why I can't say my blog name aloud

Saturday 23 July 2016

Why I Can't Say My Blog Name Aloud


















"So what's your blog called?" enquired the friendly lady on the other end of the phone. I darted a look around at the people sat near me, feeling like the world's biggest idiot. "The..." I stuttered and proceeded to garble "Traffic Jam of Life" as quickly as I could before anyone decided to... to what?

Exactly. Why do I hate saying my blog name aloud? Acute embarrassment? Never-ending loathing and worry about it as a poor name choice? Who knows. But one thing's for certain - I simply cannot say my blog name aloud without immediately wishing the world would swallow me whole.

It's not like I'm not proud of my little corner of the internet - I'm astonished how far it's come. I even reached my 200th post the other day! However, any time I have to pronounce those words, I can't help but become this awkward, hot Boris Johnson-style garbling mess. I've found ways around it at times when I really couldn't face saying it, especially at blog events. I might produce my phone and show them my twitter or instagram page, or make an excuse such as "oh, it's quite a long name let me write it out" (in this moment I'm starting to think some business cards would be handy...).

It all seems rather silly considering how many people have told me in person how much they like my blog or instagram (I'm quite a big deal, my dad is my biggest fan by far). I shouldn't feel embarrassed at all considering I plucked up the courage to start sharing my posts on Facebook last year. It's not as if no one who's seen my blog doesn't know the name of it, so I don't understand why I must feel such shame revealing it to people I've just met.

As much as I love blogging, I really dislike the term "blogger" and everything cliche that has become synonymous with it (marble backdrops and rose gold I'm looking at you). I find it easier to say "I have a blog because it hopefully helps to detach myself from that label. And then I reveal my blog name and it feels like I really am that person. That annoying blogger who wants all of the freebies, permanently found surrounded in a bath glittering gold and green. I've never used a Lush bath bomb FYI.

Perhaps that's just it - maybe my blog name is too "bloggy" for my liking? The blogging world is a strange little place full of its own self-imposed rules and I want to feel like I belong to it enough without it intruding on my normal person's life. By a normal person, I mean the type of people that refer to a post as a "blog" - just no.

The fact of the matter is that this blog plays an increasingly important role in my everyday life. I should be more proud of it, even more so of its name! In the meantime, I shall sort myself some business cards.

Have you ever felt embarrassed about your blog? How did you deal with it? Seriously tell me your secrets please and thank you! Thanks for reading!

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15 comments

  1. I have the same issue, I honestly shake at writing it down, or showing it to people, like some dirty little secret! lol

    Erin || MakeErinOver

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    1. Yeah it still feels like one to me even though it's not a secret at all! So strange haha!

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  2. I have had quite the love-hate relationship with my blog title. I started the blog because I was preparing to self-publish a book and I was reading up on the best way to market my work. Blogging was mentioned as a good way to build an author platform. I also read somewhere that I should include my name in my blog title because it helps people associate me with my writing. I'm sometimes pretty lousy and thinking up titles, and being told to come up with one that included my name was an extra challenge. The first title I used for my blog was "From the Mind of Greta". I HATED it! It wasn't just cheesy, it sounded pompous as well, but I couldn't think of anything else for the longest time. I finally changed it to "Greta's Musings and Random Thoughts". Including my name still makes me feel a little pompous, but at least it doesn't sound like something made up by a six year old. By the way, I love your title!

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    1. I really like both! None sound pompous at all, I guess it's that self-depreciating part of us Brits that hate to sound cocky or over - confident! That's how I feel about mine, I feel like it's quite cheesy but I also can't really think of anything else so it'll have to stay the way it is :/ but thank you!

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  3. I feel the same way, I LOVE my blog name, but do I dare to say it to anyone, NO! I don't get it, for me, I think it's embarrassment. Growing up I was bullied over literally everything and I don't think it's ever left me. Nice to see there are other bloggers who feel the same way!

    Em x
    www.ohfab.co.uk • lifestyle & design blog • www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ohfab

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear that you were bullied! I can imagine it made you quite paranoid :( It's a strange feeling but I can't help feeling embarrassed I guess!

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  4. I feel the exact same - maybe less extreme but completely understand your embarrassment. I actually love your blog name I think it's great :-)
    I've decided to change my blog name to something I feel more comfortable with and proud of, do you feel like that would help you?

    teri-may xx
    Www.acupoft.co.uk

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    1. Thank you very much! that's very kind :) the thing is I already changed it once and I do like the name I guess it's just self doubt that gets in the way!

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  5. OMG I'm the exact same! I love my blog, and I'm proud of how far it's come but I still fluster everytime someone I know asks what it's called. I think part of me regrets the length of the name and part of me balks at the thought of letting these people into my inner sanctum lol.
    Just FYI your blog name is lovely!

    AJ xx

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    1. I totally get you regarding length of name. I feel like that too, like saying it becomes quite a mouthful! Thank you very much! That's very sweet :)

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  6. I completely get where you're coming from! I love my blog and I do love my blog name, yeah it's a little cliche, but then again, most people are a little cliche (that's how it becomes a cliche in the first place).
    I always get the flush of embarrassment, maybe I think it's uncool. I hate any of my friends or family trying to talk about my blog with me, or even worse praise me. Internally I'm jumping for joy, but externally I clam up and ask for a change of conversation before I flush bright red.
    So glad to read other people feel it too!

    Bonnie
    www.bonnieinwonderland.wordpress.com

    P.s. I think your blog name is great!

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    1. I'm the same regarding talking about my blog with my family. They often take the piss and it makes me feel a little silly aha! So many people feel the same I think it's because a blog takes a lot of work and it's your personal project, so any comments will be taken very personally!

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  7. I totally understand that, I feel the exact same way. I started off really confident with my blog name and now I cringe every time I need to say it out loud.
    But hear me out: your blog name was what made me check out your blog today. It's original and actually really nice.

    I'm glad I came across your blog!

    www.thestylenovella.blogspot.com

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    1. I'm exactly the same! For a little while I felt happy and confident with this name because I'd changed it from something else, but now I'm back to feeling a bit uncomfortable and embarrassed about it! That's such a lovely thing to say I really appreciate it :)

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  8. It is a bit private, I think. It is one thing for people to stumble upon your blog and interact with it while it is another for you to overtly tell others to find it, you know? :)

    S .x http://ramblingsofayoungprgirl.blogspot.com/

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