Ten Reasons to Blog: Your Ego can Handle it!
“Blogs, social networks, newspapers, any other form of publication – all have social aspects to them. It is a spectrum really, with social networks at one extreme and a 19th century novel at the other. But there’s room for all types of social publishing platforms.” Richard MacManus
Ten Reasons to Blog: Your Ego can Handle it!
Your blog is what you say when there is nobody standing over your shoulder telling you what to do.Lorelle Van Fossen
Authenticity is not an automatic ticket to success in an attention economy. Because, if you choose a platform or business building model where a key element is attention, you’ve got to be not only authentic but significant. Jonathan Fields (Career Renegade)
Ten Reasons to Blog: Your Ego can Handle it! – Were you voted most likely to dominate the publishing world in pre-school and again in High School? Okay, so you always imagined becoming the next J.K. Rowling or publishing superstar? Let me guess, was it the famous psychic who assured you your name will be in lights with your words written all over it? Do you fantasize about retiring filthy rich with the money lode you earned blogging? Is your weekly grocery list the most creative prose you’ve written since your school days?
Alright, I hear your protests. Confess; did you send out a few inquiries to publishers with a treatment or two on How to Solve the Mystery of the Lemming Syndrome and got no response? Right, right… and that 5-page fictional outline on authentic yet insignificant baloney you mailed to 20 agents and publishers? Well, at least you got one reply; the rejection letter was curt and to the point “… Thanks, but no thanks!”
If you answered “yes” or even “no” to any of my questions, then writing a blog is the new path for you. Yes, you might get smacked down and your ego might take a beating but, you don’t want to take an unfulfilled desire to your nursing home or grave, do you? Even if you are busy and think you have little to offer; try blogging anyway; you might surprise yourself.
The internet is open to a wide spectrum of voices; why silence your voice? Daily, people from around the world sift through the noise, looking for their version of a gem; that gem could be one of your blogs … or not. Don’t spend too much time worrying whether everybody will love your blog; everyone won’t, some might, and perhaps a few will. Pick a blog name, check your ego at your blog door and go to it.
“I’ve long advised that bloggers seeking to make money from blogging spread their interests across multiple revenue streams so as not to put all their eggs in one basket.” Darren Rowse (Problogger)
Ten Reasons to Blog: Your Ego can Handle it!
I never remember what I read; I remember experiences. I find it best to dive right in and learn the hard way. Pete Cashmore (Mashable)
One critical consideration when launching a blog is what you are going to call it. Chris Garrett
If you’re still not convinced, here are ten good reasons to blog: Trust me; your ego will thrive…
♥ Create a digital identity on your terms. Your blog registers your personal memories, ideas, and opinions online for posterity. It is your creative expression and you decide what you wish to include. Embrace the identity you have selected for your foray into blogging. Are you the last angry woman or the happy-go-lucky sprite? Embrace her; she has friends dying to connect in the blogosphere. Go meet them. You can invite your alter ego to blog, you may express your moods and magic through various incarnations or personalities, just stay on point whatever the message. Regardless of who you choose to be, do keep in mind that you must manage your views as what you say is on the internet forever.
♥ Clarify your motivations and thoughts as you embark on this unique writing process. Even if the original impulse that led you to blog on a topic dries up quickly, push on and write anyway. Why am I blogging? It is important to ask this question on a regular basis. Blogging will help you engage in discussions that hold meaning for you and your gradually expanding readership. If you plan to make money from blogging, educate yourself on what that entails and then follow your calling. If you blog purely for enjoyment, don’t be shy about that fact either. It is your choice that counts and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
♥ Connect with both new readers and other bloggers in the blogosphere. As you write, you will find a vast door open that connects you to other bloggers; some with a similar bent or experience and others with vastly different sensibilities. This is perfectly fine. Eureka or inspirational moments can be triggered by reading a blog on a familiar or obscure subject. As you connect with other bloggers, you will open a gateway to new blogging experiences and knowledge. It can be quite a feast and you must be careful not to over-indulge. There are millions of bloggers out there and only 24 hours in a day. Be selective of which blogs to read daily and which ones to read occasionally. Don’t get overwhelmed by all the choices out there, let your forays into the blogosphere evolve.
“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” Brian Clark (Copyblogger)
Ten Reasons to Blog: Your Ego can Handle it!
