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As a blogger you can get pretty lost in all of the “to dos of blogging.” It’s a list that most blogging conferences, or blog posts on how to blog, confirm: promote your blog, use social media, comment on other blogs, guest post, connect, build relationship… It’s not a bad list and it does yield results but it may not yield the right kind of success if you aren’t supposed to be doing those things.

Over my 3 years of blogging I have watched blogger after blogger burn-out. They felt called to write at one point or another but then the demands of it took time away from their families and they couldn’t find the balance so they had to lay it down…completely. I admit to wondering time and time again if I should lay blogging down but every time I seek God about it I hear a clear “no.” I have had seasons of laying it down but have never felt the necessity of letting it go completely. However, It scares me, honestly, that there is such burn-out among bloggers, especially moms.

As I have watched so many bloggers struggle with the balance I could not help but be desperate for the answer to cure the epidemic. “God why do so many women struggle with this, myself included?” and what God spoke to me was a swift and absolute answer.

“Only Do what I told YOU to do.”

Oh! I get it. Too often we get caught up in what someone else is doing and attempt to follow their path. Sometimes that is the right thing to do because that’s what God has told us to do. But sometimes it’s not. Sometimes we are just chasing the success of someone else. If you’ve been told what to do then THAT is your path to being successful. If you haven’t been told {or haven’t taken time to ask} please make that a priority before moving on.

When I think back to the beginning of my blogging journey I remember that God called me to write. Every day. He said “Write every day. Live your life and blog along the way.” He never said to catch up with Mrs. Jones who has been blogging for years. He never said promote yourself like crazy. He never said “you have to connect.” He just said “write.”

And I remembered how God is interested in our hearts. Do we trust Him with what He has called us to? Will we be faithful to obey? Even if it isn’t the way it looks for someone else?

Of course I had the potential to burn-out because I cannot expect that God will bless, protect and grow what He never asked me to do {also known as disobedience to what He HAS called me to do}. He equips us faithfully for our calling. We falter when we leave Him behind thinking that we’ve got it now and know how to do it.

{Please note that there is a difference between burning out because you are following the wrong path and God changing your path. And there is ALWAYS grace. I have missed the mark on this so many times and He lovingly brings me back to truth…every time.}

My calling may be different from yours. You may not even be called to blog. You may be called to blog and promote and work long hours to make money at it. You may be called to connect like crazy. BUT if you aren’t you should stop. I had to stop.

Let me leave you with a verse that God has been speaking to my heart over and over. Psalms 23:1 says:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Another version says …I have everything I need. Is the Lord your shepherd? You have everything you need. Your calling is enough for you. But get this: in Hebrew the word translated “want” also means to fail or (cause to) fail. So you could also read it like this: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not fail…

Make the Lord the shepherd over your calling. Do only what He asks you to do. Guard it and your time diligently and You cannot fail. He won’t let you.

Kristin Lemus
The Beautiful Deep

I’ve heard it said time and time again, “If your blog changes the life of one person, then it’s worth it.”

Every time I hear this the sarcastic, pessimist in me wants to cock my head to the side and say, “Really? Because, you know, that’s easy to say when you have 2,000 subscribers, contribute to multiple sites, speak at conferences, and have multiple eBooks?”

The whiny “That’s not fair!” keeps going, “But what of the rest of us? What of those of us who, when we log into our analytics see the graph pitch all the way to 10 views? What about us who shell out hundreds of dollars for blogging conferences and only a handful of people will ever know our name? Is it worth it then?”

Can’t it feel that way?

It doesn’t matter if what they’re saying is true, when you’re not coming from the same place it can feel false.

It’s hard to write and pour your heart out in words and then be met with an echo so low you have to lean in to hear it. I’ve been there, eagerly waiting for a comment or two on a post I fell in love with and no one comments or tweets or…anything. Flat silence. It’s frustrating when you have idea after great idea, but not the audience to make it work. Or when you’re trying to find your tribe or niche and you just don’t fit in.

Being a “small blogger” is hard. It requires a faithfulness that’s different from the headlining act. Staying in this place where you feel called, even compelled to write knowing few are listening, takes passion and conviction.

After nearly 8 years of blogging and having no measurable success, I’m finally coming to realize, and convincingly know, I must do this because I love it not for the hope of success. “Success” may never come or it may be an opportunity waiting just around the corner. Whatever it may be, when I look to the right and to the left and see the opportunities pouring in for other bloggers I must be content. I must be thoroughly convinced where I am is where I am supposed to be.

My audience, my words, my influence…in the end none of that really matters. Not even how many lives my words have encouraged and changed. In the end, the only real success will be measured in my faithfulness.

Have I been faithful to my calling? Have I been faithful to the Truth? Have I been content in the measure of my giftedness?

Will I press in and press on even when I feel out of place in this blogging world? Will I let one other than the King define me? Will I write for the sheer love of it–or is my heart tangled in promotion and praise?

Or have I set the praise and accolades of man higher than the comforting, guiding hand of the Father?

You want the advice of a mediocre blogger and aspiring novelist?

The lists and the have-to’s and the metrics–use what is useful, but don’t let it define you. Write in the freedom and restoration of a heart embedded in the King’s good pleasure.

Be the fresh air. Be the small voice resounding Truth. Be faithful to your calling.

Success, true success, will only go as far as your faithfulness. Enjoy what you do. Find pleasure in the writing, in the abiding, in the faith-walking. It may not have the look of success, but it will have the look of grace, of praise, of faith.

And faithfulness? It’s the only true success.

Jessica is a sojourner a bit reluctant on the journey. She writes on faith, the beauty and art of everyday life, the writer’s life, and pursuing justice for the voiceless. Redemption is her favorite word. You can join the journey at The Reluctant Sojourner or tweet along @Jess_Reflects.

I am so excited because we’re bringing the “Smaller Bloggers” series back. Woot!

For those of you who are new to the Allume blog, the Smaller Bloggers series is a series dedicated to those who consider themselves a smaller blogger. Being a smaller blogger is not a bad thing. Not at all.

The point of this series is to cheer you on and encourage you that the world needs smaller bloggers.

This series will offer you tips on how to build content, comment etiquette, the right kind of growth and more!

And this is your opportunity to share what you would like to know about blogging or express your frustrations with us so we can address issues and encourage you on your journey! We have a beautiful group of writers here who have a heart for women, community, blogging, writing, and Jesus!

So, leave a comment and let us know what you want to learn!

Joy in Christ,

Christin, Joyful Mothering

I held a seed in my hand as did each student in class. We discussed how God created it to lay dormant, to be nourished, even in darkness, to have a season, to sprout, to grow and produce. “We can’t look at the seed, wish it to grow or say, ‘Grow seed. Grow,’ and make it grow,” says the 10 year old boy who speaks wisdom.

I think about my blog. I ponder the small size of it, of seeds, how they grow, and the wonder of it all. And I measure my growth in unfollows, unlikes and unsubscribes, yet only God knows what greatness the small beginning will ultimately produce. No earthly standard of measure could tell me that.

“Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple, 

but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.” Robert H. Schuller

So, why do I worry about or try and manipulate my blog’s growth? I must do my part to cultivate, plant, water and let the light shine. Then trust God to do His part. It’s a process, always.

