I have been blogging at Purplemum for nearly 18 months. When I started my blog was like a new lover, attractive, funny, and absolutely perfect. In fact like most new bloggers I ambitiously imagined that if I worked my ass off, writing lots of fantastic content (no problem) then in no time at all my stats would be through the roof and I would be the next Heather Armstrong!
Oddly that didn’t happen and my once attractive new partner has become a bit of an effort and I still don’t have a ring to show for it. I have spent hours on this blog, writing, promoting, tweaking. Yes my stats have increased, marginally, and now it’s not just my Mum reading. My social media following has grown, a bit, but not really at any where near the rate that my contemporaries seem to have done. But honestly for all the time and effort I don’t seem to have achieved a huge amount in terms of being read, which is really what I’m writing for. I reached a crux point last night and I have to admit I shed a few tears wondering what to do.
So I reassess my motivation, and my goals. I’m obviously not going to be an overnight blogging success. Blogging has exploded and there are a gazillion blogs out there, it’s not easy to stand out. I don’t have time or desire to replace my real life with a social media presence on every platform going. I am not a craft blog, beauty blog or a dedicated food blog bringing readers in with my patterns, recipes or mascara reviews. I am simply meandering along sharing my thoughts and (hopefully) giving you an honest insight into my life.
Perhaps instead I should be aiming for a slow and steady tortoise type approach. My stats will slowly increase, my social media following will creep up and eventually I will have a reasonable audience to share my writing with. This brings me a new concern, my title and genre. I’m happy being a ‘Mummy Blogger’, I’m writing about what I know and right now that’s it. But I’m aware that my children are growing fast and what then? Having spent years building this baby, and with it an audience will I have to start again and rename/rebrand?
I want my blog to be able to evolve with me, and my life. Will Purplemum still be ok when my children are all left home? So I need some advice, should I rename my blog? I would probably go with Purple Ella as I can’t see my passion for purple changing. I’d rather not have to change as it means (I presume) starting again with subscribers, regular visitors, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google plus. Will I outgrow my Mummy title, what happens to the Mummy Blogger when her children grow up? Help me, I’m in a quandary.
What to do?
Stick with your current blog and consider renaming. I think Purple Ella is perfect. The thing with having ‘mum’ in your name is that everyone thinks you’re into toddler mode! (I have 3 grownupish kids now so although I’ll always, always be mum – it’s not what I talk about online anymore). Growing a blog is incredibly hard work but if I could say the one thing that’s worked for me overall is I constantly ask myself “”Why should people read my blog? How do I want to help/entertain/inform people? What’s in it for them?” The most successful blogs achieve one of those aims 🙂
Good advice thanks, I don’t want to abandon ship here but can I just change the name? Can I do the same on my social media platforms?
It depends. A blog name change (once) is fine but with a Facebook page for example, you can’t change the name after reaching 200 likes. You can change a Twitter name. Even if you stick with your current name, you can just change the focus of the blog! There are loads of blogs out there with names totally unrelated to content. The most important thing of all is to write stuff people want to read. Doesn’t matter what your blog name is if you do that.
Ok thanks, I think sticking with Purplemum would be easier but I don’t want to put off potential readers assuming it will be a Mummy blog. My twitter name is already Purpleella, and I’ve never felt like changing it for some reason, despite probably losing readers here who can’t find me as followers.
You know what, it is about just being you. I read and I am sure more people do than you think!. I do not have a USP (Unique selling point) either. I figure my blog will be a good record of stuff once the boys are bigger and stop worry about stuff in the future. Start living in today for today!
Yes you’re right (of course) I always worry too far ahead. Living in today seems like a perfect plan.
People will still know its you no matter what variety of purple you are! At least you are “mum” rather than “mummy”, I’m beginning to think I should have thought that one through – you’ll be “mum” forever, but “mummy” doesn’t last (unless you are incredibly posh)
I think you could pull of posh!
I have been blogging for pretty much the same amount of time. My stats only started to increase a year into blogging. They are still nowhere near what others get but, ultimately, I write because I enjoy it. My family don’t know I blog so I found it hard to build up an audience. I don’t have a USP but, even when I did a round-up post the other day, I realised how much I am documenting that I had already forgotten. Stick at it. We all have these moments.
Thanks, I think this was my first of these moments, which probably isn’t bad considering it’s been 18 months.
oh Ella! I love your blog because it is about you! You, your lovely family and your thoughts. I like that you have stuck to your ramblings and not sold out. it doesnt matter that you are not in the big leagues – i am not either and thats ok because to do that i would never sleep. i dont understand all the different social platforms either and i havent the time to really learn either. again, not enough hours in my already jam packed mummy life!
i do like Purple Ella but i also dont see a problem with Purple Mum either afterall you will always be one whatever the age of your children. i am mummy mishaps – i will always be a mum and clumsy but not always a mummy! i ma well have this trali of thought myself in a few years i guess.
please dont change the essense of your blog though – the pixies might not like it 😉
ps. how about Purple Pixie ?? – tah dah!!! lol x x
Thanks Jenny. Purple Pixies is actually a pretty good idea.
I agree with the others. Keep the blog but rename it if you want. Although I wouldn’t worry about it having the word Mum in it – even if your kids have flown the nest. You can always change it later when that happens if it feels right.
Thanks.
I think PurpleMum is a very good name and as the others ansver, you will Always be a mum. There will be different things to write about as the Children grow up and when mum is also a; woman, wife, cirkusartist, writer etc. etc…..I do hope more people got the chanse to read your blogg. How do they find it if they dont know you alredy? How do people get the information about the things you write about? Proabebly a stupid question from an old lady.
Not a stupid question. People find my blog via google searches and sites like Facebook (where I have a page), Twitter etc.
as i was reading that i was thinking you were going to say you were giving it up and i was thinking nooo i like to read your blog don’t go haha was relieved when i got to the end haha
Your kids are still very young you have plenty of blogging about life as a mum just yet and i agree with prev comments your always a mum and you can change when life does but for now purple mum is what i remember to put in my search engine so please don’t get lost from there with a new name 🙂
xx
Thanks, don’t worry I won’t be going anywhere.
Clear organised writing, interesting posts and good rankings. Whatever you decide don’t change too much, will you? Hope to see you on the 24th.
Thanks, yes see you then.
“I don’t have time or desire to replace my real life with a social media presence on every platform going” – best line ever! I so agree with this, which is why neither of my blogs are likely to win awards or make me a millionaire. But I love writing them, and for me that’s what counts. I hope that you manage to re-find what motivates you, and recapture the joy of your blog! 🙂