You may or may not have noticed I have significantly dropping the amount of posts I have been running this summer.There are two reason's for this. One being, I am more of a summer gal than any other season and summer means time to play and it means less time I will spend looking at a screen.
Another is, others feel the same way. I've looked at my blogging stat numbers over the past several years, and summer stats drop a little and I am fairly certain I am not alone in this.
People get busy, or want to be outside playing and to be honest that is a better place for them then sitting in front of a screen.
Which is how the idea for this post came up. Summer blogging, and my suggestions and tips on it. Granted, remember to take this as purely my opinion, absolutely no offense was meant to be made to anyone!
THINGS TO REMEMBER
* It's okay if your numbers drop a bit in the summer. It's, normal. Don't stress about it, and don't feel like a failure or that your blog is going downhill.
* It's okay not to post quite as often. Give yourself a break, take a vacation or give your dedicated readers a break. There are lots of reason's to blog a little less and in my opinion it probably won't hurt your blog in the long run, unless you stop blogging altogether.
Which you can also do, but stopping completely may require you to begin the rebuilding process when you come back.
* Have extra time, it's okay, to write posts and store them for the fall. Spring, Winter & Fall I like to blog 4-5 times a week and try to stay consistent with it. But life happens and blogging takes time and during those months I may not be able to write that much each week. Which is why yes, if I do have spare minutes to spend writing a post, I will just save it in my drafts to use another time.
* If you follow other bloggers, don't feel like you are letting them down if you miss a few posts or a week while you're on vacation. No one is going to blame you for having a life:) Besides if your a some type of healthy living blogger, we promote getting out and enjoying life and we can't do that if we feel super obligated to visit every single blog we follow every day. No one is going to look down upon you if you miss a few posts. It's summer, we all understand!
* If you have plenty of time and you can keep up your normal blogging routine, then go for it. Just keep in mind others might not be able to spend as much time, so don't get bummed if you're not getting the page views or comments that you normally do.
* Don't stress on any thing blog related! I say this all the time, blogging should be fun! Unless you have turned it into a $50k-$100k full time job (if you have I am jealous). Even if you use it to make a little side income as I do, it is a hobby and all hobbies should be enjoyed.
If you feel stressed, get off your computer or tablet and go outside get a run in, go for a hike, take a swim or start up a new sport. Come back to blogging after a little time away, and remember to keep it fun, enjoyable and stress free!
* Take a bit of a break and slow down a little and work on other things. Maybe summer is a great time to work on building your social media following. Or going back in and editing older posts that were popular and bringing them back to life again. Clean up your blog or make over due edits to it. It's a great time, to try new things.
Do you take blogging breaks during the summer? If you watch your stats, do you also notice a slowing trend in the summer months? Or are you just super awesome and never have trouble posting frequently and regularly? (I wish that could be me, but it's not:)
What a great post. We've been trying to take scheduled breaks as well. It will probably continue into the fall as well. It's not that we don't feel like blogging but it gives us an opportunity to do other things outside or around the house!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I see it continuing a bit for me at least through September, I am just too busy right now to keep up with it any more than a couple times of week. The only downside is, I feel like I am missing out on other blogger posts, I try to play catch up and I love it but sometimes it's hard to get to them all!
DeleteI definitely agree with you about Summer! We've had a lot of travel, camping, and just general getting outside and having fun. It has resulted in less screen time but I'm ok with that. Winter will be here soon enough and we'll all be forced to have much more indoor time then.
ReplyDeleteYa, I realized the other day, although I love blogging I am enjoying summer so much I don't feel guilty about it anymore:) ha ha I think that is what inspired this post:)
DeleteBut you're right about winter, it can take it's time though if you ask me:)
All are so true. So many fun things to do in the summer that it's been hard to blog, no worries if you take a break.
ReplyDeleteGlad I am not the only one who thinks this way!
