A common frustration I hear from new bloggers especially the non-techie types is that they feel easily overwhelmed by all the technology and tech jargon. It also seems to feel more overwhelming as you make the move from casual fun blogging to “now I want to make money from my blog.”
With all the blog platforms, video players and editors, podcasting and voice recording, photo editing, file sharing, RSS readers and feeds, CSS, CPMs, CPCs, and Twitters, Diggs, and Plurking, it’s very easy to get that dear in headlights feeling. It’s also very easy to feel like you’re lost or possibly missing out on something, or worse that you’ll pick the wrong thing and have to start over from scratch. Well, let me say this to you....
Stop and take a deep breathe. No more need to worry or fret. You don’t need to know everything, and any mistake you make can be fixed. Plus, this is how you learn. If you have days where you feel dumb, awkward or inept because you can’t keep up with it all, stop right there.You’re not alone in your confusion.
Even the best can feel confused too
There are many who have been Pro Blogging for years and even then still don’t know everything. I worked in the tech industry for over 12 years and today still don’t understand half of what these techies are trying to sell me. A big part of the problem there is the language. Techies speak Geek and the rest of us understand Oprah speak. So, be rest assured that you are not alone in your confusion if you don't understand the language that is being spoken.
I’ve become one of the top bloggers in the healthy living niche and have used only a handful of tools and software to get where I am. Here's a list of the blogging tools I use on a daily basis. All the jargon was overwhelming at first, but there are plenty of online sources that will explain what the terms mean.
Bloggers really are a helpful bunch
Best yet, feel free to ask any other blogger for help because the one thing about bloggers is that they are more than happy to help out other bloggers especially newbies because we all started out the same and some other more knowledgeable blogger was kind to us so we pay it forward whenever we can.
The important thing is to keep focusing on creating quality content. Technology really has very little to do with that because you can have the best designed and teched up blog on the planet, but if your content is not compelling you will be traffic challenged. When’s the last time you heard anyone say, “I go to her blog everyday because she uses all the best and latest technology?” People will keep coming back to your blog and linking to you because you’re creating content that benefits them.
Use what works for you. Ask other bloggers what they use. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Anyone else have advice on how to not let the technology overwhelm you?
