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Clueless Blogger – A year later

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pixabay free image, Petra Osterreich

After 4 years I still feel like a clueless newbie in the blogosphere. Blogging for me has been more like an adventure without a plan, a book without a plot where the protagonist stumbles willy-nilly through random scenes, hoping for the best.

I pay little attention to stats, and if the insights page didn’t occasionally rear up on its own, I wouldn’t look at it at all. The glimpse is good for a chuckle. I feel a bit like a kid who’s getting close to sitting at the grown-up table.

Blog Stats

In 2012, I blogged for a whole year. I had 7 visitors, 1 like and 0 comments. You would think I’d worked hard at being that bad. Nope, just clueless.

In 2013, I employed the same winning strategy of non-engagement, but my stats improved – I earned 13 comments for the year!

Toward the end of 2014, I realized that perhaps this wasn’t very good. A light flickered on in the dark cave of my brain, and I began to watch what the pros were up to:

  1. Offering engaging content 13558173444_3ba53350d4_b
  2. Posting regularly
  3. Supporting others 
  4. Reading and liking
  5. Commenting and replying to comments
  6. Making friends with the humans behind the blogs

I was determined to apply my observations and, needless to say, the shift toward engagement made for more successful and enjoyable blogging. Duh.

Blogging serves various functions and means different things to different people. For me, it’s changed/changing over time. I still don’t care about stats – they’re only numbers. They don’t make me laugh, or move me, or entertain me. Blogging had become increasing about human connections and community. In fact, that’s all it’s about.

I’m still stumbling around, seeking my bloggy niche while trying to be true to myself and what I care about. I’m striving for balance (always), committed to my new sphere of friends while honoring those closer to home, clumsily carving out time for family and my need to write. I’m still learning…the story of my life…but perhaps not quite so clueless anymore 🙂

140 thoughts on “Clueless Blogger – A year later”

  1. ubiquitous sense says:
    December 9, 2016 at 5:16 pm

    I have no idea what I’m doing here in this blog world. I want to share so much, but I want to learn and read. I love what you wrote here. It gives me hope that in time, I will find my Niche and connection. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Tina Frisco says:
    January 22, 2016 at 4:30 pm

    I share your boat, my friend. Sometimes I feel like I’m caught in an ever-swirling eddy and have lost my oars. I don’t blog often, and at times I think I should change that. But I write when spirit moves me. And like you, I’m focused on people rather than stats. I suppose what I really need to change is the undue pressure I place on myself. After all, there’s plenty of that already from the outside 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      January 22, 2016 at 6:03 pm

      Blogging is very time consuming, in my experience. I’ve backed off on other social media as a way to create more balance. Balance – something that I continue to strive for. 🙂 You have wonderful posts on your blog. If you’re happy, just keep doing what you’re doing ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  3. millie schmidt says:
    January 15, 2016 at 1:12 am

    I love this post! It’s so true! I started blogging in Nov/Dec 2015, and I’ve met some truly wonderful, supportive people on here! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  4. dalecooper57 says:
    January 14, 2016 at 6:22 am

    I wouldn’t worry, I’ve been blogging for almost exactly the same length of time and I’ve still got no idea what I’m doing here. ;~}

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Joel F says:
    January 12, 2016 at 8:24 pm

    Beautiful article. I myself was also clueless once, oops, i admit still am. Blogging is a journey i won’t mind taking cluelessly. 🙂 Thanks for this beautiful post D. Wallace.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. D. Wallace Peach says:
    January 12, 2016 at 9:02 am

    I completely agree with the way this journey can change us in our non-blog life. And all your followers found you like I did – enjoying your writing and thoughts and personality 🙂 You have a wonderful blog 😀 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Ocean Bream says:
    January 12, 2016 at 8:34 am

    I loved reading this! You’re right, Stats are just numbers. And it’s definitely more about reading content and learning things about others. I learnt so much about other humans through blogging. It has even helped my day to day life interactions with people, making me more empathetic and thoughtful. And, you know, the moment you appeared on my blog, I suddenly received a whole host of new followers, commenters and new, fantastic, heartening blogs to follow. So I have you to thank for that! So thank you for your support, and I really look forward to reading more of what you have to say 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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