farm blogger helping farmers blog
I love getting questions from readers. It’s a chance to help other bloggers in similar situations. Just this past week I had a visitor to my blog ask a question about starting her blog. Here is most of her message:
I really appreciate your clear, simple directions! I sort of started a blog last year but abandoned it because of my job and because of all of the details involved. It seemed that the more I read, the more confused I got and the more bogged down in details. Good gravy but there’s a whole bunch to be concerned about!
I even purchased and installed WordPress, but then I came across all the stuff about pasting code. I got so scared I would mess something up that I just stopped the whole thing. How important is it to deal with all of those countless details that the techies talk about? I have read about folks who just started a blog in a couple of hours, and some have done really well. Any thoughts?
So many beginning bloggers have this same thing happen to them. It’s a very frustrating scenario. I would call it information overload.
What advice would you give this stalled out blogger?
If you have some sage advice from your own experience please leave a message in the comments. You could really help out so many new bloggers with this same problem.
I just recently started my own blog and I am new to everything. I'm posting once a week and sometimes I run out of things to say. I was never very good at a "diary". However,I have also been trying to upload pictures to get my readers involved. If you have any advice that would be great. I enjoy reading your blog and it definitely keeps me up to date.
taylornloges Congrats on the new blog! A few quick ideas for post topics: comment on online news articles, get topic ideas from other blogs, have info sent to you with google alerts http://farmnwife.com/google-alerts-and-you.html Do you need help with pictures beyond this post http://farmnwife.com/how-to-post-pictures.html ?
My latest conversation: 11 Ways to Speed Blog
I like the people who treat their blog as a family scrapbook. It's all about the stories and pictures of the things you and your family love; it's just a bonus if the rest of us get to read it and enjoy it. The amount of verbiage on my blog posts varies greatly from one sentence to several paragraphs, but I don't let it worry me. I just try to write a little every day and post my favorite pictures.
I too often get overwhelmed at the thought of maintaining a blog. But I think David has the right idea - keep it simple and write about what you know or what is going on around you. Sometimes a post can be as simple as a picture.
Also, don't forget to promote your blog using your Facebook and/or Twitter feed. If people don't subscribe to your blog, they won't realize you've added new content.
Sawyerfarm This is exactly why I wanted to quote this blogger to let her know that she is not alone in her frustrations. I also knew that the wonderful readers of this blog would give helpful, friendly advice.
Thanks, Sawyerfarm for stopping by.
I just use free Wordpress (It's great, easy to use and easy to change) and treat it like an online diary of my day to day life. I love the comments but if life gets to overwhelming I turn them off and just keep posting. I've been at it eight years and love it.
Going back to keeping it simple when you get overwhelmed is a smart thing to do. And keeps you going.
Just write about what you know. You don't have to get all the details down to start with. I don't change the layout of my blog much, but I do from time to time. Post the link on twitter once or twice for every new blog. Just do it.
Hello, I'm FARMnWIFE: A wife that farms in the middle of the mid-west. I created this site to help anyone involved in ag to raise their voice and tell their farm story online by creating or improving their blogs.
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