I don’t have a niche. I blog about my life… and sometimes my life is all over the map.
When I’m posting I worry about how my posts seem to jump from topic to topic, from infant loss to homeschooling to recipes and so on. How do I make sense of it all and is my lack of focus sending people away?
I have resisted becoming a ‘_(fill in the blank)_blogger’ with a single strong focus.
If you didn’t know all of what makes us, well, us… it just wouldn’t be real and you would be missing a huge piece of the story.
When I write run my posts against certain criteria:
- Has God placed these words on my heart? (Each post is prayed over before being published. I know that not all of you are Christians, but I am and I am cautious to make sure my words and actions match up to my beliefs. I want to obedient to His leading in all things.)
- Is it something that should be shared? (Will my husband be honored or shamed by what I am sharing? Will my children be excited to share it with others or will they be embarrassed that they’ve been mentioned? Is it too much information for those I haven’t met in person?)
- Will this benefit those who read it? (Believe it or not I do consider you when writing. I want my blog to be more than a journal, I want to know that someone facing something I have/am can look here and find encouragement or resources for assistance.)
- Is it a true reflection of us? (I do not ever want to misrepresent who we are. I try to ensure that what you see here is exactly what you’d see if you came to visit, have a play-date, or cup of coffee. Well, minus a dirty bathroom… I don’t think anyone should see that.)
- Would I want to read it? (I wouldn’t want to frequent a blog that always said a variation of the same thing. I don’t want to bore you. I promise not to post about every time it takes us three hours to finish a math lesson. I hope there is a time that I won’t have anything new to post about my former midwife, but until the time that the BoN’s decisions are final and justice has been served I will post every single thing I can to make sure no parent faces the reality that we did when her hidden past became into public eye.)
I’d love a little feedback.
Am I doing okay with categorizing my posts so that if you are reading for something specific you can find it? Will you stick with me through my random posting or am I driving you nuts? It’s okay, I can handle it. What would you like to see more of? Less of (again, I can handle it)?
You all are important to me and I appreciate each of you that takes the time to read my blog.
You are an amazing blogger and I think you are doing a great job. I’m trying not to be bias because I think everything you do is incredible, so I tried to find something that you can improve on but….nope 😉 I truly admire how well you write.
Thanks Lindz, but yes, you are biased. 😉 Love you!
I was just about to comment and I read the comment above ^ and was a lil confused while reading …. I thought I commented already, and then realized it said Lindsey not Laurie. So anyway … I agree … You know I think you are incredible in every way. You are an amazon blogger. I love that you are all over the place …. It’s real, and I love and appreciate the realness … Makes me feel like I am apart of it. I feel bad that I don’t always have the words to comment back, but you know my heart. Love you. xoxo
You are funny. Love you Lau.
Oh goodness … You are an amazing blogger not at all an amazon blogger. LOL.
I figured that’s what you meant. 😉
I laughed at the two posts before mine and I agree they may be slightly biased 😉 Regardless, I will tell you that I personally look forward to each of your posts; whether it’s an update on the sad issues you still struggle with Miranda’s midwife, a recommendation on a family fun day, a great bible tool (like CTB), or just your general thoughts. I admire you for sharing your heart in the way you do…I feel encouraged by your strength and your faith everytime I read. I feel like in some way we are connected and your blog helps me know how to pray for you. We all live in a crazy world, I don’t think focusing on one niche would be as real or as easy to connect with – but that’s just my two cents 😉
Thanks for your encouraging words Cristina. Yes, those first two are biased. 😉
I have been in awe of your talents and creativity since we were kids and I enjoy reading your blog and I have learned a great deal from you. My opinions is that it is awesome the way that it is and I appreciate that it’s real…you don’t proclaim the life is perfect scenario that we see online and I am sure your readers appreciate the time, effort and honesty you put forth in your writing.
Thanks AnneMarie, we are so far from perfect. <3
Love this! I am a niche-less blogger, too, although it may not appear that way if you visit my blog. It probably comes across as a grief/babyloss blog, but really it’s just about what God’s put in my life, and right now He’s put grief and babyloss in my life, so that is what I write about. I shared your graphic on Pinterest! 🙂
Beth, I suspected you were niche-less too. 😉 He has given us a path through grief to walk through, but I am most thankful that He hasn’t left us on the path alone. (Thanks for sharing)
I don’t call you niche-less–I call your niche “real life blogging” and I enjoy it. I love getting insights on life from people I share values with–all parts of life. Insights on how to put together all the parts that make up life. The only thing I would like to see is MORE! 🙂
Thank you, Jamie. I really am trying to publish a little more often. I appreciate the encouragement.
Hi! Thanks for coming by my blog the other day!
Enjoyed this post–I have been trying to work on my categories and they are all jumbled now…way too many…I think it’s always a work in progress. 🙂
About to go read for a little on your blog-w/a nice cup of coffee!
Also-if you are ever interested in linking up, I host a Faithfully Parenting Friday linky party on my site!
🙂 Blessings!
Thanks for the encouragement and invitation Michy. I’ll be sure to visit and link-up when I post related to parenting. Thank you for the design compliments. I worked with http://www.honeycombdesignstudio.com/ and would recommend them without question. Honey worked with me to make sure the blog was a good reflection of my style. I heard advice at the 2to1 Conference to limit my categories to 5-7. It took a while to reorganize my categories, but it works.
let me add…I actually love your category icons!!! Clean & refreshing…I don’t think I have the talent to do that for my blog but I like how simply it is laid out…menu bar too. Wow, actually probably the set up I’ve seen and like the most!