The Beauty, Truth & Ugly Behind My First Year of Blogging
Braving the Weird WordPress World
Within minutes of launching my WordPress site, a dozen bloggers “liked” my first posting and followed me right away.
The truth behind blogging
One evening my 10-year old son asked me how many followers I had.
I replied, “Sixty-nine.” The second I said it, we laughed uproariously for a solid twenty seconds.
After we stopped laughing, he said, “How long have you had your blog?”
“One year.” More laughter.
“Mom, will you be happy if you get to one hundred?”
“Yes!” More laughter.
One year ago, I launched a personal blog as a place to showcase my creative writing collection of award-winning short story fiction (a few stories won awards, more didn’t make it to print), published articles, and six-word stories.
It’s evolved into a platform for community-driven projects, sweaty fitness adventures, and personal blog posts.
Did I wow those bloggers who followed me right away after my launch?
Nope. I was initially thrilled, but I learned over time most bloggers probably don’t read my writing but are merely liking or following me for me to like them and follow their blogs.
I thought I’d have more than 69 followers after 365 days, but the truth is — my blog acts as a storage space that functions better than my shoebox.
The number “69” is the statistical number that is displayed on my “stats and insights page” of my WordPress site, which includes fellow WordPress bloggers (shown in WP “reader mode”) and email subscribers (only visible to the blog owner).
Welcome to the “Weird WordPress World,” aka the universe where WordPress bloggers get sucked into the writing tunnel amongst 60 million WordPress bloggers, hoping to claim a piece of blogging territory that is different than everybody else’s or looking for a creative outlet for their stories.
WordPress acknowledges WordPress bloggers and email subscribers but is blind to anyone else who may be following or “liking” your blog (other than the obscure “number of visitors” column bars you see on your own personal stats page).
The “number of followers” stats don’t include readers who read your stories through word of mouth, Facebook followers, or friends (unless they subscribe via email to the blog.)
When I told my son this, he said, “Oh, so it doesn’t include your friends that read your blog? If your friends are included, how many more followers will you have?” Pause. Three?”
Laughter.
My 69 followers pale in comparison to the followers of that Minecraft YouTuber my son watches.
For the record, here are my other staggering WordPress figures on the platform. My highest monthly visitor count was 483 (August, 3 posts) with 714 total views; my lowest monthly visitor count was 27 visitors (December, 1 post) with 86 total views. My November blog launch (1 post) count was 169 visitors with 690 views.
But it’s not about big numbers, or is it? Never reveal your real number. Oops. And size doesn’t matter. That’s what she said, but it’s probably what he said.
Writing is a journey, not a competition. I remind myself of this when I see those blogs with 10,000+ followers, or ahem, at least a modest 100+. Kudos to kick-ass bloggers who are working their butts off.
If I follow a blog, I will at least read one of their postings before clicking, but I’ve been guilty of “returning the favor” simply because they followed me first while reading only a few words or skimming their blog, aka the club of “pretend followers.”
But there are some bloggers I read and follow regularly, and I know there are some out there following me for real too, I think?
It’s how the social media and blogging game is played, which causes me distress and anxiety because I don’t play by the rules. I’m not obsessed with securing more WordPress and Instagram followers or Facebook friends, and I only blog 1–4 times a month.
Did I mention that I didn’t know how to use a hashtag until this summer when I joined Instagram? I didn’t know what a hashtag meant except that I’ve been calling it the “pound key.”
I created an “Insta” account to promote myself for the international 2020 Ms. Health and Fitness Competition. I didn’t win the 20K or grace the magazine’s cover, but I came in 4th place in my group phase.
My son, who was calculating how many Pokemon card-sets 20K could buy, minus an electric scooter, a puppy, and a frog, is way more tech-savvy than I am, plus he can write a good, scary Halloween story.
Maybe he should be the one blogging.
Ugh, the thought of signing up for Twitter or any new social media accounts overwhelms me. #AmIreallythatold? (Why do I keep saying “pound” in my head?) I’ve finally adjusted to inserting only one space after a period instead of two spaces. Yep, I learned to type on an electric typewriter.
There are multiple strategies for increasing followers, interacting with readers, and managing comments outside of my current social media pandemic-induced bubble.
Maybe it’s time to expand my bubble. But, isn’t there a second wave coming?
How much more time, energy, lost sleep, social media activity, and screen time do I need to dedicate to — blow it up?
The Ugly side of blogging: I don’t f*cking know.
Here’s what I do know, and 13 reasons why I’m thriving as a writer:
- The blog empowered me to commit myself to an active, steady writing practice, aka I stopped procrastinating.
- The more I write, the more I practice and improve my writing skills (in theory).
- I love reading and the process of brainstorming, writing, and editing.
- My writing journey has been a satisfying, fulfilling, and therapeutic outlet for self-expression, creativity, and stress for the past year. I pushed myself to try harder.
- I write what is meaningful to my community and me, and I find joy in inspiring others.
- I love photography and playing with the layout of the photos and words when creating a post in WordPress using the New Block Editor (once I got over the fear of using said NBE).
- I don’t rely on writing to earn a living and don’t allow advertisements on my blog. This releases any pressure to ask for financial support from any readers, makes my blog distraction-free and allows me time to focus on writing.
- Writing is my avocation and keeps my mind wired into “the flow.”
- I have a supportive life partner. I devote time for writing (early mornings, late nights, kid-free time blocks) outside my secure non-related day job and between parenting, fitness, and life responsibilities.
- I’m more obsessed with my life purpose, family, and the reasons why I write than my number of followers. It gives me perspective, balance and keeps my voice authentic (when I’m not daydreaming about more followers).
- I exercise daily, which boosts self-confidence, creativity, and gives me writing energy.
- I have a small real readership who encourages me, interacts with me and provides thoughtful feedback.
- Yes, I have a beautiful bubble of friends, family, and community. Thank you for believing in me. Today, I’m doing 69 cartwheels to celebrate my first year. (Yep, I can do 69 consecutive cartwheels. I’m an older GenX-er who is a kid at heart, but I’ll be dizzy as heck.) You can watch my crazy cartwheels on my Facebook link at the bottom of this article.
If any of the 13 reasons resonate with you, consider creating a personal blog, but don’t obsess about the numbers. If you need a creative outlet, experience joy, or escape into “the flow” during the writing process, this is the soul stuff that matters.
The followers or “pretend followers” will come — eventually. More followers if you promote yourself well, less if you don’t. It’s whatever makes you happy with the time you can dedicate to your blog amidst the other happenings in your life journey.
I hope to ignite inspiration, creativity, and self-empowerment within myself and my readers with my real blog.
The Beauty of blogging
I’ve fulfilled this hope within myself, and I believe that I’ve inspired readers with my stories (maybe not a whopping 69+ real followers), but I’m confident I’ve reached some of them through my words, community projects, and fitness adventures.
I’ll keep writing, pretend followers or not.
I can hear my son laughing.
It’s part of my writing adventure.
WordPress is my first love, a great place to begin an online presence, and will continue to be my writing platform.
I’m using this platform to create a new opportunity to shine. Pound, ahem, hashtag #scaredbutdoingitanyway #69waystomakemysonlaugh#itsaboutbeingabravewriter
If you’re brave, reveal your own real number (in the Weird WordPress World) in the comments. I know it’s bigger than mine.
That’s the “Truth, Beauty & Ugly Behind My First Year of Blogging: Braving the Weird WordPress World.”
About the Writer: Mary Chang strives to become a better human, parent & writer through stories inspired by exercise, humor & real people. Fueled by cartwheels. www.marychangstorywriter.com
