Why do You blog?
Whoa… Hold on. Let me read this one more time to you. “Why do You Blog?”. I’m blogging too, does that mean I have all the answers to that question? Nope. Or more importantly, do I have all the answers…
Why do people blog
People start blogging for a lot of reasons. Maybe you are a blogger who – like me – stumbled upon this by accident. Well… accident. I always like to express myself, and putting things in writing gave me a chance to think a little bit deeper about things that interest me.
I could say it helped me a lot. Addicting hobby? Well to me it is. I need to blog.
There are many reasons why people blog. Some may do it from a ‘romantic’ perspective. Being the ‘writer type, drinking, smoking and not being understood’. For some that may be, for me it means a way I can make things clearer to myself and if a part of that will help other people then that’s a bonus.
Reasons people have for using a blog as a tool to make their message clear ‘to the outside world’ are as diverse as the subjects blogs can have. Some don’t even have a fixed theme, or niche. Like mine, things just pop up in my head and they need to get out. I don’t need my head to be stuffed with randomness. 
So – before you are all thinking I have lost my marbles – here are some of the reasons people blog, in random order.
Crochet addict
Blogs about crocheting:
I have been blogging now for a little under a year. Before I started I never thought there would be so many blogs about this subject. Just like cooking, baking, and – not to forget – coupons. I call it ‘The hidden Coupon Network’. The crocheting niche is a world in itself. The blogs are interlinked networks with thousands upon thousands of participants.
Crocheting blogs often have links to Etsy and / or Pinterest and use both tho show off their work to their readers. They are knit together…
Blogs about Blogging:
It’s a very valid reason to start a blog. If you have expertise about the subject, why not share it with others. They can learn from your mistakes. Have a good laugh about it and they get better. Works for me…
Blogs being Personal Journals:
That’s a tricky one. I think it’s ok to – every once-in-a-while – blog about something personal. I’m having some trouble to really understand why people feel the need to share everything with the outside world.
Not all people reading your blog are interested you’re having trouble with your neighbors, because they do not understand why you think it’s ok to listen to Tim McGraw on your sound system at 4AM.
Blogs teaching stuff.
I am undecided about that one. I understand – and believe – that sharing knowledge with others is a good thing. What I don’t get is blogs that pretend to be the ‘Holy Grail’ of blogging and everyone has to live with their 593 Commandments to instant success – their way.
MY Superpower
Some blogs I appreciate, but that’s because I know them and the other 5 gazillion suck at SEO knowledge. Not that I know everything, but I know enough – for now.
The world is changing faster than Google changes it’s search algorithms. Just the way it is. Do not forget that Google does not make your blog what it is, you do!
Blogs v.s. Static Websites:
Long time ago, when the ships were made of wood and the men were made of steel I used notepad to edit my own html. I ‘borrowed’ java scripts from other sites to make it functional. Nowadays we – including me – are making use of pre-designed templates and Content Management Systems for our blogging aspirations.
These are so much easier to work with. Wizards to choose fonts, colors and layout. All handy downloadable as a little tarball. Download, unzip, install, done. I call it blog and shoot sometimes.
A lot of the major companies are switching over from static websites to blogs. Far more dynamic and the interests of the readers / potential customers come first. I can do it, you can, so it can’t be that hard to do.
Blogs that Suck bigtime:
“Hey! I’ll show you the secret how to make a million bucks a month. No knowledge necessary.”
Yeah right. If that was the case ‘everyone’ using the Internet would be a multi-millionaire. Don’t go that road.
Blogs that are link farms:
These blogs are made exclusively to serve as a hub in a network of interlinked sites that do not have a blog subject, but are used exclusively to exchange links.
Wikipedia:
On the World Wide Web, a link farm is any group of web sites that all hyperlink to every other site in the group. Although some link farms can be created by hand, most are created through automated programs and services. A link farm is a form of spamming the index of a search engine (sometimes called spamdexing or spamexing). Other link exchange systems are designed to allow individual websites to selectively exchange links with other relevant websites and are not considered a form of spamdexing.
So, why do YOU blog?
Happy Blog’ing
//Jan
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I started to blog to help a few folks out with their websites because they kept calling me with questions so I figured I would write about the experiences I had with my retail websites. Somehow I got addicted to it. It became therapeutic for me when other things had me down. I felt like I was helping some people and that brought me up. I enjoy it and hope someday to make real money from it. Isn’t that the best way to make money by loving what you do?
