Bloggin Blues


Can someone please tell me what the key is to publishing a successful blog?
Do I need to be a better photographer, a better decorator, figure out how to do 'giveaways', take a daily picture of my dog wearing a wig,  make a masterpiece out of popsicle sticks and paint, rant about the challenges of motherhood even though I'm not one?????

What's the secret? 
I have 10 followers and most blogs that I read have at least 500 (some have thousands)!
I thought I did a pretty thorough job of chronicling my bathroom renovation and I'm incredibly pleased with how it turned out, yet I have ZERO comments on that post! I've even posted it on other sites and I think they've been deleted!!!! Is it the shiny brass, the white grout on the subway tile, the lack of wallpaper, the commonplace choice of color? WHAT?! Maybe I need to provide a service, like selling a product on an Etsy page? 
Anybody need some flower pots made from recycled coffee cans?

I'm starting to doubt my creative abilities. Yesterday I re-arranged my den because I thought the Feng Shui was off...well, I don't really study that philosophy, I really shoot directly from the hip. I needed a change based on how I feel and what I know. My experience comes from the hundreds of homes that I've seen over the years, good and bad energy and my education in the creative field for color, texture, hierarchy, design, and layout.

Many years ago, when I was looking for a home to buy, my realtor showed me some real duds! 
One victorian house could have been a spectacular showing except for the combination of dark colors, heavy closed drapes, and large boxes of Depends and brown Lysol in the bathroom... 
I became soberly aware that first Impressions make a huge difference, but so does vision!
Another house was absolutely pristine and I could envision changing out colors and fixtures to make it just what I wanted but the owner had built a funky addition that didn't fit with the architecture of the house. It had really low ceilings and didn't seem structurally sound. Huff! 

Have you ever been on a home tour or decorator show house and just been blown away by every detail? 
Those homes were often way out of my price range but I got so much inspiration from them. I tucked those ideas away in my inspiration pile for just the right time.
I know my home is Far less than perfect...as a matter of fact, if I had to sell it tomorrow I shutter to think of all the things an inspector would find, all the painting of trim that I would need to do, and the current state of my basement would ruin any kind of a deal!
But the first time that I saw it I fell in love with it and it wasn't even for sale! 
I happened to be trolling the neighborhood after a contract on another house a few blocks away fell through. As I was leaving the neighborhood I saw a painting crew working on a little bungalow...It looked vacant so I stopped and asked the painters if it was for sale, they said the owner was thinking of doing a FSBO and allowed me to go inside and look around. 
It was LOVE at first site!
I took notes of all the things I loved about it, including the baby grand piano in the living room (which didn't stay). I looked in a closet and lifted up the nasty hunter green carpet to see beautiful red oak floors. A four sided brick home in a historic neighborhood with gorgeous plaster walls and molding, a fireplace, huge attic and stained glass window in the bathroom. It was exactly what I had asked God for in my prayers! I contacted the owner and made him an offer (10k less than the appraisal) and the rest is history!
Back then my vision enabled me to move past some of the obvious flaws to see the potential. 
Have I lost that vision? 
Yes, my little blog has flaws, my ignorance of the blog-o-sphere being the biggest, but I hope that I (and others) can move past that to see the potential in it.

Is anybody out there?! Is this blog a dud or does it just need some polishing?

Comments

Roeshel said…
Hi Glorious! So many blogs, so little time...after seeing your beautiful bathroom reno, I'd have to guess that it's summer and blog #s are down. Everyone's out enjoying the warm weather. Hang in there...it just takes a little time and lots of dedication to grow. :)

Have a wonderful week and don't give up! I love seeing your DIY projects. I love seeing your sources of inspiration! I'd love to see your dog in a wig too! haha

It's nice to "e-meet" you!

Roeshel
Hello there!

Well, I can certainly relate; I've been blogging for almost a year and have 235 followers. A blogging friend who's been blogging for just 9 months has close to 1,000!

I too get very few comments and at first was a little offended, I guess is a good word. But now I don't care, I just carry on and enjoy myself. Hang in there.

I'm your newest follower :)

Sue
xo
Anonymous said…
I came over from DIY...I L.O.V.E. your bathroom! I think you have a great blog, and I will be following. I have very few followers, but I blog for myself and not them. The only difference I see between your blog and some of the big DIY blogs is the size of your pictures.
Saw you featured on another blog so I thought I'd come over and check out the bathroom post. I, too, feel the exact same way that you do. I have 9 followers (well, 8, my bro passed away so I can't count him anymore) and maybe a few others who read it but don't follow. I may get a comment every couple weeks even though I post multiple times a week. I also do home renos on my 80 year old house but nothing. I even did a very similar style of redo that a bigger blog featured and nothing. I guess it's all about being out there and being seen but I don't know what makes a good blog great or nonexistant. I do know that some big blogs don't take great photos, so it's hard to say what the secret is. Good luck though, I'll become follower 11!
Unknown said…
I'm super impressed at your DIY skills and your re-dos are AMAZING!

I was discouraged at first too when I first started blogging but then I found that a lot of time it is about 'networking' -- comment on other blogs, follow some more. People will feature you (like the DIY Showoff) and you will make lots of fans by commenting on other posts =) You have to put yourself out there -- it is hard to just come across a blog...there are just SO many out there =)

Keep your head up my dear =)
Pamela said…
Blogging can be so stressful. I have seen blogs take off in a week while i struggled for a year until a big blogger took notice of me and gave me a huge shout out. The key is according to her...comment, comment, comment on as many blogs as possible. Join linky parties too. This is a biggy.
But in the end i am just enjoying the amazing friendships my blog has given me. I focus on the faithful friends i have made and don't care anymore. I lose a follower about every week too. So i can't get stressed about this.
Anyways i am following you. I love the way you write!!
Come on over sometime !
Pamela from French Buttons xo

Oh and get rid of your word verification...people will not bother if they have to type this in to comment. YOu will also see "word verification free posted on the big blogs. They hate it!
Blogging is FUN! Everybody starts out slow.
If I had the time I could probably grow my blog too!

I, personally love seeing before and afters, I like looking at the pictures. I sound like I'm 4 years old.
I won't stop to read the whole long tutorial, especially if it's to long.

Join parties!!! Everyday I list the parties I'm joining!
Check it out!! You need to meet people to make your blog grow!!

And by the way I love your dog, and I would kill for that bathroom window!!!
Bonnie said…
I'll bite! I, too, have been slow getting followers, but I do not have the usual blog. My blog is not really defined. I am an eclectic. I never know where my muse is going to take me, if anywhere. Your pictures are great! You probably have a lot more followers than you think. Many do not click on to follow, but read. I do try to comment on other's blogs, because I know it feels good to get feed back. Hugs, and hang in there! Bonnie
Glorious said…
WOW! I have goofy grin and tears in my eyes! I went away on a little vacation and thought about updating the blog today and can't believe my eyes on All the comments! You don't know how much this means to me! Each comment and suggestion is so valuable...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You've encouraged the heck out of me!!!!

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