DeleteYep - I can tell every year that everyone is on summer vacation :)
ReplyDelete& I sit in my office jealous as anything :) haha
LOL, that just means you need to take more vacations:)
Deletegreat post my friend and well said! Enjoy the summer! I usually post 3-4 times a week but that is it. You gotta live life so you have something to blog about :) I do feel bad sometimes if I feel like I have gotten behind on visiting someone's blog but I do see that everyone takes a break every once in awhile!
ReplyDeleteThanks MB! I have felt a little guilty at times over the summer when I haven't been able to keep up, but the other day I realized I shouldn't be, so ya that kinda inspired the post:)
DeleteNormally I do like to post 4 days a week, but right now I have been okay with 1-2... On the plus side, I have got a lot written for later this fall, and that should help:)
Excellent tips! As you know, I'm taking a little break right now. I'm so in the mindset of documenting every little thing, that it's strange NOT to do that! I don't even watch my stats, isn't that weird? It's all so confusing to me, so I never even check them. Lol!
ReplyDeleteLOL LOL, when I first started blogging I never shared much of my day to week life. That's changed a little and I do catch myself when out thinking, oh I need to get a pic for the blog, or this would be a great topic, or I have to remember to write on that....
DeleteHey, if you are not into stats, then I don't think it's crazy or weird at all, everyone is different and that is the best part about bloggers, right!
Life is all about balance, and that includes blogging. We all live lives outside of staring at the computer screen, and that's more than okay. Taking breaks from writing, reading, commenting, etc while we're out enjoying life is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI very much agree, it is all about balancing!
DeleteI've been enjoying the blogging lately and putting a lot time into growing it. I think it's working so right now I am feeling motivated. I always feel more motivated in general in the summer. I like the sun and the longer days and love being outside.
ReplyDeleteI think that is awesome! I've noticed you've had a lot of great content rolling out this summer!
DeleteLast year I had time in June and July to really push and grow the blog, and still to this day, that July of 2014 was my highest page view month ever. So yes if you have the time, for sure go for it! If I could find an extra 2 hours in each day, I would love to push it consistntly year round!
so very true! I blog less and comment less in the summer. I just like having the time to LIVE! I like that Twitter and Instagram make it easy to stay in touch though.
ReplyDeleteI so agree! I have been blogging about 50 percent less this summer, but I have increased my Instagram time, and Twitter as well, quick and easy and I love seeing just quick tidbits and pictures on what everyone is up to!
Deletehehehe, I've been scaling back on posting lately even though I haven't actually had much of a summer. I like your 4th tip though, because I have kindasorta felt like I'm letting down my fellow bloggers when I miss their posts! :x Great tips!
ReplyDeleteI used to think that way too, but I think we all realize as much as we want blog readers, we also want them to have a fun life outside of screen time:)
DeleteYou've just been busy with your med school, but when you're done I bet you take some well needed vacation time:)
My blog slow down isn't even summer-related haha. I've just been spending my time either at work or doing homework. So between those things I'm not too exciting lol. And even though I've been busier than usual, I still feel guilty about not getting around to my favorite blogs, but you're right, life happens and we can only do the best we can :)
ReplyDeleteLOL homework will do that to you, so will work! My next month, it's going to be mostly work that keeps me from too much of it too:)
DeleteIf I am honest, I will admit I get that guilt feeling too, but I am trying to ignore it and tell myself exactly what I said above, LOL
I definitely needed this right now. I feel so overwhelmed with just family stuff and feel like the blog is taking a back seat. Let's face it, I don't make a career out of it, so I shouldn't feel bad when I take a break, but for some reason I do. I miss catching up with everyone when I get behind!!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, as I was writing this it was just as much for me as for others. I struggle so much when I feel like I can't do my part and catch up on everything. But life and family need to come first and I constantly remind myself this is a fun hobby!
DeleteIt's hard in the summer, life just really gets in he way!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll find your rhythm eventually and you'll get it down to what you can and can't do. I think we all struggle with that from time to time!