on a high note, take left-over PTO days, conduct a few business trips, and also spend time with family because schools are closed.
For we who do celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus, decorating of the home, card sending, baking, and throwing or attending a party or two, that’s another level of commitment that sends me into a tizzie.
Add the fact that I’m now at the gym nearly four times weekly directly during blog-writing time, and what part of that doesn’t wreak havoc on the blogging schedule?
This post is for me, and I hope you’re gonna nod your head in time to mine and agree; take some ‘raderie from this community who all know how much life happens (and it’s OK).
If I go off the grid for two weeks in December, here’s what’s NOT going to happen:
>>My readers will understand for all the reasons above, and they will slowly come back when content (and me) are fresh in January.
>>My blog will lie dormant for a bit, or I’ll capture some fave old posts for newcomers here and arm the queue with oldies but goodies.
>>There’s no impact to my billable time if I don’t blog every day…blogging is an extra bonus, and added feature to my services (uhmm, for my own brand and not my clients’).
>>My SEO (ahem, for anyone who knows me, they also know how much I disregard that word) won’t suffer (really?) because if you don’t know what it is in the first place, then you have no idea if it’s going to suffer!
>>There won’t be any guest posters because a) I haven’t asked and b) everyone else is in the same boat.
>>My guilt for not delivering on content three times weekly may not be overcome; however, when inspiration has fallen off the cliff because of all that aforementioned I shouldn’t be blogging anyway, right?
Heh.
And, so, dear community, this is my December blogging dilemma and my lame ass blog post for this week. I was riding the comet from the success and ‘raderie of Share Your Blog Here, but that’s extinguished until I resurrect the comments into a fastidious post and literally share your blog again (which I plan to do, don’t you worry).
Did anyone nod their head in syncopation?
Jayme, there’s a perfume blogger who’s taking all her final exams right now, and prepared ahead of time by interviewing other perfume bloggers, sending each a list of 4 or 5 questions and letting them “write her post.” She’s got a fresh post every single day! I suppose the way she does it without stress is by letting THEM decide whether or not they want backlinks, SEO (heehee), free publicity, and links to their social media profiles — or not. If they send back their answers, great. If not, it’s alright, because she’s got others in the stack waiting to be published.
Knowing her, she thought way ahead, too.
There’s a beauty blogger who does the same thing, except she sends interview questions to female celebrities who use social media, asking them questions about beauty (what they find beautiful, what’s the most beautiful movie they’ve ever seen, what their favorite beauty product is, what their beauty tips are). She posts approximately once a week.
Both bloggers mix their industry questions with personal questions, thinking of the reader. Such a simple but great idea!
Organization was never one of my strong suits. (Kidding.) If this woman has that kind of time and response for her blog, all the power to her! I bow in admiration! If I could complete the stories and ideas I have thought of, I’d be bombing it up all over the place! As it is, you guys are relegated to what comes when it does! Thanks for commenting on my “lame” post this week!
But these two bloggers don’t write the posts, they let their subjects do the writing for them, to save time!
Perfume Blogger Arielle Weinberg’s time-saving interviews with other perfume bloggers: https://thescentsofself.com/perfume-blogger-interviews/
Beauty Blogger Gigi Saffron Ever’s time-saving interviews with celebrities: https://gigisaffronever.com/category/interviews-with-the-beautiful/
My favorite blog is Mixergy. Video interviews with entrepreneurs: https://mixergy.com/interviews/
Maybe interviewing comes easily for me, so this seems like a major time-saver? I am pretty nosy. OK, very nosy. I ask questions that get me elbowed or kicked under the table. This is why I love interview posts!
We’ll still be here when you get back. Go rest, play, have fun this Christmas season! Your kidlet won’t be a kidlet forever. I miss mine so much!
Wow. All I can think of is what is her rate of return? She/they must have to send out oodles of these requests and questions to get takers! But, if the blogs are highly successful, then that’s part and parcel, eh? You’re really all up in this perfume stuff! Good for you!! So cool. And, BTW? Thanks!!
I think you might be surprised, Jeff Goins approaches tons of influential people (including Seth Godin!), and tons of people were asking Jeff his secret, so he wrote this post: https://goinswriter.com/influence-people/
FAB! Just read Jeff’s post; he asked! Guess why there are no GP’ers here? I didn’t ASK! But, you already knew that!! Thanks for great comments, Jason.
I’ll consider that an ask — Would you like one? I adore guest posting and tend to hit ’em outta the park 😉
I have a tremendous wealth of wisdom to share on creativity + success 😀
Consider it done! Please and thank you! Thanks for the suggestion!
And consider IT done, did you receive my email this morning? 🙂
Head nodding at your post. Head shaking at Michelle’s examples below. (hee hee) Who does that? The beauty blogger apparently! 😉
Cheers to you, my friend. Of course we’ll all be here when you’re ‘refreshed’ as you will for me when I do the same.
Indeed.
This is me nodding my head in agreement. Can’t you tell?! Keeping the plates spinning can be difficult under normal circumstances, but December is far from normal.
I think we often feel the tug of two different feelings – the need to ramp up and prepare for 2012 (and encourage our clients and readers to do so) vs. the need to pause, take a beat and just breathe. I’ve written about this a number of times. It’s a balancing act for sure, but at the end of the day, we all have to do what’s in OUR OWN best interests, not someone else’s.
So, dear friend, I say Merry Christmas! We’ll see you in January. 😉
Happiest of the season to you, too, Laura! Now off to NYC for a major business meeting; I think the travel is what gets me the most. Balance. #ThatIsAll
Jayme, this is beautiful. Thank you.
There are so many powerful beliefs in here, that make a huge difference in people’s lives.
People will understand, I believe in myself, I follow my inspiration, and through these things… I move towards my success.Amen to that, you rock! 🙂
You are so cute. Thank you. B.L.U.S.H.I.N.G.
I mean it, in my work I encounter large numbers of people who are imprisoned by their own worry about all those things!
An’ I’m cute ’cause I P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E. 😉
(Actually I wrote a guest article about that very thing last week on InspireHisDesire.com… which I’ll link if it’s invited 😉 )
I hear ya, but I’ll probably keep up with my once a wk schedule; it can be such a grind at times however……..
Good luck whatever you decide, and you know where to find us. Have a happy holiday season and Merry Christmas.
Maybe I’ll quit blogging for the rest of the month too.