Let’s be honest.
I’m no shrinking violet.
I’m no gutless chicken.
But since starting Enchanting Marketing in November 2012, I’ve often been nervous. Frightened enough to wake up in a pool of sweat on a cold winter night.
Am I a blogging wimp?
As a business blogger it’s easy to play it safe
Don’t share your strongest opinions.
Don’t step on any toes.
Write on auto-pilot.
It might sound like a solid blogging strategy, but could it be a wimp’s way of marketing yourself online?
Below follow 5 warning signs you’re losing business opportunities because you’re a spineless blogger.
1. You worry about unsubscribers
I had to get over this angst quickly.
From the outside it looked like I had a great blog launch in November 2012. My first post generated 88 social shares and 34 comments (or 17 if you don’t count my replies).
But the truth is that my launch was a string of problems and mistakes. For instance: My first guest post on Copyblogger became a damp squib, because I didn’t have a website live – not even a single web page telling visitors that Enchanting Marketing would be launched soon. While I had spent many, many days writing that post, I hardly benefited from it.
For my next guest posts I had a landing page live so people could leave their email address if they wanted to know about my launch. But I let my email list go cold, as I didn’t have a clue what to write.
When I finally picked up the courage to send my first email on 4 September 2012, most email receivers didn’t remember subscribing. Within one month 17% of my list unsubscribed.
I could almost cry about my stupidity.
But the truth is: I wasn’t losing any readers or fans, because these people didn’t even know who I was. I was looking at meaningless numbers.
Not all subscribers are readers; and not all readers are your fans.
Subscriber numbers are less important than reader engagement, enthusiasm, and love for your blog. You can’t build a blog based on subscriber numbers. You can only build your blog and your business when people feel connected to you, when they want to listen to you, when they become your fans so they spread the word for you.
Stop worrying about unsubscribers. Instead: build stronger ties with your real fans.
2. You don’t experiment
Writing in the same format week in week out is easy. Churn out a blog post in under one hour. Find a stockphoto. Hit publish and share via social media.
It’s safe. It works. And sometimes it’s all we can do as our to-do list overflows with more important and urgent issues.
But if you never experiment, you never learn whether you could do better – gain more comments, win more shares, reach more (or nicer!) clients.
And if you never try something new, blogging becomes a chore. Your posts become drab when you lack enthusiasm. You’re slaughtering your voice and boring the boots off your readers.
To keep your blog fresh and exciting, try something new. A long, epic post or a super-short provocative post. A new writing style. A guest writer. A podcast or video. Or a new source of illustrations.
Don’t allow boredom to kill your voice. Because your passion is contagious and your enthusiasm gains you new clients. Experiment and have fun.
3. You’re intensely private
Business is business.
Right?
Not quite.
To promote your business you need to craft meaningful connections with people. That means showing your face and telling at least part of your story. Your dreams. Your mistakes. Your writing fears.
When you give readers a glimpse of your personality, they can get to know you, and like you, and trust you. You don’t have to bare all. You don’t have to go naked. Set your own boundaries, but don’t hide yourself completely.
4. You crave being perfect
Of course we all like to receive compliments about our blog. We love tweets, and likes, and plusses. We love hearing how talented we are. They’re signs of approval, aren’t they?
I was recently called a liar by a commenter.
I was slightly taken aback.
But then I realized that I can’t please everyone. I can’t be liked by everyone. I don’t need to be perfect.
Perfectionism is not self-improvement. Perfectionism is, at its core, about trying to earn approval and acceptance. ~ Brené Brown
Our job as business bloggers is to appeal to the clients who are right for our company. We don’t need to worry about people who don’t like us or who don’t fit our business.
We don’t need to please the crowds. We don’t need to know everything. We don’t need to be perfect. We only need to engage our ideal clients and turn them into raving fans.
Fans forgive us our mistakes. They ignore a glaring error in a subject line. They privately point out a silly typo. They laugh about a crazy post.
Fans know we’re human. They like us because of who we are. That’s why they want to do business with us. Warts and all.
5. You’re afraid to share a strong point of view
Popular bloggers are not afraid to take a stand. They are opinionated. They may have extreme views. They go against the grain. But that’s what makes them fascinating.
Nobody is looking for bloggers who tone down their views, who share their opinion with a string of buts, ifs, and maybes.
