Lately I've been having somewhat of a blogging identity crisis. I've been struggling with where I want to take this blog and what topics I want to focus primarily on. I've sat alone in quiet rooms with my thoughts and my notebook and jotted down random ideas. I still hadn't come up with anything concrete. I typically write about whatever is on my mind at the time, or post photos of whatever I happen to have taken photos of. I am happy with the content on here and doing the random posts, but the thing that has been driving me absolutely mad is that I couldn't categorize myself. Some of you may say that maybe that's why you like my blog, because it offers such a variety of stuff, and honestly I like that about my little interweb space too.... but I've always been one to get really bored of the "same old", and I found myself wanting more direction.
And then, while taking my nightly shower, it came to me (as most things do for some reason while I'm washing my hair... what is up with that!?.) I want to INSPIRE. I want to be a place of loveliness and inspiration, for whatever topic I may have on the agenda. Through photos and words.
Style, design, life. There. I defined my blog. I no longer want to think of myself as "the blogger who writes about makeup, fashion, crafts, business, my dog, my job, my brain, my loves, my hates.... etc. etc." I'll still probably write about these things, but now I have a sense of purpose with each... a direction that I was so lost finding. This task sounds so easy, but I challenge you other lifestyle bloggers to define your blog in three single words or less. It might not be as easy for someone who shares a variety of topics as it is for, say, a fashion blogger who solely posts photos of their outfits and nothing else.
In other words, I want to make this place better. Somewhere that I want to hang out at with YOU. It's been over a year since I started blogging, and I think I've finally discovered what Wonder Forest is:
Style, Design, Life.
To Wonder is to inspire.
I'm curious to know, what are your favourite topics or types of blog posts to read? And how would you define YOUR blog in three words or less?
What you write about now..."makeup, fashion, crafts, business, my dog, my job, my brain, my loves, my hates...." is Style, Design, and Life! I hope you don't change too much, I love that you don't post the exact same thing every day. I rarely read the blogs that do. I can only take so much of looking at someone's outfits :)
ReplyDeletehaha, exactly, but I wasn't able to define that before. It just felt like a mess of topics randomly thrown about. Sticking to three "main" topics will help me stay focused.
DeleteLove this. It's you to a T also. I'm still very new at this, but I have been thinking about direction too... I'll have to think more about this!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of when I studied in Rome, one of my classes was creative writing - we'd walk around the city with a prompt provided by our professor and write whatever came to mind. One of the prompts was to define yourself in one word, a la "Eat Pray Love." It was so hard to think of something!
It's tough! I was getting too wrapped up in titles... Like one day I would feel like a "Fashion blogger", the next I was a "DIY blogger". I couldn't figure out a way to define these things all at once.
DeleteThis is great, Dana! I'm always feeling this way about my own blog. Right now my tagline reads "Handmade. Home Decor. Photography. All Things Lovely." This worked well for me about 8-12 months ago, but I feel my blog topics have evolved so maybe these words aren't as accurate anymore. I've been brainstorming new ones, like "lovelies + weddings + photography + lifestyle" but I'm still evolving that, too! So we'll see. I really love the three words you chose and think those will do well to grow with you and cover your bases in terms of the broad range of topics you discuss on Wonder Forest. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah that's the thing too, as we go on, our topics and interests might change! It's always good to reevaluate your niche :)
DeleteI think those three themes are perfect for your blog. I did something similar a few months ago, and narrowed mine down to "Style, Life, Adventure" to encompass the "everything and the kitchen sink" approach my content has pretty much taken and the eventual travel aspect I have planned. I agree with ElleSee about hoping things don't change too much for Wonder Forest, but I enjoy reading everything you write so I'm sure I'll enjoy any changes you have planned :)
ReplyDelete-Bronwyn
I like those words for your blog!
Deleteand don't worry, I'm not planning on making any major content changes!
I feel like a lot of bloggers are suffering from identy issues - I myself just had one actually!! I blame it on all of the wonderful varieties of bloggers out theirs who are constantly pushing the bar on creativity and sending off so much inspiration into the world. I fully understand what you're saying and applaud you for finding three words to describe you and the direction you'd like to take here! You certainly have my brain rattling to come up with my 3 words would be!
ReplyDeleteout there*** sorry late night blogging on my iPhone with one eye open ;)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, I recently deleted a blog because I was tired of it being tied to a business that I was not passionate about anymore. I am taking a break from the business and now have a fresh new blog. Can't wait to see where you take things! PS: Downloaded your e-book tonight, fantastic!
ReplyDelete-Megan
earthcolored.blogspot.com
I love your three words and think you incorporate them all really well. My three are handmade (my biz and biz advice), inspiration (what inspires me and inspiring others), and lifestyle (just stuff about my life - mainly photos of my dogs :)).
ReplyDeleteHm. defining stuff is always hard for me..in three words, my blog is probably 'life, inspiration, art'.
