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This is kind of a hard post to write but I have a feeling I’m not the only one feeling this sentiment. This isn’t a post that’s ‘woe is me.’ This is basically how I view blogging these days. It’s quite simply: The State of Blogging.
I’m sure a lot of seasoned and long-time bloggers can agree with me. Food blogging, and blogging in general, is not like what it was 10 years ago. Everything has shifted towards fighting algorithms, writing for SEO, and how to make money fast. We all have hired virtual assistants. If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be hiring an assistant to help me with social media and managing my blog; there’s no way I’d believe you.
There is barely any authenticity anymore. It’s all writing robotically to make sure your content gets seen. It’s all so over-saturated. I miss the fun in blogging.
It’s a double-edge sword. You want to be creative and you want to create beautiful, unique content and why? Because you want to share that with everyone. You want to inspire people. How can you share that with everyone with algorithm shifts and Google updates strewn in, what seems like, every other week?
I’m not gonna lie. It’s deflating. I often feel I’m in an uphill battle with social media and the rest of the blogging world.
Because of this, I have lost all passion in blogging and creating content. Things have sometimes been awfully quiet around here (you may not even have noticed, it’s okay…NBD, honestly). I don’t know if calling it a “rut” is a good description because I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s the passion that has dissipated. It has gotten to the point that I have even considered hiring a ghostwriter to write for me. YES. You read that right.
Call me a pessimist but it’s deflating when you devote so much time and effort into something and you’re constantly pushed back — sometimes even further than where you started. At some point, you just give in. Throw your hands in the air and take a break.
I started this blog as a creative outlet from my full-time job and while it definitely has been that way for the past seven or so years, lately it’s becoming more of a second job. Trying to keep up with all the technological changes (hello, GDPR and SSL), hashtagging and videos on Pinterest, constant SEO changes, Instagram (looking at you IG Reels) and Facebook struggles, everyone doing video and having to hire out for video or be left behind, introduction of TikTok, and brand work coming to a halt and/or not worth my time anymore because of the insane demands from clients. Like, beyond the scope of what is in the contract and quick turnarounds and little to no pay. Or what’s worse is the fact brands just give you a script these days and think you’re a walking advertisement for you. Or they micromanage the shit out of you because they don’t trust you. And yet they came to you (the creative) for work because that’s what drew them to you in the first place. There’s just a disconnect and it’s just all too much. There’s no FUN in it anymore. It’s keeping up now.
Hey, brands. You want exposure? Pay for it.
Gone are the days that influencers accept product for payment.
I know this may shock some of you but a box of pasta doesn’t pay Wells Fargo my mortgage. And a bag of granola doesn’t pay for my electric bill. I know, what is that shit? People should love food instead of money! /sarcasm
I might be fooling myself but one thing I’m doing is getting a big redesign of this blog that’s supposed to launch at the end of September. I’m hoping with a brand new site, I’ll get reenergized again? I hope so. Or maybe I’m completely fooling myself — like couples who think having a baby will solve their marriage woes.
This is definitely one of those posts that I don’t think many people will read or care for because of its “negativity,” but it’s the damn truth. I know some who are reading this right now are probably nodding and sighing and reminiscing of better days. I can look on the bright side and be all positive but there’s no point in trying to fool myself or be fake about it. This is the world of blogging as we know it now. I could own it and ride it in stride but right now, in this season, I’m choosing this route.
Oversaturated.
A part of me thinks that the blogging world has gotten oversaturated because of all the, “I made over six figures in six months” type of posts. I’m sorry, but that shit takes time. Those that did hit six figures in blogging in six months — good for them. It took me four years before I hit that and it was hard work. I’m not saying those that did it in six months or a shorter amount of time didn’t work; they probably hustled and worked their asses off and had a way better business strategy than I did…but a part of all that is also luck and networking.
Ah, networking. I miss the days of Twitter chats with friends. I miss real conversations with “Internet friends.”
Anyway, back to the “I made over six figures in six months,” talk. I feel that gave everyone the false sense of hope that it’s easy to blog and make money. That it was quick money. It’s super unrealistic.
And now all I’m reading is, “I have been blogging for over a year and I still have yet to have the traffic and money that was promised to me.”
Yeahhhh….
Why is it always a numbers game?
I’m so sick of the numbers game.
