So, I’ve realised something over the last few weeks, and I am going to admit it right here, right now.
I do blog for happiness, but I can’t sod the stats, and why should I sod them? It’s interesting looking at the numbers, and it’s a measure of whether I chat crap and drivel or things that people actually want to read about.
The thing is, even though blogging is a hobby, it’s one I spend an awful lot of time doing and I put a ton of effort and love into this little portion of the internet. I adore it, and everything that comes with it, and that, for me, includes having a look over my analytics. There is very little I like more than crashing on the sofa of an evening, with a glass of wine, twitter open, chatting away, and blog hopping. I have my details stored so that commenting is easy as pie. I’ve met some wonderful and beautiful people with the kindest hearts and buckets of talent, who’s paths I’d likely never cross if it hadn’t been for blogging, and if the Internet broke, well, let’s just say I’d be very very bereft (also, very very broke, given that’s how Ross and I make our living).
I realise it’s a long, slow burner, but lately I feel like I’m hitting a brick wall. Maybe I’ve run out of ideas, maybe I am just a hugely narcissistic idiot. Maybe I need to leave it for a bit, maybe this is all in my stupid head. Maybe I just need to catch some kind of break.
One thing I do know for certain, is that if I took my analytics away, it would drive me potty.
Any words of wisdom and advice? Is there anything you’d like to see here, or anything you don’t want me to blog about? Hit me with it, people, I am braced.
I think sometimes you need to take a step back and a break. Re-think we you want your blog to be and what you get out of it. Then step back into it. A fresh pair of eyes so to speak x
Susan Mann recently posted..100 Word Count Challenge – Would Seven Prove Too Much
I think you might be right. I’ve spent a long time adding bits and bobs and trying to refine it in one way or another. Maybe I need to disappear for a while.
I’m in the same boat. I have to look quite a way back to find the last post I wrote which got many hits. I thought I didn’t care too much about the stats side of blogging, but I guess that’s easy to say when you feel you’re getting a decent number of hits.
I took a semi-break through July, hoping to come back refreshed in August, but that hasn’t quite happened. I do wonder whether the emergence of some good weather, plus other things (Olympics, school holidays, etc…) mean people are spending less time looking at other blogs at the moment.
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It could well be the summer hols and Olympics combo.
I was talking to someone a while who said they felt like it was really hard to get views at the moment. Maybe our boat is a cosy one.
Love your blog, Love you! Enough said. You have made me think I should look at my stats at some stage…..urgh.
Priya recently posted..Jelly babies, Mars Bars and Crisps (aka a Wellness Event).
Don’t if you don’t want to, or feel like you don’t need to. I get obsessed with mine, but it’s like Lewis said, it’s easy to not be if you get a lot of views and stuff.
Love you too xxx
I think it’s fine to use stats as a bit of a guide. But frankly, if your hobby has stopped being fun, then something has to change, right?
I mean, I regularly take little breaks, nobody cares, the numbers dwindle, they pick back up.
My one bit of advice, with any hobby (and don’t forget that advice is like opinions which are like arseholes) is that you have to work out why you’re doing, what it is that floats your boat, and roll with it.
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I like stats too, and receiving comments. I am also having a bit of a block too at the moment, infact a number of blogger seem to be, and I intetend to take a break soon for a couple of weeks – I think we can all get a little tired mid year!
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I think the stats flat line a bit over the summer, people are out and tied up with kids. Lots of people have less time.
It’s difficult not to get caught up in stats – but that isn’t necessarily the value of a blog.
For me I have a complicated relationship with my blog, I love it, sometimes I am full of ideas, sometimes less so, sometimes it just doesn’t do it for me and I’m not sure why. I just want to change it all. It’s a constant battle with finding time. I’ve come to learn that with all relationships it has it’s ups and downs. The Ups always come back! X
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I L♡V you blog it fun and interesting, but i feel you, after a year and all the seasons passing by i thought ⓞMG thats all my knowledge out there what the hell will i write. But just step back immerse yourself into life and inspiration will come again maybe a few post worthy parts or even a flood of information to inspire you write for a month. A break for the brain actually stimulates it into thinking about your passions and re evaluating its shape for the future xxx
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I love you, love your blog. BIG love all round for I’m Counting UFOz.
The things I love about blogs is the insight you get into other people’s lives and you get insight in spades from you, love it. Reading blogs is my Soap watching. I love to write about my family but I always get the most views on blogs I write that are a bit controversial, or super topical. This one when I responded to something by Bibi Lynch got loads – http://morethantoast.org/2012/04/get-over-it/ – as did the one about dummies – http://morethantoast.org/2012/06/to-dummy-or-not-to-dummy/.
I learnt at BritMums that posts about Macaroni cheese get loads!! It’s on my ‘to do’ list. xx
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