My experimentation with light and how it falls on the body. Mainly face. AND THEN. *shakes head* I decided to convert this post into: Is Blogging Worth It?
Did someone say impulsive?
shot with 50 mm 1.2 lens - facing window
I needed to take a break from 'catching up' and just play. This whole blogging thing?! UGH. I seriously need social media to make up its mind. Part of me wants to stop blogging because I feel that Facebook (and instagram) are taking place of that movement. We want more bite sized pieces. Right? But then I couldn't do something like this on Facebook.
Question: are you watching more of your Facebook feed now rather than your blog feed?
See, I took a break from my blogging regimen and repurposed my content for Facebook and instagram. I realized that the ease of posting to these 2 networks made me post more frequently. And still share my personal thoughts. The more I can post, the more engaging I can be. I don't want to blog for the sake of blogging. I want to do it to TALK TO YOU. To connect. To go in depth. Depth. That's the idea I'm juggling in my head. Can you still dive into a subject with depth on Facebook or instagram?
Anyway, for those of y'all that have always felt pressured and overwhelmed by this idea of blogging.. I feel you. It's time and energy that we look at and say - is it best spent on my blog? So here is the best advice I found from Paul at the Nethervoice:
"Whether or not blogging is worthwhile greatly depends on what we want our blog to achieve and to what extent we’re getting closer to that goal. Some measure the success in terms of the number of comments or retweets. Others look at the conversion rate: the number of visitors that take the desired action. A third group is watching their ranking on search engines like a hawk. My neighbor just likes to blog because it’s a creative outlet. He could care less about readership.
One thing’s for sure: if we don’t have a clear destination, we’ll never be able to tell if we’re moving in the right direction. But once we’ve identified why we’re blogging and what we want our blog to accomplish, it becomes a matter of testing what works and what doesn’t (based on our criteria). If we’re not getting any closer to our goals, it’s time to change our approach until we get where we want to be, or we should adjust our goal."
Boom. My destination? To connect with you, inspire you with ideas, and teach where I can. Is my blog accomplishing it better than Facebook or instagram? No. Idea.
SO, any thoughts on this?
Excellent post and it makes sense especially what Paul says...what are you trying to accomplish? I've struggled with this topic for some time and feel terrible that I haven't been able to keep up a blog that I'm happy with. I find it hard to write freely and not edit myself. It's a learning process for me still to this day. I think you've had a great format regardless of where you've shared your content. You share info on all three and drive us to the blog when necessary. I think you're doing a great job. :)
ReplyDeleteAwww, thank you :) Blagh.. it's tough, huh? But being able to engage with y'all on a different level makes it worth it.
DeleteI think blogging is great for saying what's on your mind and yeah, like journaling. I think without blogging we would lose sight of the social media person we are wanting to follow. I dunno, i still like blogs alot. I like going to people's blogs and esp. when they are pretty! I visit blogs i know every week, have for awhile now. instagram is just photos and facebook is more for interaction but what happens to voice? just putting it all out there? blogs. hmm i guess it's personal preference in the end! btw, i think i found your blog like 2 years ago? i totally come by and check out your stuff, love the photos and the prettiness of the blog here.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Bella xx
Very true. And thank you for continually stopping by :)
DeleteI think the idea I was struggling with was - can I still put a voice to my brand *without* my blog? OR, is the time and energy I have devoted to blogging worth __fill in the blank__. I think I had to fill in the blank first, answer the question of WHY am I blogging to begin with. I think I lost sight for a bit and saw blogging as a "must do" business task rather than why I really do it, which is to connect with my readers and to inspire. And in turn, I can stop being so hard on myself for not doing it -every- week. Still, I love to see that people are still engaging with blogs. It's encouraging :)
I feel you totally on the blog thing. I took a break from blogging this summer because I felt like it was taking away precious time and energy from my day. It became a huge chore for me and I started dreading it. When I first started blogging it was to write, to express my creativity and show my work. I had to step back for a bit so I can get to that place again.
ReplyDeleteFor the summer I'm on IG and FB mostly. Not sure how the interacting is going on each platform but I still like to have a place to stay in touch with people and it seems to be working... ? ha. Anyways thanks for your honesty and vulnerability! I think with so many blogs out there today it's important to examine why we are doing it. Is it just because everyone else is? Or because we really have a purpose. It's so important to know! So thank you for reminding us of this!!