The heart of blogging is linking…linking and commenting. Connecting and communicating is the purpose of the Internet. George Siemens
I guess my point is if you’re one of these people considering giving up on blogging in exchange for paying more attention to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and MySpace, or whatever they throw at us mere mortals, bear in mind you are giving up on something rather unique and wonderful. Hugh Macleod
♥ Be open to re-evaluating your closely held premises about life, love and the world of ideas. As you formulate ideas and topics to write about, don’t hesitate to challenge yourself to feed off of other points of view; whether you play devil’s advocate or peacemaker, take a position and write on it. If you enjoy writing motivational pieces as I do, don’t censor yourself and pretend to be something else. Write how you feel and share your experiences; as long as your opinions are not completely outrageous you should write without fear of public sanction. Even if you choose to say something outrageous, do so with a clear head and the conviction to stand your ground. You are entitled to your opinion after all.
♥ Be bold about learning a new skill. Blogging is a skill that grows with time and the experience gained will be worth the journey. The explosion of social media sites and internet innovation will continue to provide vital fodder for creative, visionary thinkers. As the medium grows and you grow at blogging, you will learn about new applications/tools to help you improve your efforts and make blogging effective. As a new blogger in fall 2008, I soon learned that WordPress regularly updated and offered many blog design templates to choose from, that uploading images/video and writing simple HTML code for my blog was easier than I imagined. With each passing day/month, I learn new tips and tools about blogging and look forward to seeing (yes, with time) my blog enjoy exponential growth.
♥ Develop expertise in an area if you are so inclined. Are you ready to stay enthusiastic about a particular subject? This is not absolutely carved in stone. If you have several interests, as I do, don’t be afraid to explore them. Follow your spanda, your bliss, your voice, and your blog will evolve. Whether you decide to be a generalist or a specialist is your prerogative; be at peace with your choice. Learn as much as you can on the topics you choose to write about and subscribe to your favorite bloggers to stay in touch with the community. Wikipedia.org and Google Images are great resources for material but there are tons you can learn from other bloggers including the bloggers whose quotes you read in my blog. Their names will link you back to their websites/blogs. Go visit and enjoy it.
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“I believe the term “blog” means more than an online journal. I believe a blog is a conversation. People go to blogs to read AND write, not just consume.” Michael Arrington
Ten Reasons to Blog: Your Ego can Handle it!
Without the New York Times, there is no blog community. They’d have nothing to blog about. Malcolm Gladwell
Just as we don’t spend a lot of time worrying about how all those poets out there are going to monetize their poetry, the same is true for most bloggers. Seth Godin
The more popular a person thinks he is in the blogosphere, the thinner his skin, and the thicker his hypocrisy. This should be exactly the opposite: the higher you go the thicker the skin and thinner the hypocrisy. Guy Kawasaki
♥ Develop discipline and a commitment to honor the goals you set for your blog postings. The best gift you can give yourself as a blogger is, to be honest about what is/isn’t feasible time-wise and stay true to your blog goals. When I took Darren Rowse’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog in April 2009, it helped me create a realistic schedule for posting my blogs. I knew that, given the demands of work, family, personal training goals, and other commitments, a weekly blog post would be ideal for me. Find your rhythm and go with it.
♥ Gain some perspective on readership, blogger stardom, media attention, blog statistics and search engine optimization (SEO). Even Technorati’s star bloggers identified in 100 Top Blogs by authority or 100 Top Blogs by reader favorites did not become wildly successful overnight. NorthxEast.com’s 50 most influential female bloggers focused on their content, their readership, and their blog goals and with time their influence spread. Don’t fixate on the numbers … ok, at least not daily!
The point is to focus on your game, do the best you can and enjoy the process. Even if you were being paid to blog, it really should not feel like a demanding second job. I enjoy researching and gathering information and photographs for my weekly posts. I actually find the process relaxing and fun because I always find something I never expected… so go with the flow; gain perspective my dear, perspective is key to longevity here.
♥ Take ownership and responsibility for your good/bad posts. To err is human and to forgive is divine. Unless like Seth Godin, you decide to disallow comments entirely, be prepared for positive, negative, spammy, and zero comments on your blog. Again, don’t fixate on the numbers. Did someone email you privately to say how much they enjoyed it? Fine. Move on… The fantastic part is that you have administrative control and can limit or edit comments as you deem fit. Another point to remember is that the joy of blogging includes the ability to edit your content whenever you want.
