Aug 27 2007
I Am A Good Blogger!
A couple posts back, I put forth the question Am I A Good Blogger? So many blogs about blogging make it sound like those of us who have personal blogs are doing everything wrong, according to the Bible of Blogging. We’re can’t possibly be serious about blogging if we don’t have a niche. We’re told that our blogs are boring, that no one wants to read about our personal lives. We’re told that blogging is a business, not a hobby for us little people.
My post brought lots of thought-provoking comments. Devilish Southern Belle referred to her site as a “vanity site.” I like that. After all, aren’t most blogs about vanity? I haven’t found too many altruistic blogs out there. It seems like everyone blogging is either talking about themselves, talking about how much money they make blogging, or talking about what an expert they are on being a way too cool super popular blogger.
Diesel has a rather funny personal blog, and had some interesting observations about StumbleUpon. He takes the best of the “good blogger” advice and makes it work for him.
Snoskred did an entire post based on mine. She brought up some good points. Getting my own domain has been at the back of my mind for a while, and eventually I would like to build a bigger website. I like what Jordon’s done with his site, so something along those lines would be good - not a hugely in depth site, but a few extra pages to show who he is and what his interests are is pretty much the kind of thing I was thinking about. Of course, I would need to learn a lot more about different platforms and how to actually run a whole website. That will come with time - having the time! But back to the issue at hand…
I read a couple of blog posts that made me feel better about my blog and where it’s at. The first one is from SuperBlogging and is titled, “Your Blog Can Be Whatever You Want It To Be“. All I have to say to that is Amen, brother. And this morning I read (thanks to Snoskred) this article entitled, “How Do You Measure Your Success As A Blogger?” Look at the very first bullet point. “…is it by personal satisfaction, knowing that your needs are met? That your sense of community has been satisfied?” It’s extremely rare that a blogger will write a post about blogging that actually considers the needs of the individual blogger. And yes, this is exactly why I blog.
I started this blog as a personal journal and quickly branched out into all things about me (hence the title of my blog). This blog is me, through and through. It’s not about lining my pockets, and it’s not about making the rest of you feel like you need to scramble to keep up with how great I am. It’s just me, and now that I’ve been at it awhile it’s about the friends I’ve made too. I’ve kept in touch with friends and family, gotten re-acquainted with old friends, and made new friends along the way. Knowing that there are real people on the other end of the internet makes it worthwhile, and even if no one is reading, just getting things out in the open is worth it, too.
I agree, sometimes, just the action of writing, is an outlet. For me, my blog, keeps my sanity. I don’t care about comments (although I do like when someone does). To me it is validation that I exist. That I have a little place to hang my hat on at the end of the day. It gives me time to be almost myself.
Ah yes, sanity. Something the A-listers don’t seem to understand with us “little people.” I too find I am most myself and most open when I am blogging.
But I also think there are several kinds of “A listers” - the ones who have got so big they no longer care about any of the little people and if you send them a mail you never hear back, and then the other kind - who realise they are where they are because people got them there, and they reply to your emails quickly, and are such lovely genuine people.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with making a little cash from your blog if you can manage it, so many people seem to be a little anti-money blogging but there’s also two ways of doing that - a way that keeps to your principles and beliefs, and a way where you get to the point you can make money and then stop writing good content which was what got your readers to visit you in the first place.
I do think getting your own domain is worth every cent.
I hope nobody feels like my blog is about making people scramble to keep up with how great I am - the blogging articles I have been writing are solely there because I have many blogging friends who want to learn how to blog better - without reading the sites which talk about making money from your blog 24/7.
I realise that over the last 12 months I have learnt so much about blogging, writing, web design, html, etc.. and there came a point where I realised it would be selfish of me to keep all that to myself and not share it with my readers.
I think regardless of who we are as bloggers, the bottom line is we all enjoy blogging or else we wouldn’t do it. So that is why the blogs which help people to make themselves better bloggers and create a better blog tend to get so many readers, I think.
I never got into blogging to make money and it surprised the heck out of me when I was contacted by an advertiser who wanted to pay to advertise on my blog. It did open my eyes to the possibilities of making money from blogging and inspired me to think about creating a tourism blog for where I live, which is my next major project. If it works this could actually provide me with enough income to make a living not just for me but for the other half as well.
But better than anything, I have learned that I can write, I enjoy writing and I am good at it.
That still blows me away.
Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org/
Hi Kirsten,
thanks for the link.
I can’t actually see what I am typing now as the comment box comes up about 100 pixels wide and isn’t letting me resize it
So my typing might be all over the place
Cheers, Andrew
Andrew - you’re welcome! Not sure what caused the 100px comment box but I hope it’s not me, because I haven’t the foggiest idea on how to fix it.
Snoskred - I find your blogging articles more helpful than the preachy pros. It’s why I keep coming back.
Writing is what i do to understand the world better. I couldn’t stop without it having a horrid effect on my life.
-N
Rules? There are rules for having a good blog? Blogging is a business??
Maybe I should just take mine down then. Even though I’m having loads of fun with it, I’m clearly doing something terrible wrong!
Natalia - I feel the same way. Lots of times writing helps me articulate what I’m feeling or abstract thoughts I’m having.
Dan - Your blog is awesome, puh-leeze don’t take it down! Don’t listen to the rest of them, listen to your fans!
My comment was admittedly more about blog promotion than actual writing, but part of the point is that people get so caught up with Technorati and StumbleUpon and MyBlogLog that they forget that all of these things together don’t matter a bit if you don’t take the time to write good quality, entertaining posts.
I spent a lot of time in the beginning trying to figure out “the secret,” and there isn’t one.
Diesel, you got it right for sure. If your blog sucks ass, who cares what your ranking is? Personally, I let my comments be my guide. If I start getting comments that I suck, (which has yet to happen) then I need to figure out the validity of the comments and go from there.
My blog is for me and my small but slowly growing number of readers, not for Technorati, StumbleUpon, or anything/one else.
Thanks for the link!
I don’t think any kind of blogger is right or wrong. If you’re blogging because you want a lot of readers and to make money, then that’s fine.
If you’re blogging just for yourself and your own benefit and don’t care what other think, that’s fine too. There’s nothing with that… I have my own personal blog, in fact!
My blog, Super Blogging, is designed to help people with their own blogs. But when I need to vent and post about my life, I need a different blog to do it on. It wouldn’t be wise to mix.
However, if you have a personal blog, you’re not wrong if you don’t worry about all the technical stuff. Blogging is an enjoyable thing because it’s YOURS. No one can define it for you.
Love the attitude girl. Keep it up!
To answer your question - YES you are a TERRIFIC blogger and a valued member of the Blokester network. And yes, do get your own domain and follow this tutorial:
Best Setup for Custom Domains
BTW, I recommend niche blogs only for business. With personal blogs anything goes.
Terrific post Kirsten. Cheers!
…BB
Dang! And I thought I was the only one who thought about this.
Tay - Thanks for the feedback. I like your blog. It’s more approachable than the super famous ones, so the information is easier to read.
Bloke - Thanks! I am seriously considering getting my own domain and pointing it to Blogger for now. Oh, and I do have a niche - ME!!!
Anyjazz - you are so not alone in this. I think any of us who start to branch out and want to get to know more about blogging go through this. It’s all about deciding what’s right for you.
‘Your blog can be whatever you want it to be’ - That sounds right on! Personally I like blogs that include personal tidbits, perhaps along with other goodies, because - as you mention - then you can get a sense of who is actually behind the posts.
P - a blog without personal tidbits is a bit dry. I think everyone should let their personality shine!