My Blog is Becoming Popular ...

[Michelle]

... and it is freaking me out.

I reached the sixth month anniversary of my blog. Traffic has literally tripled in the last few days. Successful people in my field are writing me telling me they love my work. And don't get me wrong. I am absolutely thrilled.

It is scary. That's all. You know - responsibility, committment, and exposing one's self. Just makes me want to hide under the table where no one can find me.

No real question here. Just needed to get that of my chest.

[Bingjie]

Hi Michelle, this is interesting. Alvin from Life Coaches Blog blogged about exactly the same sentiment you have here! Check it out!

[Erki]

I don't have a blog or anything but I have always felt that if I impressed someone once, I have to keep up my level and keep impressing and I imagine that would put a bit of pressure on me. Fear of success, maybe?

[Michelle]

That is a good post, Bingjie. Thanks for sharing it. It is comforting to know others are just as insecure :-).

I think you are right, Erki. Now there is a responsibility to reach a certain standard of quality regularly, whereas earlier (when no one was reading) it basically did not matter.

[Morgan]

Nice Michelle, where are you getting your traffic from? Search engines?

[Michelle]

Search engine traffic has indeed increased. But the biggest factor was my blog being noticed by other important blogs in the field. They wrote about my blog and the traffic started pouring in.

[Alvin]

Hi Michelle,

Glad to know I'm not alone

Funny isn't it, that we both wanted success, but when it landed - wow, it took some getting used to.

[Conan Stevens]

Keep going, get up to several thousand visitors a day and you'll be looking at a nice income stream.

[AndrewJ]

Congratualtions! Getting traffic to a new blog is always an achievement.

Andrew

[judge45]

That's a really interesting marketing ploy.

I've found the best way to spread the idea virus is via the blog community, forget press releases, forgot search engines, there 57 million blogs and they're work for you for free if you manage it write.

hth

Jeff

[ÜberDan]

Originally Posted by Michelle

... and it is freaking me out.

Not to add to that but I checked out your site too.. it's cool

We often fear how great we are more than we fear failure

[Michelle]

Thanks everyone for your comments and encouragement.

Yep. There was nothing I did to get the attention other than write stuff other singers are interested in reading.

Thanks, ÜberDan! Are you a fellow musician?

[John Wesley]

I experienced a big boost in traffic by having a popular article on the social sites. It's definitely a big rush at first. You get addicted to having tons of traffic, and it's sad to see it go back to normal.

It's really tempting, after you get a taste of the traffic, to try and write something with mass appeal every day. But I think if you keep doing this it hurts your relationship with your regular readers. In the end big spikes don't mean that much. What's important is building a large readership. That takes a long time and a lot of dedication.

[ÜberDan]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Are you a fellow musician?

Well ermm... not exactly. I am learning to play guitar, slowly if that counts? It's not necessarily the specific subject matter that attracts me to browsing blogs, more the writing style, layout and design. Plus other people’s lives are interesting. Thinking about it I wonder if I’m using blogs as a replacement for TV

[Michelle]

Originally Posted by ÜberDan

Thinking about it I wonder if I’m using blogs as a replacement for TV

That is an interesting thought. I may be doing the same having lived without tv for years.

[investorblogger]

Yes, I'm having similar success as one of my blogs develops more of a footprint on the internet. Don't know what will happen as I'm still trying to find my own sense of direction. But I have good role models.

It's quite surprising how the process takes place, it's quite recursive, refining, and editing as much as writing itself!

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by John Wesley

I experienced a big boost in traffic by having a popular article on the social sites. It's definitely a big rush at first. You get addicted to having tons of traffic, and it's sad to see it go back to normal.

It's really tempting, after you get a taste of the traffic, to try and write something with mass appeal every day. But I think if you keep doing this it hurts your relationship with your regular readers. In the end big spikes don't mean that much. What's important is building a large readership. That takes a long time and a lot of dedication.

I realized I was starting to place too much stress on myself to write a good article.

But, since my blog isn't my mainstay, I've decided it should remain my pleasure, not my pain.

[Michelle]

I just want to add that this post has become a wonderful example of intention manifestation through concentrating on what one wants. I received hundreds of hits from this post alone in the last few days. Several of you have become repeat visitors to my blog. Thanks!

It really pays to dwell on success :-).

[Indy107]

Hi Michelle,

I just wanted to say I can definitely relate! I started a placeblog for my town - hasn't even been a month ago yet - and the thing is growing like crazy. I find I spend more time working on my blog than working in my store - which is a bad thing. I already have 3 businesses asking about local advertising.

I'll leave a link to my blog, and I'll go check out yours.

If anyone has any suggestions on mine - I'm all ears. I started it as an experiment - and yes IM was a part of it. My computer business was slowing way down, and I wanted to see if I could help drum up more business and help the town at the same time. Wow - what a response. Almost 4000 page views already and it's only been out 3 weeks or so.

Good luck Michelle - the one thing I hear over and over - is just keep the content coming. I try to post 2-3 articles a day.

chuck
Forest Grove Live