May 5, 2015

What Blogging Means to Me


Recently I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what this space means to me. What it is meant to be and where I want it to go.

The truth is, before last week I hadn't thought that much about it. Sure, page views, shares, followers--seeing all of that grow gets me excited. It's nice to be liked. I'm sure it's even nice to make money while doing it.


But is that what I want?


This question came forward with a current sponsorship I have running with Jaelan over at Making Mrs. M. She asked me some genuine, serious questions about my blog and my goals in order to maximize my sponsorship. And I felt sort of dumbstruck when my first response was "I don't know." 

I don't know what my goals are or what the future of this space is. 

When I started Life with Lolo, it was just that - life with ME. I entered the blogging world for two reasons - one, I had gotten into reading blogs and was inspired, and two, I was bored. Really bored.

I didn't get into blogging to inspire others. Or to be DIY expert, a fashionista, a food blogger or give advice on life or blogging. I got into blogging because I was bored and I wanted a place to express myself.

The Lovely Raindrop
Our goodies from the Idaho Blogger Luncheon

Jaelan of course had expert advice on how to increase followers and page views - relevant, "evergreen"content that would keep people and bring people to your blog. Something more substantial than a weekend recap or confessions. And I get it. Heck, sometimes I even try to do those posts. 

But is that what I want?

I think Erin put it perfectly when she wrote in this post: I feel like things have shifted way more towards the "I have to provide useful content and tutorials and perfect photography and ways to improve x, y, and z in order to be a relevant blogger that people will want to follow" aspect of blogging.

She meant that in comparison to the blogging of day to day happenings of our lives - the sharing of our story as if we are friends. And I couldn't agree more. I've felt the shift too.

The thing is, I don't know if that is what I want my blog to be. I don't know if I want Life with Lolo to make that shift - to be something that I am obsessed about growing numbers with and keeping up to date with relevant content. 

I think I just want it to be about me.

Is that terrible? Are you still going to come visit me? I promise I'll still do some DIY and some recipes and even some truly mind-blowingly relevant content --but I'm going to keep it ME.

That's what I love about blogging. Telling other people your story and learning about them. Making friends no matter the miles between you. That's what this space has come to mean for me.

That thought rang true for me this weekend when I attended the Idaho Bloggers Luncheon hosted by Karli and Amy. Five of us Idaho bloggers met and chatted like old friends over brunch. It was absolutely the best way to spend an afternoon.


Blogging brought me that.

And so far that's all I want from blogging. New friends, new perspectives, and an avenue for me to express myself and put myself out there. And maybe to learn a few things along the way.

Tell me - what do you want from blogging?


Big thanks again to all of the bloggers who attended the luncheon and to Karli and Amy for planning it!

#BloggerMayI
 
 
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26 comments:

  1. Thank you! I know that I've felt pressure lately as if what I'm posting isn't "reader-drawing." But you hit the nail right on the head. Mostly my blog is to keep my family at home up to date. But really, I just like writing what is going on with me right now. Rather than what everyone else is posting.

    Plus - we would have never met each other without blogging! High five, love bug! :)

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  2. I feel the same way..I was kind of just like I want to try it and see where it goes ha! So jealous you had a state wide blogger meet up.

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  3. Well said my friend. ;) Keep doing your thing! We like it!

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  4. You've got to stay true to yourself!
    Blog about what you want to blog about. ;)

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  5. I read blogs that are authentic. When they stop being authentic, I stop reading them. I want to read about what YOU want to write about. Not what you think you should write about or a piece you've come up with to be not fluffy. You know?

    Keep doing you.

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  6. YES to all of this! I have been feeling the pressure lately to "grow" my blog and put stuff out there that will be "pinnable" or whatever, but that always feels so forced and just not fun, and I started my blog to document my life and enjoy it! Sometimes I will have something to share that just happens to be a more pinnable post, like a recipe or whatever, but mostly I just enjoy sharing my life and meeting other girls that want to do the same! Totally agree with what Steph said above, the blogs I enjoy reading are the genuine ones!

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  7. Erin's post really brought light to blogging for me and made me think about the direction I have been heading and rethink. For instance I have TONS of drafts just waiting for me to hit publish. But my photos aren't up the standard I have found needed to be successful. I need to realize it's the content that matters, yes photos help but it's not worth putting off publishing a great post. What makes blogs fun is there unique qualities, the people behind the blog should show through in their posts.

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  9. Omg... blogger keeps eating my comments lol. I'll just say I agree... I just want to write about what I want to write about... and drink wine. Need a tutorial on that? I'm your girl!

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  10. I have really struggled with feeling inadequate in the blogosphere because I may don't have time to keep up with all of that content, tutorials, beautiful photos, pin able images... It would be a full time job and frankly I don't get how these girls do it. I like writing about whatever is going on on my world and soil having time to lay around and drink wine. I love your blog because it's like mine! Lol... Great post!

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  11. Oh please oh please just be you!!! I come here and read your blog because you just share little bits about your life. I love reading about what people are up to, what stuff they are loving, whatever..just being them. I see the shift that blogs are taking and I don't like it. I have stopped reading so many blogs that I used to love before they got obsessed with numbers and pin worthy posts.

