Yesterday I was on the phone with my web designer [read: know-it-all brother who does this for a living and is graciously helping out his sister who knows nothing about behind-the-scenes maintenance].
It was the first time someone explained SEO to me in terms I could understand. My blog just isn’t getting the popularity I need it to. Granted, my efforts have been more toward my bigger writing projects like The Unemployment Cookbook and Amara’s Light. So when I haven’t understood SEO or how to promote the Blog in a better fashion, I’ve been okay with that, knowing someday it would come. The traffic. He will build it, and they will come.
Let the construction begin…
He mentioned something that stuck. Like a popcorn kernel between the teeth. Like packing tape to a cardboard box. Like dried-on food on a day old plate. Yeah. It was that kind of stuck in my brain.
I’ve heard it before. And now my Google Guru has said it: If you want more traffic, you have to direct them.
Right now, my Blog voice is shouting directions every which way. I’m less flight director and more flag performer. I write about everything. Everything. Recipes. Creative writings. Poetry. Snippets of upcoming projects. Photos of life with the Frog. My housing project ideas. Crafts. Frustrations.
Nippers says “hi”.
I’m just a little bit all-over-the-place disorganized.
And I’ve been told to pick a direction.
And I can’t.
My Blog is my Blog. It’s my Life. It’s not a lifestyle blog. I don’t focus on one aspect. It’s me. It’s my online sharing of things I think you’ll enjoy.
Am I wrong?
If I choose to direct the Blog toward only Biblical prose, what happens to my food posts?
If I decide to focus on creative writings, how I incorporate my homey moments?
If I land in the kitchen, is there a place for travel?
My Blog is more than my Blog. It’s me.
And just as you don’t limit yourself to reading only Cookbooks or only news or only how-to articles, I can’t limit myself, either.
I am incredibly complicated, intricate and multi-faceted; surrounded at times by mystery, sometimes in the dark, sometimes brought to light. Much like a Diamond.
Yes. That’s it. We’re all diamonds. Some are rougher than others. But we’re all diamonds. We all have much to share.
We’re All Diamonds
My Blog is an outward indication of the parts of me I choose to share. any given day I can turn and reflect on a different aspect, thought or idea. Any post can be centrally focused or have a plethora of cutting edges shining through.
Will I lose ratings for this? Possibly.
Will I find my way through the Blogosphere? Probably.
There are many blogs that draw attention to Cooking. Books. Reviews. Writing. DIY Home Crafts.
But there’s only one Real Mojo. With many sides.
Shouldn’t there be only one Blog with many stories?
This Blog post is appropriately linked up with Shell’s Things I Can’t Say weekly linky-list. Her topic this week? “Your Blogging Voice”.
This is my voice. At times scratchy, melodic, stern, wishful, and strong. This is my voice.
I don’t think I could change it if I tried.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
I like your “voice” just as it is. I am not sure if there is a “correct” way to blog, because I think they should be YOUR voice (as we are told often!). My blog is focused on my stamping/cardmaking, but I do include some recipes and gardening from time to time as they are all part of my “voice”.
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Thanks, Winnie. And you know I love your blog!
Unless you’re actually trying to sell something, or make a living by blogging, I don’t think a person needs to choose a ‘theme.’ My blog is all over the place from personal reflections (NaBloPoMo prompts most often), to snippets of fiction, to pure, unadulterated science. Not everyone is interested in every post.
And that’s fine.
I write for me, and to share with the world what my life is about. They can take it or leave it.
I have a few die-hard followers who inform me that they like the variety. They like that I’m not always serious, and that I introduce them to topics that may be well out of their normal daily experience. They like that I’m a human being that does science and has a family.
I think it’s great that you refuse to ‘pick.’ I won’t either!
Thanks, Penny! That’s exactly how I feel! I like the randomness of not always knowing what I’m going to write about until I start typing.
I think whatever we blog about is going to be a mixture of things as it is. Bottom line, we should be enjoying ourselves when we blog.
William Kendall recently posted..A Wound In The Heart
That’s a great perspective, William. I agree!
You know I have been blogging since Livejournal started, I believe it started 2000 and I was blogging there from 2000-2008. Kinda long story. But to make the story short, I went back blogging again in November 30, 2012 (yeah “Halloween” time). Anyhoo, when I was just blogging in Livejournal, I blogged from family life to health to whatever.
But as you get older and evolve more in writing stuff…you will eventually find your niche. The one you are most passionate about.
If you are just blogging just for the heck of it and you wanna express yourself, that’s fine. But with other bloggers who are more serious in monetizing their blog — it’s a different story. Anyhoo, I enjoyed reading your blog and good luck to everything. Have a great weekend.
Angela
Angela McCall recently posted..Promote Yourself
Thanks, Angela!
I’ve discovered that my niche found me… that is, even when I try to not write about certain things, I can’t help but include hints of God, food, and writing inspirations!
Thanks for visiting.
Everyone uses blogging in a different way. I have read that blogging will improve your SEO rankings. Our blogs consists of information that would be of interest to the business world but relates back to what we do which is selling promotional products. I have gotten great discussion groups responding to our posts and the other members that are in my group. It is all about helping one another.
That’s a great comment, Arleen. Thanks for stopping by! Happy traffic!
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