You should review blog posts of 2014 before heading into the new year — it’s a valuable tool to help you in your blogging journey.
If you have a widget that allows you to search your blog by month, put it on your sidebar and go through it. Pick a post for each month that stands out for you and ask yourself what it is that you like about it. Is it the photo? the writing? the comments you received? Make a note of it, and then watch for patterns.
As I sifted through my posts for 2014, I chose one for each month and I also made note of two others that were close seconds. As a result I have 36 leads for new content … for example, although it didn’t make the top 12, I really enjoyed my “Interview With a Neighbor” … hmmmm, maybe I could find another creative to interview. I also noted that I enjoy sharing tips and techniques, so expect to see more of that in the new year.
In the process I learned quite a bit about my blogging self:
- I love photography and I take a photo almost every day, whether its with my Nikon, or my phone.
- I love still life photography and I’ve been doing it for years through Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen.
- I’ve conquered Lightroom (woot) … now that’s a huge accomplishment for me! (I feel a post coming on).
- I love to write … maybe I could take some classes …
- I write from the heart … which prompted me to start a newsletter.
- I love food … hey! I love food photography more, which led me to a new gig at Kim Klassen dot com writing a monthly column called Food Photography Meets Still Life Photography (I’m bursting here).
- I love to share tips and techniques.
- I love meeting blogging friends in real life, first in Arizona, then in California! It’s truly amazing to have met all these incredible people through blogging and shared passions.
- I love Instagram and Pinterest … not so big on other social media.
- I enjoy the technical stuff of blogging (if its not too complicated). I employed the help of a techie guy who gave my blog a checkup and fine tuning, and explained a few thing to me. I like to know how things work, so it was well worth the money.
- This year I averaged 14.5 posts per month. I’m pretty pleased with that.
So, by reviewing my blog posts of 2014, I’ve come away with lots of new inspiration that I hope will carry me into the new year with enthusiasm and energy.
I hope this has been helpful for you … let me know if you do something similar and how it helped you!
What great ideas! And I’m excited about your new gig over at Kim’s!!!
Barb, I loved reading this post which contains such good ideas. I think many of us are exploring direction and content for the coming year in our blogs and yours is certainly a wonderful example of beautiful photography and awesome writing. Happy New Year.
Love this and am so happy to see our four smiling faces at the Desert Botanical Garden for February. Hope we can do it again soon!
You have worked hard to promote your blog and now you are going to reap the benefits of your labor, well deserved your happenings with Kim. Couldn’t think of a better way to promote everything you have worked hard for. Here’s to a wonderful 2015.
Barb, I so enjoy your blog and newsletter. I look forward to what 2015 brings!
xoxo
This is a great idea! I’ll bet it took you the better part of a day to go through your posts. I plan on moving mine to WordPress soon as possible. That will probably out a good kink in my life.
What a wonderful post Barb. I’d have never thought to go through my blog for the year. I’ll give it a go.
Thanks for sharing! You came so far with your blog this year and it definitely shows! Kudos to you!