in Self-Reflection, The Writing Life, Uncategorized 832 Words

A Wake-Up Call for this Blogger

When I started Janet’s Writing Blog more than a decade ago, I didn’t know what I was doing. I had not read many blogs, but I thought I was ready to jump in and write my own after being prompted by my niece’s husband. Craig is much more tech savvy than I. He designed my website as it served me well for 20 years. His interests, time, and business responsibilities changed over the years, so in January 2023 my website was redesigned by Carolina Custom Designs.

My blog floundered for several years in the beginning as I tried to find my niche. I played around with how often to blog and how long a blog post should be. Things have gone more smoothly since I settled on posting every Monday.

Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash

I have slowly realized the potential my blog. In fact, I know I haven’t yet fully understood its potential.

It astounds me that people all over the world read my blog! In January 2024, for example, people in 36 countries read my blog.

I’m fortunate to live in the United States of America where I have freedom of speech and freedom to read anything I want.

I don’t want to run out of subject matter. I usually plan my blog post topics as much as a year in advance, but this year my editorial calendar just isn’t coming together like it has in the past.

Should I make some changes in my blog?

Last year was a busy year of getting my website redesigned; starting a newsletter in March; offering a free downloadable copy of my short story, “Slip Sliding Away” to everyone who subscribes to my newsletter; publishing a local history book, Harrisburg, Did You Know? Cabarrus History, Book 2; publishing my first ghost story, “Ghost of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse: An American Revolutionary War Ghost Story”; and, with my sister, Marie, published a cookbook, The Aunts in the Kitchen: Southern Family Recipes.

With all I had going on, I failed to keep expanding my editorial calendar. Having Covid in December, a health scare of a different nature at the same time which lapped over into January, and intermittent internet and telephone service for two weeks after a January 9 storm, I was in a mental fog until the first week in March. I do have the next four weekly blog posts planned and partially written; however, some weeks in the rest of 2024 need to be fleshed out.

More than 1,100 “follow” my blog, but most of them probably don’t read it every week. I try to keep in mind that although I have some loyal readers every week, there is always the chance (and hope!) that this will be the week when someone reads my blog for the first time. What can I write this week that will please my regular readers but also grab the attention of a first-time reader so much that they become a subscriber?

I don’t want to bore my loyal readers with references to my books, short stories, and website; however, I want that new reader to be aware of what I’ve written. It is a delicate balancing act.

What Ryan Lanz says a blogger should do

A list I keep in front of me as I plan my blog topics is Ryan Lanz’s “22 Ways to Impress a First-Time Blog Reader With Any Post.” Lanz sets the bar high! I don’t have Mr. Lanz’s permission to quote his list, but I’ll throw out several items on the list to give you an idea of what a blogger is challenged to do with every post:

  • “Tell them something they don’t know.”
  • “Tell them something they DO know.”
  • “Help them solve a problem.”

It only gets more challenging as you read the other 19 items on his list! The one that always trips me up is number 3. I have a feeling in my more than 13 years of blogging, I have probably never solved anyone’s problem! I just don’t see that as my responsibility.

My plan

The first months in a calendar year tend to prompt us into new beginnings and reflection. That’s what I will continue to do over the coming weeks, and I hope I’ll find enough topics of interest to keep blogging every Monday for the foreseeable future.

Stay tuned.  Next week I will blog about the books I read in April.

Until my next blog post

I hope you have a good book to read.

If you are a blogger, you can probably identify with today’s post.

Don’t forget the people of Ukraine.

Remember to subscribe to my e-newsletter before the May issue if you want to learn about an on-going archaeological dig in North Carolina! Just visit https://www.janetmorrisonbooks.com and click on “Subscribe.” My thank-you gift to you is a downloadable copy of my historical short story, “Slip Sliding Away.”

Janet

25 thoughts on “A Wake-Up Call for this Blogger”

  5. “Tell them something they DO know.”

    That’s such an important one for book-blogging. I get far more traffic and comments on posts about books everyone knows and many have read than I do on posts about new releases. In a sense, I use the classics as bait to get people following, in the hope that if they agree with my feelings about, say, Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie or Moby-Dick, they might be more tempted to trust my judgement on books they haven’t heard of.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Interesting points. I began blogging at the behest of my publisher as an author to keep in touch with readers and (maybe) to attract new readers. It quickly became a habit. I post every day–but every other day is just photos. My topics are all over the place, not nearly so well thought out as yours.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. It’s always great to see a comment from you, Vicki. I appreciate getting your perspective and to know how you became a blogger. I can’t imagine posting every day, since I’m struggling a tad now to do it weekly. You are an inspiration for me in so many ways. Thank you for subscribing to my blog!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Thank you for your encouraging words, Diane. I marvel at how your posts are so perfectly illustrated with step-by-step photos of the recipes you share. I’m sure that piece of the puzzle is more time-consuming than we realize. Thanks for being a loyal reader!

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  14. I guess the wake up call was my realizing I’m in panic stage now because my future blog topics aren’t well planned. Plus, if I don’t get my editorial calendar shaped up soon, I’ll need to cut back on how often I post. I knew what I was thinking about… I just failed to make the connection clear to the reader. LOL!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I appreciate your input. I’m relying on God to show me where He wants my blog to go, too. After 11 years, I think I’m suffering from a little burn out and it might be the time for me to walk it back to every other week. Time will tell. Thank you for your perspective.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. It is fun! It’s challenging and is a good exercise for my brain to keep coming up with topics. Thank you for taking time to respond to my post!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. That’s very interesting! I hadn’t thought about it that way, but your example is a perfect example. I will keep that in mind as I struggle to find topics some weeks. Sorry I’m slow responding to your comment. My computer was out-of-order from Monday until a few minutes ago. I’m playing catch up today.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Thank you, Beverley. I apologize for being so slow to respond. My sister and I just took a 10-day vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was wonderful to be away from the computer for so long! I could have checked on email and my blog every day, but then it wouldn’t have been a vacation. Haha! Thank you for your encouragement about my blog.

    Liked by 1 person

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