Sometimes, I busy myself making improvements to my blog, and apply myself to developing my craft. I navigate the lines of the world wide web trying to find my place, and I should. Blogs don’t just happen, they take effort. But I cannot neglect the work to prepare my own heart for growth. This is the time of cultivating.

It’s time to dig deeper. I open up and give God unhindered access to shine light on my heart. (2 Cor 4:6, John 3:21) He brings out what was once hidden in darkness, and makes me to be a light-bearer, puts me on a stand and says, “It’s time to shine!” His Son’s light shining bright.

I am devoted to prayer, study, and writing–all soul labor of writing true. I sow the Word-seed into the soil of my heart. (Mark 4:8)  I scatter seeds for others–sharing others words, posts and books, giving support, offering grace through words that encourage and giving my time, knowing it’s more blessed to give than receive. This is the time of planting.

And then, I must wait. This is not the time to dig up the seeds. It’s quiet. He is quiet. It’s long, slow and seems like nothing is happening. Yet, God is working behind the scenes beyond my scope, orchestrating the details of my life for His purpose, and continuing the work deep within. Yielding, so that I might yield. This is the darkness of dormancy.

Sometimes, I am parched and starved. I drink deeply of the living water so that it becomes a spring welling up to life eternal. (John 4:14) I feast on the Words of God, to sustain me and to have living bread to offer His sheep. (John 21:17, Matt 4:4) This is the time to be nourished.

And then I see what I hoped for, sprouts and new growth. It’s what I pray for and labor for, but I cannot force. I can only trust God to do His part, while I do mine. He causes the increase. For that, I cannot take the glory. “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Cor 3:7 NIV) It is time for the harvest.

No matter where I am in the process, I do not have to wonder how make my blog grow, and neither do you.

Do your part, and “God will make it happen, for He who calls you is faithful.” (1Thess 5:24 NLT)

As a smaller blogger, unsure of my niche and how to bill myself, branding was a big, intimidating obligation, kind of like meeting prospective in-laws for the first time. (Can we just get this over with?)

Much of the advice I read seemed to apply to people who could already define themselves and what they had to offer their readers in one tidy sentence—all that was left to do was hire someone to design a logo and header to match.

But what if you are too new to know what your main contribution to the blogosphere is will be? Or what if you’ve got your hands in a lot of different stuff, and don’t yet know which one you’ll end up focusing on?

The best branding advice I ever received came from Michelle at So I Married a Mennonite. Intrigued by her unique blog title, I asked her why she chose it. She said, “I picked something about myself that would never change.”

So, I ask you: what’s something about yourself that will never change?

Don’t think too hard here. It’s right in front of your nose.

Your Name.

Letting your name be your brand is simple, yet it works for you in so many ways:

1. It allows people to connect with you personally. The online world is all about relationships–people want to connect with real people anymore, not a billboard or a slogan or a caricature.
2. It allows for growth and change of direction in your online pursuits without losing your followers. No matter where your blogging journey takes you, they will know how to find you.
3. It gives you a solid place to hang your hat today, even if you haven’t quite figured out what you’re about yet.

But what about protecting my identity? Michael Hyatt says hidden online identities are a thing of the past. People can now Google you and find anything they want about you. Why fight it with a nickname people can’t spell or remember?

“A real name communicates authenticity and accessibility. Don’t hide behind a made-up name that is only meaningful to you.” -Michael Hyatt, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World

We are here to build relationship. We need to introduce ourselves the same way we do in real life—by announcing our name.

How this works:

• On your blog: call it whatever you want, but make your blog address yourname.com. You’ll be easy to find no matter what you blog about.
• Your Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest handle: Use your name, or a close variation (see below).
• Your Email: YourName@gmail.com, or, better yet, yourname@yourdomain.com (ie. trina@trinaholden.com)
• Facebook Fan Page: Name it after yourself. A personal fan page is simply  the easiest way for people to connect with you on facebook—no friend request necessary, just one click of the ‘like’ button and you’re connected.

I know this can sound a bit egotistical, but really, it’s not. You’re simply removing barriers and making it easy for people to find you and talk to you. It’s a favor to your friends and anyone you meet online to be consistent in your online identities.

Having a solid brand is as simple as just being yourself wherever you go.

Creative Variations

But what if your name is already taken? If you have a popular name, you will have to get creative  with your handle. But don’t go too crazy. You still want people to recognize you.

• Use your first and middle name if your first and last aren’t available. This is also a good idea if your last name has the potential to change or is hard to spell.
• If that doesn’t work, try using a verb after your first name—something about you that won’t change, or something pertaining to the particular social media platform you’re on. (On facebook I’m TrinaHoldenWrites because TrinaHolden wasn’t available. On Twitter I could have been TrinaTweets if TrinaHolden wasn’t free. If your domain name isn’t available, try YourNameBlogs.com or YourNameWrites.com.)
• When trying a variation of your name on for size, imagine referring to it in a phone conversation to a friend—if it flows easy and you don’t have to spell it for them, it’s good.
• Keep in mind that a long handle will get in the way on Twitter. You want it as short and too-the-point as possible. Avoid numbers and too many initials in a row.

Use a site like KnowEm.com to help you check availability. When you find a handle that works all around, grab it!

Now all you have to do is BE yourself each place you visit, and people will begin to associate your writing voice, personality quirks, and actions with your name, and you will have created a brand for yourself. Are you fun and funky? Deep and articulate? Artistic and random? Embrace who God made you to be and let it shine through your online identity! (<– Tweet this!)

True Confessions Time: What’s one of the aliases you’ve gone by during your online journey? I started out with my dutch name, Trintje, in an effort to be unique. But my friends told me it was impossible to spell or say! What about you?

P.S. Have you already built a brand but feel the need for a change?  There’s no better time than the present–you’re smaller now than you will be!  Check out my friend Gretchen’s rebranding journey and all her awesome branding tips.

Hello! My name is Mary Beth, and I am a Smaller Blogger.

I started my blog, New Life Steward, in May of this year. I have been an avid reader of blogs for the last four years. I was a lurker, you know, the kind that hangs around and never comments. I always had a secret desire to be a blogger though. I only mentioned this to a few friends because I thought it a silly notion–seriously, what do I have to say? Who would listen to me?

Then earlier this year as I was mapping out some goals for myself, the Lord pressed upon my heart the idea of starting a blog. The idea stayed in my brain and festered until it grew into something that I just could not hold in my brain anymore. I begged my husband for the money to buy a domain name and hosting, and New Life Steward was born. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I was determined. Now here I am, 3 months later, and I’ve learned a few things I’d like to share with you, my fellow small blogger–although I believe these apply to anyone in the blogging world.

9 Lessons from My First 3 Months of Blogging:

(PS: It really stresses me out that there are 9–I really like even numbers, but oh well, 9 goes nicely with 3.)

