One of my favourite quotes is
Comparison is the thief of joy
So you might now be wondering about the title of this post….. is it a typo? Did she mean to say shouldn’t compare? Nope, stick with me.
I know most people say usually talk about comparison in a negative way, myself included most of the time. However, I think there can be occasions when comparison can actually be a positive tool.
I totally agree that comparing yourself and your accomplishments to other people can be unhealthy, it can make you feel jealous and insecure. IF you don’t handle it a positive way. The key is to handle it the right way; to look at other bloggers/blogs in a professional and objective manner. If you’re clever, comparison can actually be a brilliant way to grow as a blogger.
We learn by modelling our behaviour on the behaviour of others. It has always been that way since we were children. We modelled our behaviour on that of our parents, our friends, then perhaps our colleagues at work, maybe then successful people in our field.
So you might be wondering, how can comparison help you? Let me explain,
You can gain great design inspiration by comparing your blog to one of a more successful blogger in your niche. How do they layout and format their content? Which pages do they have? How do they use colour? Consider all your favourite blogs or successful blogs, do they have a common theme in terms of design? Use this information to feed into your own design. It’s not about copying, just getting inspiration for changes you could make and then making them your way.
Consider the content you see on other blogs. Is there a feature which sparks a fresh idea in you? Are there areas of your own blog that you could expand? What sort of content do you see people engaging with more on other blogs? Maybe this is an area you could cover on your blog. Again not specific posts, we are talking about general areas. You can use the flow of traffic to other blogs to identify a demand for content of that sort.
Be inspired by others. Considering the work others do and the time and effort they put into their blogs, can be really useful in giving you a virtual kick up the bum (should you need it!). What are these people doing that is working? Why are they getting the brand work? Now this doesn’t mean you have to replicate everything these people are doing. It’s not about copying, more identifying the characteristics which are leading them to success. This success could be anything you are interested in, perhaps producing helpful content, monetising, doing well on a certain social media channel; whatever you’re looking to improve about your blog.
If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you have always got
So you could keep trundling along, doing the same things, hoping that your blog will take off and grow. Or you could look at other blogs to give you a whole heap of ideas and goals. Try something different and be more proactive in your blog’s growth. Goal setting is so important!
Do you compare your blog to others? Feel jealousy or ways to grow?
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Comments 26
Love this Aby! Like you say comparison can be a useful tool but only when it is comparing of blogs, not when it is achievements etc. I love reading other blogs and because of that I have a very clear idea of what I do and don’t like in blogs. I really believe that this has helped me with the creation of my blog. Also very good for giving yourself a virtual kick-up the bum. For me, seeing other people working hard and producing great content makes me want to do the same! 🙂
great post Aby and I agree. This is how I learned at the start by seeing what others did! It really can help and inspire.
It’s hard not to compare your blog to others, so this post telling us to do it is reassuring! It’s just a case of comparing and trying to learn rather than feeling overwhelmed! #thelist
This is so true Aby. It’s all about mindset. Be inspired, not jealous. I don’t really do jealousy, not enough energy for it. Except J-Lo’s body though. I am very jealous of that! #thelist
This is spot on for me! Although I love the ‘comparison is the thief of joy’ quote, the fact is that it’s ineveitable that you’ll compare your blog to others – reading other blogs is such a huge part of being a blogger, how can you possibly read and not compare? But I like to channel that positively and do exactly what you’ve described – work out what it is I like about their blog and think if I can use that in some way myself. #thelist
I like the idea of being inspired by others – there are so many fantastic ideas out there, plenty for us all 🙂 #TheList
Helen x
I am having such a hard time with this at the mo as my blog is a bit different to the other parenting blogs. I feel very inadequate when I look at other people’s.
#thelist
This really made me think Aby thank you. It is very easy to feel disheartened by successful blogs when you first start off but they do provide a source of inspiration as well. You can take ideas and adapt them to your own style. Great post. #TheList
I always feel inspired by other blogs or they make me think of ideas. Sometimes I question if it OK that the idea has been sparked from someone else. I guess it is! #Thelist
Fantastic post. I do often find myself comparing my blog and my stats to others, when I really shouldn’t.
I completely agree that it can be a fantastic way to get inspired, and even amazing big bloggers like yourself, are so willing and helpful to help out us little guys.
So it is important to not compare in a bad way, and not be jealous xx
Totally agree hun – I take so much inspiration from other blogs and bloggers. It’s important to know what makes us tick, what interests us, so that we know where to head with out own blogs. I think you will always develop your own personal style, no matter how much you like someone else’s xx #TheList
I totally agree! I find that by comparing I can come up with some constructive criticism of my own blog and find new ways to improve it #thelist
Great post. This is exactly what I am doing as I get my blog established and off the ground. By joining linkys I have been introduced to so many great and varied blogs and if there’s anything that sparks inspiration I make a note to learn how to do that on my own blog. On the flip side I also make a note of things that have a negative impact on my experience, things that interfere or detract from the post, so that I can avoid doing that or fix it if I am.
#TheList
I think we probably all do this whether we’re conscious of it or not! But you’re right – it’s about focusing our mindset and channelling those feelings into positive inspiration. X
#TheList
Agreed. It’s not so much what you do but how you respond to it. I read other blogs and take note of what I enjoy about them – it might be design, photographic style, a particular way of writing – and try to recreate that. I think when you use that as inspiration that’s a positive way to look at things, but when it’s replication it’s less good. Otherwise it’s too easy to get locked in to the way you do things, and that way lies complacency and staleness. A big part of the reason I’m still blogging after more than 9 years is because I’m constantly reinventing myself, and a big source of my inspiration for doing so comes from reading and comparing other blogs. #thelist
Another great post aby and lots to think about. I need to start writing some notes from your posts, there’s so much to remember!
Absolutely! I love to read other blogs and be inspired by them. I don’t want to end up in a rut with my blog and love to read about bloggers I admire and let them give me something to think about – yourself included 🙂 xx #TheList
What a great idea, I guess we look around and take it in but thanks for the reminder to actually do it with purpose, we can all learn so much from each other! #thelist
Im still very new to the Blogging World so i compare my blog to everyone else’s daily. It’s nice to see how everyone else styles their blogs and do their own twists on things. #TheList
I do get inspired looking at other blogs – there’s so much to be inspired by! The problem is putting all this inspiration into practice! I need a plan with focus, and more hours in the day!
Great tips, I always compare myself to other bloggers! Lol #TheList
I agree we should look at other blogs for inspiration – both for what to do and what not to do!! #thelist
I’ve never really thought of it in that way before! I will definately start doing it. There are so many amazing blogs out there and you course you are running is inspiring! Thanks for hosting #thelist
This is a great post, its a great idea to look at other blogs for inspiration and ideas, especially when you are first starting out, its a great way of learning and quickly! #TheList
great take on comparison, it is true what you say about how we look at it. If we compare ourselves with other bloggers in a jealous sense then we are getting no where, but if we can improve ourselves by rising up then that’s pretty awesome. Just like life in general really. When we see someone successful and we admire them we can grow, but if we are jealous then we shrink. #Thelist
Great tips! Will definitely follow your advice. Am often comparing mine to other blogs but I think focus is key or it can become somewhat overwhelming. My to do list is increasing daily now! #thelist need to pick out a few goals and stick to those. Thank you!