Stop trying to keep everyone happy. Share what you truly believe in. Be bold.
The truth about blogging wimps
As bloggers we put our reputation on the line each time we hit publish.
It’s easy to be nervous about getting it wrong, upsetting a few people, or undermining our professional image. But blogging is about making meaningful connections and you don’t build relationships with your readers on auto-pilot.
If you’ve never been anxious about hitting publish, can you honestly say you’ve given it your all?
Feeling a little frightened is normal. You’re pushing your boundaries. You’re discovering new opportunities. You’re experimenting and growing.
You’re not a wimp. Keep going. Be crazy and have fun.
PS For days I’ve been umming and ahing about publishing my first hand-drawn blog illustration. I’d love your honest opinion: Does it look too amateurish or should I illustrate my next blog post again?
Recommended reading on overcoming writing fears:
How I learned to dance with 21 writing fears
An open letter to anyone who thinks their writing isn’t good enough
How I made peace with my inner critic
Oh wow, I feel like Heinrich Schliemann right now. I’ve discovered the very first public drawing of Henrietta! ? I need to tell the world! ?
Ha! So, I had to look up who Heinrich Schliemann is. It’s hard to believe that this drawing is 4 years old. I still remember vividly how nervous I was about posting it!
I could feel you were nervous. And Henrietta herself looks quite nervous, too! But look at you two now! ❤️️
P.S. Re Schliemann: I actually want to write “archaeologist”, but I blacked out. Couldn’t remember the word, and Google refused to recognize my gibberish query. So I went with a next best synonym ?
I still have this drawing hanging on my wall, next to my desk; it feels like a piece of Enchanting Marketing history 🙂
Aw, what a sweet idea! ? Who knows, maybe one day we’ll have a Museum of Henrietta’s Adventures! ?
That sounds like the title of a book 😉
WOWZA Henneke, love this article, gives me power to do what I feel is in my heart and I need to express. Yes, I will do what I feel I can serve mankind with, whether I step on toes or not, can’t love them all, and so it is. As a novice blogger I am learning so much from you, thank you.
Your drawings???? Insanely you, insanely profound, insanely fabulous. Consider publishing them with just a catchy quote, I guarantee it will be a best-seller. Your sense of humor is well expressed in your drawings; I love them, please keep going.
Stepping on people’s toes may be unavoidable. Not everyone likes the same things. Only yesterday someone unsubscribed because, as he wrote, he didn’t like my drawings. So there you go. I can’t please everyone!
Glad to hear you are enjoying the drawings!
Well, I cracked up… I can tell you. LOL
No, as far as pleasing all the platforms, you’re right, there are really three. Landscape (Twitter, Google+ and FB? Youtube?), square (Instagram), and vertical (Pinterest.)
My solution is to generally pick the #1 platform I’m working on and create the graphic for that one. I still share on the others but it’s not the perfect dimension. Sometimes I go the extra mile and create multiple sizes.
I have seen pp take the same graphic and tweak it for 3 dif sizes. It’s not a bad idea because creating the 1st graphic is the bulk of the work so the extra time to make other sizes is somewhat minimal.
The ONE thing I’m doing now (no matter what) is to watermark my website url onto every graphic. I don’t put my name but I have seen a huge social marketer influencer do the following at the bottom of every graphic:
@herSocialMediaHandle | herWebsite.com
It looks quite tasteful.
~darlene
Sounds like we’re working in the same way. I’m going landscape for Twitter and G+ which are my main platforms. If I have time, I create a portrait version for Pinterest.
And thanks for the watermarking tips, I’ll see whether I can add my website address in the future.
Thank you for stopping by again, Darlene 🙂
Gosh.. why did I not bookmark your site last time I was here? Excellent post!
You really want honest feedback on your illustration?
OK, then.
Here goes….
It ROCKS! It’s absolutely hilarious, and is perfect for this post. I especially like the expression on her face AND the one finger pecking at the keyboard. Or maybe that’s to imply fear to publish?
I have two suggestions:
1) Make it larger… the better to see it.
2) Make it “pin” worthy to encourage Pinterest sharing.
darlene 🙂
Thank you soooo much, Darlene. Yes, the one finger indicates the nervousness of pressing the “publish” button. She (I) almost can’t press it 🙂
I’ve since made my pictures bigger, but gone landscape as that’s suitable for both Twitter and G+, but I don’t think it’s good for Pinterest. I don’t think it’s possible to create images that have the right size for Twitter, G+, and Pinterest? Or have you found a way?
