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3/14/2023 How do you measure blogging success? Followers, page views, interactions, etc.
Answer: The answer to this has changed over the years.
At first, I had no measure of success because I was sure no one would ever even see my blog!
Once book blogging became a thing then I will admit it was all about followers. I started in 2010 and I did all the giveaways, weekly memes, follow trains and you could get 100 followers in a weekend- easily. It wasn't just about #'s to me though - back then we all talked and shared books/supported each other and it was fun.
The next phase was was when BEA and book conferences, Netgalley and publishers/authors requesting that you review their books. And that can get pretty heady and you accept everything. Then have to keep up with stats to stay int hat pipeline.
That's when things started changing for me. It was less fun, I felt like I had to push myself to stay in the loop and the good graces of publishers. So success was measured in whatever it took to stay there or grow bigger. People just stopped on your blog so you would visit their blog. It was all just a numbers game with loads of pressure and no real connection And I hated it.
Fast forward past several slumps and existential blog crises 🤣later I just want low stress blogging and success = being happy, and under zero pressure.
Really, the biggest measure of success at this point sounds hokey but it's true - the friends I've made and continue to make. The interactions even beyond the blog comments. I've been at this for so long that I've made REAL friends. We've gone through births, deaths, huge life changes and I've had more support from my blogger friends than I ever got from real life friends.
Am I so above it all that I don't want more followers and page views? No lol No-one wants to blog into a void but it's not my priority and I'm not up that challenge anymore so I had to let that all go.