Apparently I registered my Deb’s World blog 4 years ago – who would have thought I’d still be here?! I have no reason to doubt the scrupulous record keeping of WordPress but gee whiz that time has really flown by!
I do remember writing some early posts and deleting them a short time later so my first recorded post is in May 2012 with quite a personal post – 3 times less beautiful.
My blog is called the World According to Debbie after all, so you have to expect some personal stuff!
Becoming a Blogger
Since then I like to think that I have evolved as a blogger –
- I post with some regularity;
- I follow lots of other bloggers and love reading and commenting on their posts;
- I have dabbled in poetry;
- I discovered I like taking photos with my iPhone of everyday moments that I see along the way;
- I like to share my travel/adventures;
- I engage in photo challenges which challenge my creative side;
- I’ve taken some Blogging U courses to improve my knowledge and craftsmanship and I’ve enjoyed it all.
- I can do all sorts of things now that I couldn’t do in the early days like ping-backs, including links to other posts, customising my blog to the way I want it to look, setting up new pages and widgets…the list goes on.
I’m the first to admit that I don’t write deep and meaningful stuff but I don’t think I’m that shallow either.
Debbie
My favourite posts are the ones where I compared my life with my daughters and my mother when I was their age – I’ve even set up a whole page just for my favourite posts – here’s a link to My favourites.
Why do I do it at all?
That’s the question that I often get asked, as non-bloggers just don’t get it. I write for myself, to record events, thoughts, moments, stories and to express myself whether it be through photos or words.
It’s a form of mindfulness, it’s therapeutic and it’s fun. I don’t really expect others to get involved but because I’m out there sharing myself then what do I expect will happen?
I do enjoy the interaction with others through comments and sharing of ideas. I’m not aiming to be any hotshot writer or to publish a novel, I’m just another busy woman taking some time out to be creative.
Some people sew, some sing, some do art, some take excellent photographs – but I’m a very small time blogger with a few hundred followers and I’m happy with that. I’ve met some incredibly nice people since starting blogging – ‘met’ in the sense of contact only through our blogs.
I’ve followed the suggestions over the years that bloggers should have a presence on social media and so I have a twitter account which I don’t use too well, I have a Pinterest account which was great for planning my daughter’s wedding but which I hardly look at now, I have an Instagram account which I love using for editing and sharing photos and I have a separate Facebook page for my blog. If I’m honest about it I think it’s because I feel a bit weird promoting myself, albeit through my blog. I do use my Deb’s World Facebook page to share links to my posts sometimes, rather than using my own personal page, but I’m thinking of doing away with this page. Do you understand what I’m getting at?
My question to you all out there is it worth the effort of maintaining a separate Facebook page for my blog when I’m not selling anything, I’m really only promoting myself through my blog and I don’t really know if the interest is out there? In some ways I feel that I get enough action from my blog through my followers to satisfy me.
Anyway, that’s enough rambling from me for the moment – if anyone has any thoughts or advice on blogging generally or the Facebook page issue or even the whole use of social media in regards to blogging, feel free to let me know by leaving me a comment below.
Regardless, I will continue blogging and sharing and interacting here because that’s the fun part. I appreciate all my followers and thank everyone who has ever left me a comment or liked a post. It humbles me to know that I have such support out there in the blogosphere.
Cheers to many more years!
Deb x
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Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
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Hi Deb … congratulations on the 4 years of blogging. That’s a fair commitment!
Your question reminded me of a blog I read the other day – not your specific question about whether you should have a Facebook page for your blog but your wider question about self-promotion and how comfortable you feel about looking at blogging through that lens. So I thought I’d share just one paragraph of the blog with you. It might not be directly relevant, but I think it’s worth a read.
She’s writing about attention – about being ‘seen’ and whether we do things for the sake of them, or to be seen by others.
