So yesterday we talked a bit about our purpose and strengths, what we want to achieve and how our readers might gain from our blog.
Today, I want to open things up a bit and ask you a few more questions. The purpose of all this questioning is to really help you to build a clear idea of where you are at and where you want to be. Of the things you are great at and how you might be able to make the most of those strengths in a bloggy way.
There’s a method in my madness, because I think a lot of blog confusion and indifference comes from not having a clear purpose, even forgetting how important it is to be true to you. The beginnings of our time together are about clarifying this stuff, getting it down on paper and applying it to your work. Sometimes your work/blog instantly improves because you are noticing this stuff and focusing on more carefully. Sometimes it takes a bit of hard work.
Whichever it is, I’m super glad we are getting started! Here’s what I want you to think about and make notes on today…
Blog heroes
We often start blogging because we enjoy reading someone else’s blog. My own blog was sparked by bloggers like Loobylu, Posy Gets Cosy and Decor8. Really, my blog is nothing like these (and never has been) but their passion and talent and cleverness lit a spark in me that is yet to be extinguished. They helped me to find my MEDIUM. Perhaps this is the case with you too?
Who are your blog heroes?
Make a list and make some notes about how those blogs make you feel and the things you most love about them: blog design, voice, storytelling, humour, imagery, lifestyle, skills… and more. Dig deep and drill down to the things you most love about your blog faves.
Really, this is a list of clues for YOU! It’s a little recipe that reveals what you think a great blog’s ingredients are. Keep this recipe for future reference and think about the ingredients that might work on your own blog too!
Blog dreams
Now. Let’s have a little tete a tete about your dreams for your blog. Perhaps there are some things your blog heroes have achieved that are on your bucket list too? Maybe it’s a blog-turned-book or reader events or a super-engaged readership or a blog podcast. Or something else? A full time income seems to be high on the list for many. Is that part of your blog dream? Let’s get this stuff out there, on paper, confidentially in the light of day. What great stuff do you want your blog to lead to?
What are your blog dreams?
If your blog was as awesome as it could be, what would it look like? What kinds of content would you be publishing? What would your images be like? What style would the posts be? Dig deep and drill down! Pin this stuff down!
Wider dreams
And while we’re at it, let’s go a little bigger, a little wilder, a lot wilder! What are your creative or business dreams for yourself? What are the things you MOST want to do, if you had the right opportunities and circumstances? Just assume no one will ever read this stuff and write yourself a FULL PAGE of all the things you want to do. Or even one big thing, but in lots of detail. Document (privately) your wider, big dream/s. Let’s get all this stuff out there and see how it feels, what it looks like and make plans for making good stuff happen.
What are your BIG (not just bloggy) dreams for yourself?
What do you most want to do with your life? Do you want to travel? Write? Sing? Publish? Speak? Make? Bake? Own a business? Lead a gang? WHAT?
See you tomorrow!
(And feel free to chat away in the comments of each lesson too!)
KylieHarvey I so know what you mean! This is really holding me back but I’m hoping to get a handle on it x
KylieHarvey I can really relate to this! I feel like my head is everywhere – especially when it comes to my blog but the more time I actually spend with it I can feel my ideas become clearer…
Gaaaah! What is it that I can really commit to? This is the eternal question for me. I seem to be a jack of all trades master of none!