Thank you for your suggestions, Darlene. I appreciate it.
Whew, this hit me right in the gut! Especially the perfectionism part and fear of sharing strong views. I have been wanting to blog for as long as I can remember but have been holding myself back. Every time I wrote something, when I read it at the end, it had been so sanitized that it completely lacked personality or life. I have had to learn so much about fear management to push myself out of my comfort zone and write authentically.
Love your writing and SO love your cartoons! It made me want to do a cartooning course too!
Hi Alison
I’m thoroughly enjoying learning how to draw cartoons. It’s a lot of fun, and it inspires my writing, too.
Learning how to draw has pushed me even more out of my comfort zone than learning how to write. So it’s good practice for fear management, too. 🙂
I hope you can find a way to get started with your blog. Let me know if I can help with anything?
Thank you! I will.
Thanks for your great posts – I’m feeling inspired to experiment a bit more and let my personality shine through more in my posts as I have had a very interesting life and have an unusual way of observing the world. Love your stuff Henneke!
Mandy X
That’s great to hear, Mandy. 🙂
Let me know how you get on?
Hello Henneke,
I thought i was coming here to read about your fears, only to see that you’re sharing the traits of blogging whimps and also advising us how to over come such fears, This is an epic post,
Thanks Henneke =D
Thank you, Isaiah. 🙂
I found this very uplifting as I am currently writing and illustrating my first book called “Glass Prisons.” I got alot out of your post Henneke. It has also been a great back up for my waining self confidence which overwhelms me at certain times. Many thanks.
Yes, I’m with you. Writing a book is even scarier than writing a blog. I was really lucky to find a writing buddy who was writing his first book at the same time as I was struggling with mine.
Good luck with your book. Don’t give up!
I am proud to say that I am a Henneke D groupie haha. Love your transparency and willingness to share your faults. This is why I gravitated to your material. You conversationalist tone and awesome writing structure. Thank you for sharing this. I definitely need to experiment more.
Good to see you joining our enchanting community, Patrick 🙂
Have fun experimenting!
Great article! I’m about to launch a new blog/magazine, and it’s been fun to do the research. I am being a wimp about the launch part in particular! Thanks for all the tips. And yes, I think you should add more of your own drawings, that one’s ADORABLE!
I was umming and ahhing about my launch, too.
To stop procrastination and perfectionistic tendencies, I promised my email subscribers I’d launch my blog at a specific date. So I had to get ready.
Good luck with your launch!
Wonderful advice, thanks Henneke!
I have started to read your blog ONLY because of illustrations! And I love it (and them). I could find myself in all 5 points so I keep on reading 🙂
Oh, wow. That’s great to hear! Thank you for letting me know, Katarina 🙂
Hi Henneke!
I’ve seen your post from copyblogger and I was really amazed on your writing style. Since then, I followed you everywhere (online) 🙂
I’m new to writing and I am not a native English language person. So I find it a little hard to write and pull the right word to deliver what I want to say. I am afraid to what people will say. But this post inspired me. Now, I will go out to the world and do it. Nobody is perfect, isn’t it?
Oh by the way, your drawing is amazing! It complements the overall look of your website. It relaxed my eyes.
That’s so true. Nobody is perfect. That’s the beauty of being human.
Welcome, Jepoy 🙂
Hi Henneke, I enjoyed this article very much and particularly relate to #2, not experimenting. My blog is fairly new (just a month old) but already I have a formula down. I’ve been brainstorming on some new/different ways to post content that will be of interest to my niche readership (and give me greater opportunities to post throughout the week) but haven’t hit on anything yet. Thank you for the words of wisdom and the encouragement to not be a blogging wimp!
Hi Johanna, thank you for stopping by. Experiments can be small – playing around with shorter paragraphs, different words, or metaphors. It’s a way to stay fresh as a writer and avoid getting stuck in a rut.
Good luck with your new blog! Let me know if you have any questions I can help with. 🙂
Awesome post. It helps give me the courage to be myself.
If I’m working closely with clients who hire me due to an overly polished (and somewhat false) image, the relationship wouldn’t flow very well anyway.