“Attention is not the same thing as being valued and ultimately I want to be valued. Attention is easy to get (especially now with the internet), but it’s also fleeting, mercurial, and a cheap high that can leave you crazy with longing. Being valued is a deeper long term project. I spent a long time mistaking attention for being valued. I still forget they are not the same thing and can get stymied and caught up in desires for attention. Attention depends solely on numbers of outside people and their momentary opinions. The internet is based on an attention economy and so no wonder we crave attention. But attention doesn’t pay–in money or in the long run of life. Value on the other hand is about respect, a sense of trust, and a deep commitment between the artist, the art, and whoever else values art. Attention does not require self-respect or commitment. In order to be valued, you have to value yourself.”
The link to the blog post is here: https://summerpierre.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/on-value-and-being-seen/ if you want to read the whole post.
Maybe the paragraph I cited doesn’t resonate with you (you might not think you’re an artist, for instance) but you put words and images out into the ether; you construct them in deliberate ways, you make choices about what you write about and the words you use; you illustrate and/or enhance your words with images in thoughtful and contemplative ways. So even if you don’t consider yourself to be an artist, still think about this notion of value and attention.
Think about the value you’re adding to your own life and to others’ lives, rather than focussing on the attention it might bring you, and that might move you away from thinking about what you do as self-promotion.
Just some thoughts after a long day of driving!
Sharon
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Thanks for your thoughtful comment Sharon. I’ll be reading the link for sure. It might explain a few things. Thanks goodness I can always rely on my sister to give me some valuable words of wisdom! Hope the weekend is good fun.
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That link is fantastic and says it all. I really get what she’s saying and feel that’s what I was trying to express in a roundabout way. Thanks so much for getting what I was trying to say and for sharing the link.
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My thoughts are to get rid of the extra fb page. Looks like you don’t need it. I rather spend reading/commenting than promoting … seems more focussed and I learn much more – especially if it is not a business. Congrats on 4 years!
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Thanks for your comment and advice, I’m feeling the same way as you. I really appreciate you stopping by.
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Congrats Deb – four years, that’s amazing! I love reading your blog and interacting with you here. I agree that the self-promotion thing is hard and a little bit weird. I like to think that I just post what I like and hope that others like it too. I love the sense of community here and of people getting involved. I had wondered about having a separate FB page, I don’t have one, and I’m leaning towards not starting one. I enjoy Instagram, it’s a lot of fun. Congrats again.
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Thank you for your comment. I always appreciate your insights. I tend to post what I like too and am always surprised that others get involved. I also enjoy the community that we have and the positive support that we get and give. I also love the Instagram world so I might think about reducing my social media commitments. Enjoy the Easter break.
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You too Deb. Yes, I think I want to stick to Instagram and here. My posts automatically go to Twitter, Facebook and Google+ but they get very little action
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Congratulations Debbie on four years of blogging. After only one year of blogging I can totally understand why you love it so much. I feel the same way and resonate on all levels withl the reasons you enjoy it. And it’s interesting because recently I’ve wondered whether I should start a separate FB page for my blog. So many other bloggers seem to have one. But I’ve decided against it. I have my personal one (with friends totalling a number well under 100) and occasionally share my blog posts. And I’m happy with that. I hope you enjoy many more years of blogging Debbie. I always enjoy your posts and am glad we’ve connected.
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Thanks Miriam I’m glad we’ve connected too and I always enjoy reading your posts. Your comments are much appreciated. I’d think twice about having a separate fb page but everyone is different. Blogging should be fun!!
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I agree Debbie which is why I’ve decided against it. Always good to get others thoughts. I was starting to think I was behind the times!
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Congratulations and well done on your four years, Deb, the time soon passes, doesn’t it?
I haven’t used Facebook or Twitter for years – I can’t really see the point in them, being honest. I have a Google+ account – and that’s as far as that goes – I have the account. Personally, I’m just happy with my blog – that in itself passes many a happy moment so I don’t feel the need to have the other accounts as well. Keep up the good work on your blog – and here’s for the next four years! 😀
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Thanks for the feedback Tom, much appreciated! I’m leaning towards just sticking with my blog as it gives me many happy moments – as you so eloquently put it. I enjoy what I do and I enjoy the interactions with other accomplished bloggers like yourself. 😊
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Well, ‘… other accomplished bloggers and yourself…” would have been my way of saying that, Deb… I just waffle on really. Mind you, I like waffling!
