On Blogging
by Ashley Weeks Cart
Of late, I’ve received a handful of emails from readers asking me about blogging, how I got started, what advice I might have, what resources or skills are needed, etc. I thought it might be helpful to share those thoughts here for anyone else interested.
I’ll preface this by saying, I don’t have any great pearls of wisdom or secrets to share. Blogging has always been a really organic, natural endeavor for me. I haven’t looked anywhere for any particular skill set, but just write and post what is of interest and has caught my attention. I think formulaic blogs that are trying to adhere to any specific set of “rules” wind up being uninteresting and a replica of what already exists out in the great wide world of blogging. This blog has evolved and shifted and grown over the years. I write and post differently than I did when I got started. I let the blog be a reflection of my own evolution and growth and that has been a treasure to look back on as I think about the past four years and the ways my family has changed and developed. The ways that I have changed and developed.
If you want to blog, do it from the heart. I know that sounds trite, but the space can only thrive if you are excited and invested in what you’re putting out into the world. It should be your authentic voice and perspective. Something uniquely you. That’s what will keep you interested and will ultimately keep visitors interested. I have no rules. No blogging skills. Just a desire to put my voice out into the world from my particular lived experience. It started as a way to document my daughter’s life – but has evolved into a creative outlet and sounding board for whatever I am thinking about or inspired by. And that’s what keeps me posting everyday.
You can certainly seek out advice for blogging platforms (I love and use wordpress) and tricks for linking to social media, etc. (Mashable is a great resource), but ultimately, the space needs to come from a natural, organic, authentic place to keep you invested and excited. Connecting with other bloggers can be crucial in helping to build a community and support network, and in expanding your readership, but network with those with whom you feel a genuine connection and interest, not because you think they’re the “right” bloggers to “get to know.” The only book I’ve read (because I was gifted it at BLOGSHOP (a great class if you’re looking to do more graphic design related work with your blog)) was Joy Cho’s book Blog, Inc. It addresses some of the logistical realities of blogging, but ultimately, the space needs to be from your own inspiration and passion.
Go with your gut. Don’t worry about who is reading or following along. For instance, I went back and looked at my Google analytics, which I didn’t install on the site until November of 2010 (after over a year of blogging) and I had around 50-100 visitors a day, and that’s after 16 months of posting! This past November, however, I had an average of 2,500 readers a day. Hooray for growth! But that’s three years in, and still relatively small peanuts compared to many “professional” bloggers. I don’t inhabit this space to garner a massive following – although I am enjoying having a larger, broader audience to engage with – I’m doing it for myself, for my own sanity and creativity, and for my girls to one day look back on and better understand their childhood and their mother. The gradual growth this blog has seen has certainly come from efforts on my part to share with other bloggers, to have my posts linked to by certain sites, but it mostly comes from a consistency of investment and passion. My desire to visit everyday and put something new out into the world. If you blog from a place of genuine interest, the readers will come in their own time and you’ll stay inspired no matter who is listening.
And with that, I would like to say thank you to all of you that share in this space with me. It may be a relatively small group compared to the mega-bloggers of the Internets, but your presence, comments, emails, and words of encouragement have helped fuel this space these past (four!) years. Thank you with all my heart for sharing in my little community. 143 Ash
Images: Courtesy of Holden Hays