Too many people, including my past self, who upload their creative work online are too obsessed and worried about the stats and analytics. Their art suffers to meet certain criteria to gain views or likes, instead of creating art that reflects who they are and what they truly want to share with the world.
After being on social media and having this website for many years, I’ve discovered that a great way to grow your audience is to create the best piece of work you possibly can. If it’s good enough, people will find it and share it with others. But in order to achieve this, you need to keep creating.
Stats, analytics and marketing are only a piece of the puzzle. Don't get too caught up in it.
Statistics and analytics
Stats and analytics are measurements and shouldn’t be the goal. “A measure ceases to be a good measure once it becomes the target.” Your goal should be to create the best piece of creative work you possibly can. If it provides value to people, they will let you know and they will share it with the world.
Be patient. As someone who is naturally impatient, I had to learn this over a long period of time. You and your audience need to find each other, and that can take a bit of time. There are ways to increase the possibility of your audience finding you, and that’s by marketing yourself by sharing your work on other platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.
(If you want to know more about marketing your work, let me know in the comments.)
Don’t get carried away by the numbers
Focus on the work. The likes, views and comments are merely feedback. It shows you how many people enjoyed, appreciated or resonated with what you created. Sometimes it’s a few, sometimes it’s many.
If you’re mostly doing it to gain views and followers, you might get discouraged very quickly and give up. But if you’re doing it because you actually want to and enjoy the process of creating and sharing what you’ve created with the world, then you’re already 80% of the way there.
Always focus on the process of creating. That’s what gets you where you want to go.
Create, create, create.
Put your work out there.
Received feedback.
Re-evaluate.
Improve.
Create again.
Rinse and repeat.
Keep creating. Don’t stop. Keep moving forward. Don’t be afraid to fail or to create something bad.
You can improve it – next time.
Feedback
The wonderful thing about a community is they are able to provide feedback. Whether it’s good or bad. Take that feedback and constructive criticism and create something better.
Perfection is a never-ending journey. You’re always chasing it. You never arrive, and that’s exciting. It means you always have the opportunity to grow.
Take the time to give yourself feedback. Look at your own work, after you’ve published it, and see what you could’ve done better. Then apply those improvements to your next piece of work.
Focus on the journey. Focus on the process. Give your best effort and have no expectations.
Agreed, it is the sharing that counts. Nobody should expect kudos or even feedback.
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Yep, with you.
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Thanks as new blogger, it is great advice. Thanks.
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Helpful post. As I am trying on blogging recently by myself, these points can be great help for me. Hope that I listen to your advice and continue to create more..
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I could not agree more. I listen to some podcasts and see other intel that says blogging isn’t the best way to promote your work. Well, that may be so, but I like to blog and that is mostly because I enjoy writing a great deal. Thanks for the affirmation.!
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Once again, thanks so much for this. Seeking approval. fearing rejection, maybe the inner critic is harshest of all.
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Hello Hannes,
What an excellent post! Thank you for sharing your insights with us. I fully agree with what you’ve expressed; and I also admit that at one time, “i” would have been one of those who was concerned with the stats. This measurement of our creative worth by feedback from the masses is a trap from which many never escape. Yes: “Perfection is a never-ending journey. You’re always chasing it. You never arrive, and that’s exciting. It means you always have the opportunity to grow.” Great work!
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I love writing and obviously want it to be enjoyed by others. There is truth and sense in your post. I’m going to learn from it. Thankyou.
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I love this. thsnks for writing
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So valuable. Thank you. It’s part of the human condition to seek approval but yes we mustn’t let approval be the goal. Beautiful
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