1. Just write and keep writing: There will be moments when you sit and stare at the white screen and that blinking cursor will mock you. Just write something, anything. Push through. At least then you’ll have something to start with. Some of what I thought we my worst posts have been quite popular.
2. The difference between Twitter and Facebook: Let’s be real here, if you are blogging, you are probably on Facebook or Twitter or both plus Pinterest and Instagram. I have observed that Twitter is a great place to make friends with other bloggers and get quick answers. I share my posts on Twitter, but get very few clicks. Facebook, on the other hand, brings a large portion of my traffic. I’ve discovered that Facebook is a great place to connect with your fans and share your posts. I’m still learning how to utilize Facebook to its fullest potential.
3. Go to Twitter School: I read most of that series during my first few days/weeks of blogging, and boy did it make all the difference. Twitter is a confusing world with symbols, norms and a language all its own. Make sure you understand it, so you aren’t being annoying and to maximize its potential!
4. Link Up and comment: The only link-up I knew about when I started blogging was Top {Ten} Tuesday. I wrote specifically for that link-up the first few weeks. Then I read Courtney’s Guest Post: My Journey to 5000 Followers in the Smaller Bloggers Series and realized there were oodles of link-ups! I followed here advice and found the link-ups from this tidy list that fit well with what I blogged about and began linking up daily to multiple sites (I’d love to have you at my link-up WIP [Work in Progress] Wednesday!) I also faithfully comment on the post linked up before and after me on every link-up. This has been a huge traffic/reader booster! I’ve also met some GREAT women through these link-ups!
5. HTML: HTML was very intimidating to me at first. Then I realized that a lot of it could be accomplished with a simple copy/paste. The few things I needed to know (like centering a graphic in a widget on my sidebar), I googled. My most helpful idea with HTML has been to create an HTML document on my desk top. I save all the HTML code that I use frequently on that document for quick access when I’m writing a post. I have all the link-ups organized by day, my various blog buttons, a Feedburner subscription box, a text box, and various other items all saved on that document.
6. Be brave: Whatever idea you have that gives you butterflies in the pit of your gut, do it! Tweet the person you really respect. They almost always reply (and who doesn’t love a Tweet!). Submit that guest post. You may get turned down (I have!) but you might not (Here I am, guest posting!). Start that series or link-up or book study. Whatever it is, take a deep breath and jump! You never know until you try.
7. Set boundaries: I’ve found that its highly important to set boundaries in regards to time spent blogging. I have set parameters for when I blog, check Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail. I have to admit that I’m not perfect at keeping these boundaries, but if you don’t set them, you will most likely go overboard and get burnt out or neglect other responsibilities.
8. You cannot do it all: We are human after all. When I first started blogging, I joined every challenge, book club, whatever that I came across. I found myself way over-committed and unable to really enjoy any of them. Lots of things look fun to be involved in online. Prayerfully consider what will be most beneficial for you.
9. Stay true to who you are in Christ: If you only remember one of my lessons, remember this one. Stay true to who you are in Christ. I found that writing a mission statement both for myself and my blog helps me keep focus. I know what I’m aiming for and what my standards are. Write yours and then stay true to that. We don’t need a bunch of cookie cutter blogs. We need YOU.

My first love is Jesus Christ followed quickly by my husband and my son. I am now a stay at home mom, writer, and blogger. My career was first in teaching and then in Marriage and Family Counseling. Living in a small, Southern town in Mississippi, we enjoy SEC football, walking around barefoot, and playing outside. A day to myself would be spent napping, blogging, and reading with a bit of reality TV mixed in! Please come chat with me on Twitter!

Photo Credit: ClickFlashPhotos

I have been mulling over whether or not to continue the Smaller Blogger series. I wasn’t sure if there was still interest nor if I had any singular topics that had enough “beef” to write up.

Yesterday on Facebook, I put out an informal poll to get a feel for interest and it seems very strong still. So as I pondered throughout the day what I would write on, the minutes and hours slipped away. I remembered I had promised my husband an evening of just the two of us here at home; you know, once the children are in bed.

The dilemma was, though, that I still hadn’t written a post for the smaller bloggers series yet.

Then it hit me, the number one thing we as bloggers need to remember. When our family has a need {for us}, we must set aside other things. For me, it’s not a permanent “set aside”, rather it’s a temporary one. A day. A week. Or simply an evening.

Often, we may not realize how deep the need goes for us to meet that need. Does that make sense?

So, having said all that, I took the evening off to be with my husband. This has been a very busy month as we have gathered adoption paper work and gone to home study visits and doctor’s appointments.

 If you haven’t read the other posts in the series or want to re-visit them, you can do that here.

Feel free to leave some topic suggestions in the comments so we can keep this series rolling!

Photo Credit

I wanted to quit.

Over the weekend I was so tempted to just give up blogging. It seemed so much easier to not have to be burdened with coming up with content and taking the time to sit down and write out the things God wanted me to share.

The thought briefly crossed my mind about how much easier my life would be if I didn’t have to worry about blogging.

But here’s the thing: I don’t want my life to be easy. I don’t want to quit something just because it’s not easy. God didn’t call me to live a life of ease. He called me to live for Him and share His glory with others.

I love writing. So the thought was fleeting. But it’s important to understand that writing takes work. It requires sacrifice. And it’s OK to take a break. Just don’t quit.

I’ve quit at least seven blogs previously. Seven. Sometimes there’s a reason to quit, but you have to know when that reason is valid.

Remembering why I blog.

Quitting because it’s too much work isn’t valid (at least not for me). Quitting because you’re not getting as much out of it as you’re putting into it may not even be valid. This is a place to check motives. Who are we blogging for? 

I think it’s important to blog for both yourself and other people. But everyone will have their own perceptions about this. Since I can only speak for me, here’s my stance for myself:

If I blog just for me, the whole endeavor is just too selfish for me to justify. In fact, if I were blogging for just me, I probably wouldn’t be very good at it. I’d be inconsistent, I wouldn’t seek to grow (not in numbers, but in maturity). I simply wouldn’t aim high.

Blogging for others is what keeps me going. Knowing that there’s someone out there who may need to hear what I have to say pushes me to write it. That’s not to say I’m looking for an audience. It just means I know people are searching, and if they happen to land on my blog, I want them to find something encouraging or useful, and current.

I’ve always had this bad habit of quitting when things get too hard. I don’t want to continue this cycle.

What about you?

So if you’re thinking (or thought) about quitting your blog because it’s too hard, I pray you reconsider. One day, I might stumble upon your blog and need to read just what you wrote that day.

If the technical aspects of blogging are too daunting, I encourage you to learn; a little here, a little there. Amy of Blogging With Amy has the best site for simple tutorials I’ve ever come across.

If social media overwhelms you, start small, but engage. But don’t give up because it’s too hard. Press on. Learn.

Have you ever wanted to quit blogging? Why?

Photo Credit

Linked with: Life in Bloom

Recap

We’ve talked about building a tribe and serving other’s through blogging and social media. We’ve also touched on commenting and honing your writing skills. All of these elements help to build community (or a tribe). In order to maximize your efforts, the goal is to be active in all aspects.

The tricky thing about blogging is, if you aren’t writing something that’s worth reading, the community efforts can be in vain. People want to rally around leaders who have something of value to share. Time is such a precious commodity these days because everything is screaming for it. How can you earn the time of a reader? What makes it worth it for them to stop and read what you have to say?

You don’t want to just slap anything down on the screen simply so you can get a post out there. Creating content and putting it together in a unique way takes time. The question remains, are you willing to put that time in?

Something important to keep in mind is that your ideas don’t need to be original, they just need to be uniquely you. They need to be told from your perspective.

