What Area of Blogging Do You Struggle With the Most? - Poll!
13 October, 2008 - Blogging, Polls - 21 Comments
Photo by Kagey B
Loading ...There are many aspects of blogging, from the writing and doing so consistently, to the Web development and the valuable skill of building online relationships with other bloggers and your readers. But we all seem to struggle with different things.
Personally, my strength is my ability to build relationships. I’ve done so online for eight years and I’ve had the pleasure of extending many of those relationships to offline environments. But I also have my weaknesses.
If you’re a regular contributor (reader, commentator etc) of this community of ours, you’ll know my weakness is consistency and being accountable for my actions. In the past, I’ve posted twice a day for a month and then taken a month away. My self discipline has a lot to be desired, but at the same time I have identified that as my weakness and have, for a while now, being working to improve.
So what is your biggest blogging weakness? Please vote and share your thoughts in the comments.
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Posted on 13 October, 2008 by Jamie Harrop
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Jamie,
If only your poll had the ability to make multiple selections! SEO has never been an issue with my wordpress architecture but I regularly battle with the intersection of consistently posting quality content. I have found, like many other bloggers, that I can either post often or I can post quality. making regular, quality, useful posts can be challenging!
As a result, establishing a rapport with other Bloggers and my audience has been erratic at best - and my subscription base can be likewise variable.
I believe I have this issue solved on multiple fronts for the time being as I’ve returned to the basics - the blocking and tackling of blogging. I won’t claim to have a solution as I have just started but here’s my plan.
My first course of action was to commit to writing 3 posts a week for 4 weeks ahead of time. The posts, I believe, are of good quality and useful. I consulted many other professionals across a spectrum of fields, liberally incorporated their feedback and linked to their sites. The posts are scheduled now 1 month ahead of time to prevent the ‘feast or famine’ blogging cycle you describe.
So, now my remaining obstacle is promotion. Looking for answers, I read your Blogger Interview series with great interest. Guest posting is still a great mystery to me. So, assuming the generation of several weeks of ‘good’ content, how does one go about guest posting?
Hey Ted,
I’ve changed the poll now so you can choose multiple options, although it may not let you because you’ve already voted.
Your plan sounds like a good one, and I’m glad my interviews could help.
As for guest posting, I generally just write and write and write, then pick and choose one post a week to send to an author of a different blog to act as a guest post. It’s sometimes hard to fit in to my schedule which means it often takes just a little extra effort, but it’s well worth it in the end.
Thanks for the excellent comment!
Great tactic! I’ll make that part of my Phase 2 plan.
SEO is an area I’d like to improve. I have a lot to say and want to maximize my chances of people reading my words.
Stacey / Create a Balances last blog post..How To Embrace a Money Recess
Hey Stacey,
Maybe it’s time I wrote something about SEO here on my blog. Even know SEO is 90% of my day job, I’ve never really written about it.
Thanks for reminding me!
Hi Jamie - I chose other. I just can’t make my blog look good. Luckily, I didn’t design it myself but even the way I set out ads and stuff makes it look an eyesore.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..Be A Business Success Story, No Matter What Your Age
That’s an interesting one, Cath.
In this big world of blogging, making our blog look good often seems like a small, less-than-important task. But I know only too well how much we like to fuss over our appearance. I’ve changed the design for this blog more times than I care to remember (usually to reflect a change in direction of my writing).
Relationships for me, although ideas are also difficult, as is consistency. I don’t care about SEO though so at one thing there is fine.
My main problem with relationships seems to be that I never think of a reason to contact someone, on the other hand when people contact me I am wary of being taken advantage of.
Andrews last blog post..Theme authors: give us choices
You just gave me a good idea for a blog post, Andrew. Thanks!
Your relationship building skills will soon improve.
Still can’t select 2 choices.
I selected New Post Idea’s, but I wanted to add Writing Consistency. I really haven’t had the time to be consistent in my blog posting. I haven’t had my blog very long though and I think when I have a good following I will be more consistent.
Jim Gaudets last blog post..The Secret - Do you believe?
Hey Jim,
Still can’t select two? Humm. Will have to look in to that. Thanks for letting me know.
New ideas and writing consistency seem to be the most widely regarded aspects of blogging that people struggle with. I know I do!
Hey Jim,
I managed to change the poll so users can select more than one answer. I still don’t think you’ll be able to though because you’ve already voted, which is a shame.
However, I’ve added a vote to writing consistency for you.
Thanks for letting me know about the problem.
Jamie
Hi Jamie. Writing consistency for sure! I’m posting once a week and struggling; I get many ideas but as many distractions that get in the way of the creative flow. Ideally I’d like to post 2-3 times a week but, not ready for that yet. I could have checked SEO, but that hasn’t even entered into the picture yet.
Davinas last blog post..Thanks, It Means The World To Me
Hey Davina,
I suppose struggling to post once a week because you don’t have the time (distractions) is easier to fix than if you were struggling because of a lack of ideas.
There are many time management posts around the blogosphere. I’m sure you’ll find the time you need very soon.
Personally, I find writing early morning (6am-9am) is the best time because everybody else is still in bed. There’s no phone calls, no emails, few Twitter messages etc.
This may sound crazy, but I think writing solid titles, is what I currently find challenging. It sometimes takes quite a while for me to come up with one. Sometimes, I’m not satisfied with the final decision.
I do buy into the theme of Brian Clark of Copyblogger: that writing excellent titles is essential to success.
I found your title via Writer Dad. Your stood out, because it was solid. And - here I am.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Paths to Excessive Wealth
Hey Bamboo,
I completely agree with you on that.
It’s actually something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently. I’m surprised I didn’t add it as its own option on the poll, because believe it or not, this post is probably one of just a few recent posts with a decent title.
There doesn’t seem to be much information in the blogosphere about writing good titles. I’ll head over to Brain’s blog to look for his advice though.
Thanks!
Hi Jamie. Thanks for the feedback; I have been playing around with writing at different times of the day and like you, I prefer early morning.
I’m sure my schedule will tone down soon. I made the mistake of starting blogging right around the same time as starting a new business. Had no idea how much time and commitment was involved with blogging.
Davinas last blog post..Blog Action: Pass The Change, Be The Change
I usually like blogging early mornings before work, but I have a cold right now which is making me really tired first thing and that really puts wedge in the blogging strategy.
Andrews last blog post..More drugs please!
I’m not a code junkie/ geek. So my biggest struggle is getting what I want out of my template. Seeing something someone else has done and trying to find a way to do it myself. Also clutter, I am addicted to sidebar gadgets.
Lauras last blog post..Blogger Backup
Heh. Sidebar gadgets is one thing I’ve managed to stay away from. I find they slow down page load a lot.
Each to their own though.
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