a little lesson from the search engines (and it’s not about SEO)

It’s always interesting to take a peek at statistics and search engine terms. Running a business, it’s necessary for me to know how people find us. Really though, I’m just that kind of person. I’m an analyzer.

Sometimes the search terms are expected, something like design by insight, e-book designer, or custom blog design. Other times they’re rather humorous. For instance, someone found our site last week by searching for dog days of summer. I’m sure it would make Teri Lynne’s basset hound proud. But sometimes we can learn a lesson from the search engines that has nothing to do with SEO.

This week, there was a very different common thread. It caught me off guard. Mixed in with the usual search phrases were these:

discouraged

tired of trying to be a writer

encouragement tired work

encouragement for writers

encouragement for tired bloggers and discouraged writers (the title of this post)

It caught me off guard, and it made me a little sad. I hope my post listed above brought them some encouragement, because that’s my heart.

Personally, I’m in book mode right now, with Self-Publish just weeks from release. Reading the discouraged words above reminded me of why we are writing our book in the first place. It’s the result of the last two years of walking alongside our clients through the self-publishing process. It was born out of hearing their questions and struggles, and our goal is that the words we have crafted will bring clarity and encouragement for writers on that same journey. That is our why for writing it.

Maybe you’re one of the discouraged ones today, or maybe you aren’t. Either way, think back to why you write. Whether it’s a book, a blog, or a personal journal, what was the trigger for you, the thing that got you started in the first place? Sometimes when we feel weary from the process, it helps to remember why we’re doing it.

What is your why?

(we’d love to hear about it in the comments below)