“Do people really want to hear from me, what some other blogger has already written? Does what I write really matter?” Yes! Because those who are reading your blog want your perspective; your experience.

Design

I want to touch on design just a bit. I’m not a designer, despite the fact that I designed my own blog and business site. It’s too tedious for me and very time consuming. I don’t know design programs well enough to utilize their tools to the fullest.

However, I have learned what’s important to know about design and blog lay out.

Keep it simple. Too many colors and too much busyness is an eyesore and takes away from your content. A blog design should invite the reader in and be an enhancement, not a focus.

This also includes elements/widgets in your sidebar. Less is more. Display only what is most useful for your readers.

It is recommended that your subscribe button/form be above the fold. Above the fold is simply the part of your blog that is visible before you scroll down. It’s the first thing your readers see when they come to your blog.

You can go to this neat stock photo site called Fotolia and purchase graphics and backgrounds inexpensively. Or you could hire a professional designer.

Whatever route you choose, keep it simple, yet unique.

What design woes or questions do you have?

 photo credit

Writing isn’t just for blogs. Writing isn’t just for others.

Writing is for you, too. Some writing, should be done in secret. Not because you have something to hide or can’t necessarily share. But writing in secret is the place that you can write the most raw, {and with the most grammatical errors}. It’s where you work out the pain so you can share the joy. It’s simply a place where no one else can see you working behind the scenes.

Writing in places other than your blog can be a way to spark a flame that will later spread. It sparks ideas and helps you understand your own thoughts better. It develops your writing further.

Writing in secret is also about practice. It’s about not worrying about the mistakes but just writing for the sake of writing; and getting better with time. It’s like getting ready before a big game.

This is where many growing pains take place that most will never see or know about (unless you write about it).

This is also where some topic ideas for posts may be birthed. I recommend having a little moleskin journal or the like handy so you can jot down these ideas.

Keep that same moleskin in your purse or easily accessible throughout the day so you can jot down other ideas that you come across.

Your life shouldn’t be centered around blogging; rather your blogging should be centered around your life. Life needs to be lived in order for writing to come alive.

Blogging shouldn’t stand alone. It should be a branch of something bigger.

Another great way to keep writing is to always be reading. Great writing comes from lots of reading. Reading brings forth fresh ideas and inspiration.

You don’t need to invent brand new ideas to share; you simply need to give new angle, voice, and inspiration to ideas already out there.

Do you have a journal for your secret writing?

Everyone wants a place to belong. Even us introverts. We want people who have the same ideas as us to converse with and share with. Most of all, we’re looking for someone to lead us.

Seth Godin says

“We are drawn to leaders and to their ideas, and we can’t resist the rush of belonging and the thrill of the new.” –Tribes

What is a tribe? A tribe is simply a group of people who are connected by the same ideas and a leader. It doesn’t matter how big or how small. There are big tribes and small tribes. I’m willing to bet all of you have a tribe of some size.You are all also part of other tribes.

I’m part of several tribes myself.

–>I’m part of a Ghana adoption tribe

–>I’m part of a blog mentoring tribe

–>I’m part of the tribe surrounding my blog, Joyful Mothering

When it comes to your blog, you want to be the leader who builds the tribe surrounding it. Your job as a leader is to inspire, encourage, and motivate your tribe. You can do this through your blog and through other forms of social media, such as Email,  Facebook, and Twitter.

The catch is, it’s up to you to build your own tribe. No one can do it for you. Your tribe needs your vision and passion. It’s a choice only you can make.

How do I build a tribe?

You lead from the bottom. You take what you know, and inspire other people. Then, you go out and learn more and do the same thing. People are always hungry for more.

You don’t need to be a bigger blogger to build a tribe. You just need to start right where you’re at.

A tribe isn’t merely about building numbers, it’s about building loyalty.

We do this by telling our stories; stories that “sell” and stories that spread. This is how we engage. It’s what today’s marketing looks like; making connections.

Making connections means being real and relating with real people.

It’s also about leading. People are looking for someone influential  to follow.

How do I create influence?

You get around influential people and engage with them; learn from them.

Contact them.

Yes! Get in touch with people who are influential and ask to guest post or ask them to guest post. Ask to do an interview. Ask them to endorse your eBook. Just ask.

Share your ideas with the world and watch the ones that spread.

The secret?

“We don’t need more information. We need better information. We need compelling reasons to believe in a cause worth following. And those sharing them will be the leaders of tomorrow.” –Jeff Goins

So, friends, use your voice and your stories to create better information, and watch it spread. Sometimes this doesn’t happen over night. It takes dedication and commitment to learn new ways to communicate.

Are you willing to put the work in to get there; to build that tribe?

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Content is the anchor of your entire blog. It’s the thing that either keeps people coming back, or deters them from ever returning. As such, your writing should always be evolving. In other words, you need to be proactive in learning to be a better writer all the time.

I was going to talk about the mechanics of content, such as formatting, but decided instead to talk about the heart of content.

There are several elements that make up the heart of your writing; every single piece. But different people will bring their own unique voice.

Your story, the one you’ve lived and the one you’re living (which are one in the same) is yours to tell. It’s an unfolding and unveiling of the glory of God, but it can only be revealed through your sharing it.

Sharing your story should show the reader, not tell. This is something I am still learning. It’s important to be very descriptive in order to bring the reader along with you in your story. You want to write in a way that allows them to step into it.

I remember during the writer’s workshop at Relevant last year, I was in a small group lead by Lisa Jo, and she had us do a writing exercise that described a memory. Here’s what I wrote:

It was a sunny day; an ordinary day. I was talking with friends–watching one play this driving arcade game. Then I smelled it. But it was fleeting–burnt marshmallows over campfire. Normally a sweet smell, but not today. Frantic employees and hidden panic on faces. I asked what was wrong and she replied firmly, “The rink is on fire. Don’t. Tell. Anyone.”

We’ve been evacuated and I’m walking away from the building, down the hill to a restaurant. I then venture across the street as smoke billows from the roof. The roof explodes and I huddle on the ground with a friend crying–watching my favorite place to be as it is consumed by a blazing and hot fire. I walk by, across the street, and I can feel the heat. People line the streets, sirens in the distance and flashing lights surround.

Your writing shouldn’t stop there. Once you share a piece of your story, then you explain what lessons you learned and how the reader can be challenged or encouraged by it.

For example, when you share the story of having a bad day, share how you could have responded to that bad day. Describe for your readers how they could respond during a difficult day. Each writer will have her own style, her own voice on how she conveys this message. You simply want to make it clear for the reader what the lesson is; what the point is.

People read your stories when you tie in how it can relate to them. Every story will not relate with every reader. That’s OK.

Your goal in telling your stories is to help others. It might help someone simply by knowing they are not alone. Some might feel hopeless or lost and not know what to do.

People are searching. They need to know they are not alone and there are solutions out there they may not have thought of.

Use your stories to bring hope, encouragement, and practical help to people. Although your story is important, it does not stand alone.

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Does true contentment as a blogger mean we don’t try to grow? Absolutely not! As Christian bloggers, growth should definitely be one of our goals, though how we pursue that goal will look different for each of us.

Some prefer to let growth happen naturally as God leads people to their blog. And there’s nothing wrong with that. As long as we have been good stewards by willingly laying a foundation for growth, it’s ok to let your blog grow at its own pace.