I agree with you on the blogs that suck big time – there is no easy way to make money quick. It always takes hard work and some time. A lot of time.
Lisa recently posted: Is Your Web Traffic Going The Right Way?
Time – which we do not have. lol. I agree with you, helping people out is very rewarding. Share knowledge. It’s therapeutic to me too. Makes me feel like i have done somethin good. Just to bad I don’t have much time to do what I love to do. But… there’s always work too.
I started blogging to talk about my journey with our first ever rescue pit bull. I thought it important to document the events however, it then evolved into much more. I love networking with people and blogging is a fantabulous way to meet to new peeps as well as find out about different parts of the world. I enjoy it a lot and love those I’ve met through blogging and have become real friends!
Brenda recently posted: The Titan Chronicles…. 3rd Edition
Hmmm. Same as me, basically. Writing things down can make them clearer for yourself… That and the networking I like most. Making new friends and connect to other people and cultures. And there’s always this question: “WHY??”. I’m curious! Thanks for commenting, Bren!
eh, i just like to air my dirty laundry
Hah! And you’re good at it too!
Hey Jan,
Really interesting post. I think the days of blog that just had few content items are now over. THe quality criteria will be more stringent and there will be a lot of churning. I am sure the blog that provide excellent content while also being able to create community are going to be successful.
Though I feel that there is quite a big uncertainty because of constant Google algo changes.May be we need to adapt and avoid costly mistakes.
Have a great day
Ashvini recently posted: Is there a better award than Customer satisfaction for a business?
Hi!
I have to agree that I expect quality over quantity. About half a year ago I jokingly said to one of my fellow bloggers “The new niche in blogging is the no-niche blog” and I might be right. One thing though. If you need to make a quality blog *and* have to deliver quality content about every subject you’re in for a hard time.
We’ll have to see what’s going to happen in the future. One more thing. Google is not the ONLY power on the Internet… Thanks for your response!
I blog for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. Like you, I’m a little uneasy about getting too personal on my blogs. However, sharing my personality and letting my followers get to know me isn’t half bad, as long as I keep a few boundaries. I mean, how many people really need to know when I wash my laundry or such things, right? I also blog because it’s fun to meet and chat with fellow bloggers:)
M. J. Joachim recently posted: Links and Webpages – You Be the Judge
I could not agree more. Blogging should be and stay fun! I like to meet people this way or on social networks and mingling with the peeps.Keeps me sane! Thanks for your comment!
Interesting question! I originally starting blogging as a learning experience. Am fairly new to computers, (2008), and it was fun to set everything up, initially. I enjoy page design, graphics, etc. Also enjoy writing very much. Lost my muse for many years, (wrote prolifically when I was young, but, alas, it came to naught), but now, in my “old age”, it seems to be slowly coming back. The social interaction is also a big plus for me.
Debbie recently posted: END OF THE WORLD? SERIOUSLY?!
Ah. just like the majority of bloggers. Including me. Only things is.. I tend to get over – enthusiastic and go overboard, once in a while…
I started blogging about computers to help people learn. Now I hate working on computers with a passion because it takes me away from blogging..
I blog because I love it and I get paid to do it!
mitz recently posted: Making Money While You Sleep – Is This True?
Hi Mitz…
We all have our reasons to blog. I started the whole thing in may 2011 as a way to ‘releave’ my brain for the everyday work things going on. It helped! (I hope…;))
// Jan
Sometimes I ask myself the same question: Why do I blog? I think I know the answer: I want to have the attention, the praise, the points – do I really?? The blogging phenomena is a newer thing, I am not sure why I am doing that because deep down I am a secret person, a secure person, I do not really need the feedback. I am getting confused by the seconds……I think it is the need to communicate, to step out of my private life….to laugh, to interact, to praise others….In this case, I reply to a friend I know already for several years. The Netherlands – Holland – is a part of the world I love, and a certain Jan feels like family to me…..Is that sufficient as an answer???? ♥ Karin.
Hi Karen.
Your answer means a lot to me. We know each other for years now and I hope there are mamy more to come. You are so right. I believe ‘we’ internet users from the early years are very loyal to each other, a little bit like distant family.
About blogging? A little secret: part of me does it for the attention…
Thanks again, Karin and all the best for you and your husband.
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