I’ve been blogging since December 2012 and I’ve posted my thoughts about the platform a few times. Figured I should revisit the topic since this is the only social media platform that I’ve consistently maintained. Twitter moved too fast for me to feel like I was getting anywhere. Facebook’s algorithm changed to make it harder to use for personal and business use. At least, I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have the money and time to sink into it. LinkedIn, Tumblr, Pinterest, and the rest come and go from my attention. That leaves WordPress, which I’ve used as a hub. Has it been working out? I can’t tell, but I have learned a few things.
First, you shouldn’t run around copying everyone else. Instead, you need to come up with your own identity because the blog is an extension of that. This is regardless of the topic too. Much of it comes down to writing style, but also usage of pictures and videos as well as any recurring post types. For example, I do a 7 tips and a Ye Olde Shoppe skit from time to time. I talk a lot about writing, my books, and do poetry. Other people having weekly story entries or views into their minds if they’re an artist. Standing out from the pack is easier than one would think, but it takes bravery. Just put yourself out there and adjust as you move along, which is an endless process. Also, avoid plagiarizing and apologize if you accidentally take something that you shouldn’t. That happens a lot with art that we think is public use, but isn’t.
Interaction is another key component here. Commenting on other blogs helps to bring attention to your own. This can be difficult since it takes a lot of time to read and think of a good response. I’ve become a little hermit-like here ever since the divorce and new job, but prior to that I tried to move around. You’ll find another challenge here is that bloggers disappear all the time. You might have a vast network at one point and then it dwindles to a handful as people quit, groups that you can’t join are formed, and interests divert. It’s hard to rebuild, especially if you can’t figure out what happened. Still, that is the nature of the beast. You also have a lot of people who only ‘like’ a post and those who will never return the comment favor. That’s everywhere, so don’t think it’s only a blog thing.
I’m doing a tip post on Wednesday, so I won’t go into too much. Personally, I find blogging to be the most worthwhile even though I’ve been so busy that I can’t wander around WordPress. Not even sure how to do it these days. I read a lot of posts that I can’t think of comments for and hit a point where I feel lame hitting ‘like’ and walking away. Reblogs are another challenge since I’m usually on my phone, which tends to have me follow a reblog link to a page that it won’t let me comment on. It’s been that way for about a year, which is frustrating. Technical issues are always going to be a headache for any social media platform. Still, I hope to keep this blog going for as long as I can. Considering I schedule posts like this months in advance (I’m writing this in August while in Baltimore), this blog might last longer than I do. That’ll be awkward. People get 3-4 months of posts after I’m long gone. Yeah, that’s morbid, but I get an odd chuckle out of the thought.
What do you think about blogging? How has your blogging adventure gone?
drinking away memories of her childhood and life as a teen runaway.
Legends of Windemere 