Today I’m starting a new, occasional series called “Real Talk.” To kick it off, I am talking about blogger envy. It’s something we’ve all experienced, so let’s get to the bottom of it!
When I first started blogging, I read lots of well known bloggers and totally aspired to have a similar sized following, partnerships with businesses – you know, everything that I saw the big named bloggers getting. As my blog progressed I learned that I didn’t want to be like those blogs – I wanted to just be me. And that is when my blog started to grow and I started to get an audience.
I think many bloggers go through a stage of wanting to have a huge following, wanting all these superficial things and then getting frustrated when they see it happening to others. I’m active on numerous groups on facebook where bloggers regularly post queries like this: “I’ve been blogging for five months and I still have no comments, and don’t understand what I’m doing wrong. Please go visit my page and like it and please comment on my blog.” There is nothing inherently wrong with posts like this, however, I think folks are missing the point. While it’s natural to want to be successful, simply striving for what others’ have isn’t going to get you anywhere. Instead of envying other bloggers, if the focus is on simply improving your blog and how you can grow community, that’s when results happen.
As my friend Mar says, you need to remember your why. When you first started blogging, chances are you did it because you loved writing and didn’t really care how many people your blog attracted. Get back to that place where blogging was fun – that’s where the magic happens! To be honest, I don’t even read many of the big time bloggers I used to envy. Now that I’ve grown my blogger community, I spend my time readers bloggers that I truly connect with. I’m much happier with my blog and my blog has grown in leaps and bounds.
Have you ever dealt with blogger envy? How’d you deal with it?
I think its hard not to compare yourself to other blogs, even though there’s no logical reason to do it. I definitely have my days where I wonder how some people get that many comments or have that many people subscribed to them. And then I realize, I don’t care if I have 200 great followers instead of 1000 followers who don’t come visit often.
Cyanne (RunStretchGo) recently posted…My MAF Training Fail, and my Run Home PGH Training starts Today
Yes, it’s definitely hard some days, but remembering that it’s YOUR journey and YOUR blog allows for a more authentic experience. Plus, someone out there is probably jealous of you (the collective you!) 🙂
Yes, Yes a thousand times YES! great post. We all have or had blogger envy at one time or another but focusing on YOU will get you where you want to go 🙂 thumbs up!
Mar @ Mar on the Run! recently posted…Friday Five: Warm it up, Kris!
Thanks girl! I really wish I would’ve just transcribed our conversation on this Saturday morning 🙂 That was such a good talk!
Ah yes…. I think we have all been there. Being you is always always better!
Betsy recently posted…Fitness Confidential: Book Review and Giveaway!
100% agreed!
I love this post, Courtney! What actually got me wanting to start a blog in the first place was I started following all these “big time” bloggers and thought I could do that too. I also was getting asked by others a lot about my paleo lifestyle and running etc and I love to write so I figured it would be a good forum. It wasn’t until about a month ago or so when I finally got over the “blogger envy” . I was going through some health issues and found my blog was a great outlet for me to write down what I was feeling, going through, etc. At first I felt bad that some of these posts were very negative but soon realized why I really started this blog to begin with: FOR ME. My blog is still very small, with a very small following but that doesn’t matter to me anymore. I do have to thank you Courtney for getting me back into wanting to blog again. For awhile it was like twice a month I would post something. Since last week when I started actually reading your posts and commenting I have posted 3 times last week because i started having more ideas for new posts and the desire to be more consistent came back. I don’t know if it was something specific you wrote on your blog or not but, just the way you make everything seem so simple and easy it is very refreshing to read and know you are being yourself and authentic.
Lindsey @ OneMotherofaDay recently posted…Paleo Round-up: Super Bowl snacks + a house divided!
Lindsey – thank you so much for commenting! I think it’s awesome that you’ve been blogging more frequently and I agree that by putting the emphasis on why you are blogging, it changes everything. Props to you for being true to your “why.” 🙂
This post is so true and so needed. While I do talk to the bigger bloggers for advice about things, I don’t copy them in order to see success. i write what I want and follow my own rules and that’s when I’ve seen the most growth. (confession: I still get blogger envy sometimes though lol)
Kelsey @ Blonder Side of Life recently posted…Monday Marvelous
I think you have the right attitude! And we’re all subject to a little envy from time to time 🙂
Love this post. Way to put things into perspective.
I always love your honesty! I have stopped reading some of those Bigger blogs because I would rather spend my time with bloggers who respond back to my comments and that I actually have an interaction with. Isn’t that what we all strive for anyway, making connections and friendships?
