Why do people blog? If you are a blogger, do you remember why you started blogging? I have a feeling there are nearly as many answers to these questions as there are niches out there, possibly more. Sure, some people got into blogging with a specific goal in mind and never lost sight of that goal, but for many bloggers, this has been a fluid process that has led us on journeys we never would have expected. Here are a few of the common reasons I’ve heard for why people start a blog:
Blogging for Personal Reasons
Many times, this blogger sets out to keep in touch with friends and family who live far away. It may be a means of updating the grandparents on how quickly the kids are growing up, what they’re doing and a way to post recent pictures. Sometimes, it’s a couple planning a wedding trying to keep their guests in the loop.
Some of the best written blogs out there are the ones that weren’t written with the thought of anyone ever reading them. There’s something fascinating about reading an online journal of a pregnant woman’s life and relating to it or reading the trials of a mom who is trying to find an outlet for her frustration. When these bloggers choose to share what they are going through with the world, there is something pure and raw that resonates with others.
Blogging to Express Opinions
My dad is a prime example of this type of blogger. He’s had the same site for almost 5 years, his posts are rarely over 100 words and there is absolutely no design to his site. He says he gets under 50 page views per day and that’s fine by him. He blogs about his political opinions and reads blogs from others who are doing the same. While he may not be a “popular” blogger and not everyone wants to read what he’s saying, he has a strong site and a strong core of readers.
Other opinionated bloggers simply want somewhere to put their feelings out to the universe without having to get into a heated discussion with someone who may have a different point of view. Sure, it still happens in comments, but it takes out the chance that you’re going to alienate someone close to you who refuses to see your point of view. Not saying it’s right or wrong, just that it’s there.
Blogging to Share Information
Many of the bloggers I know personally started out in this category. Perhaps that’s because I’ve firmly planted roots in deal land, but I live very much in the information world. Most deal bloggers don’t get into what they’re doing because they want to make big bucks. And while some do, it’s a good thing that bloggers aren’t overly focused on the money, otherwise many of them would shut down shortly after starting. And as I typed this, I realized that it probably happens every day!
Other “information sharing blogs” are run by homeschooling moms, cloth diapering and green living families, parents of children with different special needs and many other things. The reason for this is simple, it goes back to when you were told in school to “write what you know.” While you may not be an expert on a topic, you are an expert at your life within that topic. And as your site grows and your life goes on, you learn more and you share more. Behind personal blogs, these are some of the best written blogs out there.
Blogging for Money
Yes, there are some people who get into blogging simply for the money. Many times, these are small sites with limited, rarely updated content once the site is live. The key to doing this is to keep making new sites, doing research on the hot keywords and hoping that everything will pay off in the end. And there are some people who do quite well with it, but they’re also not writing in hopes that people are truly reading the content.
If you’re thinking about starting a blog for the money, you need to know something… it’s not as easy as it looks! This isn’t The Field of Dreams, they’re not going to come just because you built it. Unless you’re focusing on niche sites devoted to nothing other than trying to get people to click on the ads, you’re in for a lot of long hours in front of the computer, writing, planning, reading, networking, commenting, promoting, etc. And even then, there’s no guarantee that you are going to have the magic formula.
Twitter: throat_punch
says:
For me, I started blogging as an outlet. I needed a safe place to vent. I also wanted a place where I could be creative and exercise my writing muscle. Now that I have found an audience it has turned into a place to share my opinions. Found you through BlogHer FB. Thanks for sharing.