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  12. Honestly, as aI watch blogs I loved to read turn more and more into perfect this and that I read them less and less. I gravitate towards your blog because I love reading about the real parts of life! It gives a connection that perfect pictures can't.

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  13. Just keeping doing your thing girl! I have been blogging for a long time and while I make a little money here and there from it, I'd like to think I've stayed pretty true to myself along the way. I don't promote stupid products just because someone offered me a bit of cash- I only talk about things that I like and things I feel are relevant to my life. I have made some awesome friends via blogging and regularly text and even get together with some of them! :)

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  14. girlfriend I'll keep coming back even if you only blog once a week about what you did on the weekend. just do you. I think an authentic blog is hands down better than some fashion blogger with all the tips on how to look like a runway model, because at the end of the day, I'd rather have a beer with real people than drink one while runway models watch.

    most of the reason I blog is to make new friends. and you know, for someone to shoot me an email + say "hey girl, we're going to send you around the world, just take pictures."

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  15. I also read Erin’s post and agree with her – so many blogs are now all about sponsored posts and making money, which is great, except I hate reading that stuff. I actually stopped blogging for a long time because it became boring and I was tired of reading sponsored post after sponsored post. I actually enjoy reading blogs about people’s real lives. I always thought my blog was soo boring because I rarely posted anything exciting, but then I realized that I’m writing for me! Because I enjoy to write and I want to express myself.

    Anyway, I like reading about your life and all the adventures you have!

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  16. I've been thinking about this a lot lately too. It's hard not to feel pressure to come up with something useful or exciting, especially when it seems like everyone else does it so well, but those aren't even the posts I like to read the most! I like posts the are real and genuine and authentic, and those are the ones I write. If I have something to share that I think could be useful to someone else, I do so, but I don't go out of my way to come up with those things. I think it's really apparent when someone is blogging for themselves vs. other people (or at least what they think people want to read). You keep doing you!

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  17. OMG I'm obsessed with this. I get so down sometimes because I hate having to have the perfectly pinnable image and the wording just so in order to be a blogger of any worth. I started to write because I was bored too and I just wanted to share. I absolutely love hearing about your weekend and learning about you in this world you've created. If it weren't for blogging, I wouldn't have known you and that makes me so sad.

    I think we can all write about whatever we want to. It's wonderful to listen to advice from others (I know I'm better at giving it than taking it) but at the end of the day, this is your space. Write what you want without apologies. That's what I love about you! Thank you for inviting us into your world day after day.

    xo

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  18. I have been thinking about this very topic a lot too! The shift is real and I feel like it just isn't the shift for me....this was my happy place...my non numbers place....I hope that won't leave me in the dust!! I still love reading confessions and weekend recaps so I hope that those are still out there in the future!

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  19. Make your blog what you want it to be. Mine is SO random, and I have very few followers. But, I'm okay with that. Really, I am. I like followers and comments and interactions as well, but I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and have the attitude "less is more". :)

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  20. I feel the same way. I don't want to be a niche blogger because I'm not a niche person. I like tons of things and experience so many different things and I love having an online catalogue of my life. Perfect pictures and tons of diys aren't going to happen with me. It's just a fact. I don't want to chase followers or worry about numbers. So not my thing.

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  21. This is something I've been pondering a lot lately. While I want to see my blog grow and flourish I also want it to be real and genuine. Doing so many of those supposed "must do" posts aren't my alley. I'm not a mom, my version of cooking is mac n cheese, and the last time I crafted I was in kindergarden. It's this eternal struggle of being real and personable and having your blog be you and at the end of the day you have to be happy with that and I know I won't regret that. I've seen so many bloggers I've once loved and admired "sell out" and completely change their material behind the blog and how they post and it's just sad. When did numbers get more important than the human connection? While I know I'm not as personal sharing on the blog, I always try to make each post something I 100% believe in and enjoy and want to share (full of my personality too) instead of something that will attract followers who if they got the real view of me probably wouldn't even enjoy me anyways.

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  22. blogging is less about the storytelling aspect that I love so much and is more towards the money aspect. i miss when content was king and people actually did everything on their blogs themselves. now, it feels like no one takes their own pics, nor edits them. everyone has a manager and a pr person. i'm just me kicking it over here and always will be!

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  23. I like your blog as is - you. I may be in the minority, but I am not interested in "relevant" content or learning how to do x, y, or z better. Because if I want to know how to make all my Christmas decorations out of epsom salt and mason jars, I'll google it. I follow blogs that are about the life of the author. (Even when I don't comment much, like here.)

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  24. I don't think blogging should be about impressing anyone -just fun and expressiong yourself.

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  25. That's awesome, I love bloggy get togethers. :) As long as you enjoy it and it brings your purpose that's all that matters. :) Have a great weekend LoLo! -Iva

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  26. You do YOU. What I've loved so much about your blog is that it does feel like a peek into a friend's day-to-day life. Your writing style, and attitude, feel like catching up with a friend over a cocktail rather than reading someone's private journal (if that makes sense). I love Life with Lolo! As long as you're enjoying it, I think that will come through and strike a note with your readers. Good luck!

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