I have been blogging on Rebecca Reads for more than four years now, but I still feel like a newbie when it comes to my new blog, Line Upon Line, which focuses on my homeschooling and education journey and promotes products, both free and paid, in the blogosphere. I found Born to Blog by Mark Schaefer and Stanford Smith (McGraw Hill Professional, 2013) to be helpful in recognizing that a blog cannot do everything. Rather, blog writers must find their style within their niche category. By using their own strengths, they can write stellar and interesting blogs.
Most of the information in Born to Blog is self-evident, and yet I found myself actually taking notes as I read of things that I want to improve about my new blog. First, I must find my purpose. As I read the book, I found myself rethinking what I wanted that blog to be. My problem with it at the moment was I have not focused. Was it to be a compilation of resources? Or a educational site for how to information? I feel I have a better idea what I want my main focus to be, and I look forward to better developing ideas, writing regularly.
As you approach blogging you must determine what your strengths are. When I look at Rebecca Reads and consider where I’ve been in the past and where I want to go, I’ve decided I really like the book reflection posts the best of all: I love revisiting what I’ve read in the past by rereading the posts on here. Although I’ve tried other types of posts, those are the ones I like the most, and that’s where I’ll keep writing. My purpose on Rebecca Reads has shifted too. Since I am transitioning to the role of homeschooling parent as well as a part-time job by creating educational products for teachers, I do not have as much time to devote to reading other books blogs. But that’s okay, because I’ve determined my purpose is different from what it was four five years ago, when I really needed that community as a new stay-at-home mom half-way across the world in Australia, far from family and friends.
Now I’ve got my hands full. And working on a new, profitable blog is quite fun. If you are interested in homeschooling and educational resources, come check it out!
Note: I received a digital review copy from the publisher for review consideration.
