Evolving in blogging and a new direction? A bit of a rambling post

I apologise in advance if this is a bit of a disjointed post- you know when you have those days where you can’t quite articulate how you feel but feel the need to put pen to paper (or rather, fingers on the keyboard) and it all just kind of flows out? Well this is one of those days.

I’ve been thinking for a while about the direction I want this blog of mine to take, as lately I haven’t been wholly satisfied with what I’ve been doing. I still love this space of mine, I could never bear to let it go, and I adore working with some great clients and brands and want to continue to work with them to the best of my ability. It’s ironic that the less time I’ve had these past few months, I’m earning more than I’ve ever earned from it and been busier than ever, but this in turn means that my time to write organic posts has depleted and I think this is what has made me more dissatisfied. It’s a real chicken and egg situation for me professionally. I was having a think last night and it’s definitely not so much what I’m writing about that’s the issue (I still want to continue to be a modern family lifestyle blog). If I’m honest with myself I know that the quality of my posts hasn’t been as high as they have been and I have this constant feeling that I’m not doing my best work or writing/photographing to the best of my ability. That sounds like I’m being hard on myself but right now I think it’s true and I want to rectify this. 

I know that a lot of this is to do with being a LOT more time-pressed of late (hello, new small child of mine), wanting to enjoy Arlo as much as possible, but being oh-so-tired come the evening that my desire to concentrate on writing has understandably deteriorated. BUT I also think it’s me being stuck in a rut, which happens to everyone from time-to-time and it usually means that a change is needed. When it comes to the blog, I can’t decide if it’s as simple as a cosmetic refresh, ditching some paid work for a month or two in favour of rediscovering my writing mojo, getting more social again in the blogging community or something more.

My blog name is a big source of contention for me and has been for a while. When I started this blog it was a creative outlet for me to write up and photograph crafts and activities and family life with two toddlers, and the blog name reflected this period of time- a whimsical, happy, childlike name. Whilst I now have a baby, and will no doubt continue to do so many of the things I wrote about on the blog back then with him when he’s bigger, they’re no longer things I really write about. I’m really proud of them and still want them on my blog as memories and sources that people can find via Google and Pinterest (a huge source of traffic for me), they’re not really what I’m all about now. It’s interesting that when I was discussing this on a blogging Facebook group last night, a couple of my blogging pals said they loved the name and thought it was about me, not children, so that has given me food for thought. It’s a big deal giving up a successful blog name and starting again, even if you are redirecting all your old posts to the new blog so it’s not something I would do lightly. But I am wondering if it’s the change i need. 

My blogs have predominantly been about interiors, life organisation, family travel, what we’ve been up to so and other lifestyle topics, and I want the ‘branding’ of this blog to reflect that. I think to start with I’m going to make a few minor tweaks and changes and see how I feel then. To start with, my Twitter handle will no longer be @SpiritedPuddle but @Becky_Freeman_ which is the same as my Instagram handle. I want to start going to more events again, dive back into the blogging world and actually READ other blogs once more, something I could do for hours on an evening just for fun. I’m starting to dabble with YouTube, and whilst I have no real ambition to be a big YouTuber, I really enjoy the creative and editing process that comes with making videos, something that harks back to my days of studying for my Broadcast Journalism degree. 

They say a change is as good as a rest, and I think to develop personally and professionally it really helps sometimes to shake things up. So I’m not going anywhere, and am committed to writing and working as usual, but I’m hoping to up my game and improve this space once more. There are so many blogs now, even since I started 5 years ago, and whilst I think it’s possible to get noticed still, I find it weirdly more isolating socially as there are so many people making so much ‘noise’ that the organic Twitter chats, and seeing Instagram posts in my feed as they come no longer happen (fuck you, algorithm). 

I just want to feel the love again, people!

Thank you for listening to this ramble (if you’ve got this far!) and it would be helpful to know from my readers what kind of posts do you like to see- do you enjoy my interiors ones still? Home/life organisation? Family posts? Photography? Let me know and it will help me greatly think about the continued direction of the Spirited Puddle Jumper!

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4 Comments

  1. October 19, 2017 / 11:05 am

    Apart from the new baby bit, I could have written this myself Becky! I’ve been contemplating it all too – the name and direction of my blog being constantly on my mind. Lost mojo, and tbh feeling a bit soul destroyed at the lack of real writing I do these days. The noise that so many others make… we it all adds up doesn’t it? Lots to think about it. You’ll be awesome at whatever you do honey xxx

  2. Emily Inmna
    October 19, 2017 / 1:21 pm

    Becky, these thoughts of yours are similar to mine, I even penned a post about my blog name last night as maybe we are just hitting a bit of an itch to change!
    What you do is great though and I think maybe in the time you have been blogging you have just grown. It’s nothing to be disheartened about, change is good and it’s great to reflect so that improvements can be made to make the overall better too! You going to the GLTC meet next month! Hope so! Would be great to see you and the others as I never see any other bloggers or get to events either! Xx

  3. Lynne
    October 19, 2017 / 2:24 pm

    I’ve always loved your blog name and to me it conjures up a “keeping it real” vibe within the changing sea of life of being an adult.
    I enjoy all that you blog about but think you’re passion shines through more within your pieces where you use your own photography skills.
    You will definitely make a success of whatever you decide and I will definitely continue to be a fan! X

  4. November 4, 2017 / 12:44 pm

    Aaah I really, really feel that your blog name reflects you. Not your children, not the ‘mummy’ side of you — but you. I absolutely love it. I’ve never ever even considered that it was about your kids Becky; as I said to you the other day, I just assumed it was you!! I love it.

    I think you can definitely change the direction of your blog, without necessarily making drastic changes. Get a new theme — change your header and really create a strong brand for your site. Change the content, and really start writing about things you love again. My blog has totally evolved over the last 5 years. It used to be a diary for me to record my pregnancy — and then all the twin’s milestones. But these days it’s filled with everything I love. I think, if you’re 100% true to yourself — and only accept work that you really, really enjoy writing about — you’ll get your mojo back.

    PLUS — stop being so hard on yourself!! You’ve got a brand new baby!!! 😉 Can’t wait to see you in a couple of weeks. Are you bringing Arlo with you? xxxxx

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