But perhaps you

• need a platform from which to launch a book,
• have the vision to supplement the family income through your blog,
• or God’s given you something so great you just have to spread it far and wide or you’ll bust!

In that case, you will want to actively engage in growth. Growth-oriented tasks should be given priority on your to-do list and you should pursue a variety of strategies. Keep in mind that aggressive growth can be exhausting and can’t be sustained indefinitely without the danger of burn out. Set a specific goal for your stats or decide on a time frame for this season of growth and when you get there, take the time to adjust and get your bearings.

Also, as Christian bloggers, we ought to avoid prideful forms of self-promotion and using controversy to gain attention. We are called to humility and an attitude of service. The great news is, putting other bloggers before yourself and willingly serving your readers is actually a successful and enduring strategy for growth!

Serving Readers

Give Something Away. Product reviews and giveaways are a recognized strategy for growth, but they can involve a lot of preparation and follow up. Even if it’s simply an ebook, there’s still a half dozen emails to exchange each time. If you’re looking for an easy yet effective way to grow through giving, try creating a printable that’s only available to people who subscribe to your blog. Take a popular post on your blog, format it into a one-page PDF file with some graphics, and offer it to anyone who subscribes to your blog via RSS or email. It won’t cost you a thing, and once it’s set in place, your guests can help themselves.

Host a party! Twitter and Facebook parties are a great way to create buzz, and they’re a whole lot of fun. You can host one on your own, or team up with a few bloggers in your niche or network. Choose a date, drum up some giveaways, and invite your readers to join you on your favorite platform. Share tips and links, ask questions, give prizes, and interact with your followers in a public place where others can notice the fun and join in.

Serving Fellow Bloggers

Guest Posting. Providing quality content for someone else’s blog is truly a selfless act! Yet guest posting can be a very effective way get your words in front of a wider audience. Serve larger bloggers by providing them a well-crafted post, and often many readers will follow you to your blog for more. Just be sure your new friends will find what they are expecting when they visit you—if you guest posted on the subject of photography but your own blog is mainly about homeschooling, they may visit, but few will return.

Social Media Sharing. We’ve all heard it—promoting yourself on Twitter or Facebook is only palatable in small amounts. The majority of your tweets or updates should be sharing great content from other sources. Again, serving trumps selfishness for effective growth (<—Tweet This!) Learning to maximize social media takes time and commitment, but the ability to use this tool to help promote others has wonderful fruit. Being known as a generous person is the best plug you can give yourself.

How about you? How do you promote your blog? What works for you? Feel free to share your blog link and a brief description of how you endeavor to serve your readers. Then practice serving your fellow bloggers by tweeting or facebooking the link to a fellow commenter’s blog!

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By now I hope you’ve embraced your impact as a smaller blogger, are celebrating the joy of building relationship with your readers, and {just about} ignoring your stats altogether. It feels good, doesn’t it?

But…What if God calls you to enlarge your reach? Or what if seeds you’ve sown in your blogging journey suddenly ripen and you wake up one morning to triple the traffic you’re used to? Are you ready for that? Are you prepared if God decides to grow your platform?

Being a good steward of our platform involves laying a solid foundation for growth. Whether growth comes slowly, suddenly, or never, these are wise stones to set in place….

1. Solidify Your Vision and Brand

It’s essential to know who you are and what your personal goals are in this online space. As doors open and opportunities arise, a strong vision and brand will guide your choices and keep you from getting overwhelmed as you grow.

Resources for Vision and Branding:

• “You’re Already Amazing” by Holley Gerth – this book helped me finally create a personal vision statement, which in turn allowed me to discern why I blog.
• “You Are A Writer” by Jeff Goins – the chapter on branding alone is worth the price of this {awesome} book!
• Your Mastermind Group (or closest bloggy friends) can give helpful insight and perspective as you nail down who you are online and why you’re here. Just ask them!

2. Make Your Blog Hospitable

To make your readers feel welcome, you and your blog should be:

• easy to find. All your various social media platforms should lead seamlessly to your blog. Your avatar and contact info should be the same at each spot, and all the places you can be found should be listed in your email signature.
• easy to navigate. Subscribe, contact, and share buttons should be easy to find (upper right corner is often recommended). Organized archives, labels, and pages make your guests feel welcome and as if you’ve prepared for their visit.
• easy to contact. Display your email (with spaces to prevent spam, of course) prominently, install a contact form, or–if you wanna be really sweet–do BOTH so people can choose the reach you in the way that’s most comfortable for them. Be sure to install email forwarding so all your mail comes to one inbox allowing you to be prompt and organized.
• easy to converse with. Make it as easy as possible for your readers to comment. Reduce friction–do the work of installing spam guards so your readers don’t have to register or type in CAPTCHA codes. Akismet will take care of spam on your WordPress blog, and Disqus is a great commenting system that works on all platforms to facilitate conversation and reduce spam.

3. Prepare for a crowd

Set up balanced habits and boundaries now so that if a crowd shows up at your doorstep, they feel welcome and you’re not overwhelmed!

• Make your online presence scalable. Responding to every comment is nice–but will you be able to do that if your blog grows? Michael Hyatt said in this podcast that your comments are like a dinner party – you don’t need to dominate the conversation.

“You have the privilege as a blogger of introducing the topic, of initiating the conversation. Then you can comment as you have value to add, as you have something that will move the conversation along.”

• Prepare for traffic behind the scenes. If you’re on a self-hosted WordPress site, sudden increase in traffic could crash your site. Install a cache plugin just to be safe. (most popular, for the techy, easiest install)

Sound like a lot of trouble? All of this is simply being a good steward of our platform so God can use it as He will. May I suggest: take one tip a week and tweak your blog as needed. I’m excited to see what God does next for you, sisters, as you seek to serve Him with your blog!

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I read a passage this week that, despite being recorded way before the age of computers, seems  totally written to us bloggers. Will ya’ll forgive me a liberal paraphrase?

“Dear blogging sisters, don’t be partial! For, if a well-known blogger with a professional head shot and a custom graphics visits your blog, and you fawn over them, responding to their comment and following up on twitter and facebook, and–that same day–a smaller blogger, maybe someone you’ve never even heard of, visits your blog, and you don’t even take the time to respond, aren’t you showing partiality—playing favorites? You are judging someone’s worth by their online presence, and this. is. so. wrong.”

How’d I do? Did you recognize James 2: 1-3? Are you as convicted as I am? 

See—I’m the chief of sinners in this area. I inventory outward appearances and rank a person’s worth faster than you can type your favorite password. Whether online or in real life, I am quick to don the gown and wig of a judge and sentence people with my indifference if they don’t meet my standard.

But did you catch that—this makes me a judge. And James goes on to say that judging, or partiality, is a SIN, just like murder and adultery.

Ooops.

Guess we’d better deal with this.

I believe us smaller bloggers get caught in the trap of partiality so easily because we’re stuck on quantifying our own validity and worth. Instead of resting in the calling God has given us, and willingly embracing our impact to whomever comes our way, we measure, gauge and compare, and generally use those same spectacles to set a value on the bloggers around us.

Here are my steps to setting down our judge’s gavel and seeing our fellow bloggers from the right perspective.

