Blogging - Tell Me What You Think!

I've been thinking about blogging lately. 

Particularly about my blog- where it's been, where it is, and where I'd like it to be.

(and I'll share my thoughts first,
but please stick with me until the end- or skip ahead,
because I have some questions for YOU!)

When I started blogging, it was to share my photography with clients and friends, online. Then I started "Raising Memories" to share fun parenting ideas. Since then, my blog has grown and I have had many opportunities to blog that have allowed me to make some money and to try out some really great products. This has been so fun!

One of the things I like the most about blogging is being able to share an idea with others and to know that there are people reading it and trying it and appreciating it. It feels good to know that I am reaching people because I put a lot of time and effort into this blog. It stinks to feel like you're doing all of that and hardly anyone is seeing it.

There are some things that I do for this blog that are for me (because I want to- because it's fun), there are some things I do that are for you, and there are some things I do to try to bring in a bit of money, to help pay for some of the time that I'm putting in here.

What I've been thinking about lately is whether everything I'm doing is worth doing. I wonder if there are things that I'm doing (writing posts, displaying ads) that aren't worth the time and effort because you don't even care to read those posts, or see those ads. I know that happens, because I'm also a blog reader. There are certain types of posts that I skip over, that I'm just not interested in. I wonder if I'm posting many of those, for you.

For example, I've done a lot of book reviews this year. These are books that I am interested in, but many of them are focused on my religion. Do you see another book review and immediately skip over it? Or are you interested in them, too? Should I be more choosy about which books I share here?

I've played with google ads on this blog over the past year as well. I wasn't sure how I felt about having a big ad across the top of my blog, but I gave it a try for a while, to see if it would be worth what I would make from it. After several months, I took it down because I didn't think the money I was making from it was worth having it there. I didn't think it was very pretty! I still have a google ad in my sidebar & may still play with them, but do you think they're obnoxious?

I have also had other sponsor ads in my sidebar for companies or bloggers that I have worked with more directly. I do think I will continue with those- they are people I support and want to share with you.

I've been trying to figure out which kinds of posts I should focus on.

Usually I just decide what to write on my own (and I still will), but I'm curious about what you think, as a reader... will you take a moment to tell me? I'd like to know, and take your thoughts into consideration!

Are you interested in book reviews?
Do you read the "Monday Moments"?
Do you like giveaways? Do you enter them?
Do you like the "Thursday Thoughts" posts where I talk about my thoughts on random things?
Would you be interested in reading photography tips?
Is there something you'd like to see me write about?
Is there a type of post that you tend to skim/skip over?
Is there a type of post that you look forward to or get excited about?

I would LOVE to know what you think!
 
I am so curious & I don't want to guess anymore! :)



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4 comments:

  1. I don't usually read book reviews, but mostly because I've already talked to you about it, it's a Deseret Book that I can't get from the library, or I borrow it from you. :) However, that being said, sometimes I run out of books to read, and I would come to your blog and search for a book to read. So, I may not read it when it's posted, but I might search the posts later.

    Monday Moments are my favorite posts. :)

    I like giveaways, one day I hope to win.

    Yes, I like Thursday Thoughts.

    I would like photography tips for point and shoot...but just because I don't have a nicer camera. But I'd be interested to learn about definitions and terms of photography and camera. I don't even know enough to phrase that better. :S

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  2. I don't usually read book reviews, but mostly because I've already talked to you about it, it's a Deseret Book that I can't get from the library, or I borrow it from you. :) However, that being said, sometimes I run out of books to read, and I would come to your blog and search for a book to read. So, I may not read it when it's posted, but I might search the posts later.

    Monday Moments are my favorite posts. :)

    I like giveaways, one day I hope to win.

    Yes, I like Thursday Thoughts.

    I would like photography tips for point and shoot...but just because I don't have a nicer camera. But I'd be interested to learn about definitions and terms of photography and camera. I don't even know enough to phrase that better. :S

    ReplyDelete
  3. I for one, LOVE reading blogs. I may not check in to each one every day, but I subscribe, and save the ones I want to re read. Which is an issue because I have lots saved. I love to read and its tricky finding new books to read, so appreciate the reviews. I do NOT like reviews that spoil it for me, I just want to know yay or nay so I can go pick it up.

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  4. I enjoy the Thursday thoughts and Monday moments. I would love photography tips. And I enter most of the giveaway....who doesn't love a good giveaway. :) And I like the tips & ideas you post as well.

    I would always love to hear a bit more about your day to day life as it's happening...pictures showing what you've been up to recently.

    And as for book reviews, I mostly skip over them since I don't read much outside of fiction. But I did pick up Monson's new book for my family as well as a Christmas gift. :)

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Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment- I love reading them! :)
~Heather Lynne