*This is one of those posts where I’m about to ramble. And I really do hope you’ll stick around and read the whole thing, but if you don’t, I understand.
I’m going to ramble and I’m going to humble myself enough to admit some major flaws.
Have you ever read something that put a lump in your throat and a knot in your stomach? Did it cause your brain to spin and leave you stopping and jotting down your thoughts throughout the rest of the day? Or the rest of the week? Or month?
Have you ever read something that really opened your eyes and helped you see things so much more clearly?
I just finished reading Jessi Connolly’s eBook, “Be Quiet And Say Something.” And girls, (guys?) you need to read this eBook.
I’ve been blogging for nearly five years. The first couple of years I was just kind of wading through. I’d update a couple of times a month and I don’t think my own parents even cared to read it. I thought it would be fun to update on life and occasionally “journal” about what it was like to be an engaged girl.
In those early days I wasn’t on Twitter. I don’t even think Twitter existed. Did it? I don’t know. I only read a handful of blogs and they were all written by women who were in very similar life stages. It was so much fun developing and growing such a great little community of newlyweds.
My blog grew, my readership grew, I got a new blog design, I had a baby, I started staying at home. And I realized how much I would come to rely on that community. I trust these women (you). They are my friends. We’re all going through life together and we’re spread out all over the country.
So all of a sudden there are people that are reading and coming back every day to see what I have to say. And the idea that I had any kind of opportunity or even responsibility was lost on me.
Eventually there were people who wanted to advertise their small businesses on my blog. So I wanted to help them do that because it seemed to be mutually beneficial for both of us.
Then in the summer of 2011, I decided to place BlogHer ads on my blog and start writing sponsored content for BlogHer. I love to write. I only accept sponsored posts from products and companies that I actually pay good money for. And I know that this content isn’t what everyone wants to read.
I promise this post isn’t about how my blog grew or how “cluttered” my blog has gotten with sponsored content. But I’m getting there. I promise, there’s a point!
It has been my goal through all of this growing and changing to make sure that my true voice is still very present on my blog despite the sponsored posts, which are written by me in my true voice, by the way. But I can see how it can alienate people.
I’ve been praying about the direction of my blog for a while now. After many months of wondering how to slow down this fast cycle where it feels like my blog is spinning to a place that is beyond my control, I found “Be Quiet & Say Something.”
In the eBook, Jessi talks about how we all have influence. As a mother, a wife, a blogger, a church member, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a volunteer… we all have influence over the people in our lives. We have a story to tell. And it is so important to me to be glorifying Jesus in my story. It’s important to me to use that influence for Him.
And in reading that, I realized that all of this “extra” stuff I’ve had the opportunity to do has very good intentions. My heart was absolutely in the right place. And while I do very openly talk about my faith, I was missing a huge opportunity to make much of Jesus. I was just making much of Erin. And then this is when I felt like I would cry and not stop again for a few days.
So why do I blog? As an introvert, blogging is great for me. I could never stand up and talk to all of you about the things I blog about. I’d much prefer to sit in a room in my pajamas with 3-4 of you and just chat. But I can do this. I can write.
And I write to connect with all of you. I blog to share my story. And my story happens to be full of God’s grace and mercy. And you know what is so great? There are so many of you who share your story with me every day, too. If you blog you tell your story on your own blog. If you don’t blog, you leave comments or leave tweets and share it with me there. You email me to encourage me or challenge me. You minister to me.
There are days when my story sounds lame. It’s often boring and there’s no big punch line. But it’s just as much God’s story as it is mine. So any insecurity or expectation from me just need to be gone.
My boat was rocked when I read Jessi’s eBook. Just about a month ago I was feeling like Blue-Eyed Bride was getting away from me. It was becoming a place where I felt like a slave to so many other people and so little of it was fun. I was getting to write, but there are only so many hours in the day. I was losing time with my family and spending too much time responding to emails.
I want to write my stories. I want to talk to you about my heart and what I’m learning.
There will be some changes around here. That doesn’t mean that there won’t ever be sponsored posts. Because the truth is, as a stay-at-home mom, these little projects help our family, and I am thankful for those opportunities.
