Keeping a blog is a commitment, especially if your blog is sponsored. It takes time and work to maintain and requires updating regularly to retain its audience.

A couple of weeks ago I started a new RL job, so I haven’t been updating as much as I would like. This made me feel pretty miserable. But then I realised something; I felt so obligated to my own blogging regime that I was making myself feel like a failure because I couldn’t update as regularly as I wanted to.   Beyond everything this blog has always been an outlet for my writing and founded on enjoyment, rather than necessity. So I had a word with myself, relieved the pressure and felt much better for it.

I don’t owe it to anyone other than myself to keep this blog updated, which is a freedom many bloggers don’t enjoy.  That’s the problem with being a mega-successful blogger, content has to be fresh and new to bring readers in and keep page sponsors happy.  But the fact remains that updating a blog every day is just impossible for me these days.
The reasons for this are many, but in my case it’s primarily because of how long it takes me to write a post and create the photographs that go with it. To illustrate what I mean, let’s break down a typical blog post:

• For a start I have to source something to write a post about. This means purchasing item(s), styling my avatar and creating a look that’s interesting.
• I then have to choose my location for photographs.  More often than not I’ll shoot against a white background because I love the way it looks, but I still have to erect a photo studio and choose a pose.
• Take photographs. Often this will take time because the shot that I imagined initially proves not to work, or I get carried away and take way too many pictures making it hard for me to choose!
• Post-processing photographs (If required; now that my graphics card is more sprightly I’m finding that I don’t need to do much work on my pictures unless I actually want to)
• Writing the actual post and publishing.
• Promoting the post via news outlets like Facebook.

Of course, writing the post is what takes the longest, for me at least!
I have NEVER been the kind of blogger who writes a few brief sentences about the item I am featuring. There are plenty that do that and if that works for them that’s excellent, but it’s not really Kittywitchin’s style. I like to talk about creators, textures and items in-depth. I often like to write about how they make me feel, and my emotions too. In short, I like to waffle a bit, but that’s what makes this blog unique in a number of ways.  I’ve had a lot of feedback from creators telling me that they like that too, because they feel that their products are valued and appraised properly, and ‘sold’ to the audience more effectively.

Something new that I do now is publicise my posts via my FB page, and a number of FB groups that I am a member of.  I’ve found this to be a really effective way of generating traffic for the blog, and I’ve noted my blog-followers increase too, so it is well worth the effort.

The truth is a blog-post is not something that can be accomplished in a matter of minutes, not an effective one anyway, It can take me a couple of hours to write, edit and then publish. Add to that the length of time it takes to create the picture, and then list the items featured and yup, you’re looking at an afternoon of work at least. Are you surprised by that?
This is why my intention is to keep to my blogging regimen of two-three times a week. I would LOVE to write more, but I don’t have the time (or the money) to be able to do that. (Bear in mind I don’t get that many blogger packs sent my way so I have to self-fund. No that isn’t a whine; I don’t mind at all!)
In short,  I love keeping a blog, and that’s why Kittywitchin’ has been around for as long as it has; it stems purely from my love of Second Life.
A love that grows constantly, and long may that continue.