I think a big part of my blogging journey will be one of finding my digital persona…of finding the balance between baring some and bearing it all. Fear of messing up is paralyzing, so I supposed you just gotta take the plunge and start trying.
By the way, awesome illustration! I love the personal touch.
Thanks again,
Melissa
Yes, I know the fear so well – it’s part of my blogging journey. I try to take little steps forward and push myself a little outside my comfort zone, but never too far. It’s tiring, so sometimes I take it easy for a while 🙂
Fear of mistakes and trying to be perfect are my biggest stumbling blocks. But learning how to draw is helping me to get over this. My drawings are never perfect and they will never be. This doesn’t matter. It’s the lack of perfection that adds the personal touch.
Making mistakes is human. That’s how we learn. Nobody expect us to be perfect.
Ahhh yes..trying to be perfect. I know that one quite well.
It’s funny how it works out. I’ve watched myself try to make something perfect – in writing and in art – and the product is never super cool. It lacks that organic quality.
Watching other people work who don’t struggle with the same degree of neurotic perfectionism seems to help! I’ve had the good fortune to spend some time with a highly regarded spiritual figure from India. She is so humble and so natural and quiet, and she really likes art, which she uses as a devotional exercise in all different media.
It’s super fun to watch her because you can tell she’s not really thinking about it, and she’s not worrying about making it perfect. She just does what she feels, and she works sooo fast, and the end product is always more beautiful than we could have possibly imagined.
Sounds like a beautiful experience and it really epitomizes “working from the heart”. Have you used this in a blog post about “marketing with soul” yet? Marketing is quite an abstract concept. Using metaphors and telling real stories will help you explain your marketing ideas better to your audience. Plus it helps you to stand out and create your own voice. 🙂
I really appreciate your reply and value your opinions — thank you. I have not used that anecdote in a post, although I would like to.
You see, I’m in a little bit of a unique position in that I get to live around authentic yogis from the Himalayas and experience firsthand how they approach projects, how they connect with people, and how they inspire monumental achievements in others.
So much of how I approach marketing is informed by these experiences, and by the philosophical tradition from which it all comes. But I’m really wary to put that out on a blog. I’m always thinking, will that scare people off? Does it cater to too much of a select group of people? Will it hurt me professionally and limit my ability to support myself?
I struggle with these questions every day.
By the way, have you ever thought about coaching? I think you’d be really good at it!
I don’t know for sure, but my gut-feeling would be that there are a lot of potential clients (especially if you think on a global scale), who you could connect with in a much stronger way because they appreciate your more philosophical side. You would need to think about how you can reach them – do you know of any blogs they read that you could guest post for?
And yes, I’m developing a blog coaching program – I’ll work closely with people in small groups to improve their blogging. This will be an intensive e-course with a forum. Thanks for your welcome confidence booster 🙂
PS If you want to continue this conversation about your business, it may be easier to do that by email: Henneke [at] EnchantingMarketing.com 🙂
Henneke,
I applaud your use of your own sketches. I have spent years facilitating basic sketching experiences for adults who are reluctant to explore that method of observing, recording, and creating. Further, your use of hand-drawn illustrations in a business environment is a valid and valuable step in the ongoing necessary process of retaining a sense of humanity in the business world.
Keep it up!
BGM
Thank you, Bethann. I love how you put it: “retaining a sense of humanity”.
My cartooning course has made me realize that everyone can learn basic sketching skills. And it’s so much fun, too!
It’s true. It’s like dancing the tango or paddling a canoe – it’s not necessarily a question of innate skill. It helps to have aptitude, but it also helps to have a curious mind and a willing teacher.
Long live Henrietta! 😉
Yay! 😀
Yes yes yes, on with the drawing then, but I miss your old avatar! This one is too friendly. You are way sharper and interesting IRL 😉
I thought the old avatar was a little boring … plus it was from about 7 years ago. I don’t look that young anymore 😉
Nice blog. And spot on for me. I’m not a regular blogger, can’t seem to work up the courage and the routine to find subjects every (other) week. I guess I’m the überwhimp since I don’t hit the publish button for many of my drafts. And then another week goes by :-/
About the illustration: nice. Do have a tip for you as one illustrator to another 😉
Try to get the illustration a little more ‘out of the box’. You’ve drawn exactly what you wrote: a person scared to hit publish. The hard part with illustrations is to draw what is left out of the text. To let the image be a completion of the text instead of a translation.
