I have this conversation with people about every single week.
It goes something like this:
Frustrated Blogger:
I’m tired of my current blog.
Me:
Well, what do you mean by “tired?”
Frustrated Blogger:
Well, I don’t like my blog.
Me:
What don’t you like about it specifically?
Frustrated Blogger:
I’m not sure. I think I need to start another blog, a new one.
Me:
Why can’t you just make some changes on your current blog?
Frustrated Blogger:
Ummmm… I don’t know…?
The exact words may be different, but the idea is essentially the same, and it happens to everyone (including me).
You see, eventually you’ll take a look at your blog (or “mess”) and begin to ask yourself whether you’re proud of it, whether you still like it, or you begin to see things that are just “wrong” with it.
You may even just simply have gotten “tired” of your current blog, the content that you cover, or feel like you’ve “exhausted” that particular topic and want to start over. Perhaps the design is pretty old too, severely outdated, or just plain bad.
And you know what, you may even have a very legitimate reason to start over, but here are some ideas on how to “Start Over without Starting Over”:
- Start pruning your categories. Just start consolidating and/or deleting them entirely.
- Move posts around. Don’t outright delete them, but put them in places that may not be “seen” directly, especially if you’re doing a major change in content. This way you can still maintain those links that may exist out there on those posts. Perhaps making a few an “aside” category could work.
- Do a major design overhaul. Sometimes it just doesn’t “look” or “feel” right.
- Buy a new domain name and begin a migration, keeping the same content and then redirecting from the old domain. This way you can maintain your links again.
- Analyze your top posts in terms of traffic, comments, links, tweets, etc. Perhaps these topics might be better suited for you and for your “new” blog?
- Get some advice and counsel from those that you trust. Talk to others. Perhaps they can see something that you don’t. Ask your blog readers too!
- Do some research and see who’s doing well what you’d like to do and then copy.
Have any other thoughts and/or ideas?
[Image from Fatllama]
Mike_Shields says
Focus your topic. If you're tired, it means that your blog doesn't interest you anymore. Write as if you're the only one reading it.
human3rror says
… but with the hope that others do read it!
yeah, you have to be passionate (or at least interested) in what you're blogging about, that's for sure.
Josh Wagner says
Funny, that sounds like a plan for most artistic endeavors. 😉
human3rror says
hmm. interesting point.
Jim says
blogging is work…work can be hard or you can make it fun and face the challenge.
Aaron says
Been there, done that (3x?), haven't bothered to design the T-shirt (I grew bored of that, too.) 😉
In fact, I wonder if this is where I am, again?
glaubemann says
Sorry that I am late to comment, but thank for this post. It will help me improve for my blog
human3rror says
hey, no prob! glad it helped! share it with others!