I first started blogging back in 2006 when I launched the blog that eventually became In Pursuit of Fulfillment. While the blog started out as mostly an experiment, it eventually grew into something of a mission to help others find happiness and fulfillment in their lives and to create the lives they choose.
In 2009, when Alyssa and I launched this site and subsequently The WM Network, I found less and less time for blogging at In Pursuit. That, combined with my busy freelance writing and editing career, meant that In Pursuit got severely neglected for awhile.
Neglected, but not forgotten.
Luckily, the blog still gets a good amount of traffic thanks to search engines. It seems I rocked the SEO a little bit, and apparently managed to write about topics that people still want to read about.
Considering that fact, as well as the fact that I didn’t feel like my mission was complete, I decided a couple of months ago that I wanted to bring the blog back to life. I have been slowly working on the relaunch in my spare time (ha, as if “spare time” really exists for a freelancer!) and have finally reached the point at which I’m ready to move forward.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got some kinks to work out, and there’s still work to be done. But I’ve started posting regularly again and am picking up new subscribers every day.
Coming Up: A New Series to Help You Relaunch (or Launch) Your Own Blog
When I decided to relaunch the blog, I did some Googling. I wanted to know how others had managed to relaunch existing blogs. I wanted to learn some tips, some steps people had taken to successfully relaunch their own blogs, new ideas–anything that might help me to make the relaunch a smashing success.
And even though my mad Google skills have earned me the title of “Google Queen” among a small circle of friends, I could find next to nothing on the topic of relaunching a blog.
That just didn’t seem right. Surely I couldn’t be the only blogger on Earth who wanted to relaunch an existing blog, right?
Exactly.
So that’s what inspired the upcoming series I’m working on for you, our WM Freelance Writers Connection readers. In the coming weeks, I’ll offer details on how to relaunch a blog. I’ll share my own experiences, ideas and tips, as well as the steps I’ve taken and will take on the In Pursuit of Fulfillment relaunch.
If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for a free email subscription to this site so you don’t miss a single post in the series. You’ll get a free ebook on marketing yourself and your writing when you sign up.
So, how about you? Have you ever relaunched (or wanted to relaunch) a blog? What tips would you offer someone in the same situation? Tell us in the comments!
Hi Angela,
I am LOVING this site!
I’m so happy to hear about this Re-Launch series, as I plan in the next 6 months or so to re-launch a mom blog that I started and then abandoned when I began doing freelance writing and going in a different blogging direction. (Any tips you can spare on how to get some of that “spare” time would be greatly appreciated, lol!)
Right now I’m just in the “thinking about it” stage, but your series will be great inspiration for me to get the ball rolling quickly when the time is right instead of procrastinating until next to never.
I had come across In pursuit of Fulfillment in the past and thought it was a great site, so it’s wonderful that you’re bringing it back, congrats!
Anyway, so glad I found WM Writers Connection and I look forward to reading more.
Tisha,
Thanks so much for the comment and the encouragement! I suspected I wasn’t alone in my desire to relaunch an old blog, and I am so glad that you’ll find the series helpful.
I do plan to cover the whole “spare” time thing, too. I have worked out a plan that seems to be working so far. Lots of ideas and tips to share!
Thanks again for your comment and the compliments!
Angie
Hey Angie!
The blog that is now my writer’s blog used to be a little run-of-the-mill blog years ago. When I decided to start a writer’s blog of my own, I decided to refashion that old blog. I figured that the url I had (heatherchadwick.blogspot.com) was better than coming up with something else. And rather than start from scratch, I decided just to retool what I already had to suit the purpose of a writer’s blog. I logged on, deleted all of the old posts, and started blogging about writing. Months later, I purchased a domain name and viola! A whole new, refashioned for the better blog. It’s a lot better than what I used to have, and serves a much greater purpose. I say what you’re doing is a smart move. Go for it! I can’t wait to see the changes!
Heather
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Heather! That is definitely good information, and something else to consider–re-purposing or refocusing an existing blog. Wanna write a guest post about how you did yours to include in the series? A case study of sorts, maybe? Let me know.
I began blogging in 2008 with a personal blog. As I grew stronger as a writer, my blog took on a ‘new age and personal development’ tone. From there it morphed into a ‘newspaper style’ blog because I have many interests. However, I realized it’s better suited for a ‘mind/personal development’ (new agey) site given the fact I have a lot of information to share within this area. More importantly, I’m interested in this ‘niche’ which makes it easy to write for.
BTW: I never thought about deleting old posts. Hmmm…
I know exactly what you mean about the blog morphing. Mine was originally a personal blog as well, and grew into a similar niche as yours. In my case, I’m not deleting old posts (though a couple of years ago, I deleted a bunch of unrelated posts from the original concept of the site.)
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Hey Angie,
Sure, I’d love to write a guest post! Let me know when you want it done!
Heather
Thanks Heather! I’ll shoot you an email.
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This is just what I am considering as I look at my goals for the first 6 months of 2011 and re-evaluate for the rest of the year. I want to kick up the freelance writing, honing my skills, and finding a clearer focus for both my author websites, blogs, etc and my writing in general. As a nurse the paying gigs are related to nursing but my passion is writing for kids about kids with characters often having a health issue. I find kids learn and relate to characters that are dealing with the same things. But I also need to make money so I am trying to figure out how to combine all of what I love into products that an audience needs. Great posts. I am working on emailing a guest post about finding contentment and fulfillment along the journey.
Glad to hear this news. Looks like you’ve got some good stuff to build off and I’m sure there will be great things to come. Allowing blogs to grow and become new things over time is important. I will stay tuned!
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