This week’s Guest Editor is Hollie Smith – a parenting author, which I thought would make her some kind of parenting expert, but sadly this appears to not be the case as she freely admits to being just as bewildered and besieged by her children as the rest of us are. You can find Hollie on her blog and also over on Twitter as @holliemsmith41 – go and say hello. She’s nice. When she was asked to be our Guest Editor, Hollie’s thoughts turned worryingly confessional – why she started blogging in the first place (it wasn’t a ‘calling’ *shock*), and also how little she’s learned along the way…
Hollie writes…
So here I am, a year and a half into my blogging journey. At this stage, I can hardly claim to be a ‘newbie’ any more. But I haven’t stopped feeling like one. I know infinitely more about the business of blogging than I did when I set out. And yet, on the timeline of blogging know-how, I’m still floundering around in pre-history.
I wrote my first post in January last year. Everyone has a reason for beginning to blog, and mine was not that noble, really, it just seemed to me that blogging was where it was at; a bandwagon I needed to board. One or two fellow media bods were urging me to give it a go. As an author, they said, I should be putting myself about on t’interweb, promoting my books and generally developing an ‘online profile’. And I’ll admit that – since I’d spent my career until then writing what other people wanted me to write – the thought of being able to say what I wanted, when I wanted (even if it was unremunerated) was extremely appealing.
I had only the vaguest understanding of what blogging was, then, and no idea – as I do now – of how densely populated the blogosphere already was with talented writers, interesting content, and awesome personalities. I figured there’d be plenty of room for me. How hard can it be, I wondered, and what’s to lose, anyway? The fact that I am technically-challenged, to say the least, seemed not to be a bar at first: my brother kindly opened a Blogger account for me, and off I went.
Blimey. What a learning curve it’s been.
In many ways, I haven’t progressed at all. I can write, edit and publish a post, and insert an image. And I know how to ‘pimp my posts’ by putting a link to them on my Twitter and Facebook feeds. But that’s all, folks.
I remain profoundly flummoxed by all other technical and commercial aspects of blogging. Seriously, I’m nonplussed by about 90 per cent of the threads posted by members of the parent bloggers’ Facebook group I lurk on. I have NO CLUE what people are talking about when they use words and phrases like widget, plug-in, G+, no-follow link, SEO optimisation, self-hosted, klout score, Google analytics, cookie policies, and permalink, to name but a tiny few. I’m constantly awe-struck by how knowledgeable bloggers are. How do you guys KNOW this stuff? Where d’you learn it, who taught you? Have you always been this clever, or have you just picked it up as you go along?
To be fair, there’s no shortage of available free advice out there from generous old-hands (including a couple who’ve helped me above and beyond the call of duty – you know who you are). But there has to be a limit to the number of stupid questions a not-so-newbie can get away with asking. I’ve reluctantly concluded that since I don’t understand these things now, I never will.
(And BTW, if you think my current, upgraded blog looks pretty impressive for someone with a brain this small, I must tell you that it is absolutely nothing to do with me. It was the work of a professional.)
Of course, the techy and commercial stuff isn’t even the half of it. You won’t get anywhere in blogging, I’ve learned, if you don’t embrace the social guidelines. They’re complex, but I think I’m getting there. It’s a system that runs on the fuel of courtesy. Reading other people’s posts is as important writing your own. So is commenting, re-tweeting, mentioning, sharing, interacting. It’s kind of exhausting – and extraordinarily time-consuming. But it’s also addictive and rewarding. And eventually, you reap what you sow. I know that now.
Lordy, though, I must tell you that I suffer something chronic from the insecurity of it all. I’m a paranoid person in the real world, anyway, but online, the possibility that people dislike me seems intensified. By and large, the blogging community has been warm and welcoming. I’ve built up some good relationships – in fact, I’d go so far as to say I’ve made some great friends. But as a newbie (and a dim newbie, at that), there have been many times when I’ve felt like I’m on the edge of the playground, longing for the cool kids to let me play.
As to whether anyone IS actually reading my blog or not, I haven’t the foggiest. Most of my posts get few if any comments, and only the occasional (but much cherished) RT, share or mention. I did notice a Tots 100 ranking had appeared on my badge the other month (#946!), which someone told me was something to be proud of (and I am, I am!). But I honestly don’t know how much, if any, traffic I’m getting.
Look at your stats, I hear you shouting. Thing is, I don’t know where to look for my stats! Seriously – will I find them somewhere on my dashboard, or do I have to register with something or someone? Do tell.
Come to think of it, though, don’t tell. Truth is, I could have worked out where to find them but I’ve been deliberately avoiding it. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care whether people are reading my posts or not, and part of me would love to look them up. But I just know I’m going to be crushed by the knowledge that a grand total of three people dropped in last week. And I’m not so sure I want to become a slave to stats. I can see myself becoming totally tortured by them.
Anyhoo, I intend to keep at it. I get that it takes a long time to become an established blogger; to build up anything like a readership. And I am but 26 blog posts into this journey: in the scheme of things, that makes me green as grass still. I know I’ve a long way to go to prove my worth.
Somewhere along the line, blogging stopped being something I did because I thought I probably should, and started being something I had to do, because I really wanted to.
I guess that’s enough to drive me onwards, for now.
