Let's be honest.
Every blogger would be beside himself with joy to have staggering stats and make the "Top 10" listing reflected at the authoritative sites. True?
Not only is it good for boosting the ego, and earning bragging rights, it helps boost our "bottom lines".
Still a part of me rebels against making this blog about a popularity contest. Which is why I have a slower "pace" than many of my blogging peers. And why you don't see ads plastered or social media icons placed strategically across my spot.
Don't get me wrong: I'm not knocking those that do. And I rather enjoy reading their blogs as well. To each his own.
But long before I discovered the joy of Blogging, I was a professional writer.
And though I have several goals for this blog, my ulterior motive is clear:
I love writing and sharing my passion with others. It's really that simple.
As a result, I don't get as much exposure as I should. Comparatively, I dig writing and connecting through words much more than marketing and promoting.
Heck, many of my posts are not even Search Engine Optimized.
I like to think of this blog as a "hole in the wall" site.
Have you ever been to one?
A hole in the wall place is one that is like a "best kept secret." It's usually a restaurant, bar, or jazz joint that you're sure to experience good times and groovy people! It often has a more intimate feel.
The conversations are warm and the atmosphere is cool.
And when I think of my most pleasant and enriching blog experiences, they're typically at sites that are not hugely popular, but the hosts are engaging and friendly, and the topics are interesting or offbeat and original.
I hope you find that here.
As a relative newbie to blogging, I have many things to learn. My numbers may not be mind-blowing, but there is continuous growth.
I'd like to thank each of you for that growth and for sharing my journey.
I appreciate your time and dig the vibe. I hope you'll return soon and visit often.
Next time be sure to B.Y.O.B. (Bring your own beauty)!
Thoughts?
Image Salvatore Vuono
Happy New Year Jennifer! I wholeheartedly agree with you! I frequent a lot of "hole in the wall" places here in town. Those are the best! Usually, they are jazz bars or just bars! :) I'd like to think that my blog is a "whole in wall" blog as well! And who doesn't love a little attention? Or recognition? Or bragging??? I know I for one, love that stuff! So, I while I love the fact that my followers count has increased from 4 to 26 in just the last two months, I'm glad it's still a diamond in the rough as it were.
ReplyDeleteYvonne,
ReplyDeleteYour comments always make me smile and nod my head. Thanks for being a "regular" at this hole in the wall. :-)
Oh yeah, and congrats on the increased followers! U go girl. :-)
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is wonderful and I certainly appreciate all that you do and share with readers.
http://lindaoconnell.blogspot.com/
Linda,
ReplyDeleteHow lovely of you to share this! I value your time and feedback.
I just found you last month, and already I've learned so much from you-- I appreciate your open and honest approach. Keep up the incredible job!
ReplyDeleteHeidi,
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to have you here! From where did you discover the Blog...just curious? Also, I LOVE your home decor blog! You can bet I'll be a frequent "guest". :-) Thanks much!
Jen,
ReplyDeleteI love reading your hole in the wall blog! Your voice has always reminded me of the suave coffee house or a jazz club...
Here are my holes in the wall:
www.amoralesthinks.blogspot.com
www.alyciawmorales.blogspot.com
I found yours via another writing friend, but I've lost track of which one linked me to you...
Alycia,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear this!! Thanks so much for the compliment and for your time. :-) I love jazz clubs, so I dig the comparison.
Alycia,
ReplyDelete...Just had a chance to stop by your spot. Nice.
I love your alliterative post titles and your family photos are lovely. Especially the little guy with the gun. :-)
From my experience, a "hole in the wall" provides a place of comfort from hugs to good food. It's a place where people are least likely to go because of the way it looks, but once they are there, they remain faithful. So, it's not totally a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteI think Shorty is still pretty obscure, but like any "hole in the wall," only those who appreciate what you offer returns. So, I guess I have one, too. :)
Thanks for stopping by , Marcie!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I just posted on your fitness blog. I KNEW you looked familiar. I've commented on here before. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I know what it's like to have a hole-in-the-wall blog. :)
Hi Bryan,
ReplyDeleteGood to see you here as well! I think you remember me as a fellow contributor to Work Awesome, dude! :-) I'm a fan of your work. Thanks for stopping by...
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI definitely like your site here. I am a fairly new blogger like you, but you're more experienced than me when it comes to writing. I liked to read when I was a kid and I am not much adept at writing myself, but I do try to make my posts error free.
Thanks for stopping by at my blog too! Looking forward to your new posts.
Hi Johanna,
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you! Thanks for stopping by and chiming in. :-)
Writing becomes easier with practice. Keep @ it!
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDelete"The conversations are warm and the atmosphere is cool". I particularly love this sentence because I believe it encloses everything a blog should be about.
At the beginning of my fairly new blogging career (I started last October), I became almost obsessed with making my blog visible and "popular", until I realized that THAT is not what blogging is about. At least not for me.
I think if we get wrapped up in the popularity contest, we end up losing sight of what's important: and that is, the writing!
Carolina,
ReplyDeleteHow true! Thanks for shedding some light. :-)