What 4 Months of Blogging Has Taught Me
Another month already! I feel like an ass — the one up top, with the load of someone else’s crap on his back. If that isn’t foreshadowing, I don’t know what is. Before I break it down, check out March’s wrap-up.
Like previous wrap-ups, this is a stream of consciousness on the few topics that have occupied my mind while engaged in the world of blogging this last month, and the lessons I’ve learned.
Blog First for You, then Blog for Them…
It’s all about mentality.
The second I shift from blogging to voice my thoughts, opinions and expertise to blogging because the people demand it, I feel as if a concrete sack has been pinned to my back and I’m being made to scale the mountain. I’m missing the view, the sweat pouring down my face is burning my eyes, so I walk blind.
When I speak for me, my words resonate in other people and a harmonic understanding is created. When I speak for others, everyone loses footing and nothing is heard.
Consistency is the Key, but…I Misplaced the Lock
Consistency is the answer. Quality is good, but not a necessity. Quantity can help, but again, it isn’t necessary.
Being consistent is one of the most confusing aspects of life, let alone blogging. It lives right on the back of change, camouflaged within its spiny shell. It is not about going against change, it is about riding with it — we make stops and detours here and there along the road of change, but when we set off again, it is in the direction we have always been going, and that, is consistency.
I know that I have the key, but sometimes I forget where it goes. Sometimes I try to use it on a door that looks prettier but has nothing to offer once it is opened.
Popular Doesn’t Always Mean Good
If someone talks loud enough and long enough, people begin to listen, no matter what is being said. That isn’t to say that quantity trumps quality, but rather that the definition of quality starts from the mediocre and spans to the phenomenal — it no longer means phenomenal alone. Another words, you can be phenomenal and gain popularity, or you can be mediocre, flaunt it, and achieve popularity just the same — maybe even faster.
Let’s face it, in the world of online social media, the more so called “friends” we have, the easier it is to get the mediocre to enough eyes to have it become popular. There are still many sheep in the world and even times when the herder dawns a wool coat to mask the relentless cold — people see a story with a voting system clung to the side of it and if that thumbs up number is high enough — past their threshold for in-depth speculation — they mindlessly give their vote in an upward motion.
It’s a proven fact: the more people you get to say yes to something, the more people that would have said no will begin to turn around and mosey back over to yes camp. This is the way things are and it makes people with a true voice something special indeed.
Damn, blogging was deep this month. 
Image credit: Ahron de Leeuw.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
For me, a blog’s value can be measured based on it’s ability to provoke thought and nurture connections. My favorite blogs are the ones that come across as nakedly authentic. That’s funny… I think I read something really creative on authenticity once.
I agree with everything you’ve said- although I would put quality over consistency since people who post crap everyday, or every week, don’t add much value to anyone or to themselves. At the same time, I have to say though that your experience in blogging has a lot to do with the burn-out that entrecard causes. Before entrecard, I think people never felt the same pressures to be #1 in their niche or to keep posting stuff up whether they wanted to or not.
I feel that a person who just started blogging, writes for himself/herself first. Then when readers come in, the focus might start to change. To continue to write from the heart, or write for the masses?
I believe the true readers came because they want to hear what the blogger had to say, not what they themselves want to hear. It’s that unique voice they came for.
The sheep, on the other hand, came for confirmation of their beliefs. They want someone to tell them something is correct or wrong. And they’ll follow blindly.
You’re right. This month was deep…
Vincents last blog post..Courting danger
@ Steph - I agree, both are needed because even a horrible blog can provoke thought. Anything that comes across naked is usually better. Where did you read this creative gem?
@ Entrepreneur - Right, my point was just that the quality doesn’t need to be great. I just about forgot about Entrecard, I haven’t been active there for a while. I think it had it’s time in the spotlight. Time for something new.
@ Vincent - Great point. They do come for confirmation. The problem is, it can be confirmation of point “a” one second and then “b” the next, depending on the order in which they read it. This is different of course from being open-minded — people who are open-minded gather information and make educated decisions, they don’t follow information one by one as it passes their noses.
Yeah, deep.
@ Vincent - By the way, you changed your tagline.
I like it.
Wise words my friend- wise words. I think content will ALWAYS be king, but there rare so many ways to reach out to an audience. We love to try to get it into an exact science or something but if it relates to someone, they will take some sort of desired action.
Right?
lawton chiless last blog post..How To Explode The Number Of Visitors To Your Website-For Cheap!
I wanted to share a Business Week article entitled How to Build Brand Friendship by Steve McKee. I couldn’t help but draw some parallels to your post. The summary reads: “To create a truly powerful brand, you need to establish a sense of belonging, friendship, and dependability between product and customers.”
Steve quotes Kerry Livgren of the band Kansas with the following wisdom; “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Google attributes Ralph Waldo Emerson. Either way, I think the saying holds true in blogging and brand Jay.
For newbies… Jay’s creation on authenticity lives here. Ahh honesty.
@ Lawton - Science is for the unimaginative. I don’t remember who said that but it’s apropos.
Right.
@ Steph - Kansas…Emerson…you really do know how to get my attention don’t you.
I like this as well:
That is so on point.
Great article Steph, thanks for sharing.
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I like this post .The way you express yourself is based on your experience which is a real life of blogging.
Felex Tans last blog post..Advertise your blog with Free Classified Ads
Well, there you go! As I was typing my last comment I was wondering if the fact that I’ve been blogging for years and barely have any ‘readers’ means that I am a sucky blogger just cause I do it for myself. It was only a passing thought though. I’ve stuck it out for this long… why would I stop, eh??
Another great post
Sunilis last blog post..analysing facebook
You hit the nail on the head perfectly. So many bloggers out there forget why they got into blogging in the first place, they just feed into the popularity and what they think readers want. If readers didn’t like you as a person with your thoughts they wouldn’t be at your blog in the first place. Kudos.
Amandas last blog post..Bombs and Iraq
I have been battling with the same thought should i do it for myself or for others? I just made up my mind to just be myself say what i want.good post just do it for you.
tynas last blog post..My Legislator Friend!
// Blog First for You, then Blog for Them… //
amazing point there
dinus last blog post..Self hosted Wordpress blog : Questions ?
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