I have “a branding problem” for my blog.
And I think it has everything to do with… well, Me (or at the very least - my name).
Every writer/blogger wants their stuff to be read, liked and even interacted with (well, most of the time… but I want to be careful with what I wish for). :)
And outside of a few friends, family and a few people on Facebook… my blog on the net and Facebook generates very little interaction and traffic for the most part.
It’s been a shot to the ego (which is probably good for me). But it’s also a shot to the heart. Especially when your blog is named after you.
Maybe it’s because I don’t write enough - which is true in itself. Or maybe it’s the stuff I write about. Or maybe I have become a bit irrelevant - which makes a domain named “ChrisKozacek.com” even more useless, and humbling.
Maybe it has nothing to do with branding, or a name…
maybe it’s just my writing…
or, just me.
Anyway, I’ve asked a few people if they’d help me rename my blog (and if you’d like to offer a name, I’d like to hear it). It’s a start, maybe with no different results - but I want to try it. “Cracked Round Peg” was the best I’ve ever had it terms of interaction and traffic, it was doing really well until I ruined it with how I used it (Sorry again to all affected… always). Maybe there will be nothing in renaming it… I don’t know. We’ll see.
However, before burying this current blog - writing in my own name has definitely accomplished many things that I wanted it to and I wanted to briefly share a few.
- I felt good and free to write honestly and authentically without feeling like I had to hide who I am… for the first time in my life.
- I had to own my thoughts… there was nothing to hide behind.
- It has helped me navigate through many things both good and bad that I’m not sure I would ever have felt I could write about before - let alone with my name plastered all over it. I think it’s easy to write comments, thoughts and stuff on the internet with no filter when you can hide behind a hidden online identity, but things change when everyone knows who you are.
Thanks to all who have been with me here. I never want to diminish what your support has meant. This is in no way an indictment on your support or voice, and everything to do with not feeling like I do a very good job overall with writing good and interesting stuff.
I’m truly sorry if this post comes out sounding more as a “pity party” or a “Tell me I’m great” post…
…than a post sharing honestly where I am with it and how I’m feeling about it.
Shame on me if that’s all it is.
I truly pray that it is not.