Yes, yes, this is such a good point. She should have been frightened to jump off a springboard into a swimming pool, or out of a plane with a parachute, or bungee jump, or cross a rickety bridge over a ravine full of hungry lions, right?
I hope you’ve not binned all your draft posts? Sometimes drafts need to simmer on the back burner for a few weeks. You might be surprised when you go back and you just realize they’re pretty good and just need a little polishing or you may find the point you wanted to make buried halfway the post.
Thank you for adding your valuable thoughts, Suzanne. I appreciate it.
Henneke – Excellent post which inspired me in several ways, not the least of which was a new blog post myself that was more personally exposing than I usually write. As for the illustration – honestly, it’s wonderful!
That sounds good. I am quite a private person and writing about myself doesn’t come naturally to me, but it feels important, so I push myself a little from time to time. It definitely makes online connections more meaningful. Go for it!
You hit a few very sensitive areas! Thanks I needed to read this!
All good wishes for a wimpless 2014
I’m not sure I’m able to go completely wimpless myself, but I’m certainly giving it a try. 😉
Good to see you again, Susan. Wishing you a wonderful 2014!
LOVE the illustration, really adds personality to the article! Great post!!! I’m seeing waaaay too much of myself here….
Join the club, Sarah. We’re all wimps now and then. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by!
I’m not a wimp. And I’ve had to remove acid comments, before, which were directed AT my fans for defending me. It was a teeny bloggy WAR. 🙂 However, we all survived and the bad girl who tried to scorch me on facebook and on her own site, failed.
I think your drawing is far superior to the Pillsbury Dough Boy we see everywhere! So there! 🙂
That sounds like a nasty blogging war, Katharine. Glad you and your readers survived it!
Good to see you again 🙂
Good to be back. Very good. It was too long a vacation.
Hi, a most illuminating post which shares a hidden fear about being too outspoken and fulfilling a belief in that which you try to express.
As a result of this post, I am starting to formulate my own blog(new) and I hope to be faithful to my beliefs.
I enjoy your blog, do not worry about your drawing, as in cartoon form you can be more expressive.
Glad you found the post helpful. Good luck with your new blog!
Let me know if there’s anything you’re struggling with and I’ll do my best to help.
Thank you for stopping by, Tom.
Guilty 🙁 I’m such a wimp. Thanks for your great post. I’m such a fan of your blog – its not gimmicky just full of honest, practical advice. I hope to get out my first newsletter this month. Thanks for reminding me to keep my focus on the right thing.
Have you check out Skillshare? I think you would make a great teacher there! Hope you had a great New Year.
Hi Anna – good to see you again. 🙂
Sending out your first newsletter sounds like a good way to start 2014. Don’t set the bar too high for yourself – just keep it simple!
Thank you for the tip on Skillshare. I don’t know it, but will check it out.
Love the illustration – it’s super quirky and unique! 🙂
And I am definitely a blogging whimp. I think number 5 is my worst holdback. What if I publish something opinionated and against the grain, and a seasoned industry professional stumbles across my blog and tells me i’m totally wrong! And then what if my readers believe this person and I lose credibility? I just need to throw caution to the wind and go for it anyways!
You don’t need to have a strong opinion about everything. Think about your industry (it’s web design,isn’t it?) – about which aspects or trends do you have an opinion? Which mistakes do you see a lot of people make? And can you push yourself to make your opinion slightly stronger?
When editing your text, try to remove phrases like “in my opinion” or “I think” – that makes your text immediately stronger, too; and as you’re writing it, people know it’s your opinion.
Also, remember that you can use quotes of other people to back up your argument.
Your drawing made me smile 🙂 Only an amateur would try to use her own drawing only once. Be brave, keep using your drawings!
You’re right (of course!). I’ll try not to be an amateur 🙂
Thank you, Nancy.
Henneke, Thanks for another inspiring post! I needed a kick in the butt. The holidays have put me back and I need to get back on track. Your artwork is good….very cute, perfect for blogging too. Best, Holly
I love taking a break from writing as it refreshes my creative energy. But it can be hard to get back on track as it seems you need to come back with a bang, but that’s really not necessary. You can just continue where you left before the break.
You have lovely garden photos on your site! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Thanks Henneke!
