Numbers they can captivate you, control you and hold you in their claws. BUT only if you let them! Today I am going to talk to you how you shouldn’t let yourself be controlled by numbers. I think we all have done it once or twice, where we let ourselves just get sucked into this whole numbers game! Well, I have let it happen.
First I just wanna say, that looking at your numbers is it your page views, your followers count on Instagram & Twitter, Newsletter subscriptions or Bloglovin’ following isn’t bad at all! We all wanna know how we are doing on the internet and if what we put out there is going down well with people. It can be so rewarding seeing the numbers going up. Yes, it feels bloody amazing!
However when those numbers drop or even just stagnate you start questioning yourself. Is it not enough what I am putting out there? Do people don’t like my stuff anymore? Why are they unsubscribing/ unfollowing me? What am I doing wrong?!?
It’s so easy to let those thoughts in. How can you not, when you put yourself out there every day of every week. The numbers game is getting to you but how can you stop it?
I found once I got sucked into the numbers and it started defining what or how I put my work out there the numbers got even worse. This was regarding my blog btw. From spring last year until summer I had such good stats. They were steadily rising but then I started my internship and my stats went down. And from month to month it seemed it got worse. And with that, I started questioning what I have been doing. I thought maybe because I stopped uploading twice a week I wasn’t doing so well anymore or maybe I just was out of touch with the blogging world. I just didn’t know! But enough was enough and I told myself how did I come here? Why am I just semi-enjoying writing blog post after blog post and always worrying how it will be doing.
So I just stopped caring. It sounds so easy but it took me a week or two to not check my stats every morning, lunch and evening. But I got there and with that, I saw my stats slowly but surely improving! It wasn’t the change from two to one blog post a week or anything else. I think I put so much pressure on myself that I didn’t see a way out. Instead of looking at my stats once a day closely and analysing them I just say the declining numbers. I had stopped promoting my post as much as I used to because I didn’t see what it was doing for me tweeting about them all the time etc. So instead of over-checking my stats, I put more effort into tweeting about my blog and connecting with other bloggers.
Moral of the story – look at your numbers but don’t let them define you. Put anything you are proud of out there regardless of what others may think. If you are proud of it – the likelihood others liking it is far greater than them disliking it. Just this week I uploaded I think only one picture on Instagram because I didn’t feel like posting any others. Yes, I lost about 40 followers and gained practically none but who cares!?! I already have some great pictures to upload next week and I know I’ll see an improvement. I rather have a decrease in my following than uploading just for the sake of it.
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That’s also how I handle my blog now. I still upload every week a blog post and I push myself to bring you the best posts as possible but if I am not feeling it at all, I’ll just skip a week. I still look at my numbers as it still is a really good indicator how my little space here is doing and yes, I wanna see those numbers go up and up, who wouldn’t? But I keep in mind that I change and my followers change and sometimes it’s not their cup of tea anymore what I am writing so they go. Hell, I even stop following people when I feel like their ideas and work doesn’t resonate with me anymore. That’s life.
Anyways, this was a long one. I had this post in my draft folder for a long time and this train journey just got me the time and peace I needed to get it all out. I hope this will help anyone going through a hard time with their blog or Insta etc. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Take some time out and rethink why you started writing/ uploading pictures. It’s because you love doing it and not because you wanna please others.
So, before I don’t stop rambling on I just wanna thank you for reading this post and remember you are awesome!
If you wanna keep up with my next posts give me a follow on here, my Newsletter or on any of my social media Instagram / Twitter / FB (I’ll be forever thankful).
Have a good one, xx.
Hi, great post I think most bloggers get a little sat obsessed at times. So long as you are happy with what you are doing and it fits around everyday life that’s all that really matters. Unless of course it is a buisiness.
So true. I wouldn’t know how it was if it was my business. xx
It always hurts a bit when people unfollow me because I feel like my content is not good enough. But then I remember that I can’t please anyone and that the people who stay truly love what I do. Numbers are defo a bit part but things are changing. Even brands are being more savy and looking at other things now! xx corinne
You are so right. It’s always nice knowing that brand do get savvier and start prioritising other things than just numbers. xx
Numbers can be really demotivating sometimes and a lot of the time I feel like the content I work the hardest on is the least successful which is typical! I love this post though because it is really important to remember why you started doing what you’re doing in the first place and it’s SO important to stay true to you and not worry about what everyone else is doing 🙂
Alice Xx
So happy you liked the post Alice. xx
You addressed this issue so well! I’ve found myself being sucked into the numbers game quite a bit recently. I’m constantly checking my social media and blogger stats. It’s so easy to lose yourself in numbers. But you’re completely right! You can’t forget why you started blogging in the first place. I’ll definitely remember this the next time I think about numbers.
