So You Think You Can Manage Multiple Blogs? Can You Really?

In the course of your lifetime as a blogger, you will undoubtedly have numerous ideas for various blogs. Even the best bloggers know when to “throw in the towel” when a project is unsuccessful…but many blogs will survive.

The typical blogger demonstrates a great level of diversity in their online writing leading them to not merely concentrate on one blog, but maintain numerous blogs that are updated at varying levels of frequency.

With 1 out of 5 bloggers updating their blog every day, we often assume that they do so out of a “warped sense of duty,” or some “obsessive-compulsive” desire. In reality, many bloggers (including myself) are often overwhelmed with content ideas! It’s OK. You don’t have to be “specialized” in just one area. It’s natural to want to bring more value to the Web.

Let’s take a closer look at managing multiple blogs…what could go wrong and how you can avoid the pitfalls of many bloggers who came before you.

The Pitfalls Of Managing Multiple Blogs — Advice And Solutions

Synergy — Some bloggers believe that the first step in starting a new project is that there must be some direct relationship to the primary blog. The goal is to create a synergy. In this case the synergy would be that both blogs together would create a greater overall outcome by attracting or “leveraging” the members of the existing reader base.

While this is an ideal plan and I love the idea of possibly broadening your reader’s experience, often blogs that try to “straddle” the line between each other’s content  appear almost interchangeable…making the new blog seem redundant and losing its identity.

As you begin to study more about Reader Psychology, it will become evident that many readers prefer their material laser-focused to their specific interest. When your blog starts to take on the identity of Wal-Mart, meaning an all-purpose, one-stop type of site, bloggers will seek the sanctity of your competition who demonstrate better control of the subject matter.

Timing — There is no perfect time to add another blog to your arsenal. But, starting to soon can overwhelm even the best blogger. Allow enough time for your primary blog(s) to mature and develop first…as you grow.

Success is like a blue print. Let me give you an example. If you take two millionaires and strip them of all their capital, two things will happen. One will throw themselves from the tallest building, while the other will scrape a $1000 together and a pick-up truck — and be the millionaire he was previously within a few short years! Even if that means an entirely new business.

Why? Because he understands what must be done to reach that level. As a new blogger, you’ll need the experience of being hacked, having bugs in your template, of being hosted on a bad server, identifying a bad plugin, or dealing with drastic declines in search engine traffic…just to name a few of the challenges.

Plus, truly satisfying the demand of online readers requires a great deal of analysis, compromise, and discovery. It’s best to make these mistakes with one blog …than five!

Bad PR — Be wary of marketing to your readers the fact that you manage multiple blogs. The appeal of interacting with a blog is that it engages the blog’s author as well as the community that exists there. When readers feel your time is being torn from them, they will feel less connected to you and pull back. You don’t want this to happen.

In addition, some readers may feel offended by the topic of your other blog. Perhaps you take a stance on political, social, or religious issues that cause them to question your judgment or character. You may even have content, although popular, be of a very sexual nature. This is when cross-selling becomes dangerous.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line, my friend, is that you are more than capable of duplicating your success on another blog. You know what is required to make a good impression in the blogosphere and are committed to the success of every new blog project. I have no doubt about that.

I must say though, I would rather see you be successful with one blog than struggling to keep your entire blog inventory in survival mode.

Your Turn

-       The Blogger

What are the challenges you face running a number of blogs? Do you maintain a schedule? Do you have help? Do you ever feel pressured, overwhelmed or burned out? What, to you, are some of the joys of managing multiple blogs? Do find your readers of your one blog migrating to the other?

-       The Reader

How do you feel about the other blogs a blogger you follow manages? Do you ever feel there is a conflict in regards to the subject matter or the blogger spreading his/her time too thin between projects? Is there a noticeable difference in quality of both blogs? Are you welcoming and supportive of this other blog? Do you interact with both/all of them?