Hi Henneke,
Good post. The Artwork is spot on. It adds a friendly touch to your post.
What drawing course are you doing? Would be interested myself.
Regards
Danny
Ireland
Hi Danny
The course is the Da Vinci Cartooning Course. It’s an online course run by Sean d’Souza. You can find more details here: http://www.psychotactics.com/davinci/
It’s a lot of fun! Feel free to email me if you’d like to know more.
Thanks for this post. It’s a helpful reminder to put our ideal customers first, and to serve them best by being our best selves.
Yes, keep posting your drawings. It’s a wonderful exercise in exhibiting courage in spite of potential naysayers. Plus, it gives you more opportunity to practice and to get even better.
Yes, that’s a good point about posting my drawings. Practice more to get better.
Hopefully after all these wonderful comments I won’t be so scared about it next week 🙂
Thank you for stopping by to add you thoughts, Henry. I appreciate it.
Hi Henneke — I’m a new reader.
I loved your message today. I’ve been such a wimp that I’ve only published one post since April! Fear, perfectionism, inexperience — it’s always some reason or another. I’m pledging to write and post twice in the next 10 days — OMG!
I love your drawing. You’ve captured apprehension beautifully! More, please!
Welcome, Melissa. Good to see you and so glad you like my drawing 🙂
My drawing teacher’s motto is: “If you do your work diligently, great work will be created. If you make excuses diligently, great excuses will be created.”
Let me know if there’s something I can do to help? I’m holding you to your pledge, Melissa. Will you send me a link? 🙂
You’ve got it Henneke.
I’ve made excuses diligently. Time for that to end.
Look for links in the next 10 days!
Melissa
Great! You know my email address 🙂
Ay, Henneke! I love the quote from your teacher! Is that something we could share on facebook or twitter? If not, I surely will tell it to my kids! 🙂
My teacher is on vacation at the moment, so I can’t ask him. But I’d think he would be okay with it. His name in Sean d’Souza – I’m assuming he came up with it as he hasn’t attributed it to someone else.
Let’s be honest. I never thought that you were a shrinking violet.
I also never thatought that you were a liar. You definitely seem sincere.
That guy was just way off base. Can’t worry about the crackpots and the crazies.
Unless they are your entire audience.
I think the most important point that you raise is the necessity to take a stand – to have a strong opinion. Otherwise your writing is vanilla–bland. Not interesting.
You can’t be afraid to speak your mind, express an opinion – even an unpopular one. But, you better be damn sure you believe it and can defend it.
Love your illustration, Henneke. Please continue to share your work.
I am definitely an enchanting person and not a spammer.
I’m glad you didn’t take me for a shrinking violet.
Sometimes we’re so keen to please and be liked, that we start worrying about crackpots. But as you say – they’re not my audience. My readers are enchanting people 😉
Thank you for stopping by, Scott. I appreciate it.
Henneke–Kudos to you for taking the plunge with your drawing! It is perfect for this post and shows how accomplished you are! Great blog post as well. You hit all the right points about taking a stand, experimenting, perfection paralysis, etc. So you have a very useful blog post and “enchanting” drawing to go with it.
Thank you, Janet. I hope to see some drawings on your website soon, too! 🙂
Love the drawings Henneke! And your post. As always.
I also can’t draw a circle but have been using images in my posts for a while. I’ve come to believe it’s not really about how “good” or realistically we can draw, in fact, I’ve stopped trying. It’s about conveying a message, and wacky little drawings, seem to do this perfectly. And it’s so much fun! Who knew.
btw, do you have a pen/tablet thingy? It’s my new best friend – mine is a wacom tablet.
Bravo! And thank you:)
Lisa, just sneaked over to read your post and look at your drawings. I love your drawings!
You’re so right. It’s not about art, but about conveying a message.
I don’t have a Wacom. I’m nervous (again!) that it’s another steep learning curve that might distract me from improving my drawing skills. Especially as I don’t know how to use PhotoShop 🙁
Have you found it difficult to master? I might need to take the plunge.
Thank you for stopping by. Always good to see you! 🙂
Not difficult at all. The tablet and pen is just like a mouse but easier to control. Has made things a lot quicker. Having said that I had it for two years and didn’t use it. It seemed difficult but it was just because I barely knew how to use my design software. When you do come to use digital design tools – I use InDesign and Photoshop – it’s fantastic.