ReplyDeletei only discovered your blog a few weeks ago, and am really happy i did! its a loverly blog. <3
xox-
Amazing post! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog...
ReplyDeleteBest,
Tamara B.
LilMissStyleBlog.blogspot.com
I was literally going to write this post a few days ago! I have blogging identity crisis quite often, I have trouble sticking with projects (but I have managed to post on my blog for over 100 consecutive days now!)as long as I don't make any rash decisions and delete all my work I 'm ok a few days later.
ReplyDeleteI've labelled my blog as 'This, that and everything else' as it doesn't really fit anywhere!
Great idea, i love your blog so much, don't change a thing :)
ReplyDeleteSophierosehearts x
I like your blog bc you post about all of these different things which makes you a lifestyle blogger since. That is also what I am. I post about all kinds of various things bc you really have to stay true to who you are and what you like. I like some blogs that only post about design, etc but do I love them? No! I love blogs that are a bot personal and vast.
ReplyDeletebtw why define? Just be you :)
ReplyDeleteThere are SO many reasons to define a blog. That's a whole other post! Basically, how would you summarize your blog if somebody asked you? Sure, you could say "it's a lifestyle blog" which is what I would do before... But a "lifestyle" blog could be so many things depending on the blogger's interests.
Deleteit is also super generic and a huge category to lump yourself into. Why would somebody want to visit YOUR lifestyle blog over somebody else's? if you give it a little definition it helps others get the jist of who you are and what you generally blog about. I'm not changing any content, and of course will always be myself, but now I am able to explain what my blog covers in three simple words.
I post what is going on in my life right then or lately. If I'm cooking something unique, making something crafty, just have an opinion, or just want to talk about my dog. I love your blog, Dana, and especially that you are Canadian too :) I look forward to see what you come up with to fit this definition :)
ReplyDeleteStephanie
owlsinmyheart.blogspot.com
Your blog is one of the very few "lifestyle" blogs that I enjoy reading. Maybe it is because you mix a lot of different topics together. I love that you blog about what you want. You're kind of a jack of all trades. Just do your thing. You've been doing great so far =)
ReplyDeleteOh, I know what you mean! It’s so hard not to write about everything is in your mind. I mostly read blogs focused on fashion, beauty and photography. I wanted my blog to be only photography, but that didn’t work. haha So now I focus in photography, fashion and beauty. I’m not an expert in any of them, but it’s the only way I can share my obsession about this topics. xx
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I prefer blogs which are diverse and have a range of topics. I find reading ALL beauty reviews or ALL fashion posts a bit boring. I like a range of topics and I like it when you feel like you know the person behind the blog a bit. I couldn't describe my blog in three words because it evolves depending on how I'm feeling and what's going on in my life. I love your blog, I love the feel of it and the look of it and I like that you don't just stick to one thing!
ReplyDeleterachael @ madeupoflittlethings xx
that must have been so frustrating- it's always 10x harder to do things when there's no direction. and i think you summed up your blog nicely :) mine's a fashion blog but i love writing so there's that side. having a writing blog is hard though, since not many people want to take the time to read =P
ReplyDeleteWhen people ask what my blog is about, I usually answer "Life in NYC" which feels like it's sort of a cop-out answer because that's not really a category per se... It's just sort of works because I write about anything that pops into my brain, and a lot of it has to do with how things are where I live.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, definitely go through these days too, girl! I look at my blog and feel like there is no clear direction of what I write about. I like that it's my space and I can write about anything I want. But then I look at these sites that have such clear direction. I know that when I go to their site, I know what I'll be reading about. I want more clarity and cleanness.
ReplyDeleteEIther way, your site is adorable! So don't be too stressed, girl! :)
xo TJ
This post is such an inspiration to me to REALLY think about this again.
ReplyDeleteI've had this problem since I opened my blog and I can't find a solution yet. The problem is that I'd like to write and post about ALOT of things but I don't know how to categorize everything and keep the purpose of the blog clear.
I love digital design, but I do love beauty, fashion, interior design and so many other things. That's why my blog name is "everything gets interesting", but I had problems in choosing "my" name too.
So as you did, I'm struggling to find the best way to show myself and I still can't find the best way.
I think you did it and your blog is such an inspiration to me, each post I read is like "wow, I would have written this!" and I hope you won't change your way of blogging!
xo
Valentina
from Italy
I just recently stumbled on to your blog and really love it. I can completely relate to this post because I recently started up my blog and I labeled it a "lifestyle" blog but I feel like it needs a better sense of direction. When people ask what my blog is about I feel like I ramble on about what it's about so a I just need a set definition :)
ReplyDeleteHave an enchanting day,
Natalie
TheEnchantingLife.com
This is the third time I'm browsing through your blog and I'm slowly becoming more and more addicted to it. If I were to define it in 3 words I'd say: "Pure amazing inspirtion!"
ReplyDeleteAs for my blog, I just started writing a few weeks ago, I have no idea were this is going to take. Perhaps the best definition is: "Que sera sera."