Do I post too often?
Am I not serious enough when I post?
Are my photos even interesting?
What is my motivation for posting?
Am I too concerned with the number of hits?
Will I eventually run out of things to write about?
I have undergone some blogger self-analyzation over the past few days and these are just some of the questions I have asked myself. It has been almost three months since I started my blog, and I am starting to see a pattern develop with how and what I post.
*Quick ADD side note – I am finding it difficult to write in nice long, descriptive paragraphs as I could back in the college days (quick shout out to TSC). The corporate world has forced me to write in quick bullets; capitalization and punctuation be damned.
Back on topic – I can break down my posts into three different categories and they always follow the same pattern. Here goes:
Let me show you what I know about plants and garden design
This is my chance to try and show off and develop credibility. I’ll throw out Latin names of plants and the specific cultivar names. I will also use design terms like “focal point”, “contrast” and “structure” to prove I can maybe hang with the big boys and girls. These posts typically do not include many photos. Once these posts are completed, I start to wonder if I am taking it all too seriously. After all, I dubbed myself ONG for god’s sake. This feeling will then lead to the next type of post.
I am different from those serious gardeners; I am witty and wacky; please read and laugh
The humor and wackiness is part of my personality and how I carry myself. I honestly write how I speak. It feels good when I write this type of blog entry. At a minimum, it makes me laugh. I’ll even throw in inside jokes for purposes of making only one person crack up. Once these posts are completed I pay closer attention to the number of hits and comments received. If it is slower than expected, I start to worry that I lost people. Maybe my humor is interpreted incorrectly. Maybe you just ain’t that funny homeboy. Then I get the itch to make up for it with …
The almost all photo entry with a mix of knowledge and humor
This is the middle ground for the two previous post types. The photos prove I actually own plants and gives me a chance to throw out a quick blurb that proves I know more than the average person. I can also add a touch of humor to show I haven’t gone completely serious on you. I then wonder if my many photos of barely emerging foliage and still dormant plants are not all that interesting so I resort back to (you guessed it) the first post-type above. The cycle is officially complete.
I am not sure what this cycle of posts really means but I will probably follow it to some degree for the foreseeable future. It’s me and to tell you the truth, I like it. It is like exploring different aspects of my personality and it feels therapeutic.
In my current job, self expression does not exist (just the nature of the job, don’t get angry fellow co-workers!) so this feels like a good outlet for me.
If I end up posting nearly every day or every-other-day, so be it.
If I want to over-analyze the number of hits and study the analytics, so be it.
This shit is fun, yo!
Blogging does make you think about why people read your blog doesn’t it? Often, what I think is a mediocre post, sometimes is hugely popular while those I spend a lot of time on and think will be a hit, aren’t. It is definitely an uncertain world 🙂
Where the post about the overanalysis of your stats? This is not just fun, it is addictive. I keep having to get more computer time!
At some point you may finally stop obsessing over your stats and just look at the fun keywords that bring visitors to your site.
There will always be someone who is smarter, knows more latin, takes better photos and has been to an far-off land to gather exotic plants. You are the only one who can write about your own garden with the special touches that make your blog special. Write for yourself what you know, what you feel, what is growing. We will read and enjoy.
1] Yes, you post too frequently. However, your loyal followers understand your unbridled enthusiasm and we would rather you post too frequently than too little.
2] Please, do not become more serious when you post. Your attitude and your “edge” allow you to stand out in a crowd. I would give my right arm and keyboard to be able to write as witty as you do. Some people have it and some don’t. You’ve got it in spades.
3] It doesn’t matter what your motivation might be. Only the final blog counts.
4] Being concerned with the number of hits is one of several ways to feel validated.
5] Gardeners never run out of things to say.
6] Your style of writing in bursts is part of the character of your blog. Don’t think of changing it unless you want your readership to drop.
7] It is an inexplicable phenomenon of the internet, how many people are interested in barely emerging plants. Last month, there must have been over 1000 garden bloggers, who posted images of gradually emerging snowdrops. Everyone’s efforts were acknowledged with positive and encouraging comments. That is the nature of the garden blogging community.
I think that you are funny and witty, that is why I enjoy your blog.
After you have blogged for a while, you will (probably) not be as obsessed with your stats, at least that is what I tell myself.
I started my blog purely as a personal diary of my gardening adventure. To me, it matters not whether one person or a hundred people read it. That a fair few people like reading about another human’s suffering is obvious!
I think people have different moods on different days. I like factual posts because I learn, humorous posts because I remember that it’s not so serious, and pictures because, well, I like pictures (especially of nudey women, but you don’t get too many of those in gardening blogs).
You are an overly obsessive neurotic gardener! Just relax and enjoy what you do… that is the true nature of gardening!
Hey. You made the right decision–do what you enjoy. Your style is fast paced, humorous, and very different from most other gardening blogs–a very pleasant diversion for overly serious bloggers like me.
You and I have a lot in common, blog-wise.
Don’t worry about it so much, just be you. ‘If you build it, they will come’.
Oops. Sorry to get all Kevin Costner on your ass.
Oh dear. I hope we don’t have to be serious when we post. If so, I’m going to get an ‘F’ in blogging;) I think garden blogs with a light tone are a much needed contrast to the complain-y, rant-y ones (which are fun to read, too). It takes all kinds, right?
Christine in Alaska
You just keep on posting and don’t worry about the rest of it! I LOVE your posts- they make me laugh so hard and you know what? we need some dudes with a sense of humor in this gardening world!
Just write what makes you happy. The more you write, the better your writing will become, as a natural consequence of practicing. And you will eventually not care much about your stats, I suspect. I now have stats that would have made my heart soar over the moon in my first few months of blogging — but I hardly even look at them anymore. Ah, the irony! 😉
And as far as writing long paragraphs goes, that’s “out” in the blog-o-sphere anyway, because it’s harder to read for “scanners,” who make up a large portion of readership, according to the latest studies. (I always wonder who exactly sits around studying this stuff.) Pro bloggers actually recommend short sentences and bullet points and lots of white space — or red space, in your case.
I can totally relate to your post – in fact I keep thinking about doing a “meta blog” but then I only write it in my head!
Analysis is always good though you’ve landed on the absolute best reason to continue blogging. (This shit IS fun. 🙂 I started my blog years ago and intended to do it ‘just for the summer.’ Apparently I can’t shut up!
Thanks for the chuckle. You didn’t mention a problem that I have — why is it that blog posts always come to my mind when I’m driving to work, sitting in traffic or in the middle of the night — any time where it’s not possible for me to get my thoughts down “on (virtual) paper?” One of life’s little mysteries, I guess.
aloha,
i found that what i post and send really reflects who i am as a person…what comes naturally and flows out as far as pictures and writing should come out naturally and identify me as that person…if you feel that is you coming out of your posts then stick to it and do more….i enjoy and read posts that are personal and resonate a personal story to each posts 🙂
Thank you all for the inspiring comments and insight. I can promise you I take all the feedback to heart. This has made gardening even more enjoyable – didn’t think that was even possible. Garden on my friends!
Well, you went out of your norm for this post and look how many comments and picks you are receiving. We all share the common thread of a gardening blog with all different thoughts. When we share our thoughts it is interesting to others…i think.