Feel free to skip this post - it will probably bore you.
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I signed up to participate in a 31 Days to Building a Better Blog Program (and it's not too late, you can, too). I did it for you. I love my blog. I'm proud to have kept it going for so long (3rd anniversary coming up) and I still very much enjoy blogging. I rarely have writers block, but not everything I post is up to snuff. So, maybe this little thing will help me to give you a higher quality product. You're welcome.
But first, I'm supposed to Run a SWOT analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
1. Define your mission and goals.
I blog to maintain a record of my life, to find myself when I Google me, to force me to hash out my political and religious philosophies, and to connect to other thinking individuals whose diapers I am not responsible to change.
My goals are to post 4 times a week, update the goings on of my family, search for solutions to the political issues that weigh on my heart (Daylight Saving Time, Gay Marriage, etc.), improve the quality of my writing while maintaining my unique style and voice. I'd also like to use my blog as a springboard to/practice for a professional writing career.
2. List your blog's strengths.
My blog is not limited to one topic or genre - there is a bit of variety. I consistently publish almost daily. I have several commentors of various diverse backgrounds who force me to carefully justify and analyze my views and who continue to read even when we disagree (I love my readers/commentors). I add a unique perspective to the Mormon Mommy Blog genre. I genuinely enjoy blogging.
3. List your blog's weaknesses.
I use a very casual writing style, an attempt to sound conversational - this is not necessarily compatible with professional writing. I often publish shite just to have something new up. I worry that when I post on oft discussed topics (DST, gay marriage) it is redundant and boring to my readers. I don't have a swanky mast or special button - my blog is very straight out of the box in appearance. Two years of untagged posts. I'm not actively trying to publish, to get my writing in front of publishers. If I allow myself to be categorized as "just another Mormon Mommy Blog" it limits my audience.
4. List your blog's opportunities.
I got some exposure through an article on Religious Dispatch. Also Be Gay About It (no such thing as bad publicity, they say).
5. List your blog's threats.
Stereo-typical Mormon Mommy Blogs - silly fluffy narrow. Readers who come with preconceived ideas about me.
6. Analyze your reflections and generate strategies.
If I have any hope of using my blog as kind of a portfolio, bait, the work needs to be higher quality, need to take it more seriously. Also, if blog is to record life happenings, need to regularly speak to that. If I worry my topics are stale and I have no new insight, probably don't need to keep posting on it (except DST).
7. Plan to do something and do it.
Read each post out loud before publishing it. Delete as much as possible - be concise. I'd like to work harder on generating new readers and keeping them coming back, but not sure how.
3 Brilliant Bits of Inspiration:
There is some very good advice in there. I like that you have enough confidence to take on topics that others shy away from. I used to do that on a very large, mostly woman based message board but I don't anymore. It was awesome for getting new perspectives and such but I finally decided I was mostly done with it.
I have no desire to become a writer beyond what I do/ have done in my professional career which is mostly grantwriting. Grantwriting is far less about the writing than most grantwriters tend to think and far more about an intuitive grasp of marketing.
For me, blogging is an avenue to meet new people, make a quick and interesting connection and then move on. I have a lot of friends IRL but I love hearing people's stories. Blogging is more personal and less agressive than the old message board. I can handle heat, I just prefer to stay out of the kitchen at this point in my life.
Good luck with your future writing career. My sister is a gifted writer and has used it to affect some amazing change in our community, State and now at a National level.
Blogs are like all things. They move in waves, up and down, hot and cold. Most people start and then stop. So as for strategy, take this from an ex-expert PR/Marketing person and Shakespeare: to thine own self be true!
I like blogspot. Why? You can buy your own domain name, by using free hosting from blogger.com
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