The trials and tribulations of maintaining multiple websites
May 13, 2008 | General
As all 3 of my regular readers know, I run more than one website. My main ones are Binary Moon (this site), Binary Joy, Binary Sun, and Pro Theme Design. 3 of these 4 sites are blogs… and blogs need content.
I am currently finding it very hard to keep updating these sites. Binary Joy is relatively easy to sort out - there is always games news to write up. Binary Sun doesn’t need maintenance, it can take care of itself. So that leaves Binary Moon and Pro Theme Design.
Currently, on Binary Moon, I am trying to write at least one homepage post a week along with one or two link posts. Recently this hasn’t been working quite as planned but it doesn’t do too badly. Pro Theme Design on the other hand is a web design blog, but so far all the posts are about products I am selling or giving away. What I really want (need) to do is write some design related stuff… however what I am doing is making more stuff to sell/ give away - the motivation for writing web design posts isn’t there.
Time, time, and more time
All this blogging and website maintenance takes lots of time. I would guestimate that I spend about 5/6 hours a week writing for Binary Joy (along with the same for gaming for reviews etc). Writing for Binary Moon takes 2 hours or so a week. Blogging on Pro Theme Design takes no time (since I don’t really do it) but support does take time - probably 1 or 2 hours a week. Add all that up, factor in that I work full time, and that I don’t work/ blog (much) at weekends and you will see I have little free time…
… so what to do?
I am reasonably happy with the state of my Binary family of sites. I would like there to be more posts here, but I’m not going to ask for help on that one. I would like for there to be more posts on Binary Joy (always looking for volunteers), and Pro Theme Design? I just don’t know.
I am wondering if it would be worth making Pro Theme Design a multi author blog, but then how do I find someone to write for me? Should I pay them? Should I just leave it as it is and focus on the products?
If you run more than one website then what do you do to keep motivated and to keep posting frequency up?
I have so many things I want to do and not enough time to do them in.
A clever person (business person) would probably prioritise projects, working out what to do first, and what will make the most money. I on the other hand do what interests me most, I flit between projects like a bee amongst flowers, and have no intention of changing my ways any time soon.
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May 13, 2008
Well, now you’ve made me curious as to whether I’m already included in your regular reader group, or if I can bring your tally up to four!
As for running multiple blogs, I only write the one personal blog, and though I don’t post on it as frequently as I would sometimes like, often find myself considering branching out and authoring (an)other more theme-based site, else finding another site to write for. At the moment I only write when I feel like it, rather than actively looking for things to whet my appetite, and consider perhaps more focused blogging would help.
However, I do administer a few blogs for other people already, and it must be said that when it comes to updates to WordPress, plugins, or else installing new themes and fixing bugs, having multiple blogs already seems like it can eat up large amounts of spare time.
May 14, 2008
Fips - Yay! I have more than 3 readers
I had forgotten about administration - I have a couple of tricks for speeding things up but still that takes a lot of time too (I administer about 6/7 sites that run off of Wordpress). I intend to write about how I update Wordpress soon actually.
May 14, 2008
Dont forget Im here
What is about people who run websites that make them want to make every minute of their day productive! Tis a curse!
I used to run a few websites, all anime-based, including a forum and a blog, and I’ll be honest, being at school full time, it just burnt me out. You gotta look at the most important aspect of all your sites. and if you’re not happy with it, rethink it.
For instance, on my site my posting has slowed down because, sort of like flips, I have to actively look for something to write about. But then I thought about it and as I’m leaving my job soon, my portfolio should really be the focus rather that the blog, so I’m going to rethink the side to accomodate this.
The irony is, I just can’t bring myself to do it! Damn motivation.
May 15, 2008
Luke - don’t worry, you’re one of the three
May 19, 2008
I read you blogs as well! - it must be a royal pain in the butt to update the content all the time. You can always buy the posts in i suppose ( yes bit of a cheat ).
how do you keep yourself motivated to write posts?