Another Year Older…
It seems like shortly after writing a post with the words “my workload is about to ease” a tonne of new projects land on my lap! I’m not complaining of course - I like to keep myself busy - but my head seems to be throbbing more often than not…
I think I should be honest with you all though… I’ve spent the last couple of weeks seriously considering retiring from blogging. I just don’t seem to have the commitment or spare time to make this journal as successful as it once was.
Ironically it was my birthday today, meaning that it’s been a whole year since I blogged for the very first time. So much has changed in the last 12 months though - from testing positive for HD to the launch of Britster, and everything in between.
I guess the bottom line here is that I’m not really sure what to do with this blog. All I know is that I don’t intend to spend the next six months sporadically posting comeback messages - that’s just not fair to the people who take the time to visit! Perhaps I should buckle to pressure and monetise the site - maybe the promise of financial reward will help me focus? Or perhaps all it needs is a visual reboot..?
I need some opinions here… Have you ever considered dropping your blog? How do you keep your interest? What do you think I should do??
Digg/astetix
Flickr/astetix
Facebook/Paul Enderson
Linkedin/paulenderson
Del.icio.us/jazzpak
Technorati/astetix
MyBlogLog/astetix
Happy birthday!
Yeah, I can relate to how you feel - I’ve been so overwhelmed with clients over the past few months that I haven’t had time to sit down and blog.
I don’t think monetising the blog will be a good incentive; it might put pressure on you a little if you really needed any income it was generating, but then you’d end up feeling forced to blog when you don’t want to. Thats not really a good thing.
I’ve also considered dropping my blog, and perhaps making the domain either a portfolio or some other actual website. The main thing that stops me however, is the visitors. I know my posts have been of use to a lot of people to date, and still get the sporadic comment on various posts appreciating the content. So, I decide to leave it all up there, to continue to help others.
If you’re anything like me though, the design probably feels stale to you already - perhaps working on a site facelift will pique your inner blogger once more
Happy birthday, Paul!
I couldn’t advise on what to do with your blog. If it’s not attached to your work, it’s tough to maintain that drive. I’ve dropped all of my other blogs when they took too much time away from my work and my work blog.
Have a great day!
Another year closer to forced retirement, eh?
I can understand why motivation might wane, although for me it’s a little different. My blog is my business (more or less), so I know that publishing new articles is a marketing method.
Why not monetize? You’ve been at this caper long enough to know the ropes, and if it helps keep you writing great articles, you get my vote.
If your heart is not in it, no amount of money will make you want to post new articles. People are drawn to blogs usually because of the passion the writer has on his/her topic, and if that’s not there… of course, you now have to ask yourself the deep question: Why do you blog?
If it’s to network, why not just keep up with everyone by commenting on other blogs you enjoy reading? But if you think monetizing is what will help you, then by all means! I would love to hear from you more often
If you are still unsure, Dawud wrote an article just last week about Why You’ve Got To Quit To Be Successful. Take a look and see if it speaks to you.
Thanks for the birthday wishes and comments!
Damien: I certainly don’t want to get to the stage where I feel pressured to blog - that will be totally counter-productive! I know where you’re coming from with not wanting to drop your blog too - I get emails on a daily basis from visitors who’ve found something I’ve written useful or inspirational… Oh, and the design felt stale to me about three days after it went live - I guess that’s the price we designers all pay for being perfectionists!
Leanne: My main aim for Reflections was simply to have a place to give my thoughts some sort of lasting substance. I realised quickly though that it was bringing in new work - which was great at the time. However, now I’m tied into various long-term projects I don’t need the work (and have in fact turned prospective clients away). Perhaps deep down I feel that having a personal blog may have served its purpose…
David: Don’t know about forced retirement - I’m planning on being voluntarily retired by the time I hit 40!
I’m definitely given serious thought to the idea of monetising - perhaps that (along with a reboot) will get me back in the game?
Hey Paul, good to hear from you again.
I was going through similar thoughts at the start of this year as all I seemed to post was, “sorry i’m busy” and then “heyyyy - I’m back” type-posts. So I took an unconventional approach to resolving the issue of not having enough time to look after my one blog - I launched a new blog. So now I have two of the all-consuming bloody things!
For the old blog, miLienzo.com, I’ve given it a couple of months to prove to me that it deserves to stay - and actually it gets quite good traffic these days and has high subscriber figures, despite the fact I hardly post. So I think ultimately I’ll give it a good redesign and bung a few ads in whilst I’m at it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with … comercialisation (I don’t like the word monetization - I’m sure its not even a word) … as long as it’s done unobtrusively.
Hi Paul, happy birthday for a couple of days ago. I know what you mean about the blogging, its heard to find new inspiration. Its hard not to repeat yourself. Like you say with new projects and work its all a juggling act. I think with most creative people our minds tend to wander here there and everywhere its hard to find time to explore all the ideas you want to.
Tara said: “…its hard to find time to explore all the ideas you want to.”
Absolutely! With more time on my hands I’d have a battalion of websites. As it is, keeping up isn’t so straightforward, but the reader conversation makes up for any negatives.
Lauren: Sorry for not replying sooner - Askimet got you!
My original reason for blogging was a selfish one, my blog serving only as a place to capture thoughts and memories. As time progressed it became a matter of self-promotion instead - but I’m not convinced that I need an outlet for either of these motives and longer. Thanks for that link - Dawud’s post is certainly food for thought!
Aaron: I’ve got a few other blogs, but to be honest I’m not updating any of them very often - and like you it seems like I’m always writing comeback posts! I like the idea of setting a deadline though - I’m going to do that and see what happens I think!
Tara: You’ve summed me up nicely I think - easily distracted with a short attention span! Perhaps it’s a common affliction among designers and I just never realised it before?
David: You’ve hit on the one thing that’s preventing me from simply pulling the plug: user interaction. Like you, I thoroughly enjoy the comments and emails from people who’ve read my posts.
Happy Belated Birthday, Paul.
hmm… I’m sure I commented here yesterday, but today I don’t see my comment and can’t recall if it showed up last night… perhaps it got caught by Akismet?
Although it is a bit too late to wish you happy birthday, still like to convey my best wishes for you.
Congratulations on your first year of blogging.
Just what you think is the right thing to do with your blog. As long you enjoy with you are doing, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Hey, popped over due to your wise words published on Design Adaptations.
Happy birthday!
If your heart isn’t in it then maybe not blogging is the answer. However if you can’t decide then perhaps a similar approach as Roger Johansson is in order? I’m still going to stay subscribed to his blog because I don’t mind if someone only posts one quality article every couple of months - way better than 5 semi-useful or useless ones daily.
I’ve recently decided that monetising is not as evil as I thought it was. If it’s done wisely and tastefully it can be of benefit to the readers as well as help cover site costs and add incentive for the blogger. I’m considering moving in that direction, but I need to think more about how because I have a personal blog on a range of topics, not all ads would be relevant for all posts etc.
Paul, coming to a crossroads with the blog is expected. You have a lot on your plate, your focus isn’t all there and your time is limited.
I can say a couple things though, as feedback. First, you have a visually stunning website, so good work there - its probably served as inspiration to at least a few people who have happened upon it. And second, I wouldn’t discourage you from monetizing the website, just do it tastefully - as I’m sure you would.
And by all means, if you do decide to end your run at it, put out an announcement first, I’m sure someone else would love to take over your website, perhaps myself!
Thanks!
Sam