Me too! Me toooooooooo. Not one single clue how to do anything technical or what on earth most of the blogging community are on about most of the time. I don’t understand why it has to be more technical than ‘write something and click post’. I’ve got a good readership for a year old blog, but I have no idea how as I don’t know how to do any of the things that I’m supposed to do. I constantly feel like I must have been skiving school the day they taught people how to blog.
Phew! Not just me then – thank you Lisa!
I can definitely relate to the last bit, about blogging becoming something you have to do. I think that writing down your thoughts and feelings and memories of things becomes very cathartic. I don’t feel like I truly process things unless I’ve written about them.
And who cares about all the techy stuff, its the writing that matters the most anyway. X
Thanks Lucy, glad you agree. As you know I am a great admirer of your stunning looking blog. Another thing I didn’t put in the post (it was already long!) was how I envy bloggers like you whose posts always look beautiful because of their lovely photography…
Ahh LOVE this post. I’m pretty sure we all feel like this – I know I do.
I’d love to know who did your blog design, it’s lovely and I’m really struggling to find someone who will do a Blogger make-over. x
Ha, maybe we should form a ‘technie-denial’ support group Liz. Have messaged you with details of my designer, as well as being very talented he is a really nice man with loads of experience of working with parent bloggers. x
I’ve been blogging for 3 1/2 years (can’t believe its been that long).I learnt by doing, reading numerous posts by other bloggers, trawling the internet and by asking.The latter is always the last for me.Joining Twitter, befriending others through their blogs, Facebook etc has enriched my blogging experience and I’m not a prolific blogger and I have had (for various reasons) months of no blogging at all.But I’m still getting new readers and I keep to posting what I know and don’t beat myself up too much when an idea fails.Its when I chill and relax about my blog that all of sudden I get a sudden interest or a special mention somewhere (like this week).I don’t make money from my blog (I wish I could) so stats mean little to me (and I do know where to look) but I get a shocked face when they go up and I have no idea why.
There is a blogging mantra I like to repeat when I don’t know where I’m going in blogging:
‘Just keep doing what you’re doing and stick with what you know’
Thanks Aly, that’s good advice. I’m definitely not tempted to stick my neck out to areas I don’t understand – although I do get frustrated at my complete and utter lack of knowledge sometimes. Three and a half years is pretty impressive – makes me realise that I am still really only just getting going!
Definitely know how you feel about being a blogging outsider! I am definitely not one of the cool kids! It’s not about stats but go on, check them, I bet you’re pleasantly surprised!
Hey Lisa. You can be in my cool kids gang if I can be in yours!
Great post. I am still very new to all of this and I started doing it because I wanted to write and share my story. I’ve learnt that its just as important and rewarding reading others posts too. I know nothing about any of the techy stuff and I’m beginning to realise that I don’t really care. Its all to time consuming. I will just stick with reading, writing, commenting and twitter, I think all that takes up more than enough time.
Yep, good policy I think missus. You have a focus to your blog, which I think is probably a great start!
I still feel like a newbie at times or that I don’t spend enough time on social media (yeah, me, haha) because I miss out on opportunities but I blog for me at the end of the day and everything is a learning curve so I just plod along regardless and keep my fingers crossed.
You’re doing fab, Hollie – don’t sweat the small stuff.
Thanks Nickie, I could not be prouder to hear you say that. Most of what I DO know I learned from you! You are the Oracle as far as I’m concerned!
I’ve been at it 4 years and feel like a newbie every day. I can now just about understand my stats, but for anything else I do have to ask for help!
Keep at it and do it for yourself.
BNM
Well thank you BNM, it’s good to know even an old hand is still a bit perplexed sometimes. Lucky for us there are so many helpful people out there! H
I’m soo with you – just how I feel. My head feels like it’s about to explode some days and I just don’t have time for it all – it’s not just blogger, facebook and twitter – now we’ve got Google plus (wtf!), Pinterest, tumblr, stumbleupon. I kind of get some of them – am a member of all of them but have no clue what to do on most – aghhhhh! – (but I can’t stop – too addicted!)
Belated thanks for the response! And, oh Gawd, yes, don’t get me started on Google plus, tumblr, stumbleupon etc – I haven’t even TRIED! One day maybe…
It’s tough with such a huge array to wrap our heads round now, isn’t it? I think we all just tuck our heads in, concentrate on one at a time, and figure it out as we go along…
You are BRILLIANT! Love this post – and love your blog. And look at your stats – I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised! x
Aw, belated thanks for the response my dear Molly – I hope you know you are one of the kind ‘pros’ who have inspired me in my journey so far… xxx
Love the post – I can definitely indentify with lots of it, and I am positively prehistoric! (blogging 5 yrs and counting – eeek!)
If you can resist the temptation to stay away from
Stats continue to do so! It is so easy to get sucked into comparisons – lots of visits can be encouraging but when few ever comment then I worry what I am doing wrong. I try not to worry to much and just enjoy expressing myself and if others want to join in my conversation that’s a bonus!
Five years Janmary? That is really quite awesome. I hope I can keep it going that long – I do sometimes worry I will run out of things to write…!
I can definitely relate. Let’s start our own cool kids hang!
Yeah – ok Knackered, let’s start a club. So far it’s you me and Hollybobs!! x