Top 5 Reasons You’re No Longer Reading My Blog
Life on Avenue Z, like Avenue Z Writing Solutions, is now 2 years old. In the first heady days of my writing career, I wrote at least 5 days a week, and I was building quite a following: perhaps 250 a day were stopping by to share “The Trials and Tribulations of a New Freelance Copywriter.” I adored the interchange, and I was so happy to welcome my readers.
But these days, the statistics tell another story. I still have wonderful, regular readers, but the dropoff has been monumental. Here are the top reasons why…
- I’m not reading your blogs.
Oh gosh but we had fun in the old days, visiting each other’s blogs and encouraging, laughing, leaving witty comments. I’d discover and learn to love new blogs from the blog rolls of my favorite blogging friends. But as time wore on and business picked up, I had less and less time to wander the internet for new sites or even stop by my favorites. And in the blogging world, if you don’t give, you don’t get. I miss you guys! I’m so sorry I’ve ceased stopping by. - I’m not writing often enough.
If you don’t write new stuff, people don’t come by as often. If you come by and visit and the same post is up, you move on, and sooner or later, you don’t stop by anymore. - I’ve run out of things to say about being a new freelance copywriter.
These days I wonder if I should rename this blog or simply start a new one. The purpose when I started was to document my first entrepreneurial adventure so others can learn from my mistakes when they start their own business. I’m pretty proud to say that I think I have helped people launch their freelance careers. Even today I get notes from fellow writers who ask questions about how to handle taxes or what I do about business cards or the like. But I’m not really facing new challenges about running my business. And I’m not sure “business as usual” posts are interesting to read. - I’ve kind of said it all.
This is not quite true, but I frequently have ideas about new blog posts on motivation, sticking to a plan, how to be productive, etc. And then I remember that I’ve already covered that in such-and-such a post. And since most of the readers I have today have been with me for quite some time, I have a feeling they’d recognize some of the themes. - I’m distracted by other shiny social media toys.
Facebook. Twitter. Whrrl. I send pictures, messages, posts on the fly. They can be short, and I get instant feedback and lots of it. I designed The Cheapskate Freelancer site so each post is less than 100 words, so it’s easy to churn out a post. It’s hard to get back to writing a daily 500-word post about what I’m doing, since it’s so easy to update the other sites in just a few words.
For all my excuses, I’m truly sad I’m not keeping up any more. I miss interacting and sharing my adventures. My goal is to turn my experiences into a book that will help other budding writers get started as freelancers, and maybe my manuscript is finished.
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Jenny on 09 Aug 2009 at 10:42 am #
I enjoy the blogs whenever they pop up in my email. It’s an insight into your world, and I often take your freely given bits of advice and apply it to my life. So whether you continue here or start anew, keep me on your list! I appreciate your time and effort in sharing your views.
Craig on 09 Aug 2009 at 12:26 pm #
Your blog is linked to my blog reader. I read ALL your posts, young lady! Grin. I don’t always comment, however; that I admit. But I remain a loyal reader. My own blog has suffered. My creativity has been drained by company layoffs (I survived), a ten percent pay cut (ongoing), and trying to start my own home business. Now my wife is trying to start HER own business, so I’m giving her a hand. No wonder my blog is a bit neglected.
Andrea on 09 Aug 2009 at 6:48 pm #
Squirrel….
Barbara on 09 Aug 2009 at 7:19 pm #
I love your blog, even if you don’t read mine!
Don’t be discouraged, the true fans are reading your feed – we just need to remember to stop back by and give you feedback when we read something good. It’s work to write a blog post every day, or week, or even month. But, I have to remember, like you said, that if I want readers, I have to keep giving them something. Fortunately, my topic practically writes itself.
Gutsy Writer on 09 Aug 2009 at 8:47 pm #
Blog comments do take forever. You’re right, it is a lot of work. I wish you luck with your book. Are you quitting blogging?
Scoats on 10 Aug 2009 at 3:48 am #
I too read it anytime it shows up in Google Reader’s RSS feed.
Sarah on 10 Aug 2009 at 6:18 am #
I do miss you updates, although during the summer it is much harder for me to keep up (I don’t get a lot of computer time with the kids around!).
I did find out, though, that my sister-in-law keeps up with you better than I do now, because of facebook. How sad!
Love ya.
Sherri on 10 Aug 2009 at 10:53 am #
Even if you don’t have something new to say about your writing business you must be contemplating a cupcake run or having a bad hair day or quietly conquering world hunger. Many of those entries are my favorites. I hope you’ll keep us informed of those “beth” moments too. Missing you in Philly.
SHER
Mark McClure on 16 Aug 2009 at 2:01 am #
It would make a good book for new freelancers, Beth,
Make the final post an ad for the book, reminding visitors they can also have all the raw content for free by reading through the archives. Not many will be so fastidious.
Include ‘Vol 1′ somewhere in the book’s title
That gives you an entry point to some future missive, should demand and experience collide anew!
Good luck!