So far I’ve downloaded a couple WP templates and figured my way around some plugins, I’ve even tweaked the template a bit. You’d think I’d be more css or html savvy, seeing as my spouse is a Flash Developer who specializes in AS3. But I really didn’t have a full understanding of the scope of the ‘blogosphere’. I thought I would just write something for friends and family, and maybe build a small network of people who shared my views…but nothing to the magnitude of 70-100K visitors a month! That would be incredible, imagine little old me having that many people interested in what I have to say.

I must admit I’m a bit confused about all the stuff I see in my WP dashboard, and all the widgets and what they’re used for. I mean I post things about myself, and some pics of my kids, but I don’t know how to manipulate my posts/pages to reflect how I want it to look. I guess I should start cruising the blogosphere myself to get a better grasp on the situation.

I do have a goal like you said, but I have no idea, how to get myself ‘out there’.
But thanks for posting this article, it has opened my eyes considerable.
-kerri

I think the best advice you gave was to “find your niche” and “find your tribe.” I found myself pressured to model my blog after some other successful mom/housewife blogs, but I just couldn’t fit myself into the mold. More importantly, I was trying to join a community that wasn’t really open to having me as a member. There’s nothing worse than feeling excluded, and the world of blogging can sometimes feel like a high school cafeteria.

I’ve learned that I’d rather have an intimate group of followers I can trust to “have my back,” than be an invisible member of a community ten thousand strong.

Of course, when I tried to do a blog just about exploring Utah (where I live), I got less than half the hits I got on a blog of random personal reflections. But that’s like quantifying half an iota – my current blog still gets diddly for traffic.

I think ultimately a blog has to occupy a niche to ever do very well. But early on, it does put punishing limits on your pool of potentially interested readers. You can’t even get your friends to read a blog about something that doesn’t concern them. Maybe you just have to power through and let success come gradually.

(Oh, and don’t pick a geographically-specific niche like I did. After all, this is the Internet!)