I get confused with time zones, but I hope you’re having / have had / will have a happy Good Friday! 🙂
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Haha! We are coming to the end of Good Friday down here. Hope it’s getting warmer for you over there as we go into autumn. Enjoy!
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When my dad died I took possession of a box of mementoes which included some note books and diaries from when he was a young man. They provided a new insight to the man that I only knew as my dad. I thought that maybe in a few years time my children might find something like that interesting about their dad. I choose to blog because I hate keeping notes and diaries. So long as the whole internet thing doesn’t collapse and implode I have my record digitally!
As for Facebook, fairly pointless although it does remind my children that I have posted something and I think they occasionally follow the link!
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Thanks for your comment Andrew and for sharing why you blog. I like that you got to see another part of your dad through his diaries. I know my girls enjoy reading my blog as it gives them an insight into me even if they do all the eye rolling from time to time. I think it’s better to get to understand me now rather than when it’s too late. I always kept a diary when I was younger and when they were growing up so this is really just an extension of that as you point out. I enjoy the whole blogging community too and love learning about other people in the process. Great to have the opportunity to chat with you!
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Hi Debbie, and congratulations on four years of blogging. I’ve only been blogging a short while, but I have the same ideas as you, I write a bit about everything, whatever I feel like. I was urged to have a Twitter account and a separate Facebook account but I’m not convinced they are relevant for my blog. My new posts are automatically sent to both of them, but I am unsure what else I should use them to say. Should I add extra things that I do in the day? Who would be interested? How would it increase my followers? Occasionally I get a new Twitter follower but I don’t really know how to use Twitter. I have a Pinterest account and pin pretty things like sewing ideas to my boards, but I can’t for the life of me understand these people who say Ponterest brings thousands of new followers to their blog every day. I don’t think I’ve had one referral from Pinterest, although I do pin my posts to a board relating to my blog. Anyway, thanks for reading!
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We have very similar thoughts by the sounds of things! Thanks for taking the time to comment, I do appreciate hearing your thoughts. I don’t always share my posts to my Facebook page and try to visit others.
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Congratulations on the four years, Deb! Having just started my blog, I don’t feel qualified to offer advice on the Facebook Page issue. I do, however,agree with the comments you’ve already received and would suggest you go with your instinct. What brings you joy? What do you feel is a good fit with what you value about blogging? I personally have a Facebook Page because I read somewhere it was ‘the thing to do’ – I may change my mind in the future but for now it is ok. So I guess that’s the point – what is best for you now? Whatever you decide, I just want you to know that your posts are valued and I look forward to reading them for many more years to come. Irene
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Thanks Irene, your comments are very welcome. It makes it all worth it 😊
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Congratulations on your anniversary. You sound very happy with the way your blog has evolved and it’s current level of followers. I had the same dilemma about twitter and decided not to go there. I enjoy blogging and spend enough time posting and reading other blogs. There is a balance to be met, living online vs living in the real world. Good luck finding your balance.
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Thanks Ruth, I can relate to your comments. It’s a fine balance indeed.
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Congratulations on four years of blogging, Debbie. I love this post and your rational for blogging. I love that you do it to be creative and mindful and to write things that make you happy and about being you. Keep on going, I love your photos and being part of your days as a reader and follower. Sorry, no insightful comments about facebook. Keep on going! Here’s to many more anniversaries of Deb’s World xxx
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Thanks so much for that! I’m looking forward to more years of blogging too. I’m glad you enjoy my blog – it’s such a positive thing meeting all the lovely bloggers such as you. Xx
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Congratulations on four years of blogging, Debbie. I think I only know only one other blogger who has achieved that milestone, and he’s still blogging as well.