But I’m done with feeling obligated and I’m tired of the rat race. Because we all have influence and we all have a story. And we should all be able to tell it truthfully and without fear that it’s not good enough just as it is.
I’m working to regain the place that’s for me, where my voice can be heard. It’s a place where I’m not shouting at you about a whole bunch of nothing, but taking the opportunity to quietly show you my heart, my home, and Jesus.
wow…just wow. Must see you soon…love, m
I love this. What a sweet, sweet post.
Very good points! I sometimes wonder what I did before reading blogs. That book sounds perfect . . . thanks for sharing.
Erin- this is such a beautiful post! I am definitely downloading that book today and can’t wait to read it ! I’ve always felt that you write from the heart and that is the main reason why you are one of my absolute favorite bloggers! Xo
This makes me happy for you and though I read your blog every day, it makes me even more excited to read your blog. 🙂 The book you mentioned sounds really good.
Great post! I think I will have to read this book very soon. I’ve been a reader for a long time and this post really makes me smile, you’re very genuine.
Cari
http://twitter.com/carichronicles
This is wonderful. You’re very brave & I love quiet conviction.
Well this certainly made me misty eyed. I know we haven’t communicated a whole heap, but you were one of the first bloggers I followed, and even if I don’t comment sometimes, I’m always reading. I just want to let you know that I love your blog wholeheartedly and I think you are doing an amazing job, and that you’re very much an inspiration to me. 🙂
I am proud of you.
I personally feel that you do an amazing job with this blog! I know that sponsored posts are what keep the “train rolling”—but my absolute favorite posts are when you let us into your home/family life and relate to us honestly as a mother and wife. I am also loving your posts about faith and your prayer-life, which is something I struggle with.Your faith has encouraged me to strengthen MY relationship with HIM and, for that, I am so very thankful.
Your “brain dump” posts are wonderful because I am usually thinking about a lot of what you talk about, and it’s just…fun. A nice escape and a new way to connect with people I don’t really “know” (yet). I can only imagine how out of control it must be to discover a heavy responsibility to all of these strangers that you write to on a daily basis. This is really, really going to sound cheesy, but I feel that God brought me to your blog and I have benefitted since then.
Great message Erin! You are on the right path for sure:)
Bring on the Jesus talk!!! LOL No seriously I would love it if more bloggers were not afraid to show their faith and talk about it even if they lose a lot of readers. I will check out the book.
I think this sounds lovely, and I too am so proud of you.
This is very thought provoking. Thanks for the honesty 🙂
Love this post so much, Erin! You ALWAYS minister to me and I know that you always have something important to say. I pray God continues to direct your path and your voice.. I know HE WILL! 🙂
Erin, I’m so proud of you. I know this had to take some courage to write. Being honest here … I don’t read blogs that are heavy with sponsored content, because I have a hard time believing the posts are genuine. If the sponsored post disclaimer is at the beginning, I skip the post; if it’s at the end, I feel misled. Maybe it would be different if I saw a bad review every once in a while. But I visit your corner of the Internet every day because I love you and I love your heart. I know different bloggers are motivated by different things. That’s what makes the blogosphere diverse! It’s awesome that you feel a renewed motivation to glorify Him and Him alone … you can’t go wrong there. At the risk of sounding like a cheesy Disney movie, just follow your heart, and the readers will follow you. xo
Thank you for your honesty, and for sharing your heart and faith! I must read that book now!
As a blogger who is constantly trying to remember my own voice, I love this post. After I’m done reading Bloom, I’m going to read that book that you mentioned next. Being true to who you are and writing about what you’re passionate about is the most important. I always want to blog transparently and share my story openly but, then I get freaked out about strangers reading my blog and I get worried about possible weirdos out there.
I’ve always felt like you kept a good balance (sponsored posts vs. non-sponsored) and I feel like your sponsored posts are truly you and not just you trying to get some perks. I say this, but I’ve never met you but that is just what I get from your posts.
This is why I keep reading your blog even though I quit blogging (although I am thinking about starting again).
Applause to you for your honesty! And for how you pointed out how blogging can influence and encourage others and share God’s story in our lives!! I like the direction you spoke about taking your blog, and I look forward to reading.
yay erin! so proud of you. i loved it before and i’ll love it even more.