The software has taken me a while – but it’s been well worth the effort. I know just enough to get by. I still like scanning drawings at time, but again, being able to use Photoshop, even as little as I can, helps enormously.
Have fun!
Thank you, Lisa. That’s really helpful!
Guilty as charged. Perfectionist AND wimp. So much so that it’s been over 2 months since my last post. Every idea I come up with will either take too much time and effort, or won’t be found interesting by anyone (in my mind). But it’s a new year. Time to do things differently, throwing caution to the wind.
Keep up the enchanting work – I always look forward to opening these little gems when they land in my inbox. Oh, and the illustration is perfect. 🙂
Thank you, Henneke.
I feel your pain. If I hadn’t committed to a weekly schedule by telling everyone who signs up they receive an email every Tuesday, I would hardly ever post, because it’s always possible to find good – not really – excuses not to post.
Is there a way you could commit yourself to posting twice a month?
Good advice. Thanks.
And I did not even notice anything wrong with your picture. It looked sufficiently professional to belong there.
Thank you, Dave. I’m probably the only one who is seeing all the things that are wrong with the drawing… 😉
Hi Henneke,
I love your stuff. But I’m the worst of all the blogging wimps – I have all these ideas and I can’t bring myself to make my first post on our website! Your points today really hit home – I just have to do it. I guess it gets easier each time, right?
Thanks for the tips- and I like the pic, too!
Yes, I found my first post most difficult; and it does get easier over time.
Also, remember – you’re not printing anything, so you can always fix typos, change your design, or rephrase paragraphs at a later stage.
Go for it! Just do it.
Love the drawing. Blogs with unique images win out, I think.
As for disgruntled po-faced people: Sometimes they do us a favour by never coming back.
Personally, if we were to prove everything we said, there would be no space left for thought-provoking ideas. And who wants to read through pages of footnotes? Not me. I had enough of those in text books.
Yes, I agree. There should be a basic level of trust. Why would I lie about a comment I received? Doesn’t make sense, does it?
Fortunately, most Enchanting commenters are nice people like you. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Gush! 🙂
Hi Henneke,
I LOVE your drawing and it reflects the point of the blog very well.
Every time I read your blog, I’m reminded I would like to start one. But then my mind immediately goes to “I have no time for a blog!” We make time for what we want to, right? Are you offering an on-line class anytime soon?
Keep up the drawings, they are a welcome bit of whimsy.
Thank you, Mary. Glad you like it! 🙂
Yes, we should make time for the things we want to do, but I know life doesn’t always work that way and we end up doing lots of other things.
I’m hoping to start an on-line business blogging class in late March or early April. Fingers crossed.
Hi Henneke,
A great post as always. When I unsubscribe from a blog or newsletter, it’s usually because it I realize it wasn’t right for me to begin with. I think that is probably true for most people.
Bloggers shouldn’t feel like unsubscribes mean their audience has turned on them or that their last post was crap. It’s all part of the process of engaging with the right people.
Your hand-drawn illustration is not only enchanting, it’s a point of differentiation. Nice work. I like it.
Thank you, Chris. Glad you like it 🙂
Your comment is spot on – unsubscribes don’t mean that you’ve written something shitty. Some of my best posts generated more unsubscribes than more average posts.
Thanks!
This is just what I needed to hear this week, Henneke! Plus, I love your drawing – especially her scarf!
The scarf was a later addition to Henrietta (that’s how I’ve called her). I like how it adds a touch of bright orange. And when she’s running around, the scarf can flow behind her. So glad you like it, too.
Good to “see” you, Sue. 🙂
I too remember the early days of having people unsubscribe from our information. What had we done wrong!! Ha ha – but it’s all a process of learning, developing, tweaking, refining and enjoying yourself.
You should most definitely illustrate your next post. I like it simply because it *is* hand-drawn and doesn’t look ‘too’ professional.
That’s such a nice way to look at my drawing. I saw drawing-by-hand as a negative point because I don’t know how to do it digitally and more polished!
I really appreciate your view on this, Caroline. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
Hi Henneke,
Awesome illustration. It looks fun and professional. Do illustrate your next blog post 🙂
I always love your insights. Honestly, I’m a blogging wimp. I get so anxious hitting that publish button. I worry about my words and its effects on my audience. But once I do, I can breathe normally lol 🙂
Yes, I know that feeling of breathing normally again. Did you hear my big sigh of relief a couple of hours ago? 😉
Worrying how your words affect your audience shows you care – which is good as long as it doesn’t get obsessive.