♥ Please get over your fear of public rejection. Your blog represents one facet of who you are; it is not the whole picture. Even if some of your characters are fictionalized to protect the fill-in-the-blank, is your message conveyed effectively? Is the authenticity of your intention and the lesson learned expressed there? Yes, you may choose to re-invent yourself into some new-fangled persona through blogging and maybe, the characters in your blog are more exciting than the characters in your real life but so what? As long as you distinguish fact from fiction by the way you deliver your message, readers will understand you are not the New York Times or BBC News.
As your voice and vision grow, your confidence as a blogger will grow. If you have a niche, you will attract like-minded spirits; if you don’t then enjoy your role as a renaissance man/woman. Perfectly acceptable. Now go to it! What do you think?
♥ Let me know how the process evolves for you. I’d love to hear from you regardless of where you are in your blogging history. Share some of your insights or tips here if you wish. Thank you!
***Spanda is a Sanskrit term for the subtle creative pulse of the universe as it transforms into a dynamic living form. The divine impulse to create!
Photo Credits: All Blogging photos courtesy of Pixabay.com
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Trackbacks
- Posts about Mashable as of September 14, 2009 » The Daily Parr
- Ten Reasons to Blog: Your ego can handle it!
- Hello world! « Eof737's Mirth and Motivation
- Back to Blogging: Revisiting the Past & Embracing the Future « Eof737's Mirth and Motivation
- SITSGirls Featured Blogger: WooHoo! My Special SITS Day! « Eof737's Mirth and Motivation
- Reflections on Blogging: Seven Posts That Helped Along The Way… | Mirth and Motivation
- On Blogging: Can We Talk? | Mirth and Motivation
- On Blogging: Can We Talk? | The Blog Farm - A Growing Blog Community
- SITSGirls Featured Blogger: WooHoo! My Special SITS Day! | The Blog Farm - A Growing Blog Community
- Hello world! | Mirth and Motivation
Hi Elizabeth,
How cool is this. It looks like this last post is for me.
Since I’m a starter I have a lot to learn about blogging.
In this post you do quote experienced bloggers.
This is again a great post Elizabeth. I also enjoyed the images you put in your post.
I noticed that you started this blog in November 2008. That’s not so long ago. But I would think you’re very experienced. Like I told you before, your blog is a feast for my eyes.
I wonder in which three continents you grew up? I have a feeling I know it, but I don’t really.
Do you mind me asking?
I did RT some of your tweets today on twitter and I left you a reply on my own blog.
Warm regards,
I’ll be back.
Deana
Thanks Deana and you now know a bit more about my background. What a year for us all, eh? 🙂
Cheers, E
Most enlightening!.. Thanks for all the tips, you make it look easy
Thanks for your feedback. Let me know what other topics interest you? 🙂
Excellent site, keep up the good work!
Eliz says: Thanks for your feedback. Let me know what other topics interest you?
Hi Norine… Thanks and come visit again. Do you blog? 🙂
E
Great site…keep up the good work. 🙂 I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks, 🙂
A definite great read..
Eliz Says: Thank you Bill for your feedback. Always appreciated!
Thank you Bill for your feedback. Always appreciated! 🙂
I don’t know If I said it already but … I just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog. Thanks, 🙂
A definite great read..Tony B
Thnaks again Tony!
Thank you for another great post.
I look forward to many more entries with high quality info.
Eliz says: Thanks for your feedback Pieter. It is appreciated. Let me know other topics you’d like me to cover.
Thank you!
Thanks for your feedback Pieter. It is appreciated. Let me know other topics you’d like me to cover. 🙂
Thank you!
Okay … thank you everyone for your comments!
Cheers,
Eliz
Enjoyed your awesome blog today- thanks! You brought more to a post than what I expected when I clicked on the back2blogging link from SITS- Day 5. Thank you and I really enjoyed this post. I even posted it on my FB page. Keep up the great work and you will see me again soon 🙂
Thank you for your feedback Pam!
The B2B was what I needed to get back to work on this blog…
I appreciate the positive comment and I have followed you back to your blog and commented too.
Stop by again and yes I am following you via my blogger blog too. 🙂
There’s so much information here. You really took a lot of time thinking about this. Thanks for sharing.
Karen,
Thanks again for your feedback I appreciate that you stopped and left a comment.
