A couple of weeks ago, I shared a review of my business for the start of 2026. You can read that HERE if you’re interested in getting into the nuts and bolts of a creative business. One section I skipped was Solving Problems, so I could share about it in a separate post. If you’re puzzling through some of your own in a creative business, you can find the Solving Problems Worksheet HERE.
I thought it was important to share my perspective on problems in my creative business first, though. When I’m referring to problems, I’m not necessarily talking about something negative, but about something that poses a challenge. Sometimes the challenge stems from rapid growth, new projects, exciting changes, and other positive events. Sometimes the problems are of my own making – I said yes to too many things, or I’m trying to implement too many ideas at one time. They are all just challenges that need to be thought through, considered, and weighed, for the benefit of myself as an entrepreneur as well as the business I’m running.
Utilizing this worksheet to work through these challenges helps me in several ways. First of all, it often helps just to acknowledge the problem. Sometimes the way I’m feeling doesn’t match reality, and when I can name the problem, I see that it’s not as big as it feels. Second, it’s very useful to think about the best and worst possible outcomes. Usually, the worst possible outcome isn’t that scary.
So, let’s work through one of the biggest challenges I’m facing as an old school blogger…
Solving Problems
Problem: The online landscape is changing, resulting in decreased blog traffic and earnings.
- Traffic is diffused over several large social media platforms rather than concentrated on the blog.
- People have shorter attention spans and are showing less interest in reading long-form articles.
- Ads have become increasingly aggressive as more people read blogs on smartphones. Smaller screen = less space for content and ads to share the space harmoniously. (I know it’s annoying, but the days of ads sitting quietly on the sidebar are long over. If I got rid of the ads, I would literally have to remove this website from the internet because it would cost thousands of dollars each year to host it.)
- AI summaries are answering questions, meaning fewer people are reaching reputable websites that used to answer those questions. Our articles have assisted in training AI, and now Google and other search engines use it to retain traffic.
Best possible outcome: I thought a lot about this because I think the best possible outcome can take many forms. I also believe that sometimes what we think is best for us actually isn’t. We can all be the kid in the candy store who doesn’t realize that an unlimited supply will make us ill. On its face, the best possible outcome would be that blog traffic and earnings inexplicably increase, and I carry on as is. But I’m also starting to feel the freedom of shifting gears, leaning into change that is different and feels scary, but might even be more fulfilling and profitable. In the end, I think the best possible outcome is that I can continue doing creative work I love and earn a living doing it.
Worst possible outcome: The blog becomes unsustainable/unprofitable, and I have to shut it down. As I considered the worst possible outcomes, it was hard to think of one that was truly the worst. Even the worst possible case I could think of for this blog isn’t that devastating. I realized this was my entire point of asking this specific question on the worksheet. Shining a light on the worst outcome usually reveals it as fairly benign in the grand scheme of things. As I’ve said several times when I’m making things, “No one is going to space in this thing.”
Dream solutions: I had to think a lot about this one, too. Again, the first thing that comes to mind is that I want everything to return to the golden age of blogging, before algorithms, the rise of social media, and smartphone use. When it was easy and felt fun. But the truth is, I’ve changed as well – my creative interests, my areas of strength, what I want to write about. Going back to things I’ve already done really isn’t a dream solution.
I think my dream solution is that an increase in other revenue streams makes the blog income less important. I didn’t start this business to be an influencer, a product affiliate, or a “content creator”. I started by making things. The thought of ramping up product pushing and affiliate marketing to increase online income doesn’t sound interesting to me. Making art, creating new products, forging new partnerships, exploring new ways to connect with my audience, and continuing to encourage and inspire those who find their way to my corner of the internet does sound exciting.
Potential solutions:
I started with this list and thought about it for a few weeks. The point of this section is to brainstorm. The ideas don’t necessarily have to be ideal or even good, but they get the wheels turning. Editing will happen later.
- Share in another format that is less expensive or free to maintain. (It costs a lot to host and maintain a website with over 4,300 blog posts and tens of thousands of photos.)
- Convert the blog to a paid subscription that is ad-free.
- Post less.
- Adjust the way I post/share here so it isn’t as time-consuming, and I can focus more time on other revenue streams.
- Put more time into growing online income through affiliate sales and sponsorships.
- Post more. Put more time into creating blog content, or adjust the content I’m sharing so it’s efficient to post more frequently.
After meeting with my assistant and exploring some other options, this is my new list…
- Make my posts smaller and easier to digest. (This isn’t one of those shorter posts!)
- This blog is my home on the internet, and I wholeheartedly believe it’s important to maintain and nurture it.
- Focus on content AI summaries can’t replace it. For example, I’ll share more snippets of what I’m working on and less on how-tos, tips, and content that can be harvested and easily replicated by AI.
- Cleaning up and compressing the blog to make the site more efficient, streamlined, and less bulky.
- Spend this year exploring and testing out other revenue streams like art prints, paint-alongs, more original art sales and commissions, etc.
Invalid solutions:
- Ignore the changes and sit around wishing for things go back to the way they were.
What actions need to be taken?