Thank you so much for stopping by Nydia. I’m so glad you like my illustration. 🙂
Thanks for this article Henneke, I’m a new reader. I’m hoping to build these real visitors on my new blog, instead of just writing for search engines robots and social butterflies but make an effort to connect with people who are looking for information, news and community on a topic that I believe is really topical.
Welcome, Haroun 🙂
I like your approach. Doing business is about connecting with people.
Thank you for stopping by!
I think the illustration looks very professional Henneke, with great use of colour.
Glad you like it, Gill
Purple is my favorite color – but you might have guessed that already 😉
Hi Henneke!
I love your illustration! While I don’t know what your initial drawing level was, I’m impressed that in 6 months, you have done this adorable sketch! I get what you are conveying, and that’s art, right? Keep connecting us readers with your illustrations – keep stepping up and sharing your heart!
Have a fabulous 2014 – be sure to BeWUCA! 🙂 Take care.
Kim
You make an important point – it’s not about being perfect, but about conveying a message.
I’ve not drawn anything since being at school. As a child my drawings were average at best, so I started this course at a pretty low level. I’ve been drawing almost daily during the last 6 months. Taking small steps forward, dealing with lots of doubt and making loads of mistakes, I’ve improved my drawing abilities. 🙂
Thank you, Kimberlee. I hope you have a fabulous 2014, too. 🙂
I’m trying not to be a blogging wimp but sometimes I try to satisfy everybody by sacrificing myself on the altar of website traffic. How many times had I pressed backspace worrying about my words being to strong and trying not to offend anyone. It’s time for a change, thanks Henneke. Great illustration by the way 🙂
You don’t want to offend Google, but you don’t want to dance too much to their tune either. Worrying too much about Google’s robots can get in the way of building a meaningful relationship with real human beings.
Try putting your ideal customer first before worrying about Google. Think about how you can help him or her.
Thank you for stopping by, Tom. I appreciate it!
Let me know how you get on?
I’m just starting a blog, mostly to get me writing again and experiment with the format. Still, I make my living writing content for my company’s website, so I’m a little anxious to have the blog perform well. I’ve been doing too much backspacing, just like Tom! The reminder to “put my ideal customer [or reader for me] first before worrying about Google” was definitely a reminder I needed to hear. Thank you! I’ll definitely be reading more as I need inspiration, both for work and for my blog. 🙂
Welcome, Ashley 🙂
Good luck with starting your blog. Let me know how you get on?
“If you’ve never been anxious about hitting publish, can you honestly say you’ve given it your all?
Feeling a little frightened is normal. You’re pushing your boundaries. You’re discovering new opportunities. You’re experimenting and growing. ”
Henneke, this is so true! There were a few posts that I was very scared to hit publish, but I did, and they were the most engaging posts, one even had 1.7K Facebook shares.
Penelope also says every post you write and publish should scare you. Because if you have nothing at stake, you’re not being interesting to your readers.
And I LOVE your hand-drawn illustration! It has so much character, and I think she looks like YOU! Please keep it up and illustration every post!
Yes, that’s such a good point you’re making: Being scared is a sign that you care.
I’m so glad you like my illustration. And yes, she is a little like me. I have named her Henrietta, which is the English version of Henneke. 🙂
Good to see you again, Lucy.
DEFINITELY illustrate your next blog again. Looks great! Not amateurish at all. And even if it did….when it looks good, it looks good, right?
Yes, you’re so right. I need to accept that looking good is good enough. No need to have the perfect illustration.
Thank you so much, Brigitte.
Wish I could draw like you. Definitely illustrate your next post!
I’m sure you can, Pauline. It just requires practice. 6 months ago I couldn’t even draw a simple circle.
which = wish, making mistakes comes with the job, says a perfectionist 😉
Hi Henneke,
I find your illustration very beautiful! It’s pretty, it’s concise, it’s clear. This is really worth more than a thousand words!
Your drawing lessons are sure paying off!
Regards, Harry
P.S. I confess that I’m a blogging wimp! That’s why I post so little on my own blog.
Time to change in 2014. Go for it! Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Thank you for your compliments about my illustration. 🙂