A couple of weeks ago, I shared my confession that one of my secret hopes in my Pinspiration project was that it would help me sort of figure out my blog’s focus. In discovering all the cool blogs that are out there, I felt that I needed to find my niche. Figure out a way to “brand” myself if you will.
I started thinking of all the things I love to do and of course baking and crafting were obvious choices. So for instance, without tooting my own horn too much, I make pretty decent cupcakes. And I knew that if I really put my mind to it and worked the social media thing better and promoted myself better, I could make a go at a bad-ass cupcake website. And it’s the same thing with crafts or scrapbooking. But the more I thought about it…well I love to bake, but I don’t just want to blog about baking. Same thing with crafts – love it, just don’t want to be a craft blog.
So then it sort of begged the question, well then what kind of blog do you want to be?
Let me just say, I’ve thought long and hard about this question for almost an entire year. And at times, it has been so frustrating. But in my heart, when I think about my blog and what kind of things bring me the most joy, well honestly it’s just everyday, ordinary stuff. Silly things that make me smile and make me laugh at myself. Little discoveries along the way. Small joys in the midst of what is sometimes a really cold, dark world.
This is what my blog is about.
Now, all of this is not to say I won’t share any more recipes or crafts. I mean I finally figured out how to make that blessed deco-mesh wreath so you better believe there’s going to more of those in my future. But I guess what I am trying to say is that I’ll share that kind of stuff in the context of enjoying my life.
The funny thing is, that when I finally stopped comparing my blog (and myself quite honestly) to all the other blogs out there, I realized that I had already found my niche. The kind of blog I already had and the kinds of things I had already been blogging about…well that’s the kind of blog I wanted to have. And now finally, I can say –that is enough.
I’m going through this right now – literally. I’m taking Liv Lane’s Buzzworthy e-course and we are supposed to be defining our brand. She and I came up with this: I’m a “curator of creative inspiration.” What do you think? I also don’t want to be defined by one thing. I like photography. I like crafts. I sometimes write about motherhood. I do all sorts of different things and write about them all.
I think it’s good to have a defining statement if it helps guide us, but otherwise, why worry about it? I am going nutty over here trying to write a bio of myself and an About Page. So silly when you look at it from a few steps back.
Yes yes yes!!!! I went through a similar in the past year too, and have agreed going my own way is the best.
What a great post, Kelly! You describe exactly my problem. There are so many interests in my life and I they’re part of me, of my life and also of my blog. Thank you so much for your inspirational words. I’m glad I’ve found your blog via Kim’s TT.
Best wishes, Manuela