Right?! I remember you taking a break too. I was like "I FEEL YOU!!" haha.
DeleteI think when we hit the point of blogging for the sake of blogging, we need to pause. Because essentially those posts will not be as effective (in regards to being as genuine or inspired to write them) - and I believe it will be evident in the post. So we might as well NOT have blogged in that case, ya know?
Thanks for your thoughts! It is completely helping me just sort through them and address people's perspectives. A sort of "ohhh yeeeaaah. THAT is why I'm doing this. Stop being hard on yourself."
gorgeous self portraits. This is an interesting topic. I absolutely love blogging but have a very hard time focusing my blog. I tend to get caught up in little excitements rather than seeking to create an overall theme. I do like blogging as far as it relates to connecting. I am a words person and I find instagram and facebook unfulfilling when it comes to sharing deep thoughts & connecting on that deeper level. However, I totally agree with you that people want quick snaps that instagram and facebook provide. I think blogs are great for those people who want to go more in depth and really get to know you, but you have to provide instagram & facebook for the more add connector/consumer. That's my little realization I came to after reading this post :) thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThanks girl! Totally agree. Each serve a purpose and it's just figuring out which makes most sense.
DeleteKeep the blog! Even if just once a week? Of course, bite size is nice! But isn't there something magic about sitting down, breathing deep, scrolling slow, pouring over real thoughts, real words, real photos, pure and unadulterated - without the pretense of some witty 40 or so character one liner and equally silly hashtag? I love your blog and am always inspired! That's my two cents!
ReplyDeletexoxo
@lexiarielle
Awww - thanks :)) I know - trust me, I was being "easier" on myself and saying once a week but I hit a point where I wasn't inspired OR didn't seem to find the time (worthwhile) to make it happen. Moments like today were such a "THIS WILL" happen so I made sure to act on it. And I realize, hey... that's okay too. Once every two weeks is ALWAYS better than a contrived, every-single-day post.
DeleteThe thing I like about blogging is that there's usually more context to help understand someone's life and situation. Sometimes Facebook and Instagram can feel like a non-stop barrage of we're eating at this fabulous place! Bought a new purse! Hooray, we're on vacation! I think it's totally fine to share that stuff, I just think its a bit one-sided. There have been a lot of studies lately showing that Facebook tends to make people feel sad and dissatisfied, so I think if I were to only use social media as a way of connecting with people, I'd try to make sure I was providing a more well-rounded, honest view of my life.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if that made sense - I've got two little boys running around screaming, so I'm a little distracted. :) This is a great topic, thanks for bringing it up! Love all the thoughts here in the comments, too.
Omgosh Marisa!!
DeleteI could literally write a blogpost on the surface-level representation of Facebook! The dissatisfaction it can stir up and the pretense it can create. Your comment totally makes sense. Thanks for taking time out to share your thoughts as those little ones are running around, haha ;)
I'm inspired. Found your blog yesterday (via instagram) and havent gotten much sleep since lol! THANK YOU ! if your goal is to inspire others, make them take a look at themselves and use their gifts to glorify are reflect the beauty of God than yes...mission accomplished.
ReplyDeleteAHH! I JUST read this. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have verbalized something in me that I couldn't do for myself.
DeleteYou made a great work. Beautiful smiles.
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I'm so proud of you for keeping up with your blog!! Keep it going! Facebook sucks, and overtime the stories get flushed away. Also, I find checking facebook can be stressful and intrusive, with the blog it's a more tranquil approach. Plus you can look back at all the stories you've written and feel proud.
ReplyDeleteI know this is way late but I just had to comment. I have followed your blog for a few years now. I don't know how I originally came across it but it was one of the first blogs I ever read and it has been such an inspiration to me over the years. I love seeing you taking risks and making thoughts and dreams and visions become actual photos and videos. I have always been interested in photography but was waiting for someone somewhere to ask me to take their photo. It didn't happen, obviously. So I mustered all the courage I could and started asking friends and it has been growing from there. But it is through following photographers/videographers like you that have inspired me to take all these ideas I have and make. something. of them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for blogging even when it seems like falls on no one.