Thanks Annie. We should just focus on the good and I am happy my post did remember you of it! xx
I definitely can let the numbers get to me. If I’m down this week from last, I’ll 100% be sat there looking at my posts trying to figure out where it went wrong. I can’t even imagine not checking for a couple of weeks! It must be such a refreshing feeling though x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
Oh wow not looking at them a few weeks that would be amazing. But even I couldn’t do that ;). xx
This is such a great post and I’m sure we’ve all fallen into the numbers game but sooner of later we all realise our worth and we simply can’t please everyone. Thanks for expressing yourself towards this topic!
Jessica & James | http://www.foodandbaker.co.uk / http://www.foodandbakertravels.co.uk
You’re welcome. I am so glad this post is going down so well. xx
It can be a bit of a struggle sometimes when you see your stats going down, but I think it is such an important message you are saying here – that as long as you are enjoying it and doing it because you want to and not forcing yourself then that’s the main thing. It’s meant to be something fun and you enjoy doing and if you focus too much on numbers, it can make you demotivated :/ I’ll definitely try remember this when it gets me down next time!
Amy,
https://creativenails.uk
You are so right. If we all enjoy it and don’t care too much about what others say – it’s all so much easier. xx
Hey, what a great post and I definitely agree how bloggers including me can get so into numbers and figures and get so into them and end up doing blogging for the wrong reason! Ayse x
So true. And I am glad you liked the post :). xx
This post came at the right time for me. I always think of views on my blog and you are right that it shouldn’t define us. Thanks for sharing.
So glad this post was helpful to you. xx
I love that 2018 is becoming the year of blogging about what you care about!!! I love this post and totally get it. Getting wrapped up in the numbers can become so easy and you just end up writing about what you think people want you to create content on!
Do you!!!! Amazing post!!!
R x
I hope 2018 brings some great things too. I do see a change in the blogging world and it makes me so optimistic. xx
I think I’m gonna try to look at my stats less often. Whenever I don’t improve month by month I kind of start feeling like a blog failure, although that sounds kind of extreme. Really liked this post!
It doesn’t sound extreme. Everybody is affected by numbers in a different way and I hope you’ll have to look a little less at your stats :). xx
I loved this, I definitely don’t care about numbers when it comes to the blog which definitely makes it less stressful x
Thank you Katie. Oh, I bet it so much less stressful at times! xx
It sucks when people unfollow me on any social media. It makes me start to doubt my blogging, but I’m beginning to realize that being passionate about something is the most important thing. Whether or not I have thousands of followers, I am sharing content I love and am proud of.
Just do you and what makes you happy. That’s the point of blogging anyway. Everything else shouldn’t matter. xx
I’m a new blogger and I have definitely got sucked into the numbers game! Some days I will check my stats and see that hardly anyone has viewed my blog that day and I’m like ‘what have I done wrong?’ this post has helped me see it’s not just about the numbers so thankyou for writing such an honest post!
Jess xx
foundationsandfairytales.wordpress.com
I wish you all the best with your blog and as long as you do it for your enjoyment others will feel it too! Btw you have a lovely blog. xx
Your photos are gorgeous, and I totally agree with everything you said. I think it would be so freeing to stop caring about how many followers you have, I would love that!
jenny x | http://www.jennyrosee.com
Stopp caring at all would definitely be freeing but even caring less makes blogging so much more fun again. xx
So very true! I had a blog before and deleted it a while back and now I’ve started again, I’m so much less stressed about numbers. I’ve realised you have to do it because you enjoy it otherwise what’s the point. I think it’s the curse of the modern day, the pressure we put on ourselves to gain acceptance from people we don’t even know! Great post!
https://my20staughtme.wordpress.com
So nice to hear that you started again! I think we all should care less about what others think and just do us. xx
It really is a number game sometimes. Stats are suppose to help you but sometimes people get obsessed with stats and lose sight of why they are blogging. Life is full of ups and downs, so as bloggers we need to understand that some days will be better than others. So it’s okay if your stats aren’t always what you expect. But need for up the fight, you will find supporters. Lovely post! 😊
xx Lena |
You are so right. I love looking at my stats to get to know my audience and when to post at which time. So happy you liked the post. xx
Trying to focus less on the numbers is something I’ve be working on a bit more recently – it honestly has the power to drive you crazy and I find it all to be so volatile sometimes and often very discouraging!
http://skylish.co.uk
I hope in 2018 we all focus less on the numbers and I have a feeling it is already changing how we look at the performance of our blogs etc. xx
I loooved this post gal! Your photography is so incredible and all your points were so true! Numbers can be so demoralising if you let them get to you!
Thank you so much Kate. So happy you liked my post! xx
Thank you for your thoughts about numbers.. I always catch myself looking at them on my social media, so I’m really greatful that you have shared what you think about it, I agree that it is time to stop carrying about them anymore!
Yes, let’s just ignore those numbers and do just what we like! I strongly believe if I love my content my followers will too. xx