- I need to be unafraid to experiment and test things out. Change is inevitable, and I need to relax into it a bit more, even embrace it. As I’ve been planning for this year, it’s evolved into being pretty exciting instead of totally terrifying!
- Increase efforts focused on overall business profitability without sacrificing engaging, encouraging content here on the blog.
- I’m working on finding the best ways to spend my time and balance all of the projects on my plate.
- Make minor, low-risk adjustments to explore potentially bigger action items.
What actions need to be avoided?
- Knee-jerk reactions
- Making changes that don’t honor my creativity, audience, or my core values.
As I’ve thought through these challenges, stories of change keep popping up in articles I trip across, podcasts I’m listening to, and books I’m reading. I saw a couple of weeks ago that MTV aired its last music video on its 24-hour music channel. That channel has now been retired. As someone from the MTV generation, there is something sad about that, but it’s also a great reminder that all earthly things, even good things that were once very successful, come to an end or take a different form.
Photography changed art. The airplane changed travel. Streaming made video rental stores obsolete. To everything there is a season…
26 Responses
Such a wonderful perspective! I truly enjoy your content, style, and perspective of change. 🙂
Thank you for sharing all of this! So interesting as always.
I’m sure I speak for many in the Miss Mustard community when I say, a huge reason I stay here (and eagerly look for updates in my Feedly account) is that your voice matters, now more than ever. Non AI voices are rare and precious and beautiful these days, and we so appreciate your voice, experiences, and thoughts.
Best of luck making your 2026 business plan dreams come true!
I love this comment by Corrie. 100% true.
“rare, precious, and beautiful” – so true!
Well said. Marion’s voice is rare, beautiful, and to me encouraging and inspiring.
Well said and my thoughts exactly.
I love your blog and while I could get “how to” information from AI, yours is the voice I trust and look to for inspiration and instruction. I also love your art prints and have two in my home.
Thank you for sharing all of this, Marian. I think, possibly somewhat like you, I’ve tended to embrace change as a new adventure, including with my baby business.
I like the way you think through everything; it’s helpful to break it all down and see it in black and white. Walking away from it for a bit and coming back later gives a fresh perspective.
I have really enjoyed your blog. You are personable, your photos are beautiful, and your content is typically relevant to my interests. I love seeing your progress on projects! The resources and tips you have shared have been a blessing; however, I get not wanting all your hard work to be mined by AI to give away to people searching for fast answers.
For the record, of all the blog emails I have gotten through the years, there is one business I have continued to receive and relish reading.
She only sends out brief weekly emails and ensures they are packed with relationship-building content along with some form of value I can take away with me and chew on as I go about my day. Because of that, I have continued to stay subscribed to her emails for years! Unlike the 100s of other email subscriptions I’ve unsubscribed from; they are simply time-wasters for me and I don’t have time to waste.
I could totally see you setting up a paid subscription blog site, as much value as you pack into your content. I don’t know if I could affort participating in it or not, but it seems a valid idea for the kind of things you do and post about.
Again, thank you for sharing. It’s truly been fun getting to know you through your business recently!
You have an amazing good attitude about these changing times. I do NOT have social media and I am an avid reader – therefore I am in the “old school blog reader” category. I blogged for ten years. I gave it up when social media and short attention spans became the norm. Do I miss it? EVERY single day. Could I justify spending HOURS to create a nice post and not make a dime doing it b/c I refused to do ads? No. I just couldn’t do it. And I am not the kind of person who does anything less than her very best. So I gave it up and miss it and kick myself because I was never out of things to share – I was just out of time to devote to it. YOU seem to find the right mix and are brilliant at doing it. Whatever you decide I know it will work for you. I will always wish you the very best. I have been a reader for your blog for years and will continue to do so as long as you continue to do so. Thank you for a well written and very mindful post today.
i have never been afraid of change and embrace it where its positive but i do think social media in general is on the verge of shooting itself in the foot. a good example is instagram.. i used to enjoy looking at creators i follow and was happy to wade through ads to get there when it was a reasonable balance between ads and posts i followed. now i rarely see content creators and receive nothing but ads. i now dont go there nearly as often and am on the verge of giving it up completely. same with facebook.. dont receive posts from family and friends, only random nonsense.
obviously you need to do what works for your business but it would be disappointing if your blog only has short superficial articles without going deeply into any subject. AI is not the solution people thought it would be yet and may never be. the dumbing down of peoples attention spans and ability to absorb information is one of the main reasons the world is heading to hell on a roller skate.. but i digress!
thank you for your wonderful posts and i hope you find a workable solution
Marian, your blog is the reason I started mine in 2020 when I desperately needed an outlet. I’ve been so impressed with your daily commitment to excellent content, which always seems to align with my current interests in art, home improvement, and travel. I have only a few actual subscribers because I’ve not tried to make money from the blog. I pay for it out of my own pocket so I may freely express myself without seemingly contradicting ads. I desire to encourage anyone willing to read about my adventures to keep looking up and follow the Lord.
Yours and a couple of others are the only blogs I care to read.
I hope you’ll keep doing what you’re doing now because it is an inspiration to so many people!
