Bloggity blog blog…

The world could be yoursWell, my attempt at humor fizzled out the other night and I never really did express my opinion on the whole blogging thing. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Oh God, does EVERY blogger have to chime in on this topic?” Isn’t that the point? There are hundreds of thousands of blogs each unique in their personality, but essentially redundant in the theme of their content. Whether it’s political, personal, thought provoking or bland there’s sure to be somebody else who’s thinking, feeling & typing similar content. Each of these blogs exist as a microcosm, some post into a void while others enjoy the benefits of community.

The thing I find interesting is I’ve yet to meet someone who reads blogs that doesn’t actually write one of their own. This common thread would lead me to believe all bloggers share similar motivations in their writing. As Dawn pointed out there is no right or wrong way to write a blog and I absolutely love this entry by Da Goddess which makes it clear the blogosphere will be here with or without you. Don’t forget Ryan stated twice now it’s all bullsh%t anyways.

I have to admit when I first started blogging I was too focused on receiving reader comments. I would get pissed if I posted something and then days, weeks, months later someone else would post the same thing and they got a bazillion comments. It wasn’t until I really decided what compels me to blog that I could enjoy it for what it is. My reasons for blogging are simple –

  • I enjoy capturing my thoughts of the moment, navel gazing is always fun when you can see where you’ve been.
  • This website allows people I don’t see everyday to peek into my life occasionally.
  • I enjoy taking photographs and sharing them on the `net.
  • I have discovered I enjoy writing and constant practice will only improve my abilities.
    (I aspire to write as well as Ryan McGee & The Hosemonster)

I once sent an e-mail to Tony Pierce asking him what makes a good blog. Frankly, he said, “Ultimately the best way to look at the blog is worry about good content first and public attention second. Even the best sites don’t get a lot of comments.” Let’s be honest blogging is a selfish endeavor. Unless you’re running a charity site, you can’t claim “I blog for the people!” that sounds quite silly. If comments are what you are after you may be better off joining a really good forum or join a blog community site with authors of similar interest. Don’t worry about losing readers because you may find yourself gaining new ones.

Finally if you figure out how to get people to comment AND comment often, document the process and sell it for tons `o money.

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13 comments

  • Lauren June 6, 2003   Reply →

    See, I started visiting tons of other blogs in the world [and commenting] initially to get users to my site – but then I got wrapped up in *their* blogs. Now I care a lot less about my own comments, and more about the anthology of everyone’s blog!

  • Cyn June 6, 2003   Reply →

    It’s funny, but the last two reasons you listed are big motivaters for me. I never liked to write before, but now I do. A lot of the time I write for myself, but I always think about what people might enjoy reading about. And pictures are fun because people get to see what you are talking about. Always a good thing.

    As for comments, I adore comments and I’m starting to realize that people will comment on ideas that they feel they have an authority on. So depending on your audience, you can gauge your subject matter and leave something there for people to comment on. I haven’t worked out all the kinks, but I’m getting a higher success rate as I improve.

    Jeez, what a long ass comment…*mutters something about a blowhard*

  • Charles June 6, 2003   Reply →

    FWIW, I have to counter your comment about “I’ve yet to meet someone who reads blogs that doesn’t actually write one of their own.”

    As it happens, I check out your site, as well as my cousin Avi’s http://www.drissman.com/blog/ and my friend Bill’s http://www.billpalmer.net/…and, although I make my living as a website developer, I actually *don’t* write one of my own.

    Why not? Well, perhaps *because* I design sites for a living…maybe it’s the old bit about not wanting to spend your off-time hanging out at work. On the other hand, I’m very much the web-surfing geek (which is how I started doing this for a living in the first place), so perhaps not.

    I frequent several message boards & the occasional chatroom, so it’s not that I’m antisocial, and I often have a lot to say (anyone who’s listened to me jabber knows this too well). I do find that I’ve become much more introspective in recent years…right around the time I stopped running a movie theater & started my own business. Hmmmm…

  • A.J. Wood June 6, 2003   Reply →

    Leave it to you Charles to have a counter-point. Heh, must go fire somebody in my research department now… LOL.

  • Cyn June 6, 2003   Reply →

    My mom regularly reads blogs, but doesn’t have her own blog.

    ha! Or as Jamie would put it…je je je je!

  • Jennifer June 6, 2003   Reply →

    *applause* well said, A.J. =)

    xoxoxo

  • Rhys June 6, 2003   Reply →

    I’d love to say “I do it for the fun of it!” (and I do in a major part). However, I am a massive egomaniac, so comments (and lots of them) come into it for me.

  • Katie June 6, 2003   Reply →

    I am such a commenting addict. I love commenting. I comment more than I blog. If someone takes the time to write something, anything AND I find any portion of it interesting, I comment. I do it in excessive amounts. I don’t know why, other than I like relating to something someone else wrote. It’s fun for me.

    Blogging, is pretty much the same for me. It’s fun. If I can think of something, anything even remotely interesting to write about I do.

    At the same time, I agree with Lauren. I refuse to comment on any new blogs. I don’t have time to. There’s so much interesting stuff out there; I don’t want to find more. Heh.

    Very good post, A.J. I liked reading it. Talk about making me think. =)

  • moxie June 6, 2003   Reply →

    A.J. — it was posted TWO days after yours and notice the title of the post 😉

  • moxie June 6, 2003   Reply →

    Oh and you already write as well as Ryan and Hosemonster. Don’t sell yourself short man!

  • A.J. Wood June 7, 2003   Reply →

    Heh heh, Moxie. I just happen to grab that post because it was the easiest for me to find in reference to what I was writing.

    I could never hate you – envy maybe, but hate… nah.

    Anger management (and plenty of Jack Daniels) solved that problem for me.

    *chuckle*

  • Bill Palmer July 4, 2003   Reply →

    My blog has received over 50,000 visitors in the past three months, and I’d wager that over 99% of them don’t have their own blog. Perhaps it’s because my blog focuses not on my life, but on the Macintosh computer platform. I guess I use the blog format for something different than most other bloggers are using it for.

    If nothing else, I believe that my blog has helped prove that the blog format has potential beyond simply being a personal journal. If the content of what you write about is of actual value to websurfers, then they will come.

    – Bill

  • Boris October 1, 2003   Reply →

    Boris rules !

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