I must confess, when I set the first challenge for Blog Exchange to ‘Blog like there’s nobody reading‘, I had no idea so many people would jump on board or actually hit publish on their blog posts. To say I’m overwhelmed with the response is an understatement.
Blog Exchange – Thinking Outside the Niche
The community factor already emerging through our private Blog Exchange Facebook group is just what I needed to see and feel this past week.
A week where you could say I short circuited my blogging brain after a whirlwind trip to Melbourne for a blogging masterclass the weekend prior. It was a mixture of 40ish hours of no sleep and a room full of talented bloggers that had me questioning not only my approach to blogging but the direction the blog is heading.
Why if I’m honest, there were more than a few moments this week when I found myself questioning my right to be in the blogging arena at all. An arena where there seems to be a strong focus on niching down and following a set monetising formula for success. Can you relate?
As a result, I could hardly string a sentence together, let alone publish a blog post. So like all good bloggers do, when struck with blogger’s block and doubt… I blogged about it (here) and threw up the white flag ‘gone shopping’ sign.
Instead of shopping I went blog hopping, starting with your Blog Exchange challenge posts. Looking for inspiration and desperately wanting to connect with like minded bloggers. Which is what Blog Exchange really is all about.
I think we all like to feel like we are connecting with people/readers on a meaningful level and by being open and raw with this exercise that connection may be taken to a deeper level. Pretty cool to think that peeling back a layer and being slightly more vulnerable has the potential to speak deeply to someone. When we have the wobbly courage to do so.
Sandra Kelly (What Lies Within)
Asking bloggers to step outside their niche and share their raw and real posts this month, certainly has been a thought provoking exercise. While some have shared their blogging endeavours to date, others have taken a different approach.
There were no right or wrong ways to approach this and there were no expectations that your posts would ever see the published light of day. It’s the exchange through conversations that these posts and the exercise itself has evoked, both on and offline, that has given me some real food for thought on what comes next.
For me, it was all about thinking outside the niche and my current approach to blogging. As a result, there just might be a few changes around here. I don’t think I’m alone with this side of things following this exercise??
It’s been interesting to see everyone’s interpretation of the brief and even more intriguing to see so many published posts. Which is why in the scheme of how Blog Exchange works, I approached Kirsty from My Home Truths who hosts the I Must Confess linkup each Monday to see if she might include our ‘Blog like there’s nobody reading’ challenge as this week’s prompt. It was a YES from Kirsty.
Regardless of what stage of blogging you are at, link ups are a fantastic way to not only embrace and support your blogging community but they are also a great way to grow your blog.
I particularly love I Must Confess and the community of bloggers that link up each week and the audience that regularly visits to see what I’m confessing week in week out. Although not all weeks are full on confessionals or have me following the weekly prompt.
When Kirsty headed overseas recently, I was first to put my hand up to host the link party in her absence. It almost made up for having to live vicariously through her travel adventures. Almost? Okay, try not even close.
I discovered I Must Confess soon after I started moving into more personal style posts here on the blog and found the weekly prompts a great source of inspiration for blog content. A prompt that doesn’t need to be followed to the letter each and every week but I find the weekly prompt is generally something that can easily be tweaked or approached to suit my style and my blog demographic.
Linking up, like everything to do with blogging, is definitely a case of the more you put in the more you are going to get out of it.
My Top Tips for getting the most out of Link Ups
- Don’t link and run.
- Take the time to leave a comment.
- Visit other blogs that have linked up.
- If something resonates with you or will be beneficial to your audience hit the share button.
Thinking about hosting a link up of your own? You need to head back next week and case my top tips for hosting a link party.
Wanting to link up this week? If you’ve joined Blog Exchange and hit publish on your ‘Blog like there’s nobody reading’ posts, head over and link them up for this week’s I Must Confess (HERE!!).
What comes next for Blog Exchange?
Apart from discussing your posts and your blogging direction via our Facebook page, I have a couple of projects in the pipeline for Blog Exchange. All will be revealed in good time. You could say it’s the Mystery Case factor.
I’ve become aware of the fact that not everyone is on Facebook (oh how I wish this was me), so I will look to open a closed Blog Exchange forum here on AMC in the coming weeks.
Our next challenge will be kicking off here on June 30. I’m looking forward to having a lot of fun with this one and will hopefully be dragging you along for the ride. I just can’t wait to get started. From then on in, Blog Exchange will be heading out into the big wide world of blogging, exchanging hands with a variety of bloggers who will be jumping on board to host a different blogging challenge each month.
If you could suggest a prompt for I Must Confess… what would it be?
How’s the shopping going? 😉
LOL, I ended up spending far too much time blog hopping. I will have to amend my ‘gone shopping’ ways next time round. Know of any good sales on at the moment?
