I started this here blog o’ mine nearly one year ago, shortly after finding out that I was totally knocked up expecting. It served as a nice creative outlet for me as I dutifully shared all of the ups and downs (& aches and pains) of twin pregnancy. After my womb was vacated, I continued to use this space to share life with the twins. And yeah, it’s fun to share their milestones/photos, but I’ve been starting to feel like something is just… lacking.
I still enjoy writing on here, but lately I feel so insignificant. I find myself looking at my stats and getting depressed. Which is silly, but I can’t help it. I don’t know if it’s my sporadic posts, the lack of structure/regular “features”, or what… But I’m just feeling kind of inadequate. And, in turn, I feel more pressure.
Pressure to blog more often.
Pressure to gain more followers.
Pressure to make my site look look more “legit”… etc.
Maybe it’s because I read so many of the “bigger” blogs. The blogs with thousands of followers. With sponsored posts. With adoring fans. With a presence. (Sometimes Sweet, Bleubird, ETST, Skunkboy, etc.)
I look at these “popular” blogs and wonder what they have that I don’t. I have a cute kid (two!), I can write reasonably well (I think?), I live in an old house, I eat weird food… It’s so unhealthy and I hate that I do it. I feel like an awkward teenager, longing to be part of the “it” crowd. I was never like that in high school… I loathed the popular girls. I had green hair and homemade t-shirts. I didn’t WANT to fit in… So why do I want to now?
Am I just jealous of the successful blogs? Possibly. Hell, who wouldn’t want companies throwing cash/freebies their way? (We all know how much I like free stuff!) But beyond the petty materialistic junk, I guess I’m really just envious of their readership. The fact that a gazillion people actually read what they put out there — that’s what I covet. Yeah, I enjoy writing, but where’s the reward if no one even reads it?
I don’t know. I’m not sure where all of this is going. Or if it even made any sense. It’s been weighing heavily on my mind and I just needed to get it off my chest. So there. Off it is.
Thanks for reading all of this babble. Here’s a little dose of cuteness for making it this far…
Sweet C, looking all French-y.
Tummy Time with E.
Tagged: babies, baby, bleubird, bloggers, blogging, etst, mommy blog, mommy blogs, popular, popular bloggers, popularity, stats, twin girls, twins, vegan
You silly girl, you gave birth to not one but two healthy beautiful rays of sunshine. It’s the weather and maybe lack of adult stimulation. Go visit your kookie mom she’ll cheer you up.
Thanks Betty! You’re right — my mom’s always good for a few laughs. haha
Don’t stop writing….I love this bloooooog!!!
Well at least I know my mom will always read my blaaaaahg!
I still follow you!!!!! I don’t have thousands of readers but I do notice my traffic goes up the more often I post. I try to post every day. I get about 150-200 views per day, maybe 3-5 comments on a post. It’s a lot of work building up a readership though, and I’m not sure how the big blogs actually get BIG.
Yeah, I’ve been super irregular with my posts. (Every time I use the word “irregular” it makes me think of periods… haha Sorry.) I think I might try out some featured posts – like “Friday Photos” or something like that… to give me a push to post more often. I dunno…
150-200 views? Ha! I’m lucky if I get 30. Go you!
A lot of my views come from weird search terms (specifically for the baby shower belly cake I posted many months ago). I think posting a lot helps because I get more hits from the random searches, ha!
Doesn’t matter how many followers Wendy…matters how much love you share with all of us. I would never miss a blog about you and Mike and these two cuties. You will always be family to me.
Aw, thanks Lynn! That means a lot!
If you post it they will come. Just look at my stupid drawing project. I went from no one noticing to what it is today. You just need to stick with it and focus on what resonates with people.
Thanks, dear. Perhaps you can use your skillz to help yo’ wife make her blog more visually appealing?
I’m still here reading! Dude – you have twin babies… Those of us that understand what you are going through don’t expect to see daily posts. That being said, we look forward to the times you actually have a few minutes to write something and post pics of those beautiful little ladies. Keep at it and ignore the numbers. I honestly think those bloggers with the thousands of followers (who post every day) have full time nannys. That’s the only possible explanation.
Yay! More readers who don’t share my DNA!
I know I’m probably just being hard on myself… it’s just so impossible to ignore those silly little stat graphs. Damn them! And damn those bitches who can afford full time nanny’s! haha
Don’t stop! I’m right there with you as for as “irregular” (giggle, I actually think of bowel movements. Oh, being a parent.) posts go. I really try and post once a week but… suddenly two, three, four weeks have passed since the last time I sat down!
A good tip that my husband gave me… your posts don’t always have to be magnificent or three pages long. If you feel like you’re having a crap day or are feeling uninspired.. write about that. Not every post has to be article worthy, but if you’re readers are following you they’ll want to know what’s going on, even on your not-so-hot days.
And, I’m totally down with a “Friday Photos”.
>A Faithful Subscriber.
Sam
“A Faithful Subscriber” <—-love that!
Thanks for the tip. I actually think that's part of my problem. I spend waaaay too much time on each post, constantly going back & editing it, over-thinking things, etc… Which is GOOD, but when I spend over an hour on a short/photo-heavy post, it's a wee bit obsessive. I think I try too hard to strive for perfection, which is silly and unrealistic. Especially when juggling 5-month old twins.
As the girls get older, it’ll get easier. Well, let’s say it’ll get less hard. My girls are a year and a half now and it’s a different kind of difficult now.
I’ve started keeping a notebook on a desk in my living room and whenever I’ve got something that I could blog about, I write it down. Even if it doesn’t make it to the final cut, it feels like I’m still contributing something to my readers by keeping my notes.
I’ll still be here; if your post is tomorrow, next week, or next month!
I love reading your posts……always makes my day to read what you wrote, even about non baby things!
Aw, yay! Good to hear!
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Man I totally feel ya on this one! Too much mommy pressure. I just have to remind myself that people are reading, just not always commenting lol. Or maybe they aren’t lol, who knows! Thanks for putting this out there though, now I know I’m not the only one! Sending hugs:)
It can definitely get discouraging… But I truly enjoy blogging, so even if it’s just my mom reading, I spose I’m okay with it. Kind of. Um… ok, not really. haha
You’re definitely not alone!
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