• Call it what it is. Partiality and judging are a sin—not just a distasteful habit. We need to repent and confess, sisters. Good news is, though He is the true judge, He delights to show mercy. He will be faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all our ungracious self-centeredness.
• See ourselves as Christ sees us. He has appointed us not as judges but as servants. We must ask Him to plant our true calling deep in our hearts to give us the proper foundation for how we view and interact with each other online–and in real life!
• See our fellow bloggers as Christ sees them. In your mind, strip that big blogger of all her perfect tweets, her gorgeous blog design and her huge platform. And do your other friend the same favor—overlook the blurry avatar, grammar glitch, and lack of a custom domain. Zoom in on their heart–that’s what God says really counts.

Will you join me, sisters? Let’s ignore the jewels and fine robes of the online world (<—Tweet this!) and embrace each other as Christ does–without partiality. Then we’ll be free to focus on what brings us together—our passions and our love for God–and fellowship and work together for His kingdom.

How can we live this out practically, gals? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

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Contrary to popular belief, bloggers don’t blog to get rich. At least, the ones I know don’t.

Bloggers blog because they like blogging. The money? It’s a perk. If it were about the money, there wouldn’t be any money.

Let me explain.

Blogging is not a mindless, no-skills-required activity. It requires quite a bit of technique and know-how. Those who are blogging just to make money, aren’t making any money. Why? Because they don’t really like to blog. They just want to make money. As a result, they are not doing what it takes to learn about blogging, better their writing skills, and spend time connecting with people on social media.

Money comes as a result of loving what you do. Since blogging is very much an entrepreneurial job, it requires a kick start to get going; and no one can do that for you. It’s something you must do yourself.

I’ve heard many “big bloggers” share their story of how they got where they are now, and most will tell you, it happened unexpectedly. It happened as a result of just doing what they already loved to do. This isn’t the story of every big blogger, but it is for many.

The bottom line is, you have to love blogging before you can make money from it. The two go hand in hand.

If you’re waiting for opportunity to come knocking, you’ll likely be waiting a while. You need to go out and grab it. You need to be proactive in all aspects of blogging. Start with what you have. If companies aren’t ready to advertise with you yet because you don’t have the traffic, go out and get it. Sign up for affiliate programs; they don’t require specific traffic amounts.

Since you are your own “boss”, you have to be disciplined to do things. There’s no one there to tell you to do it.

When I represent a company on my blog, it’s because I already love that company. I believe in what they’re doing and I want other people to know about them. I will not promote a company I do not agree with.

One thing we need to understand as bloggers and readers of blogs: blogging and money {together} are not dirty words. Unless you’re selling your ideals for a few bucks, there is no reason why a blogger shouldn’t receive money for advertising for a company. Money is simply a tool. We make it and spend it to live on and/or help others simply live. I hesitate calling blogging a “job”, though it is for many people. Again, most people who blog and make an income with it, love it from the start.

Blogging certainly requires work, but it’s much more then merely a job.

What about giveaways?

I know many bloggers worry about doing giveaways because they’re afraid people will think they are doing it only to drive traffic to their blog.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know whenever I see a giveaway, I have never thought that way at all. Seriously. Even when I first started blogging, the only thing I would think is, “Oh cool! I’m entering that!” I never thought to myself, “Wow. The only reason they are doing a giveaway is so they can get more people to their blog. That is so shallow.” Not once did I think anything like that.

Now, being the one offering the giveaways, I don’t do them because I think they will bring more traffic. I do them because I think, “Oh, I get to bless a fellow mom!”

My advice? Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks of what your motives might be for doing something. Do what God has called you to do.

On a side note, if you are looking for a company to sponsor you for Allume but you don’t know how to approach sponsorship or pitching to a company, come on over to Joyful Living Media as I share a series that will answer your questions surrounding sponsorships.

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I’ve learned a lot from the glimpses that some of my favorite, big bloggers occasionally give of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’ of a large, successful blog. I’ve noticed a few things that show up repeatedly in how these professional bloggers handle their online presence, and it’s not what you think.

What defines a great blogger is not how often they blog, who designed their website, or how many social media platforms they’re active on. If it was excelling in those areas that guaranteed greatness, I’d be sunk. I can’t blog every day, can’t afford to hire a designer, and am nearly helpless on Twitter. Thankfully, the stuff that every great blogger does is actually small stuff that you and I can start doing today, even with our limited time, money, and experience.

1. Manage Your Inbox

With all the ways to communicate anymore on social media, we forget that email is the most personal. It’s vital that we maximize this aspect of our online presence and manage it well.

• Like a pro…Be prompt and concise when answering emails. If you can answer that email in 2 min., do it immediately. Give yourself a 3 sentence limit if you tend to get verbose (like me)!
• Act Big…Take the time to make yourself a nice email signature. Create a fancy one here, or keep it simple–just be sure to include all your social media links so your recipient can find you easily. Here’s mine:Trina Holden
  Blog…trinaholden.com
  Twitter…@TrinaHolden
  Facebook…TrinaRenaeHolden
  Author of Real {Fast} Food…Plan better. Cook Faster. Eat Healthier.
• Be intentional about developing healthy inbox habits. Here are some great tips if you’ve got an overflowing inbox.

2. Manage Your Time

Whether your blog is a ministry or a business, it’s essential that you manage the time you spend on it.

• Like a pro…When you’re blogging, blog. Keep a list of actions you need to take (“write that post”, “research this”, “contact so-and-so”) and check off that list before you lo-gin to Pinterest or chat with friends on Facebook. Don’t mix work or ministry with recreation—stay focused.
• Act Big…Take scheduled blogging breaks. Missionaries get furloughs, executives take vacations—bloggers, too, need to step back occasionally to recharge and get perspective. A daily week off, or week-long break every few months is great. Give yourself permission–you and your vision are worthy of rest.
• Get instant help in the time-management department with Amy’s quick book, Tell Your Time.

3. Manage Your Input

You can’t expect to grow or excel unless you are feeding yourself great input.

• Like a pro…subscribe to a few great blogs in your niche or attend a blog conference geared toward your passions.  Be intentional about continuing to learn and don’t undervalue the importance of investing in yourself.
• Act Big…Interact with the bloggers you respect. This blogging thing is all about connecting and relationship. Deepen that relationship by thanking and encouraging those who’ve inspired you. Your voice is not so small that they won’t hear-– everyone needs to be encouraged.
• Go where they are…I’ve found Twitter to be a great place both to see what great bloggers are being inspired by and to leave them a short note of encouragement. If Twitter confuses you as much as it does me, check out Gretchen’s  Twitter 101 series.

Developing your online presence is a process that takes a lot of time and energy. But these are small ideas you can start implementing today to provide a strong foundation and prepare you for future growth.

What would you add to my short list of small habits for successful bloggers? What is YOUR secret, sister?

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Comments tend to be as measured as stats are. Although, it is difficult to consistently write without any sort of feedback–from anyone.

Don’t base your impact on the number of comments you receive. I have had countless people tell me later that a particular post impacted them so deeply but they just never commented for whatever reason. Their reasons are usually that they didn’t have time or they got distracted and forgot, etc. It happens and we just gotta roll with it.

