- Quitting the EBW team. As many of you know by now, I left the EBW or Etsy Beadweavers team at the end of 2012. It is really sad to leave an Etsy team primarily because it isn't fun anymore, but that's what happened. It felt really good to cut the ties from all of that drama and unpleasantness.
- Quitting the Friday Feature and Sunday Treasury Round Up blog link ups. The link ups were a...fun experiment for 2012. Not really. I'm insanely jealous of bloggers who are able to launch those type of link up parties successfully. I don't take it personally that it didn't work very well for me and think my time will be better spent letting it go than trying to build and promote it every week.
- Pushing Treasury Round Up back to every other week. Those of you who write treasury thanks posts know how time consuming they are to put together. Getting rid of the link up and having an extra week to publish each post will free up a lot of time and generally take off a lot of pressure, especially when weekends get crazy.
- Not stressing about filling in extra Saturday Link List days. Typically this isn't an issue because the recipes, resources, and tutorials take up 3 lists each month, and I can fill in the fourth week with a special holiday post. However, every once in a while there isn't a holiday coming up, and I don't feel like writing something else. I'm not going to be stress about making those extra link lists come together anymore.
- Not pushing five weekday blog posts each week when it just isn't coming together. I've gotten into a pretty good routine with weekly and monthly topics and features that doesn't make it too hard to fill five weekdays. However, we all know how some weeks it's a push to actually get the content online in a timely manner. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, and the world isn't going to end.
- Re-evaluating social media. This is one of the few areas that I'm a little clueless about how to attack for 2013. The bottom line is that when push comes to shove and I'm crunched for time, writing and Etsy/craft fair business has to take precedence over other online tasks. I'm hoping that keeping that resolve will allow me to let go of social media time more often.
What modifications are you making for your blogging and/or business routine in 2013?
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Yep, I can relate. Especially the social media part. I permanently deleted Facebook and Twitter. I will not join anything anymore and with Entrecard gone I've tons of time to do other things. It's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. :)
When it becomes a chore then it is time to look at why...if you are not getting any personal satisfaction and no professional boost - then, yeah, time to let go what isn't working...
ReplyDeleteI think this sounds like a great plan Rose. I took the same approach to my blog last year and it really helped. I have certain days scheduled for memes, but the other days are up to me. I don't want to force the topics if they aren't there...I blog when I can and when I have useful info to share.
ReplyDeleteI hope this helps keep you stress free :)
It's so hard to give up things that seem routine, but also are more burden then worth the reward. Over the last year, I've created less & spent less time online but feel guilty about it all. I don't think I'll be blogging at all in the future - between putting my work on ravelry & flickr, blogging seemed redundant. If I ever start creating regularly again, etsy & promoting that will fill up the extra time I spend online.
ReplyDeleteI understand how when things are fun anymore then it's time to change it up. I dropped Sunday blogging and that helped but I'm sure there's more I can do. The point is to not stress over things right?
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that my blogging and Etsy shop have fallen by the wayside a bit since the fall. I'm gearing back up on Etsy, but just haven't been too motivated with the blogging lately. Sounds like you are making good changes. Sometimes the blogging, etc., become too big a part of life -- to the point where we don't seem to have enough time to live that life!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sweet Posy Dreams. . . we don't seem to have enough time to live . . . So, I agree with you too! Let the stress go! I have admired your ability to do all that posting, but if it is stressing you, don't do it! I do not do a treasury post for that very reason, no time. I try to visit all the treasuries that I am in and comment and promote them. That is enough, for me anyway. I have enjoyed your link lists, because they inspire me to create and participate, but again, not necessary if you are stressed. I love your blog, will always visit, so no worries! Love ya!!!
ReplyDeleteLetting go can be difficult, but sometimes it's a much-needed change. It is really hard for me to say no, I can't do something. I don't have the time or just I don't want to. Kudus to you for being strong enough to set limits!
ReplyDeleteLetting go of things does feel very liberating. I've been trying to decide what I want to do with my blog. I've been struggling with taking care of it lately
ReplyDeletesounds like you're making some good changes, and most importantly finding a way to free up some time and things that are stressful for you. Hope this helps and you have a fantastic 2013!
ReplyDeleteRose, honestly, I don't know how you find the time to do all that you do! I think these changes will be good. Between HP, Etsy and your blog, I just don't know how you do it all. I admire your organization and discipline. I am lucky to get 2 posts a month on my blogs lately. I'm even feeling kind of stuck right now at HP. Anyway, I know this will be positive change for you :)
ReplyDeleteRose, These sound like good changes for you. I'm going to be making some changes too and not pushing myself to the limits. I want to figure out how to make 1 blog post that I do for a team have legs and be posted in different places (with variations).
ReplyDeleteI can't do a blog thing on certain days anymore, and it's OK with me if I don't do a post everyday.
Social media is another story. I created a spreadsheet to evaluate progress and followers, so, I'll evaluate that in a few months since this is a slow time for orders.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Simplify and de-stress. Worthy goals. I've scaled back on social media, and I've given myself permission to blog only 3 days per week. I need the time for my seasonal job, and building inventory in my Etsy shop. And I also agree with Sweet Posy Dreams -- We need time to live life.
ReplyDeleteAlthough social media is important if you're an online seller, I do it in moderation. Maintaining my two shops and customer service are my priority. I limit social media time to an hour in the morning and evening. I know how you feel about quitting a team, but if you don't feel comfortable anymore it's best to leave :)
ReplyDeleteI did not know you quit EBW but I admire you for taking the above steps. It can sometimes be hard to let go of routine and try different things. I missed blogging but Linda P is right--life is too short to spend so much time on things that only add stress.
ReplyDeletegreat analysis, Rose!
ReplyDeleteThe treasury thanks posts are very time consuming. Some people simplify it by posting only an item from each shop that featured them in a treasury. hmmm...I may try that.
I'm amazed that people whose items are featured in a treasury to do not even bother to comment--or to say thanks in response to a convo.
I've admired your extensive posting. I don't want to struggle to have a "real" life outside of online time.
I don't blog often, but my posts are usually time consuming.
Thanks for posting your thoughts and decisions. Reading the comments has been interesting as well.
Ugh...I hear ya on this post. Many of those stresses were things I took into consideration in the last months of last year when I totally eradicated my social media accounts, gave up A Little Etsy Love, and pulled back posting on my own blog. You're right when you say that regular content can sneak it's way in and keep you feeling manic with trying to keep up. It's too much and I wish you luck with deciding what you want to eliminate from your schedule. I think your choices so far do sound very "sane". LOL.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what happened to your Linkys! That stinks they weren't worthwhile for you. I have no shame in bugging people to join mine. ;D
ReplyDeleteI've slowed down on my blog posts too, even though some were drawing nice crowds! I stopped my Saturday Link List because it was just getting to be too much, and some weeks, I'll skip the Treasury Round-ups. What I like best is to combine my artwork and blog challenges, and then write about any classes or new things I'm trying. Good luck and I hope your blog posts stay fun to write! {:-D
ReplyDeleteIt can be hard to quit a team you've been on for a while, but I'm glad you did if it wasn't working out! All of your changes sound great, and I can tell you've given them a lot of thought. I stopped trying to force a post every weekday after I went back to school and had to use more creative energy for that. Now I write 4 days a week instead and it's so much better. I also decided not to have paid sponsorships on my blog (aside from Project Wonderful) in 2013. I didn't want to feel obligated to write on vacation, for example, because I have paid sponsors that month. Ultimately, my blog is more about fun than business.
ReplyDelete