It is so easy to lose sight of our purpose – especially when we get caught up in making sure our own voices are heard. I have struggled with that too on my own blog. And it’s so easy to forget the One we should be glorifying in all that we do. Thank you for reminding me of this. And thank you for being real, taking a moment to reflect on what matters, making an effort to change and sharing it all with us.
Just good for you and you are lucky that you are able to be connected with BlogHer. I think its awesome that you are heading this direction and I bet you’ll be amazed at how you grow as you further refine the content you feel most strongly led to share with the rest of us internet introverts. 😉
Thanks for this honest post. As one who comments only occasionally, I noticed many of the changes you mentioned, and I sort of wished we could have more of the “Erin’s life and thoughts” posts and fewer of the sponsored ones. Yet, I imagine those sponsored ones do help out financially, as you say.
I’m excited to know there are some changes coming. You really could write about just about anything, and I’d still be a devoted reader. 🙂
Erin, I’ve been reading your blog for a couple years now, and have commented maybe once or twice. I’m 22 (finishing grad school this December!) and you, along with a few other sweet bloggers, are such an inspiration to me. Good for you for staying true to yourself and more importantly, true to the Lord. I look forward to continuing to read – thanks for sharing your story with us!
Good for you. Love this post… and your blog. =)
Yay! The trouble with sponsored posting, especially for someone who writes about all kinds of things, is that it is only going to be relevant to a portion of your audience and it is just off-putting to most of the rest of your audience.
I almost left you a comment yesterday about how I missed hearing from the real, unsponsored you. I’m very glad that you’re back.
I’ve been thinking a lot about you the last few months, wondering if you’ve been feeling an increased pressure related to the success of the blog and the sponsorships that come along with it. I’m so happy that this book has eased some of the pressure on your heart. Praying that you find less and less stress every day, and are able to regain complete comfort with this cozy little internet home of yours 🙂 Love you!
:). love this. truly.
Thanks for putting this into words! This is exactly why I stopped doing giveaways and finally decided to do zero ads, though it’s been very tempting. I just felt like I was lost in the fray. It’s a process that we’re all constantly going through!
GREAT post Erin! You know how I feel about these things, so strongly that it forced me to give up blogging for almost two months. It really put everything back in perspective for me and grounded me. While sponsored posts are nice, at the end of the day that is not the reason I started blogging. I think a giveaway or highlight on a small company is fine every now and again but it gets to be too much at times, especially when you find out said company has contacted every blogger in your same circle. I think the best part about blogging are the relationships and I look forward to continuing those and going back to my roots in the coming weeks and months!
Well, this got me thinking. My readership is very small fry. I don’t have sponsored posts and I wonder if people are reading at all. But, I should be using my space to bare my testimony about my Savior Jesus Christ. I shouldn’t be afraid to talk about what I believe in. The Gospel is part of my everyday life, I should share it more on my blog.
I always love getting back to basics with different aspects of my life. It is refreshing and important. Helps us grow. Good luck in your quest!
It’s wonderful when God gives you little nudges to open your eyes to certain things. I know he’s done the same for me recently. Thank you for sharing.
I love this post, love it love it love it. My favorite posts you do write are the real ones, not the sponsored ones. It’s not that I don’t like when people have sponsors or advertise for companies but blogs that do that often become promotional blogs and not blogs about the family, which draw people in. Seeing someone’s true heart, family, and things we can relate to are so special and what makes people feel connected. I’ll pray for your new journey thru blogging. You’re doing a great job!
Wherever your blog goes from here, I pray you never forget what you felt today when you wrote this post. And that God will always be glorified.
Aww, I’m so happy to hear how God brought back to this place.
I often feel like this, like who cares? And I even have a really crazy story! But, God absolutely cares and He has a reason and meaning for ALL of His stories.
Great encouragement girl!
Very, very well said love. I think you do a very good job of keeping your “voice” per se on this blog. Truth? I skip all sponsored posts nine times out of ten BUT I see the point in them. And if they help anyone bring in extra money? well I’m all for extra money 🙂 keep doing what you’re doing. Your blog rocks.