“How many pageviews did you get today?”
“How many sessions did you get last month?”
“How many Instagram followers do you have?”
“How many likes did you get on your last post?”
Your success isn’t measured by numbers. Brands like to make you think that it does. In fact, everyone seems to make it seem that way. “Omg you have one million pageviews a month?! You are such a big blogger.”
It’s just like your weight on a scale doesn’t matter. It’s how you PERCEIVE yourself and how you love yourself.
Which is why I’m choosing now to just love my blog no matter which direction it goes because you know what? I’m pretty sure that is what is going to make the blog shine even more. You can tell when someone isn’t into something. Their writing, their creativity…everything is just lacking.
Shorter attention spans.
Another very frustrating part of blogging these days is the attention span battle. Blogging has always, in my eyes, been a collection of memories and stories but the shift towards getting content as fast as you can now has reduced blogging about life to a rubble.
I get so many comments about, “I don’t care about your life, just give me the recipe.” Scrolling has become such a HARD task for people that bloggers have started to implement “jump to recipe” buttons at the top of their posts.
Dude, that’s bad. I don’t even think it’s an attention span thing. I think it’s a lazy thing and everything being handed to you.
If you’re interested, this article from the NY Times is a great read. The Tyranny of Convenience — basically that everyone expects convenience now.
“The growing expectation of convenience exerts a pressure on everything else to be easy or get left behind.”
Convenience vs. lazy. Very fine line these days. I can see the convenience in ‘jump to recipe’ but I can also see the laziness in it especially when you have the audacity to write to me and offend me and yet still get the recipe for FREE.
Turn that frown upside down.
Some of you reading this may be thinking, well you can do something about it and stop your bitching. Turn it around.
Yeah, I could.
But at the same time, I am not sure I want to? That’s my internal debate. It’s not my full-time job. It started out as a passion project. A hobby. People can drop hobbies, right?
Looking back, I am proud of myself for understanding the business side of things and not quitting my full-time to blog full-time. You have no idea how many people (and still today) ask me, “when are you going to quit and blog full time?”
I can’t even imagine the stress with that, especially given my current mindset on blogging — although, some may argue that if this were my full-time…would I be feeling like this? Hard to say. I guess if this is your bread and butter, you would definitely be trying to climb that hill no matter where it takes you. So I guess it’s all a matter of perspective.
I will say…the fact that blogging has changed so much has forced a lot of us to dabble in different niches; which I don’t think is a bad thing. I think it opens up the creative outlet more and not everything has to be about your niche that you started out as just because you’re primarily a food blog or fashion blog or whatever. People change. Interests change. I’m definitely not the same person I was when I first started blogging and I don’t necessarily love the same things I used to.
I do think that experimenting is fun and it makes it less “robotic” and more “real” — which is what I strive for on a daily basis. So, I will say that even though there is this negativity going on with me and blogging…there is also an opportunity for me to dabble in other niches and give the blog the chance to figure out its direction.
In conclusion…
All this to say…I’m not stepping away from the blog. I’m trying to regroup. Social media gets me nowhere now; it’s not somewhere I can really promote my new posts so I suggest signing up for my email updates where I send out emails every time I have a new post.
I’ll still be around on Instagram Stories (come say hi and see my uncurated life), if Instagram decides to show you. Oh, and if you haven’t joined my private Facebook group set up for a sense of community; you def. want to join us!
One beautiful thing that blogging did gift to me is friendship. I have met so many amazing boss ladies through this little space on the web and I can’t take that for granted. This was a predominantly negative post but I’ll end it on a positive note: I’m not alone in this sentiment and I have a set of really good friends from when blogging was more about conversations and interactions.
I also have cake. Always cake.
Your thoughts?
I’d love to hear what you guys think — both from readers and bloggers. It’d be interesting to hear from both sides.
As readers, have you seen the shift? Where more personal blogging has taken a shift and it’s sounding more ‘robotic’ and repeating the same stuff over and over again? What about blogs in general? Are they “just another website” to you now?
As bloggers, are you drowning or swimming with the tide? What are your feelings on blogging these days? Am I just jaded?