Only a small percentage of subscribers actually comment on posts. Many are reading through email or a RSS feed and then move on. If you were to go around and take a little survey of comments to subscribers ratio, you’d see it’s much the same across the board; about .7% to 1.5% of readers actually comment. So if you have 50 subscribers and you get 1 comment on your post, you’re within the normal ratio of comments to subscribers.

Still, one of the most common questions for bloggers is

How can I get more comments?

It’s good to encourage comments in order to build community.

One way to do this is by having a “call to action” at the end of your post. Basically, you ask an open ended question that invites the reader to comment. Try to make it personal for them.

Make sure your comment system is user friendly. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to post a comment on someone’s blog on Blogger, and couldn’t because they didn’t offer a Name/url option. I had to have a Blogger account and be signed in. I moved on. I didn’t have that much time to play around with trying to leave a comment. It’s important that you make it as easy as possible for readers to comment.

I highly recommend getting rid of the CAPTCHA code. This is just more time the reader has to spend trying to leave a comment. If spam is an issue, it’s just another of many reasons to move to WordPress. (That’s for a whole other post, though!) 🙂 Unfortunately, these are real hindrances.

Respond to the comments on your blog. Even if you don’t have time to respond to all of them, take time to respond to some from every post. Readers want to know you are engaged with them, not that you simply had something to say and “left the room”, never to return. Answer questions, encourage others. Blogging is about community (you’re going to see me write that a lot). You don’t get a platform by standing on one; the platform comes only by the invitation of those you serve. It’s not a right; it’s a privilege.

Comment on other blogs. You can’t expect people to comment on your blog if you’re not willing to comment on others. It’s just the way it goes. Blogging is a give-and-take community; not a take-take-take community. Comments should add something of value to the reader and conversation as a whole; not merely be a “good post” trail. Be thoughtful and insightful. Do not spam with links.

You don’t need to comment on 20 blogs per day. You simply need to be consistent about it. A little everyday goes a long way.

Don’t miss the point.

If you’re commenting solely to receive comments, you’ve missed the point. The point is to step outside your own sphere and reach out to others. Encourage them in their own posts with your comments. When you are genuine in connecting with people, they will want to follow you back to your blog.

Today, seek out 5 blogs and leave thoughtful comments on each one without any thought of return. Hint: choose people who leave a comment on this post to help build community. Make sure you leave your blog url in the comment form. 😉

Here’s one to get you started: Lisa from Stop and Smell the Chocolates has a wonderful series called “Encouraging Bloggers“. Go check it out for more insights and encouragement. Offer up any tips you might have as well. Work together.

Quick FYI: I have just launched a very inexpensive blog critique & consulting site for any who want to invest in one on one mentoring concerning their blog. You can find it at Joyful Living Media.

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Finding your voice, building your platform and learning all the different aspects of blogging is challenging work. Feedback and encouragement are valid needs as we craft a vision and carve out our niche. You may not be getting that feedback from your readers yet–what you need is a mastermind group!

“But mastermind groups are for bigger, professional bloggers!” Yeah? How do you think they got there? Ask any successful blogger and they will probably name 5 or 6 close, online relationships that supported and encouraged them back when they were small. A small group of like-minded bloggers can give us the support and companionship that will enable us to thrive and enjoy this adventure.

“A Mastermind Group has given me a place where I’m comfortable bouncing off even ‘wild ideas’ and knowing I’ll get good, honest feed back and encouragement. I’ve made new friends who understand and support me in my need to write and my desire to do it well and that is a beautiful thing.” –Chantel

Starting Your Own Mastermind Group
Begin with identifying some of your close online friends who share similar goals as yourself. They need not be bigger or more savvy than yourself—you will all grow together in the fertile ground of accountability and the combined talents of the group. Share your vision for creating a mastermind group, and invite them to each invite a few more friends. This should give you the variety essential to a productive team–but keep it small (12-15 people max.). The power of these groups is in the closeness of everyone knowing each other well – it’s not just a discussion board.

“Anyone can think – but only in a group of more than one, can ideas be processed and refined…a mastermind group is the same feel as a Bible study–but for blogging.”- Katie

Next, choose a place to gather. My team uses a private Facebook group for discussions and sharing links. If your friends are within driving distance, you could get together in person on a monthly basis. Conference calls, Skype-ing, or group email are great ways to share and connect. On our Facebook page we’ve created documents containing all the team member’s contact info so we can email, snail mail, or call each other with questions or encouragement.

Let the fun begin!
Once you have your group, you can begin enjoy the benefits–it’s like having your own cheerleading team and board of directors for your blog! Use the group to bounce ideas around, challenge growth, share what you’ve learned, and post all those great techy links that your blog readers or Facebook friends just don’t get. ☺

• Introduce a topic of discussion each week, like ‘Using Twitter’, ‘Creating a Media Kit’, and ‘Comment Policies’
• Trade services and share skills
• Critique each other’s writing, blog, or guest post submissions
• Support team members by liking their Facebook page, retweeting them, and promoting their projects.

“As I start to recreate my blog to bring in readers for my upcoming book, I am excited to know that I have a wealth of information, help, and support from the women in my mastermind group! Blogging seems less overwhelming now that there is someone coming alongside me in the journey.” –Ginger

The Benefits of a Team
Many of us are intimidated by the many aspects of blogging and social media. In a group with various talents we can learn from and help each other grow. My friend Natasha says, “it’s just like another body of believers, one where each member has their own niche and everyone brings something of value to the table.”  Jessica  has enjoyed the transition from trying to figure it all out on her own to being part of a team that continually inspire and push her to new heights. Surrounding yourself with a close group of like minded, intentional bloggers can help you gain vision and make steady progress toward your blogging goals.

We know we can’t do this blogging thing alone, but often we small bloggers fight the feelings of insecurity and isolation by trying to elbow our way into the ‘in crowd’. We spend time and tweets, energy and stress trying to get noticed. But this energy is often wasted and our impact is weakened trying to ‘fit in’. Success will come from pursuing excellence, not acceptance. (<-Tweet This!) I challenge you to build a team where you’re at and then together grow toward excellence.

Your Challenge

• Read Amy‘s Post “Why You Should Be Part of a Mastermind Group”
• Create a private Facebook group (be sure to choose the setting for a Secret Group-so only members can see who belongs and what’s posted)
• Invite 2 or 3 intentional bloggers you already have a personal connection with, and ask them to invite a few more.
• Once you have a team, begin to get to know each other and seek how you can support your new team members.

Many thanks to the ‘Ladder Blogger’ gals–my mastermind group: Kateri, Chantel, Diane, Ginger, Katie, Cynthia, Jessica, Kristina, Mandy, Natasha, Gretchen, Rachel, and September. Thanks for the quotes for this post and all your support–I couldn’t do this without you!

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Many of you have asked me what defines a “smaller blogger”. There really is no “formal” answer of what defines a smaller blogger. But many people define themselves by their stats. So what constitutes a “smaller blogger”?

The mindset of the blogger.

When we play the comparison game, there will always be someone to stand against who has more readers, more likes, more follows then you do. Unless you’re Michael Hyatt {who is a terrific leadership mentor, by the way}. He’s also been blogging for 13 years.

