Or, better yet, how do you feel about your blog?
This blog post has been under re-write in my head for two days now. I’ve gone back and forth with how to present this as I didn’t want it to feel like I was complaining, depressed, or other. However, there’s something about blogging that’s hard to ignore – it’s your personal psyche that can get in the way.
Think on it…if you’re having a rough go, the tonality of your blog shows that. If you’re ever depressed, your words feel that way, too. It’s a good thing I didn’t publish yesterday (because my good friend Jenn Whinnem saved me with a coolio expletived blog post and title) because my exhaustion with two months of construction and a make-shift desk on a concrete slab with drywall dust for lipstick would’ve hindered the presentation of this content.
I’m not sure I still have this right…but, let me try anyway and see if this makes sense:
I wrote a post awhile back “Social Media, We’re All Talking to Ourselves,” and it got some positive and negative commentary; in fact, I got a slap to the hand. It was written when I was in a downtick of sorts, and that post mirrored the character of the day.
When I look around and dissect my social media experience, I see a peer group of highly astute people adopting and adapting to the next big thing in social. Everyone is jumping on board the Klout, the Quora, the Empire Avenue, the Evernote, the TED, and the everything because it’s what we do – we strive for that excitement and knowledge and thirst. But, where are our clients and those we serve? They’re way behind, still pecking away at “What is Twitter?”
Recently, Aaron Sachs wrote a similar post on his blog at SymplySocial, “Social Media Consultants: Are We All Just Preaching to the Choir?“, and he suggests that social media may not be as accessible to those not on the leader board. I was eager to read his take on how we all dance to the daily evolution of social.
About Blogs
There are industrial-strength blogs that feature every single bell and whistle with the most amazing design and wow factor. There are blogs done on free WordPress templates, and there are blogs still being published on Blogger, and WordPress.com sites. Although content is still king, it’s really challenging not to look at the A-list bloggers and then take a look at your own blog; this action can produce somewhat of a deflation in spirit.
What we bloggers need to remember is that there are those who thrive and strive to present the latest and greatest app, tool, game, concept, and more. I suspect they have oodles of time (Gini Dietrich wrote she spends 40 hours a week on Spin Sucks, and she just moved into the Top 40 of the Ad Age power 150), many peeps working to find angles and produce content, and a crack IT team to manage the back end. (I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing…not assuming…guessing.)
I’m now going to speak to myself in a public forum:
Jayme, you are one person with a full client load and client service comes first. Learning the technology of social media has always been my obstacle, yet the yearn to learn is my curse and blessing. It’s OK to have a blog that speaks to people and strives for warmth with welcome reception for all types of people. It’s wonderful to publish a blog where people who are shy, who don’t often comment feel comfortable stopping in. It’s OK not to be amongst the leaders every day, for what you deliver in content comes from a passionate place and striving for that sense of community is a goal that should never be forgotten. Remember not to be mechanical, because when that happens, it’s time to stop.
As said, I’m not sure I’m making total sense…it’s so easy to look around and want to be like Gini, like Mark, like Danny, like Griddy, like Jon, and like Sarah. But, you know what? It’s OK to be like Jayme, too ( Jayme).
(Image: ValueBookShop)
Oooooh Jayme: you’ve taken the words right out of my mouth, drywall dust lipstick and all!
🙂 Always a pleasure, Kaarina!
Wow, I give myself some version of that speech pretty regularly these days with my own blog, Jayme, and I can’t believe I’m hearing it from you of all people!
I’ve been restless about my blog for the past few months: every now and then I think I want to change everything around again as if that’ll make it hotter, as if it’ll make me the next big thing, but I know that’s not true. What is true is that I don’t want to share anything that isn’t authentic and doesn’t continue to drive my blog’s purpose. If I’m not in that place and can’t find it, I will. not. write. If it’s been cold lately as I plot and plan and read and watch, for me that’s better than cranking out content on autopilot that doesn’t impact anyone. The blog won’t get frostbite.
And yes, don’t I wish I had the perfect mix of drive, patience, consistency, life circumstances, talent, and business smarts to make my blog into a flashing UFO. But keep on keeping on being you and you can’t go wrong, Jayme.
Frostbite, Shakirah. I am with you about not putting the blog on auto-pilot just to get something published. If you’re sticking to your blog’s purpose, being authentic and writing for quality, then that’s what I want to read.
Ms. Shakirah, may I remind you that everyone better have a crisis of confidence, a session with humility, and a knockdown of egoism in order to grow. Heh. Doing so in a public forum is slightly nervous yet cleansing, too; especially as there are so many wonderful people who understand and can make sense from personal experience. I’m happy for your comments and compliments; thank you.
Jayme, I am of course glad I could help you out of a jam. (ha, ha)
I think it’s good that Jayme is Jayme. As I’ve said to you in email, your blog features something I haven’t seen anywhere else: people sharing their thoughts on different topics you offer. Okay, what does that mean? Isn’t that what everybody does in a blog comment?
Well…no.
Most blog comments I read are “oh wow I couldn’t agree more I’ve had one tiny similar thought myself.” Which, I’m not slamming commenters – half the time when I read someone else’s blog that’s all I can think to say, myself. What they wrote gets me to nod my head but I guess that’s about it!