I am following your blog too. Come back soon! 🙂
Very valuable advice, not only for newbie bloggers (like me).
The photos are fantastic! Thank you 🙂
TY Maria! I appreciate your comment on this post… 🙂
thank you, very encouraging
just started writing and really enjoying it
thanks
http://manupstudy.com
http://manupstudy.wordpress.com
Thank you so much for the reblog Sam. it’s a pleasure to connect with you! 🙂
Elizabeth
When I started blogging more than a decade ago, it was really all about me and for years, that’s how I existed in the bloggin world. For years, my blog lost it’s true identity and I think perhaps I lost my identity as a blogger (as well), until I realized I had a new voice.
With my new blog, I pay more attention on what I can share with people. Through my life I’ve come to learn a lot of things and I realized it’s nice to use these experiences, so I can help people make sense with what they’re going through.
And I see it, really. Ever since I started this new blog, I’ve seen how people relate to what I write, in a level that I wasn’t able to do in the past. It makes the writing more special.
Good for you to focus on telling your story in a way others can grasp it.
Yep, these are all great reasons and I’d like to add that you get to network with some really amazing people at times.
I loved this post. The blogging world allows us to do a ton of interesting and fulfilling things.
I love, love all your ideas about blogging. I’ve just read so many rants about why people or brands seem to love those who are focusing into social media rather than long-time bloggers but really, social media is just another playing field, and it’s a wonderful platform that we can all use to further our blogs. So there’s really no need to fret.
Knowing your ‘why’ is very important when it comes to blogging. Without it you will have no motivation!
I always enjoy reading your blog very enlightening, inspiring and motivating. I am so happy that I found this site. Blogging will definitely help the person to be more responsible witht their posting.
Very motivating! The fear of rejection is huge in me – but I guess I am overcoming it! 🙂
This post enlighten me so much! Very motivational and you put me on the state that I be more FIRE and eager to do and learn more about blogging. Thanks for all those WORDS! You are very Great!
I have blogged for 6 years now and I have learned so much about myself and met amazing people through blogging x
Laura
I have been blogging for a while and managed to transform my hobby into a business. I do love the blogging community and I like attending networking events where I meet in person other bloggers.
Love the line about being bold. That’s so true with blogging. Great post.
This is such a relative post. Especially for a new blogger. Love the be bold part.
Getting over public rejection is so important! It’s also just a great thing to do in general!
There are so many reasons why we can blog but these ten are on-point. Thanks so much for highlighting them.
I couldn’t agree more.. Being unique is not only the key to success itself. We should also be relatable and full of sense,when it comes to blogging.
I like that you can create a digital identity in your own terms. That’s a great reason to blog!
Create a digital identity on your terms…. this is so true! plus i really do love knowing and engaging with my readers! The Internet is still a good place after all!
A very helpful and so informative post! You made it your point on some new bloggers. This is a great advice and a lot of information about it. Thanks!
Very encouraging and helpful especially to those who are new to blogging. You’ll definitely learn plenty of stuff during your blogging journey.
I absolutely love blogging! It definitely changed my life for the better. I know I have became more open and I love sharing my thoughts as well as ideas more often. It’s also cool to be able to make some money on the side from it too! It’s the best!
Thank you for all the tips and feedback , I recently restarted my blog again as well !
Such a great blog, love everything you’ve said here, your points are great, good job..!
I love these encouragement, being afraid of public rejection will definitely not help at all. It just means that you are too scared for everything and their is no room for growth with that mindset.
I am so glad I started my blog. I have learned so much and I have had so many new opportunities because of it.
I started blogging to express my views and over time, I have managed to find my voice. It is a thrill to write a blog post and wait for the comments to flow in. Loved reading your post on the reasons people blog
I agree to all your points, thanks for sharing your knowledge, great job on this blog.
The fear of public rejection is real, Thanks for writing a post about it.
You are doing a great job Elizabeth, we are with you.
Thank you. 🙂
Great post and everything is so true, I love blogging for both myself and the social aspect of the great blogging community and my readers who are amazing
I love blogging! When I started I hated it and wasn’t very good lol. Over the year I have enjoyed expressing myself through it. I think this is great encouragement!
Great Post! I love the quotes from Gladwell, Clark, Godin, and your points on being bold and becoming ok with rejection!!!!! So true! 🙂
As usual, awesome tips!!! I am so addicted to your posts, keep them coming please.