I completely agree with your words. Blogging is not a fun in these days. I started Blogging 3 years ago on a subdomain and I really enjoyed writing posts. As I was on blogger, I have installed snow pouring widgets during christmas time. I started to blog on Top level domain since last year. I should say that Blogging is no more a part of enjoyment. I got trapped in fast pace content delivery, seo, paid Marketing, SSL, no follow and do follow links. Most people started to blog for money. OMG!
Then I made a decision. I will never blog for money. I want to bring the old blogging environment at least on my blog. Yes, I consider Seo, keyword research but will never push content for number game. I love my blogging journey. I’m a tech blogger. Here,
I’m not really promoting myself but to bring back the golden days of blogging. I’m doing it alone in my journey. Though things are worst and saturated, I believe that I can make the change because I love to write for my reader and I love to care my readers.
Thanks for this nice post!
See, this is how on top of things I am. I’m cleaning out my inbox that has over 10K unread emails. I came across all of your delicious recipes and started pinning again! I have to say that I can sympathize with the changing tides in blogging. I haven’t been following your blog since the beginning, but it was definitely before you got married. I was even trying to remember your maiden name the other day! lol
All of this rambling is to say that you keep doing you. We’ll be here when you feel like dropping in. I’m part of your Facebook group too, not that I’m great at interacting on there! Don’t stop including your slices of life in your posts, either. I like reading them whenever I look up your recipes to make them. Some of your them are in our permanent rotation, and they are some of my favorites! I’m in love with your chicken lo mein in particular, and I’m going to try the butter chicken too because garam masala is my absolute most favorite spice blend!
Truly, thank you for everything, Julie! I’m so grateful to you for all of your hard work and persistence!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write me, Karen!! I hope you enjoy the butter chicken!! xoxo
First, I love your blog, every aspect of it. The lack of authenticity from the blogosphere is LOUD AND CLEAR to us long timel followers. It’s all just one big advertisement in other people’s voices. We’re not morons. I’m sorry that your passion project has turned into this. I get so excited every time you post a new recipe and will continue to check back weekly with anticipation. Hang in there. I hope you find your spark again.
Aw thanks Marcy! I really do agree with you! Do you sign up for my email updates? You don’t have to keep coming back to check if I have something new! If you sign up for my email updates, every time I post something new, you’ll get an email! Here’s the link: http://www.tablefor.tw/emailupdates
All of your points are well taken (and well-spoken). I’m fairly new to your blog but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed following you on Instagram. Your photos are so gorgeous!
I understand some of your frustrations. I’ve worked in a small retail business for 14 years and have witnessed shortened attention spans, the need for immediate gratification, and unrealistic expectations fueled by things seen on social media. Social media has also created the ability for a single unrealistic customer to harm our business immediately because of their one-sided, unwarranted negative review BEFORE we were granted an opportunity to remedy their perceived problem. We’re left trying to determine how to best respond w/out further alienating the original customer or future customers or giving the customer more “fuel:” Then we’re barraged by solicitations constantly to buy more web presence, web repairs, etc. It’s maddening!
I’ve stopped reading one blogger in particular who I absolutely loved in the beginning. It was so much fun reading about her life and family’s shenanigans. Over time as her blog became more popular, ads grew more prominent and blogging became more a vehicle to promote her various products, etc. I now only check in maybe once or twice a month.
I applaud you for taking a step back and reassessing what blogging means to you past; present and future. And for sharing that with us. You’ve given us plenty of “food” for thought.
And thank u for allowing me to share some of my thoughts with u!
Thanks for your message. I really appreciate it and I enjoyed reading your thoughts. Thanks for the kind words and I agree with you on so many fronts!
When money enters the picture, expect the pleasure of doing anything to change. Getting paid means expectations and perceptions shift.
Find the joy in doing good while getting compensated. Your value comes with a price tag but also an audience.
I recommend you cultivate a (third) new passion project that is solely your own and continue to build a nest egg from blogging. Find the gift in two paying gigs?
We all need to make a living, but sharing too much of yourself can be life draining.
A long time lurker,
H
Thanks for your message! Definitely don’t have time to cultivate a third passion project, lol…I already have a full time job and this full time hustle so I’m fine with where I’m at. I am finding ways to find joy in the blog again!