Meranda@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…What’s your Game Plan for the Dinsey Fit For A Princess Expo?
Yes, that’s exactly right — I’m so much happier blogging with the community I’ve created instead of seeking something that wasn’t my original goal anyways!
Very well said Courtney! I find myself stuggling with content sometime and “feeling” like I’m not posting enough. But I don’t want to just post something for the sake of posting. I don’t want to post just “fluff”. Ive seen so many people say you need to post x amount of times a week, but I’m not going to do that If I don’t have something worthwhile to say!
Thanks Sue — I agree — posting “filler” is one of my biggest blogger pet peeves. I personally don’t think it’s how often you post, but more that you are consistent with posting (i.e. I think it’s better to post 1x a week regularly then 3x a week one week, 5x the next, etc.). Of course it’s all relative – if your blog is not a business (which most of ours aren’t), there isn’t a “need” to post anything!
Me too – I know I can never be a daily blogger because of my life, and needing to focus my energy elsewhere in the evenings some nights after the kids are asleep.
Cynthia @ You Signed Up For What?! recently posted…Six Mile Slush Run
I agree 100% with everything you’ve said, Courtney. I think all bloggers at one point or another go through their “blogger envy” stage (or for some like me its sometimes a rollercoaster), but its of utmost importance to remember why you started blogging. Whenever I slip back into my “envy” stage I try to step back and remember why I started blogging, which was to hold myself accountable for my training and to share my story with those who truly care to read it. Those who care about my story will stop by because they want to, not because I’m trying to grow my readership up to a specific statistic.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Half Marathon Training Log – Week 2
Great post Courtney! I think we’ve all gone through it at some point….but at the end of the day it comes back to what Mar said – “remember your why”
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted…January Rewind – Not!
truth! I will admit I get jealous of other bloggers, especially those who start a blog and have ahuge following over night. But I have slowly grown my blog and community, and know those who regularly comment..and like you said, sometimes I enjoy interacting/reading their posts more than the big bloggers 🙂
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Runners And Superstitions
This post is spot on. When I started blogging I only wrote DIY posts…but then I realized that that focus was narrowly defining me…in leaving the “mom” part out of my blog, I felt I was losing my authenticity. Now I am just being me! Visiting from the SITS Sharefest!
Heather recently posted…Love Your Kleenex® Style & Battle the Preschool Achoos!
Thanks Heather for stopping by! And you are right – just being yourself is absolutely the way to go!
Hello! I’m visiting from #SITSBlogging and I have to say that I love this post! I think it’s hard to not compare yourself to the “Big Timers” as I like to call them because we are all so excited about our blog and when you pour your heart into it, you always have certain expectations you place upon yourself. When I first started and no one was really commenting, it made me really question if anyone cared what I was writing about. Then I had an AHA moment and realized that I cared!! That’s all that mattered to me and I stopped comparing myself. Great post!!!
Christine recently posted…Tuesday’s With Lush: Dragon Egg Bath Bomb
Thanks for stopping in — and I agree, it can be really challenging to not do that comparison and avoiding it is really so much better and makes you a happier blogger (in my opinion).
I have been blogging for ten years and I have been so high up and so low down with weeks gone by and no traffic… but I guess it was only after joining facebook that I really started feeling that someone should read and follow me. I have been thinking ‘why’ but I don’t understand…. but yes, the only thing that brings me back to blogging after months of hibernating is that ‘itch’. I love blogging… readers or not.
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If my blog ever gets a good following, I think I will feature a new blogger every once in a while to give them some exposure. I find myself wishing I could get a break, get out there just once and connect with a large audience – build it and they will come isn’t necessarily true. The problem is everyone else is too – thousands of blogs in my niche are vying for attention.
Val @ Love My DIY Home recently posted…DIY Designer Desktop
These are great thoughts, and I agree! It’s hard to not be envious occasionally, but staying true to yourself and your blog are so important! When you are passionate and love what you do, it will come through to your readers. 🙂
Amber recently posted…Beauty Blog Coalition Weekly Round Up 2/21
Well said Courtney. I’m a new blogger myself and I don’t want to post meaningless stuff everyday. I started blogging to explore my creative side and I hope to stay true to my personality and interests. Look forward to reading more of your writing.
Hey there — thanks for stopping by! The blogging world can be a great place but there can also be some weird stuff that goes on. I’m looking forward to reading your blog and welcome 🙂