When we define ourselves (or others) by stats, we do several things that create barriers in different areas. We put up walls and create stereotypes based on stats. We may not even realize we’re doing it! Yet, what happens is we start to make assumptions about people based on their stats. We also think less of our ministry when our stats don’t mirror someone else.

Take a moment to watch this video that helps illustrate well what I mean. Click here if you’re reading in email or a reader.

Yea, wow. Right?

Until we can look past our stats, all we’re going to see is stats. We are going to miss the ministry God has placed in front of us because we are too busy chasing after what someone else has.

There are many factors which lead to why stats look the way they do for different people. Some examples include:

• time invested
• goals/mission/vision of blogger
• God’s vision (!!!)
• unique gifts
• reach
• education (and I don’t mean a college degree, but willingness to seek out and learn)
• consistency of blogging

Oh and these are just a few things, friend! My goal today isn’t to overwhelm you — in fact, an overall goal for this entire weekly column is to keep the information simple and straightforward. The last thing I want you to do is throw your hands up and think it’s hopeless based on this list. It’s not!

My goal, however, is to make you aware of the elements involved in what creates these stats. The one thing you need to know about “bigger bloggers” is that they were once “smaller bloggers”. So when you see them write or hear them speak on topics like stats, they are doing it from a position of experience, not arrogance.

Jeff Goins scrapped a blog after 5 years of writing on it because he felt like he hit a wall. It was time to move on and start fresh. That’s when his blog, Jeff Goins Writer was birthed.

If you think you’ve hit a wall, don’t waste anymore time running into it. This means, if you’ve done all you can and you believe you’re getting nowhere, it might be time to think about starting fresh.

If, however, you simply need the right tools to get you moving forward, I would encourage you to start there.

It is important to understand that building a blog and extending your reach takes dedicated, consistent work. It requires that we stretch beyond what we know and be open to learning new things constantly. We must be willing to grow if we want our blog to grow. Growth involves more then merely stats. It includes the development of your writing, and your willingness to learn beyond the basics. It requires a bit of investment.

This week, I want to challenge you to break the barriers of defining yourself and other people by their stats.  Blogging is not a popularity contest; it’s a community where we work together.

Subscribe to the Allume blog so you won’t miss anything in this series–by email or RSS.

 Photo by Darcy

I fought with her for months–that Voice in my head that argues that I’m “too small to have an impact.”

I’d created a home management binder that was actually helping my crazy, driven personality to make progress on goals AND find space to breathe. Even my neighbor noticed, “You’ve changed–you’re more peaceful!” I wanted nothing more than to share what was working for me, but The Voice kept me quiet for months. “So many other bloggers have covered that topic”, she said. “Others with better graphics, more resources to offer, and a much bigger audience.” My readers didn’t need me to add to the slew of home management posts…or did they?

Then it hit me: each of us–you and me–are more likely to to listen to the advice of a friend than a stranger, right? We’ll stop to hear a story from someone we care about before reading the blog of someone we don’t even know. A candid photo in a friend’s post draws us in more than the flashiest stock photo.

The simple fact is, every blogger, big or small, has influence, and it has very little to do with numbers. Your influence is based on the relationship you have with your readers.  They have chosen to listen to you because of YOU–your voice, your perspective, you humor, you servant’s heart,your passion on that topic, or your experiences. They’ve connected with you, and they want (I may argue NEED) to hear what you have to say; and they want to hear it in your unique voice.

Do you believe that God made you unique, and that He’s pleased with you? He doesn’t look at you and say, “Woops, sure wish she had turned out more like so-and-so!” No, he looks at you and whispers, “Tell it, daughter–tell the story of how a personal God reached down and touched you.” And when you tell your story, your way, that’s when you have the most impact. The truth is, hearing it from you may finally move your readers to action or touch them deeper than anyone else.

Then The Voice cries, “But so few are listening! It’s a waste of your time!” Maybe you don’t doubt you have something to share, but you wonder if it’s worth the effort for such a small audience. But would you choose the way of a servant (the way of our Lord) and do the work for that one who needs to hear it? Even if they never respond? Even if it is simply a seed sown and someone else gets to reap the harvest? Are you willing? I pray that you are.

When I realized I needed to be willing to share my home management binder ideas with just one reader who might find them helpful, I finally sat down and started posting about it. The results were delightful–my relationship with a handful of my readers deepened and blossomed as I was willing to invest in them. My style of organization resonated with a few of them and they, too, were able to find some room to breathe. I found great joy and fulfillment in embracing the influence I did have.

How to Embrace the Influence God Has Given YOU:

• Engage – be faithful to answer comments and to dialogue with your readers. If you’re on Blogger, install the new comment threading feature to facilitate conversation. If you’re on WordPress, consider this plug-in which allows your readers to be notified of follow up comments.
• Serve – Look for ways you can serve your readers. Is there a post you’ve promised them, or a topic they’ve expressed interest in that you haven’t followed up on? Do the work and show them you care about them and not just SEO or more followers. Function as the part God has gifted you in. Are you good at giving directions? Share tutorials on how to do or make things.
• Pray – For God’s vision for your blog–ask for clarity on what He wants you to blog about. For me, it was the inspiration He gave me for my home management binder. What is it for you?

If you have one reader, that’s one person who’s chosen to listen to the song you are singing because she happens to like your voice. What has God called you to say to that one?

Challenge: For this next week, take great care of the people God puts right in front of you. When someone asks a question, take the time to give a thoughtful answer. Reply to each comment left and/or visit the blog of those who comment and leave a comment. The challenge is to make the effort and set aside time specifically for connecting with the readers you have.

Are you a “smaller” blogger and need a cheerleader? How about a community of cheerleaders? Trina from Trina Holden dot com and I will be sharing some things with you that bloggers with a smaller following may face. We want to equip you, encourage you, and cheer you on.

Join us here each Thursday as we cover these topics and more:

• blogging myths
• your influence
• your unique passion {and how that effects your blog}
• numbers and how they create barriers between bloggers
• what’s really required to be an intentional and deliberate blogger

We’re going to introduce you to some influential people who blog and we also want to bring you face to face with the reality of your own blog.

Blogging is not simply writing on a website and hitting “publish”. It is so much more involved than that. The problem is, when we fail to see that, we will not understand why we are not moving forward and connecting with more people.

If your goal is to reach people, then you need to recognize that blogging is less about you, and more about helping others. We need to first check our motives, check our focus and make sure they are in the right place. If you focus on numbers, it’s going to rob you of your creativity and authenticity. If you only talk about your family life and never relate to your readers how your story can be helpful to them, they may never connect the dots and will stop reading.

As a writer, you need to make those connections plain for your reader to see. Yes, share your stories with us; but also share your encouragement and “how to’s”.  Tie the most important parts of your story in with how it is relative to your reader.

Before we get started there is something you need: to be teachable. There’s a saying that goes like this:

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. –Susan Jeffries

And another…

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. -attributed to Albert Einstein

If you are interested in moving forward, you need to be willing to make some changes and to press beyond the surface of typing and hitting “publish”.

We want to address your concerns as a small(er) blogger, so we invite you to leave them in the comments. What is your greatest challenge when it comes to blogging? What are some smaller challenges that seem to hinder your blog or hinder you from pressing on?

If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment, you can email me at christin at allume dot com with your questions.

 Photo Credit: Coreopis Bud