[poll id="86"]
I have been hearing some interesting commentary from bloggers recently about burn out and frustration regarding their blogs. I find that so many bloggers are feeling disappointment in their online achievements. On examination, I think its plainly because they are 
doing too much trying to compete against what everyone else has going on out there. Taking every project, every review, every giveaway, every partnership, and opening up 10 sites to accomplish it all…basically spreading themselves amazingly thin online-and in their personal lives as a result. (Note: Not every idea you have must go to fruition)
So I am here to very curiously just ask…are you competitive, even if personally, over what other bloggers are doing on their blogs? Do you feel a need to achieve the same things as others do on their blogs and are you disappointed if you don’t?
I am going to expand on this in a longer article in the future, so call this research for now. Please leave me a comment as well because I would like to open some discussion on this to refer back to.
~Trisha
I am not competitive, not am I jealous of other bloggers. I put my energy into creating interesting and informative content. I also enjoy the companionship and community that bloggers share. If someone gets offered a great opportunity, I am happy for them.
I am competitive with myself, that’s for sure, but not necessarily with other bloggers. It doesn’t take much to stress me out so the pressure I put on myself quickly manifests to stress.
I just try to remember why I started my blog and to focus on writing about things I like. It makes it easier to write and more geniune and true to me and my blog. That’s what makes blogs different – people writing about their interests. If we all wrote about the same thing every day it would be pretty boring.
I do get jealous but I know those bloggers have worked their butts off for the opportunities they get.
Hello Trisha I’m a newbie mom blogger and I cannot say I feel competitive at this stage, I feel overwhelmed! I’m trying to find my voice through my writing and trying to reach latina mommies like me who haven’t found a place. I never imagine how time consuming this new adventure would be for me and my family, because I’ve decided to have my blog bilingual which take more time, I’m trying really hard to find a balance, among my writing, researching, talking to another great moms I had found, reading some different blogs daily etc, etc, it’s hard work!!; however, I absolutely love what I’m doing, I feel that now I have a place and I would love to see where I will be two years down the road!
Hi Trisha,
I’m not competitive with other bloggers–honestly, there are only about two other blogs that are similar to mine and, while we may have some reader overlap, we seem to have very different “audiences”. They might be looking for the same information but they want it delivered in a different manner–some want the DIY stuff, some want the seminars, some want the online support groups.
I’m mainly competitive with myself–I set goals and try to achieve them. And damn, I’m pumped when I do. Hee.
I can, however, see how some of the “mommy bloggers” who are writing lifestyle blogs & doing beaucoup product giveaways might get burned out and feel frustrated–there seem to be new ones cropping up every day and from my limited experience with product reviews/giveaways, it can be exhausting keeping track of it!!
I think it’s important to stay super-focused on the goal of your blog and to take the occasional break from it if you’re feeling burned out.
Thanks for the great survey!
Heather
I don’t get jealous because I know that I get lots of great opportunities that others think I don’t deserve…they like to email me and point out that fact which is hilarious to me.
I kinda do MY thing and ignore what others are doing unless it is note worthy {like Bloggers Give, etc.}
Here on MomDot you girls all get so many fab opps and I don’t get one bit of jealousy or envy because I know and respect you as ppl because you pass on just as many great opps to us all.
I look up to other blogs, yes, and strive to be more like blogs I love. Not copy them by any means, but just try to work harder at my personal goals. I’m always happy for someone who gets an awesome opportunity! Blogging for me is an outlet to to a giant world, I’ve met some really amazing people through blogging (Trisha, you are one them!). I love doing it, and do not feel that I am being competitive or jealous at all! I am just having fun, meeting people that are going through similar or not so similar but interesting experiences that I love to hear about!
for my mommy blog I’m not the slightest competitive (or I would post more!) I have been doing it since 2004 so it is really more for me than anyone else…
For my review blog- I wish I had TIME to be competitive. I know that It has a lot more potential and room to grow… but my focus has been on a product line (the bomb mom) and that has been my priority.
I definitely have experienced blogger burn out before. I had more sites at one point… learned I didn’t need to pursue everything. I have had to say no to opportunities and quit others as well. You are very wise in saying “not every idea must come to fruition”
I have felt jealous, but then realized that with hard work and dedication it’ll come with time. I have also felt burnt out, because it is a lot of hard work, but you know what?
I LOVE IT.
And because I love it, I’ll take the good and the bad, the hard and the easy, and run with it. GREAT things are already beginning to happen to me, and I think it’s only just the beginning. I have faith, and I will be patient
I’m with Sarah. Every blog has a different purpose. Mine is to write about my ideas on being a mother and explore them with other mothers. Not everyone is going to be interested in what I have to say, and that’s okay. I’m not going for quantity of visitors or subscribers…I’m trying to create something worthwhile. I *have* taken some steps towards promoting my blog as I know if I don’t no one will know it’s there, but increasing my number of followers is not my primary aim; and, of course, ideally, it would be nice if a lot of people were interested in my blog. LOL!
I feel happy for people with successful blogs. I’m glad they are receiving the rewards of their hard work. They deserve it!
I also agree with Sarah that too many judge the success of a blog strictly by the numbers. I have several goals for my blog, which include improving my writing, exploring and learning about an electronic creative medium, to work through my thoughts and ideas about mothering through writing, to engage with other moms about my ideas, etc. So far I think I’ve been very successful, even though I see plenty of room for improvement. I’m also not making blogging the center of my life, but a part of it.
I’m only going to continue to blog so long as I enjoy it.