Hi! I read your blog about blogging, but I just wanted to say THANK YOU. I stumbled upon the chocolate mug cake (which was my first, and truly a hit!) and then I shared it with my sister and best friend whom have both used it since. I just discovered this blog just few weeks ago but it is a main source that I use. I love the portions that you make because as a single 27 year old..it gets tough being creative let alone find recipes that don’t necessarily feed a family. It just means so much to us that we found this, and like my best friend likes to tell me once I mentioned this blog to her “That’s GENIUS!”
Wow, thank you so much. Reading that really warmed my heart. I’m so glad you, your sister, and best friend are getting such great use out of this website. I hope to continue to bring you more recipes and inspiration!
Oh, I relate to this on SO many levels. I’m a reader as well as a blogger, and I’ve struggled with this off and on for the past year or two. I started my blog way back in 2004, to chronicle my move from OH to South Dakota, and after getting married and having a child, switched the focus to food, because I like to eat, I like to cook, and I like photography. There was SO much more engagement and community up until I made that switch. Part of it was having to move to a new platform, as Blog-City (anyone remember them?) was shutting down, but it feels like more and more, people see blogs as easy money. Anyone with a camera can start a blog – Even if you’re just using your phone to take your pictures. Last summer I stepped back from my blog due my dad passing away and having more pressing things to deal with and work through. I’ve since had a redesign completed, and am working on getting my blogging mojo back, but one of the things I decided once the new look was launched was that I’m going back to how I blogged back in 2004-2010. It might involve food, it might not. It might be nothing but a chronicle of my weekend activities, if I do anything fun. But I’m tired of playing the social media game, and trying desperately to be noticed by PR firms and companies. I’m just plain tired! I’ll keep up with the legal stuff, since that’s necessary, but aside from that, my blog is going back to being my online/public journal. if I make a few bucks off it, awesome. If I don’t, that’s okay too. I hope you find your balance and some blogging peace of mind. :)
Yes!! I hear you!! I’m going back to my roots too and blogging the way it gave me enjoyment before. I’m being extremely selective about brands and I just don’t care about numbers anymore. If brands want to work with me because they’re hiring me for my creativity and talent then let me do my job! If brands care about being impersonal and pushing their ‘ad talk’ on my platform and all they care about is numbers then I don’t think it’ll work. I’m so glad I wrote this post and got some clarity from fellow bloggers like you!
Ah the state of blogging… I could not agree more with you. Things have changed so much since I started roughly 12 years ago. I still love blogging but my focus has changed too. I don’t obsessively post 7 days a week anymore. I post whenever I feel like it and you know what? I haven’t noticed that making any difference in terms of traffic.
My new goal for this year is to stop even looking at traffic. It’s not relevant and not important. I do hate how advertisers can make me feel incompetent because a post is not getting enough readers. My most popular posts are all the older ones, which I think makes sense but any advertiser expects instant results. And a gazillion views on a sponsored post. It’s just not gonna happen. I’ve been thinking of not doing any commercial stuff anymore. It just doesn’t feel right anymore and it gives me way too much stress…
Ah the state of blogging!
100% agree with you! Looking at traffic does nothing for anyone. Brands all care about numbers and numbers literally cannot correlate to the personal stories of a recipe. I know; blogging has changed so much, I wish brands would realize it’s not all about numbers. Things don’t pick up traction as quickly anymore. Anyway, let’s not stress anymore about this and just blog for ourselves :)
You may thought a long time whether or not to post this, however, if no one complains then how does anything get fixed and how does the average person know what is happening on the other side? So I applaud you for writing this. I couldn’t imagine not reading a blog when the person went through all that time putting it together! Thank you for showing the other side!
Thank you so much!
I hear ya sister!! About 8 years ago I had a blog. Why? Cause I wanted to share and have a place to keep all me recipes. Then came large push of bloggers making money, Instagram, snapchat, Facebook, Pinterest….argh. If you were the working full time, had a house, a spouse and 4 kids person and tried to have a blog it became way too much. If you did not keep up with the times of social media frenzy you became overwhelmed and threw your hands up and said ‘it is not worth it’. Who has time to not only write a good, captivating story along with a great recipe….not to mention photos; the cropping, lighting, branding aargh. Congrats to you. I like love your pictures, writing and photos. Take your well deserved break. But, please come back ?
I’ll definitely come back but after a break and figuring out the direction of the blog :) above all, it’ll be food, that’s for sure! Thanks for your note!