I don’t have my own Facebook page as I don’t like the way it works. I hear of people posting everything on there (such as they’re having a coffee, or just taking a nap) and I do wonder why anybody would be interested. However, I do have a number of other Social Media Accounts which bring lots of traffic to my blog. I’ve made new friends and now see these accounts as a very good way of promoting that book I one day will publish. One of my recent posts went viral because of Social Media and I’ve now even been asked about allowing sponsors on my blog, but that’s something I never came here to do.
I came here to write and to read other blogs. Blogging was the reason I stopped thinking nobody would want to read what I wrote. Being dyslexic I was always frightened to write despite having a real passion for it. The support I got on here was amazing and still is. There is a wonderful community out there and that is one of the highlights for me.
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Thanks for your reply and congrats Hugh, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my posts. I’m glad you are still blogging and I always enjoy your posts and one day we will hear about the book that you will publish. I’m so pleased that you agree with me that blogging, both reading posts by others and writing your own is why you enjoy blogging so much despite your fears. I’m the same and a bonus I didn’t count on has been the community that has evolved. All the best.
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Thanks so much for your lovely words Annie. I’m truly humbled and thrilled too that you can relate to what I was saying in my post.
As to cycling, I can assure you that you need great bike pants and I have the cutest little cycling skirt with built in support and pockets that I’m sure you’d love. It takes us away from the whole Lycra bike pants look. Well done on doing 20km on your first attempt!! I did have a giggle at Paul’s look but don’t tell him that. My husband has finally relented to wearing some Lycra but only underneath everything else. As I write this I am doing support duty for a cycling group, I’m an official driver and support crew member. It’s great fun helping out and encouraging the riders over the last few kms. I didn’t think I was up to the 90km ride today that they are doing up hill and down dale. It’s a great day to be alive 😊
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I’m late to the discussion Deb. Congrats on 4 years! So awesome.
I have a separate Facebook page for a couple of reasons but the main one is that not all of my friends are interested nor want to hear about my blog. So this way they have an option. Another reason is that our blog evolved over time to a point where we aren’t necessarily monetizing the blog but are exchanging travel and experiences for media coverage. For that kind of thing you need a social media presence. So it creates a possibility for the future for you.
Not sure if that helps but would be happy to chat more.
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Thanks Sue, I remember having a similar chat with you a while ago about this sort of thing. I started my separate Facebook age up for much the same reason, I didn’t want to bombard my friends with all my posts and a Deb’s World page gave them the option of coming along for the ride or not. I see your blog in a different category in some ways and if I was doing what you are then I would definitely have a separate page too as i an see the necessity in doing so. I always love reading your posts and you inspire me (and many others) with your travel tales. Lovely to chat with you 🙂
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“It’s a form of mindfulness, it’s therapeutic and it’s fun.” Speaking for myself this is a great way to express to someone who asks me “why do you blog?” Add the interactions of a supportive and inspiring community, and that about sums it up.
You do now have me pondering a separate Facebook page. 🙂
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Thanks for our supportive comment, I sometimes fumble for words when asked why I blog but these words just sum it up for me. I always value your take on things. Do you have a separate Facebook page already or are you just considering one?
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just considering it. like you i ain’t selling anything and i’m more than content with the amount of “traffic” my blog gets, but i wonder if it might have its advantages of expanding the social part of the blogging experience. [yet then there is that time factor]
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Yes I know what you mean about the advantages of expanding the social part and it has worked for me to some extent. Many of my Deb’s World Facebook likers are from my personal page, with just a handful of ‘outsiders’. I’m just feeling a bit uncomfortable about promoting myself I guess – maybe I’m overthinking it too and should just carry on doing what I’m doing and let it all work itself out. Now there’s a thought – stop overthinking things Debbie!!
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I love this post and particularly love the description of blogging as a creative activity like sewing – I’d never thought of it that way! I shall add that to my comment bank for next time I’m asked ‘so why do you blog?’!!
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That’s great to hear!! I do think it’s s creative outlet and no one thinks twice about people who sew or embroider. Thanks very much!!
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