Thank you for sharing this process. I subscribed to your blog because it is a blog with original content. However, I understand all of life has to flow to avoid stagnation, even business. It seems that every one I have subscribed to through the years has moved to Substack as a “safe haven” for original content creators. My concern is that Substack, while wonderful now, may be a temporary fix. Anywho, thank you for the time and energy you invest in your blog and audience. It is greatly appreciated. Blessings to you and your future.
im glad you are reflecting on making changes. I love love love the content of your blog, your creative spirit and the way you make everything beauty-full. But i am a highly sensitive person and receiving daily posts form you (even though i love everything you do) feels extremely overwhelming.
I dont have enough time to linger on a specific post, digest and take all the beauty in.
I truly believe that sending maybe weekly posts (even if they are longer) would be of more benefit not only to some of us who cannot keep up with this fast pace, but also for you, as a business owner.
Sometimes, the most treasured gems are found in small quality pieces, not in more quantity, even if they are extremely rare and beautiful. Its like eating chocolate every single day. You get to be annoyed or sick somehow.
Im sure you will find the best way that works for you and for us.
“No one is going to space in this thing” !!! I am stealing that! so good.
I have absolutely loved all your painting classes, I have learned so much more than from classes I’ve paid big bucks for, so would love some classes, if you go in that direction. And your blog is a fantastic resource, I love it and would miss it. Your content and writing is fabulous. Thank you for all you do!
I agree! I would gladly pay for online painting classes … oil, watercolor, etc. I’ve done a couple of the Covid online classes, (loved) and I appreciate Marian’s Knowledge, but even more her relaxed style.
Your blog is probably the only one I that I continue to follow after all these years. Some content creators have moved to Substack. While I enjoy following them on IG, I’m not going to pay for info from everyone. I know you will find a balance and understand it is a business for you. I think most of your readers will hang in there with you. Stay true to yourself. You’re an original.
Oh, I read the title of this post and was instantly worried you were going to say that your blogging days were over, so I am very glad that is not the case!
As a confirmed member of the “old school” way of doing things (I don’t have a cell phone but I do have a dial phone landline, use Dixon Ticonderoga pencils, read real books, mow the lawn with a reel mower, to name a few), I greatly enjoy reading blogs, and especially great ones like yours.
I guess I must be clueless but I did not know that it cost tons of money to have a blog! That seems a real shame. As for the ads, I use an ad blocker, but starting in January my ad blocker no longer stops the ads on your blog. Yours must be especially aggressive because now I am seeing what everyone else has been saying for quite some time!
In today’s world, there is nothing more important than maintaining a natural, grounded, human touch to all aspects of life. It is living and creative and it matters. It is our God-given life force and it sets us apart from machinery. Write on, Marian, write on!
As a person who hates change, from good things, it is inevitable. So many bloggers have left….sadly. Having my morning coffee and catching up with my “blogger friends” was such joy. I wish it was all just starting!!! It was a good ride!!!! I understand you have to do whatever is best for you and your family. I will be reading as long as you are writing!!!
So many great comments that I agree with. I have followed you for so long you feel like a personal friend that I would mourn like a death if you stopped blogging. If I can’t get to your blog daily (which I usually always do) it is such a treat to catch up over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I for one would be the first to pay for your content I value it that much. I am always thrilled when your blog runs long. I am a creative but not a painter but still read every word of your “painter content” blogs. You may not consider yourself an influencer but as I have said before you have ENCOURAGED me in so many ways over the years, from how I decorate to how I get control of my over grown landscape. You always give me FRESH eyes about so many things. I hope you can find a way to stay with us.
I needed to hear all of this. I miss the easier days of blogging, and can simultaneously get cranky over AI, but also be thankful for chatgpt. Thank you for walking us through your problem solving thought process. That was super helpful for me!
Substack is partly filled with AI stories. Blog posts are real people. I love that. Now two of my favourite writers are on Substack: Musing from the turrets, written by chatelain Erin Gois and Rebecca Jones’s Between. I like the blogs you write because I don’t have to wade through AI stories to find you. You are diverse, write warmly and I can relate to you. No himmelhoch yearning, just reality. I do wish you would keep on going.
I ended up here bc I was cleaning out my bajillions of emails and yours was one I wasn’t willing to part with. Opened, followed to a blog post from 2017, then landed here. I’ve been here quite awhile and as I go I use the ‘hide distracting items’ function on my browser to hide ads so I can read in peace. I wonder if that affects your revenue?
Thanks for being here. Yours is truly a trusted voice.
Yes, ad blockers do impact revenue, but I certainly don’t blame anyone who implements them. We all need to do what works for us!
Dearest Marian,
I have no social media and was longing to paint when I found you. I understand your need to monetize your time. However, I beg you not to just give snippets to keep the info from AI. I know there are so many who are already exhausted/done with AI and will search out you true creatives for direction and knowledge. Thank you so much for all your time and efforts!
I have enjoyed your blog for a few years now but have run into a problem. I don’t get it anymore. It doesn’t matter how many times I sign back up to receive it again the email link never shows up. So I have to look for it every day on the internet. I would really love to have it emailed to me again. Diane
Diane, let me look into this!