Why a non-blogger launches a blogging e-magazine
July 21st, 2009 |
kristin
In preparation for launching a blogging community, i thought it fitting to actually post a blog entry. Ok, i have crafted a few blogs last year for my own studio, but it didnt really “take”. It was more about sharing ideas, new products, and an update about our personalized bisque. Hmmm, well, i guess that is pretty much what blogs are all about, so i guess i should get to the root of why i stopped.
It was no fun. i felt like there may have been 3 people who were actually interested in what might have been interesting to me, as the shop owner, but then what i actually had to say wasnt all that interesting (i assumed).
i really wasnt inspired. i still didnt really connect with the passion of blogging, so it was more of a duty and as we all know, things that feel like obligations dont spark passion.
it wasnt pretty. i didnt take the time to get it a professional makeover, and being un-technical, i had no idea or interest in figuring it out myself. since it was plain, it didnt keep my interest. i wasnt proud of it, so i didnt want to promote it.
So here i am. After 4 blog posts last year, i have invested thousands into a full-blown blogging network. in my defense, the blogging network didnt start out as such. my original business plan was for an idea-sharing community, yes, but blogs where an optional “nice-to-have”. it evolved into this thing, much to my surprise, and now, delight. i guess i am the ideal person to develop this community for an industry that is so hands-on, and so interactive with the guests who make their own creations in our studios ever day, that we traditionally dont feel like that the experience we offer is web-able. gatherings, birthdays, celebrations, personalization, milestones, one-of-a-kind artwork, processes, techniques, hand-made, experiences… no, nothing interesting for the web.
why now? do i have a passion for this “blogging thing” now… or am i hoping it will “take” this time? well, i KNOW i have the passion. it doesnt matter what my ratings are. its right. its right for our industry, to connect with each other and connect to our audience who crave inspiration & ideas, as well as community.
why me? like i said, i am ideal because though i am well-read, still unexperienced. i am self-taught, therefore i am not intimidating. i am intimitated, yet willing to be the first one in the lake. there might be a little shock the first couple seconds but you adjust quickly, and then…its actually quite enjoyable and you dont want to get out! its the same intimidating feeling like opening a paint-your-own pottery studio back in 2002. i was just passionate that our city, our children, our families, our college crowd, our churches needed this happy place. but i wasnt an artist. i convinced myself that i was the right person for the job because of that fact…that painting pottery was about the people, not the pieces.
that’s it. that’s my passion! its offering another place for people to connect. posting artwork painted in pyop studios is connection. posting pics of a family gathered around a table doing a handprint platter for grandma is connection. looking for a gift to make sister is connection. blogging about a kiln malfunction is connection (as we studio owners will all weep with you).
by my 42nd birthday, in around 30 days, our e-magazine community should be ready for phase 1 for you. i will keep everyone up today here via twitter, so stay in touch…subscribe to our news and we’ll give you the dish.
