Blogging in 2017 - Do I Suck At Blogging?

Happy New Year guys! Here's to a happy, healthy, successful year for us all!

A new year is often a time to reflect, plan and set goals and I've been thinking about my blog lately. My little corner of the internet that has grown over the past few years; from a little hobby to a big part of my life. I often have a bit of a love/hate relationship with my blog. Not ever because I don't enjoy it because I adore it, but I often ask myself, 'am I good enough?'. The blogosphere has grown so much over the years, blogging has become a huge industry and there's a lot to live up to nowadays. 

When I first started blogging, it was just a bit of fun, a bit of an online diary, somewhere to hold memories and thoughts and share them with whoever fancied reading them. A few years on, there is a HUGE amount of pressure to 'fit in' and do well. Back then, I was happy if somebody read and enjoyed my posts, but it wasn't long before I was lost in a sea of numbers; how many people have read my post? Did I get many comments? There is SO much pressure.

Earlier last year, a friend of mine contacted me asking me for advice on becoming a blogger. I told her everything I knew. Months on and she has become a really successful blogger, she's getting great traffic and her posts are being featured on respectable websites. In just a few months her blog has become more successful than mine has in almost 4 years. Do I feel resentful? Of course not! She's a lovely girl, her blog is amazing, she deserves it! She has a lot more time to spend on building up her blog and her writing is fantastic. But it makes me question myself. Do I suck at blogging?

That is one thing I lack. I'll admit it, I'm not an amazing writer. And it's reassuring to know I'm not on my own with this. The lovely Leah at Devoted To Pink has just recently posted about her dislike of writing too, a great post if you get a chance to have a nosey. It's not so much that I don't enjoy it, I do. I'm just not great at it. I write like I talk. I know some people like this as they say it makes us more real, a real person with character and personality, rather than it sounding too professional and mundane. But I do wish I was a little more articulate, as I often find I can't get my thoughts down as well as I'd like, as I just can't find the words. Does this make me a rubbish blogger?

Guess what? I don't own a marble backdrop for my photos. Nope. I know what you're thinking... Am I even a blogger? And wait for this bombshell... Letter light boxes, every blogger has one right? Not this blogger. I mean, I like them. I'd quite like one. But I feel like every blogger and it's neighbour has one. Of course I own the shitty plastic plants, fairy lights, candles, I'm in love with rose god and copper accessories as much as the next blogger and I'm known for purchasing things for the sole reason of 'ooh, that'll look nice blurred out in the background of a photo'. And I even furnished and decorated my dressing room to be worthy of blog photos.

But I don't want to feel negative about my blog, I don't want to keep thinking I'm not good enough to fit in this ever growing community. I need to remember the reason why I blog, and why I first started in the first place. 
I need to look at the positives and how well my blog has grown over the past 3-4 years. I'm getting good traffic, I'm making an income, I'm being invited to events, and most importantly to me, I've made some AMAZING friends through blogging. I have THE best time with the girls I've met through the local blogging community. I class them as good friends, we all support each other and build each other up and for me, that's so important in this crazy dog-eat-dog blogosphere. 
So, going forward into 2017 I'm going to set my own goals rather than trying to be as good as others. Yes I'd like my writing to be better. Yes my photos need to be a lot better. But this is my thing, I can only be better than myself.
I work from home and my work schedule is getting busier which means less time to work on my blog. But I want to make sure I get at least 1 post out a week, I also want to look into a brand new layout and look this year and just grow... at my own pace.  I'm excited to see what this year has in store!

What about you? Have you set yourself any goals this year?

Linked up to: Tuesday Treasures  //  Dream Team