23 May 2013

blogging // one or two?

I've been going back and forth, back and forth over the past few months about the topic I'm sharing today: whether to continue maintenance of my two current blogs (this one you're reading right now, as well as my photo blog: www.annadelores.com/blog), or to merge the two into one blog for ease of upkeep, reducing the possibility of reader and photography client confusion (why the heck does this chick keep up two separate blogs with the same name?  What a weirdo.), and to preserve my own sanity.


I started THIS blog as a supplement to my Etsy shop back in 2010.  I saw it as a necessary social media add-on if I wanted to integrate into the handmade community.  Since then, the Anna Delores blog has evolved in a variety of ways, from a focus on handmade shops and products, to a shift toward lifestyle and giveaways, and now a heavier focus on weddings (with lifestyle, giveaways, and admittedly random musings thrown in).  

Ironically, the "ding" of an Etsy sale no longer holds the thrill it used to (not to say that I'm not grateful for every sale!  I'm just more focused on portraiture and weddings these days), but this blog is still very near and dear to me.

I'm truly fascinated and inspired by the community of folks I've met through my blog.  I've met a lot of blogger friends in real life, and no matter what happens to this blog, I intend to keep in touch with those people.  I've even been blessed and honored with the privilege of photographing the weddings of a few fellow bloggers!  I'll be working with Lauren in September and Evani next June.  I mean, is that awesome or what?!  I've had the amazing experience of photographing Kristen, Sandy, Gina, Lizzie, and others, and I met fellow wedding pro Joelle through our mutual love for both blogging and weddings.  We were blog friends long before we realized that we lived in the same county, and because of Joelle I've met a ton of other wedding professionals in my area and have a new studio space that I'm so incredibly proud to be part of.  And I've met a ton of rad people just to meet up and bond over blogging!

So, really, I could never place a premium on the value of the experiences I've had as a result of blogging.  I'm not a religious person, but if this blog hasn't been a blessing to me, then I don't know what is!

 

As a result, I am not at all looking to abandon this blog.  That is not the debate of the day.  What I would much rather do is move the Anna Delores blog to a new domain name and combine it with the photo blog (so, it would ultimately would be a combo lifestyle/wedding/photo blog, which I guess it already sort of is).  The layout would be a little simpler and more streamlined so that folks who find me via www.annadelores.com, when looking for a professional wedding photographer, aren't caught off-guard by what sometimes feels like clutter on the sidebar.

The drawback is that there are some blogging themes I'd likely abandon, if not at least decrease in frequency, as a result of linking the Anna Delores blog to my web portfolio photo blog.  For example, I think I'd likely refrain from discussing weight loss and that genre of personal topics.  There's a fine line there, because I'd still blog about my personal life to an extent; I think especially with one's wedding photographer, getting to know your wedding vendors is something that prospective clients are interested in.  Right?  I think Joelle executes this very well, and I know that there are a few others I've encountered that I admire in terms of the personal-professional balance (I just can't recall them at this precise moment). 

Anyway, I'm in the process of finding someone to provide some assistance with transition to WordPress, as well as getting a new domain and linking it up to my website.  If you've worked with anyone you'd recommend, send me an e-mail!  :)

What do you think?  Will you still be a reader if/when this transition occurs?

12 comments:

  1. How you manage to run two blogs is beyond me! I struggle to write one at times. I'm really interested in how you'll combine the two. I'm in a transition period at the moment. My blog started out as personal blog but is becoming more of a work tool. Now I have to be careful about what I share etc.. I'll keep popping back to see how you're getting on. Good luck with it all. x

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  2. Where you go, I'll go my friend! Seriously, I say do it. I've sort of landed on the same thing, even as a semi-pro I find it maddening to try and keep up with two blogs. I've pared down to a minimum so that I can focus on quality going forward.

    I was planning to switch to WP at one point but decided it was a waste of my time to try and learn how to DIY it! If I could invest in a pro to handle the switch I would. I did move to WP.com for a while but found it much harder to build community. For the longest time Blogger has been tops for that but I'm very anxious to see how the changes Google's been making will affect that. I don't know about you, but I've already noticed a negative trend! I have more followers than ever but low engagement and no way to reach out to them.

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  3. i would absolutely combine them! i love following your blog and love your photography as much as i love what you personally share. maybe navigation could help separate out the photo blogging from personal blogging! best of luck!
    kw, ladies in navy
    jewelry giveaway!

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  4. i remember talking about this exact same topic a few months back!!! i think whatever you decide, just stick with it and move forward!! people will follow you either way!! :)

    xo,
    Sandy
    Sandy a la Mode

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  5. Combining is a great idea!!!

    Carly
    www.lipglossandcrayons.com

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  6. I would totally combine them. The insanity is too great when you are running two blogs!! You won't loose me as a reader!

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  7. You should totally combine them! And there's no need to talk about weight loss; there are so many more interesting things to talk about!

    http://www.asequinloveaffair.com/

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  8. I totally get it. I can barely keep up with one blog. BUT OF COURSE I'LL FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU END UP! :)

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  9. I had a lot of trouble trying to figure out that balance when I first started my business. I did have two, but it was way too much to maintain (so obviously I nixed one). I think the biggest thing is figuring out who you are on your blog, and realizing that if someone doesn't like the way you come across, they aren't the client for you. I've shared a lot of personal stories and my life on mine, but I've never had a negative reaction from my clients. For the most part, they appreciate that I'm a real person! And my non-client readers usually love seeing my work and hearing about what I do. There's a delicate balance, I suppose, and it takes time to figure it out, but you want your blog to be an extension of who you are. If your clients have an issue with that, then they aren't the right clients for you :)

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  10. It's incredible that you even run 2 blogs! I'll read anything you produce (have I told you that I'm a BIG fan of yours yet?) and I'll text you for the personal stuff anyways ;) Love yaaaaa, hope you find a balance soon!

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  11. I agree with everyone else and I will follow youuu, follow you whereever you may go. Seriously though, I really would. :) Do what feels right to you, and the people who matter will continue to support you

    xo

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  12. this is a question I've debating for so many hours! I love your perspective and I can't wait to see the transition!

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