Let’s face it, we all do it. And not just with blogs – with everything. It’s in our nature to compare, compare, compare (yes I read that in the ‘Go Compare’ voice) but comparing your blog constantly with other people’s can seriously weigh you down. I’ve been there and it sucks.
I’m a sucker for a pretty design, a cute layout, nice graphics and since starting my blog I’ve constantly battled trying to make my blog look pretty and attractive so I’m happy with it. It’s taken me all this time to finally be somewhat happy with the way my blog looks and I still find myself comparing it to other people’s. But it’s not always just the way a blog looks, I very much find myself green with envy over other people’s blog post ideas or their extremely well thought out review.
Here are a few things to think about and remember if you’re experiencing blogger envy:
1) More likely than not, there’s people out there comparing their blog to yours!
2) Healthy jealousy can sometimes encourage you to do better with your own. It can get the creative juices flowing and by seeing a fantastic post from someone else can make you strive to be better with your own. As long as the jealousy doesn’t take a nastier form or you actively copy someone else’s blog or posts then its all gravy baby!
3) You don’t necessarily want your blog to look like everybody else’s. It’s your blog for a reason. So even though you may not have the prettiest design, think about how your blog represents you, as a person. Just like your thoughts and feelings and personality represent you as a person, not your outer image.
4) Not everybody cares about a pretty layout. Painfully true, they don’t. But it’s what’s on the inside that counts (in this case, it’s what’s in your posts that counts). Its the same as judging a book by it’s cover – the prettiest cover doesn’t make up for a dreadful story. People are more likely to revisit your blog if they like what you have to say.
5) Everyone does it. It’s natural and it’s in our human nature to judge and compare. Don’t sweat it. Have a little cry and then move on and write an awesome blog post.
Now I definitely do need to take my own advice and remember some of these next time I have a hissy fit over how pretty someone’s blog is or how fantastic their photos are or how well written their blog posts are. It is hard sometimes but striving to be happy with your blog as well as appreciating other people’s is something we should try to do!