Heck, I think I’ve written the same way myself.
When I come here I see people interacting with and against your ideas, really wrestling with how to articulate their own take on an issue. I love that. And, you’ll take someone’s idea, interact with it, and blog anew, giving credit where credit is due. Love that too!
Okay lest I be accused of being a suck-up, I’ll stop now. Of course, anyone else, if you want me to come tell you what rocks about yoru blog, I will do so.
[Nodding enthusiastically]. “Oh wow, I couldn’t agree more, Jenn!” ;)))))))
Seriously, though, I came upon Jayme’s blog through Davina’s, and as we know, she’s like a force of nature on comments, man. I posted a pretty long one because she really hit the “share” button in me. And she responded, and I responded again, and she responded… I was hooked. And Jayme’s does the same.
HA HA HA HA HA and you’re so right about Davina…she’s the rare one who really takes the time to go through someone’s post and offer her take on THEIR take.
Co-signed. I like the debates here too Jenn, lots of smart folks mixing it up on various points of interest. Much better than reading ‘such a good post, thanks’ over and over again.
You know you’re right — you are a suck up; just don’t add “spin” to that b/c that’s branded by someone else we know! At least what’s jammin’ about what you said is the engagement quotient (dang, another blog topic) is more than just “couldn’t agree with you more.” Coming from those who engage @shakirah @davina and others, that’s brilliant. Thanks for the perspectives…I wrote somewhere on some comments about that solo tower thing — no one to poke holes, and this forum provides that albeit public — but who’s being authentic? WE.
Jayme, So many places to go with this. Thinking I want to tell you you’re only ‘in competition’ with yourself’ but that’s too trite for me, as I don’t always buy that crap either. Maybe telling you to relax, you are a SOLO and part of what you do is running a business, not to mention two successful blogs. And I say successful b/c they are being published, read, commented and shared; regardless of some vanity stat or number.. that’s success.
And not for nothing, Marcus Sheridan reminded me of an audience I forgot: lurkers. Those who do read our blogs but don’t tweet, comment, email or subscribe.
I have to remind myself of the same, as I am learning so much being out here and consider my time well-worth it if I don’t get a referral or land a client. Then slap my own hand as that may make me a good blogger, but poor businesswoman. *shrugs* It’s a balancing act, best platitude I got.
Behind the scenes, back-end stuff: It is a pain being your own tech support, but it also helps you develop marketable skills. I’m still in a debate of making my whole site WP or sticking with the Rapidweaver/WP combo and just upgrading. My blog (and site) are due for an update, just don’t want to make move that’s in service of the blog, but hurts the biz. Work in progress.On the ‘talking to ourselves’ – that’s getting to be an old debate and easy jab to make. Still one of my favorite lines from a Discovery blog post about that issue in the scientific world: “Credibility is built inside the echo chamber, popularity outside.” Touches on Klout and who measures what influence or status and why and who decides WTH success looks like anyway.Danny just did a good post on sameness, Gini a nice follow up. It’s easy to write that b/c well.. we do all read and write the same stuff. Duh, I mean.. we pick our blogs to read, the people we follow because at the end of the day it is about US and what we are interested in, what will be more relevant to OUR lives and OUR businesses. (Just had a convo on this about a difference in the FB vs. Twitter audiences, and that’s why: different people, motivations, uses based on different goals and interests.) Understand I really liked both posts, and yet still come at it from.. ‘there’s your guy who doesn’t know Twitter’ and it’s not all ‘same old’ to him. I don’t just rehash the old, I do put MY own style and ‘spin’ on it if you will. It’s also why I am glad I’ve found a few blogs I like that have NOTHING to do with social media and PR; they’re about life or potential, inspiration, some about blogging, or an ‘outsiders’ POV of blogging and social and Twitter. So it’s not the same voices, making the same debates. IDK.. or at least, they are ‘new’ to me.
Think I’ve rambled enough… but thinking about how it feels, my blog wants to know if my design and that shade of purple makes it look fat? FWIW.
I an always count on you to lift the spirits with the levity that smiles. Well, well said. And, when I got my hand slapped back yonder, I was reminded “I am the product of my own making,” and to your point of entering a realm that has nothing to do with our direct business is a great plan. Expand the horizons, be a lurker and learn anew. Purple does indeed need to be just so; and we also need to ensure we’re no Purple Cow, Seth. Thanks, thanks.
Jayme, I love seeing your honesty here as you take a step back and evaluate what you’re doing, and where your priorities need to be. We should all be doing that every few months.
We’ve had this talk before, you and I, about marketing vs. PR. What’s the purpose of your blog? Even a free spirit like yourself can have one overarching mission, and then let your free spirit fly under that banner!
You have enough content to fill a book. It’s OK to take a step back and look at what you’ve accomplished, and reevaluate. You’re doing a fantastic job.
I think it’s because of our conversations that I am now searching and seeking and admitting where the weaknesses are that has me in a down low. What it is, said my lawyer today, is a sign of professional maturity…dang, wasn’t really planning on growing up too soon. Do it right, or don’t write. Hmm, could be a blog post, eh? Thanks, Michelle, for pushing the envelope and meshing perspectives along with the keen support.