I am about to write a VERY similar post. Like we’ve talked about on twitter, I’ve just finished books with similar messages (Seven by Jen Hatmaker and Anything by Jennie Allen). Both have really made me question my heart and my motives. It’s made me really look at what’s eternal, and what my legacy will be. It’s so hard to resist the flow and be a light. It’s so refreshing that there are others out there who want to make much of Jesus.
Erin,
I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now, and have actually not read as much because of the sponsored blogs. (It isnt just your blog though, but it seems like many that I read have been sponsoring more and more blogs.) Whatever decision you make is a personal one. I hope we get to see someone the light hearted posts that made me fall in love with your blog.
Beautifully written! I know how much you loved Jessi’s book and I’m more than confident whatever direction you take it will be the right one and a wonderful journey for thousands and thousands of people to follow along with. Your strong faith will lead you right where you should be, but you should also never feel bad about the success of your blog generating revenue for your family. The opportunities this industry gives us are ones to be proud of! Love you!
Thanks so much for sharing your heart, Erin. Your blog is such a blessing! Thanks for writing. 🙂
Thank you so much for such an honest and inspiring post. I am a loyal reader of your blog each day, and I truly enjoy it. A recent post you did on the She Reads Truth program really struck a chord with me and inspired me to strengthen and reaffirm my faith, and I am truly grateful to you for that – starting a reading plan on She Reads Truth has lifted me more than I can put into words in such a small space of time, and I am feeling so much more peace.
You speak so warmly and honestly in each and every one of your posts (even the sponsored ones) that I wholeheartedly believe that regardless of the topic, or style of post you choose to write, and the direction you choose to take on your blog, will add value, heart and happiness to all of your readers.
Enjoy your upcoming vacation, and I am looking forward to many more heartwarming and inspiring reads from Blue Eyed Bride!
x
Erin…your faith is such an encouragement to so many. I will pray for this transition because you are heeding the call of God and any call that’s being answered is sure to be met with those who don’t want to see God’s will done. Blessings to you and your family!!
You know we love you and look forward to the future direction of your blog. It can only get better, I’m sure of it!
I think this might be one of my favorite posts that you have ever written- just full of so much grace and honesty. Enjoy your much deserved vacation with your sweet family!! xo
I haven’t been able to comment until today but I wanted to come back to this post. I just wanted to tell you that I’m feeling much the same way about my blog. I never ever in a million years thought I would ever use the word Jesus on my blog. But almost a year ago I put my faith back into God and Jesus and it is quickly becoming a huge part of my life and who I am. At first I was scared to talk about religion. But now I don’t care who is bothered by it. This is something new on my blog and if someone is turned off by it so be it. I have to be me, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
Sometimes my spiritual journey is on my heart and if I need to write it out then that’s just what I have to do.
I do some sponsored posts but not a lot. I’m not that “huge” of a blog but I’m so proud of the little space God has provided to help some people. I write a lot about my struggles with severe depression and anxiety and I know I have helped people to see that they’re not alone. That’s the main focus of my blog. I want people to know that it’s okay to be imperfect and vulnerable and honest. In fact, I hope that’s how people see me. I always keep it real on my blog. And I hope people can respect me for that.
Anyway, I love your blog. I’m excited to read each time you post 🙂
Probably one of the best post I’ve read it a while!! I personally don’t enjoy clicking on a blog and the next thing you know its really just a site for ads, giveaways and reviews. Totally understand why women do it here and there but some get a little out of control.
Hope this place of yours gets back to what you want it to be….a place for you!!!
I love this post, Erin. I think so often we forget ourselves in trying to keep up with the periphery of our stories (the emails, the opportunities, the sponsoring), and we forget how much influence we have just in telling our stories, in continually pointing to Jesus and saying, “This is what He’s done in my life.” I’m only halfway through Jessi’s book, but already I’m feeling motivated myself to be responsible with the influence I have, in real life and in blogging, rather than losing myself trying to chase more. Thank you so much for sharing this part of your story!
I. Love. This. I know I’m super late to the party, but this is exactly why I wanted to start blogging. With SOOO much going on in our lives, I wanted to build this community with like-minded and kind people… Even people with different opinions, but still kind and wanting to share and debate. So glad to have found your blog and to be able to share in this crazy God-loving, personal blog world. 🙂