I’ve beem a bit slack this month but I’m looking forward to the next new challenge!
Plenty of other ways to get involved Sammie, no pressure to join any of the challenges. Perhaps I could sign you up to host a challenge later in the year?
This just keeps getting more and more interesting! Thanks for all the work you’re putting into this. This is the kick up the bum I needed. Love it. xo
Thanks Vanessa,
It’s a step in the right blogging direction for me too. It’s not going to be for everyone but I think there is a little something for everyone that is willing and able.
I love the mystery! Can’t wait to see what the next challenge is. I am ready! Bring it on! 😉
I love your style. Here’s to the next challenge.
You’ve got a lot on and I really appreciate the community you are building. Many of us (me included) have been feeling quite stale and it’s offered something new and different. Looking forward to what’s next. x
Thanks so much. That means a lot. I agree, there’s something in the air at the moment and it’s always nice to have a spring clean (even in winter) to freshen things up.
Sounds intriguing, I will be checking this out!
Thanks Beth.
Oh my gosh! There’s my little thought sitting up there in your post. Thank you. I must say that Sonia from Life Love and Hiccups taught me so much about ‘peeling back the layers’ with her own personal story and Kelly Exeter taught me about ‘wobbly courage’. Connections really can be meaningful and life changing. This challenge, and the response to my blog post, has been life changing for me as far as my purpose, meaning and motivation for blogging goes. I’m so gald I summoned some ‘wobbly courage’ to take part and thank you for the opportunity. I sure hope the road ahead for you comes with a few less speed humps for a while. Xx
I’m so glad you embraced your wobby courage and took part as well. Sounds like you really did get a lot out of it.
It’s funny you mention speed humps of life. We have a road that we frequent, as a short cut each morning and they’ve recently put in speed humps in what feels like every few kilometers. It’s annoyingly unbelievable and a lot like my life at the moment.
I am so glad that wobbly courage has come in handy Sandra. Lord only know how many times I’ve had to call on it!!
It’s come in more than handy Kelly and those I share the concept with have found it so helpful in looking at fear and courage in a different way… a more helpful way. Thank you Xx
Oh hun – we are the lucky ones in that you found the courage to share yourself with us. Keep sharing beautiful lady.. please xx
Sounds very exciting. Count me in. V x
As you are one of four people that I’ve shared some of what the next challenge is all about, I’m super pleased to hear you say that. Looking forward to having you on board.
I just love what you’re doing with all this. Can’t wait to see the monthly challenges unfold x
Thanks Vicki, I’m looking forward to having a whole lot of fun with next month challenge.
You’re doing a great job Raych! I am very time poor right now so my blogging and my bloggy stalking is taking a back seat, having said that … you are now my “go to” blog to keep me up to date on all things bloggy!
PS I kinda feel like you do have a niche. You are “things worth casing”. Whether it be people, places, food, fashion or best buys … you are creating a space where people can go to find something new. It may not be a niche that is already out there … you’ve created a new niche. You’re a leader Raych. I like to think I’ve found my niche too. My posts are a bit random (as my blog is a “diary” after all) but I look at my niche as “aging positively”. Helping those in middle age to continue living their best lives. Health, fitness, fashion, positive psychology, travel, my personal experiences and how I handle them. It may not be a well recognised niche … but that’s MY niche. Perhaps we aren’t niche-less at all?
Thanks Leanne, not sure I’m a leader or that there is any real thought process into the direction of the blog as the time factor certainly has me just going with the flow here for the time being but yes, I do have a plan and it does include all that you speak of. Without necessarily being a review blog or niching down.
I loved this challenge (although didn’t really blog outside my niche as such). Thanks for the shout out for I Must Confess and for asking me to host these amazing posts. THIS is what my linkup is all about – honesty and truth. Reading everyone’s posts has been a powerful exercise for me, both as a blogger and as an individual. I can’t wait to see where our Blog Exchange heads next…
Thanks Kirsty. Your link up was the perfect place to host our first challenge. Next month challenge is in a few parts. I can’t wait to get started.
Now I want to know more about the blog exchange…
Would love for you to join in Caroline. Basically a support group for blogging, no matter what your stage but especially those that might be struggling to find their voice or blogging feet. If you click on the Blog Exchange banner on the sidebar, there is a brief intro post and our first challenge.
I have started writing the first blog challenge in my head about a zillion times but am still yet to put anything on paper!!
Considering how much you have on at the moment, I’m surprised you have time for blogging at all. I’m also thinking that as this part of the challenge was inspired following a conversation we had in Melbourne. That you just might be the one person that needs to do this challenge offline. No rush, in your own time. 😉