The blog is dead, long live the blog
The past week my blog died. It died and it couldn’t be resuscitated in any useful form. I have put more work than anyone could feasibly imagine into this blog. More than anything in my life it has been a labour of love.
And the thing is my blog is often a shout into the ether. I spend a day crafting something, aligning the SEO, getting some pretty pictures. Then I post it and only a handful of people read it and no one comments on it and I just think why bother?
Money not moaning, dude
So a while ago after some prompting from the hubs that went something like ‘find a job or make the blog generate cash’, I thought I’d attempt it. It was a big thing for me because I’m let’s be honest, I’m flighty and irresponsible, completely not into planning and increasingly lazy.
Anyway, I spent all the last month going back through old posts and doing dead boring shit like updating SEO and trying to get my page speed faster. And it worked. I’d managed with all that work to go from an average of 100 visits a day to 350 and I’d earned a grand total of .30 cents. (I know right!) Then I lost it all.
Starting afresh
So as the blog generates no cash and no one seems to read it. My mum might read one in 10, my friends 1 in 20, I’m not sure my Dad even knows I have a blog. This was the perfect opportunity to jack it in. I could always start a new one. Something business focussed, perhaps something that played to my brand and marketing strengths, or web design, or writing. But here’s the crunch.
I love this blog.
I love it like my feral, fierce and fabulous children. I love it like wine, which makes me mental and fat and I walk around in a daze for half a day but I still love it. The blog takes all my time, it drives me insane but i couldn’t say goodbye.
Directionless ramblings
The thing is I’ve lost my way. This blog was a diary and a public hearing. It was therapy. Then I’d share something particularly personal and someone would bring it up in the school playground or the supermarket. I started feeling reluctant to share my personal stories. So, I shared the places I went and what I learned, which is okay. But when I started trying to make it a business I started to fall out of love with it.
So even though I swore I’d never write another rambling post about feelings, here I am. Questioning whether I try to make this a money spinner or just keep muttering and mumbling in public and hope that no one at all reads it.. or at least brings it up in the playground.
I struggle to think how I’d spend my time if I didn’t write. It’s what I love. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. This blog is my valium and therapist and glass of wine all in one. If I gave it up then what would I do? My hair? My nails? My cleaning? Find a commercial writing job, I suppose.
Or find a way to just be me and make money… Surely the two can’t be mutually exclusive?
Don’t quit your blog! I always read your blogs and think their amazing. Your blogs are honest and raw!!
From a reader in Kenya & continuing on in NYC
❤️ Rachel
yay – exactly the kind of compliment i was fishing for xxx
…..as I said: don’t quit! Your blog is fabulous! And you may fish for compliments – you deserve it! You may drink to that!
I did drink to it. And now my head hurts xx
Absolutely don’t stop your blog. I find it fascinating
For people that won’t ever live in these countries you transport us their and we live it through you
Plus your ramblings are what 95 percent of us do and it’s great and a relief to see other people go through this.
It might be your therapy but it’s definitely mine too x
Aww ‘fanks mama x
Follow your passion to wherever it leads you, that way wherever you end up in, at least you will have enjoyed the ride, which is the point of life itself. Good pieces of writing.
I love your blog, keep writing x
Thank you so much
I found your blog researching Kenya as I’m moving there with work. I really love your blog and now read each update as it pings into my inbox! There isn’t anything else online with so much information on places to see and stuff to do from Nairobi. Don’t give up if you enjoy it!
Thank you so much. Im inspired.. Albiet now also hungover. To write a fresh blog today
As someone moving to Nairobi in a couple months Ive been a regular reader for the last 6 months. I’ve gotten a ton out of it—A better understanding of the city, a long list of places I want to go and things I want to do when I arrive, and lots of amazing tactical tips. I love it.
Oh thanks so much. im glad. it’s what i wanted it to do. Please let me know if there is anything i should post that would help you. Or feel free to ask any questions
You can’t quit your blog; I’ve only just found you! You are my go-to when it comes to any and all things Kenya! And you know what? It was my hubby who told me about your site ????
From my humble point of view: hearing how you feel and what you think as well as what you do only makes you more real and relatable than you already are…so keep on keeping on! Please ????
Thanks so much for your lovely messages… they literally make my day x
PS: “fierce, feral, fabulous children”…oh thank gawd! So it’s not just mine then! ????
LOl xx
Love reading your thoughts and experiences. I’ve found your blog when I was searching info about Nairobi before we moved here. Very helpful and relatable. Pls keep it up ????
Thank you very much
I discovered your blog last night after recently seeing one of your Instagram posts on a hashtag I had started following and I could not be happier to have found it! We will be moving from the UK to Kenya in January and as you can imagine I have scrawled the web for every piece of information I can find to help us navigate this new adventure. I’ve already read most of your posts and it will be my new “go to”. Your posts are written so well and I hope you are having some success from a financial perspective but if not, hopefully the pride you feel in helping strangers to have a better understanding of the life that awaits them as an expat in Kenya is somewhat of a reward.
Thank you for sharing and I look forward to being a regular reader.
Thank you what a sweet message. If you have any questions feel free to fire away.. Take care
Thank you, I will very likely take you up on that offer!