Note: As I always enjoy a bit of time off
at the end of the year,
I’m taking this opportunity now to wish you all
Happy Holidays.
This month represents the 10th year of Aging_With_Pizzazz. Not certain if that is Happy Birthday or Happy 10th Anniversary. Either way, 10 years is a long time for a content blog.
It was difficult figuring out what I might address for a special occasion when there’s a decade worth of posts from which to choose. But I decided on what would be best for readers and I’m including that below, under the heading “Who Cares? You Care.”
Before moving on to that section, I want to indulge myself and share a few things I’ve learned. Not what I’ve gleaned from the articles, although I HAVE learned from each post I’ve written (or from those of guest writers). As this unique time-stamp approached, I wanted to consider what I’ve learned (good & bad) from hosting a content blog versus a personal blog, which is often simply frequent short thoughts. The pros and cons I’ve considered are helpful for me to determine the value of this 10-year project.
What I’ve Learned
No matter where the thoughts take me, I’ve discovered both positive and negative avenues on my personal journey. I suspect there are more, but I will reveal these below.
Positive Thoughts
- I’m proud of the subjects and issues we’ve covered. Aging_with_Pizzazz has remained a substance blog with a good deal of variety.
- Even I refer back to information on A w/P when I have forgotten details or specific information for myself or my own life. It’s the first blog I search when I think the subject may have been covered.
(Perhaps it’s shocking, but I don’t always remember.) - I’ve acquired more online technical skills and writing skills, know-how to capture photos and more efficient approaches to research reading.
- Aging_with_Pizzazz offers adjunct health benefits, along with the fitness app, PizzazzEE-25 (engaging every muscle, every joint, every time).
Both products truly offer folks the low-hanging fruit of accomplishing quality longevity. - It’s great having guest writers, I should have more. Everyone likes a change of voice.
Negative Thoughts
- If you are not selling products, and readers don’t click on any ads at all, you don’t make the pennies needed to cover the many (sometimes unexpected) costs associated with a blog.
- My articles are often long. I question whether readers actually want that much content.
- The occasional tech problems with website servers are more than occasional. And way more than occasionally annoying.
- My subscribers have not vastly increased. Nor for whatever their reason, do they appear to share my pieces often. I get many more hits from articles I write for other blogs as compared to my own.
- If you don’t cross platforms and use social media regularly, you can lose out. As an example, someone I don’t know started a YouTube channel called Aging with Pizzazz. Hmmmm.
- The amount of time taken from my life (and that of others) to produce Aging_with_Pizzazz is substantial.
Who Cares? You Care
I’ve always understood that not every reader will appreciate every subject we cover at Aging_with_Pizzazz. I can envision people sometimes glancing at the title and thinking “Who Cares?” as they click away. Of course, sometimes what we click away from could have been exactly what we needed, but that is another blog for another day.
Today, (for this post) you can’t do that. WHY? It’s time for your decision. I am suggesting that YOU contemplate one or two subjects you are interested in or curious about.
Then, use the ‘search tool’ in the blog heading-ribbon to see if there has been such an article. If not your first choice, try a back-up, 2nd choice, like a ranked-choice voting method. If neither are there, drop me a note for possible consideration in future days.
We Care
I can’t answer the question as to which detailed topics each of you care about the most. What I can surmise is that we ALL care about the best options we’re willing to pursue to maintain health and accomplish quality longevity. We certainly care about that.
My mother used to say, “People don’t appreciate what they don’t pay through the nose for.” I trust and hope that’s not always true and that making content freely available is not self-defeating. Between the information at Aging_with_Pizzazz, and the home-fitness program of PizzazzEE-25, I am sharing the best strategies and tactics I know. I hope you will support my efforts and share them with others.
Thanks for reading – and for caring.
HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSIARY to US.
drb
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Picture credit: Golden 10th anniversary portion Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.png
Congratulations, Barbara! Ten years……wow. I am happy to say I believe I have read every blog you have written and have enjoyed them all and even have learned a thing or two along the way. Keep up the good work. As one who not too long ago reached the age or 86, I think you are ‘right on’ with much of what you share with all of us. I look forward to enjoying …… well, I won’t say how many but, I hope, a few more years of Aging with Pizzaz!
Fondly, Karen
Thanks for all the kind comments Karen, and nice to know I’m not the only one who has read all the blogs. Ha. In the meantime, keep up all YOUR good work.
congratulations!
Many thanks.