These tips really inspired me. I dont take blogging seriously but now, after reading this, I think I have to make a commitment to publish a blog on a regular schedule
I’ve learned so much in blogging and enjoyed many experiences that I can’t imagine before my blogging career. Blogging makes me enjoy life in my terms.
I love how beautifully penned your thoughts are. To every point, I kept thinking YES! This has happened for me too. Public rejection, and then being able to market yourself confidently. Plus the exposure to different types of blogs beyond my own work. All very valid points.
I appreciate your kind words… Yes to all we do. 🙂
I agree to all your points, and I love the quotes you’ve shared here. So empowering. Thanks for sharing.
This is really important advice as many bloggers have really taken negative advice the wrong way. You know, we can learn from the not-so-good advice. We take the good for those not-so-good advice and apply them to our blog.
Constructive criticism is fine but some don’t know how to give it… being abusive under the guise of advice is never acceptable and there are people in the blogging world who thrive on that.
This is an incredible piece of writing for start! I really agree with your points. I myself started blogging due to the fact I love the reviewing side of it, I love sharing my opinions and advice and it’s so fun to write an honest piece of writing without being told I have to!
I hear you. I feel that way on many levels too.
These are such great tips and reminders! Thank you!
For me blogging is an outlet. I am able to get things off my chest and share what I’ve been through in the hopes it will help someone else.
Blogging for me is a way to have a creative output and also to share my thoughts since as a mom I don’t get mingle a lot of people outside work.
Love that quote and totally agree. The heart of true blogging is creating connection and engagement. Great post
This is really a great Blog! Very helpful and very informative and direct to the point. Thank you so much. many can learn through this post.
This is awesome! Thank you for this. You have your point and also you advice very well. There’s a lot of new comers will learn in your post.
thanks for the info! great post and tips!
I don’t know If I said it already but I just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog. Thanks for all the advice.
Thank you!
It’s a noble thing to give courage to our fellow bloggers. Certainly, it needs guts and persistence to flourish as a blogger.
I have a thick skin enough not to see or feel any issues with my ego and blogging. it is an important part of life and I think it helps a lot of people (mustering ego as well)
learnt so much from your sharing here & thanks for the tips shared, gonna continue enjoy my blogging passion
cheers, siennylovesdrawing
Nice post! Blogging for me flexes my creative skills as I cannot draw or paint lol. I love writing and reading and I initially began for therapeutic reasons…ad escape per se. It’s since blossomed to something more that I truly enjoy. I’ve met many blogging pals from social media as well.
Good for you and your journey!
I am looking for a tips like this. This is so great and so helpful resources. I am surely be guided by this. Thanks for sharing your idea!
Thanks for your post, this is very helpful especially for newbies like me.
I enjoy blogging so much and your reasons are all great! Thank you for sharing x
Laura
I, like you, think it’s hugely important for actually clarifying what my thoughts are on certain subjects. It’s a process that I can use to distill what actually means something to me, and what I have to say about that.
Blogging is an amazingly therapeutic outlet!
These are amazing reasons to blog! Great round up here!
This is a great post and great reasons for why you should blog. I think more people should start it up. Whether it is just a personal blog or a business.
I agree there are so many positives to starting a blog! Developing writing skills and meeting others is my favourite
Laura x
Thank you for proving that having the courage to run with it is all you really need.
A lot of what you posted is things I have experienced in the past or things I am still going through as a blogger. Being a blogger is a journey always learning growing and evolving
I’m just starting to blog so these are great tips. Thanks for sharing.
Very well written and it is fun to read, thank you for all the information
Totally agree with you! There are a lot of good reason why we should all start a blog. For a online worker like me, blogging has opened up a lot of work opportunities. My blog also serves as my work portfolio.
The first step is really to find out your purpose and reason for starting one. Once you know what it is, hold on it.
Well said. It has helped a lot of people earn extra income
My main reason for blogging was to get my thoughts out, and see what others thought of my writing/ story-telling.
These are great benefits to blogging that you have outlined. For me it was learning a new skill and expressing myself.
I think I can’t a take a few tips out of this.. Thanks for sharing
You spoke my mind. Blogging helps me to learn everyday and keep me motivated.
Very interesting take on blogs. Never thought about it this way. I’ll have to read it over once again, I guess.
It can be scary to start a blog but your points are so true!!! Thank you for sharing