Building a brand

Back in January when I wrote my #bestnine post, it got me thinking, what do my followers like to see? Pictures of Matt and I together, apparently. What do (would) people like to read about on this blog?  More Gabby? Food? Travel? Parenting anecdotes? What is the point of this blog? The main focus? The crux? Uh-oh… existential blog crisis kicking in... what I’m trying to figure out is what would gather a stronger following? Kick up more momentum? Build a readership? I guess I won’t know until I try and that means posting more… about everything until I figure it out.

First and foremost this space is an online portfolio of my work, where I can share my published pieces. It’s an online CV where I can highlight my skills. It’s also a creative space where I can continue writing and telling stories. Maybe what I need is a personal brand, a focus. I don’t think I’m a typical mommy blogger (if there is a typical mommy blogger). I don’t want to focus on the mommy scene. I’m not documenting my total home renovation, I’m not DIY-crafting-handmaking my life. I’m not a foodie. I’m not a beauty addict. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of these things and read many blogs based around these very topics. Aspects of all of these topics play into my life and have been written about here, parenting, food, DIY and home decor. I’m just not strongly focused on any particular one. What I am is a storyteller. And I think my life and perspective and endeavors are interesting, if I do say so myself. That’s why it’s called The Heather Chronicles. And right there in my introduction:

Between myself, my rockstar-of-a-husband, two young vivacious girls, a puppy and all of our crazy antics, there’s always a story - I promise. Join me on our adventures at home, abroad and everywhere in between.

There’s always a story and I believe that to be true. I’m a writer, so I want to share them with you.  Hopefully you find them real and most importantly, relatable (trust me, our stuff and our travels should certainly be attainable). Hopefully the posts will make you smile, maybe laugh or even roll your eyes. I think the hook with this blog could be that I do have a chronic illness, and it affects ours lives and those close to us (much to my chagrin), but we just keep rolling. I’d like to have a goal to help myself, those around me and maybe a reader or two who just needs to know they are not alone -- and maybe this space is even just a little bit inspiring.

I truly want to dedicate more time to this space. It doesn’t pay the bills but it keeps me writing and is a creative outlet and you know what? It’s ok if it’s a project just. for. me. Life (and gigs that pay the bills) often get in the way but I owe it to myself to try and bring a vision to life. Crushing goals and achieving dreams and all that. It’s a pretty nice bonus that my hobby, a creative project, a passion, helps move me forward professionally at the same time.  

If you’ve made it this far, thank you! And please, tell me, what do you look for in a blog? Leave a comment and let me know what kind of posts you are interested in and enjoy reading. What will keep bringing you back here? Your feedback is truly appreciated!

My best 9

I’m late to the party but I’m finally sharing my Instagram best nine collage. I looked it up over the holidays when my feed started to showcase everyone’s top Instagram moments of 2018, but didn’t share it, for some reason or other (my screen time dropped by over 50% over the holidays, according to the iphone activity tracker and for that I am proud! Trying to keep it up but that’s a post for another day).

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This is literally a popularity contest among the photos. Which ones had the most likes? Is it all really just for the likes? If the “best nine” are considered to be the ones with the most likes, then yes, I guess it is. I guess it all depends on what you are using Instagram for. I had 1,570 likes on 49 photos in 2018. Only 49 photos posted to Instagram last year is not very many (in comparison, Matt posted 107). My posting certainly goes through fits & starts.

While my “best nine” doesn’t necessarily translate to the actual “best photos”, or my personal top favourites, it is fun to see what photos prompted the most “likes”. We have:

  • Double trouble #twinsies in the kitchen * Milestone first day of school * Mom & dad go rogue weekend getaway

  • 17th anniversary of our first date selfie, back where it all began at the movies * Our Incredible family halloween costumes * A milestone 5th birthday

  • Now & then photos on the steps of King’s College, 11 years apart to the day * An elusive Mr&Mrs photo on the beach at White Point * All dressed up in Ottawa

Of course, I think it’s a nice collection of photos, I posted each of them to Instagram after all. And they’re all fun or special moments. But it’s not a very fair representation. There are 0 solo pics of the second-born child, and 2 solo pics of the first born (she did however celebrate two pretty big milestones this year). Just 1 picture of the two of them together, 2 family photos, and 4 of just Matt and I, which is hilarious because it’s probably the only 4 photos of just the two of us taken all year, and 3 of my them were taken within a week of each other! We rarely get pictures of just us, so I actually love this result. Is that what my audience likes and wants? More love bird posts? Seriously, my kids are way cuter!

If I were to pick my own top 9 Instagram photos from 2018 it would be these, with actually only 3 new admissions!

  • a pool picture that sums up so many fun summer days, and captures Anna’s zest for life perfectly * A picture from Rosie’s birthday that captures her sweet personality perfectly * A family photo from my birthday which was a super fun day we spent together doing so many of my favourite things!

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In going through my Instagram photos for 2018 and the camera roll on my iphone, there are so many pictures I didn’t post and moments I have not shared! A trip to NYC, road trip to Ottawa, camping adventures, day-to-day life, the list goes on. I enjoy scrolling through my own feed now and then. It’s my own personal, curated photo album. Much better than my mess of a camera roll which currently has, um 27,278 photos on it. Five years of our lives, with so many duplicates and outtakes. I really should clean that up. But yes, it would be nice for my own personal, curated photo album to include many more photos and moments.

And as a so-called lifestyle blogger, I clearly need to step it up. 2019, here I come!