What the hell do I know about blogging?
May 1, 2006
I was going through my Blogroll (list of other blogs) this morning and was saddened to read that some were burned out and taking a break, some are slowing down (to like 1 post a week), some are frustrated because they don’t get a lot of readers or comments and some were quitting. So what the hell does this mom in Oklahoma know about blogging?
* if you have all your anti-troll/commenting crud up – you will get less commenters
* working your way to the top of the blogging world is hard work – a full time job (not willing to do that – if you are hanging in the middle like me – you will probaly stay there for a while)
* Just because you don’t see a high number of hits doesn’t mean people aren’t reading it – many use RSS feed to read (I do)
* Most people don’t comment
* Most people that read blogs are bloggers & if you don’t read theirs – they won’t read yours
* If you can’t post more than once a week – add a contributor (I have 3 so far – it takes the pressure off too) We try and post at LEAST once a day
* Don’t just regurgitate the news unless you want to be a professional journalist or play one on your blog – Big Yawn!
* Many lower or middle level blogs are not appreciated or get the readers of the established top dogs
* Google will pick up your blog posts if people are looking for something specific and you have been around a while
* Blogs do keep the MSM in line and they are reading us
* Ask yourself why you are blogging, how much time you REALLY want to put into it, do you have delusions of grandeur and fame (I still do – some days), do you thinkk you will make tons of money from personal blogging, who is your target audience and will you hurt yourself or your family in the meantime – employers read blogs too!
Some days I want to bang my head against the wall because I feel under-appreciated as a blogger (pity party) and others I am thrilled I got an e-mail from a soldier in Iraq to thank me for my support, or someone needed more info about latex allergies and contacted me, or a blogger is having a crisis and I can help or a friend in Iraq needs donations and I spread the word through my blog.
Instead of duty, honor, country (which I feel pertain to blogging as well) I’ll choose: perseverane, commitment and uniqueness as the 3 key blogging words to consider. Hooah to all bloggers, wanabee bloggers and blogless nomads who read and comment on blogs!
Posted in Blogging, Greta, Hot Topic, In The News, Just For Yucks, This & That
![[Valid RSS]](valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
content rss
May 1st, 2006 at 9:58 am
if you have all your anti-troll/commenting crud up – you will get less commenters
GAWD, don’t I know it! My captcha thing is a total pain in the butt, but I’m a total fascist about spam! I could probably kill it since I’ve got about ten other anti-spam things going on, but I’m too lazy to update the comments template on all four of my themes! :-/
Ask yourself why you are blogging
I ask myself this EVERY DAY. I still don’t know the answer!
And you’re right–it is a full-time job. I’ve reached my limit on how much time I want to put into it, and it’s still way too much. I want more readers, but I don’t know why I even care. Glutton for punishment, I guess.
I must be the most blogging-hating blogger around, but I still do it. I’m coming up on two years this month, and I think (all too often) that it might be a good stopping point. Or maybe a good time for a summer break. But really, I know I won’t. It’s like a bad habit!
May 1st, 2006 at 9:59 am
And…I couldn’t agree with you more about getting co-writers. I do not know what I’d do without Martin, and previously Mac. I’d probably have quit by now out of sheer laziness!
May 1st, 2006 at 10:06 am
[...] Hi, that would be me. Everyone knows how I hate blogging most of the time–hell, I even hate the word “blog.” It’s SO overdone. No, I don’t have the damn tips–I’m the one who NEEDS them. Maybe you do too? Hooah Wife has got a good pep talk/tips for the bored/burned out/underappreciated blogger. (There’s that annoying word again. Errrgh.) [...]
May 1st, 2006 at 10:07 am
Tips for Bloggers Who Hate Blogging
Hi, that would be me. Everyone knows how I hate blogging most of the time–hell, I even hate the word “blog.” It’s SO overdone.
No, I don’t have the damn tips–I’m the one who NEEDS them. Maybe you do too? …
May 1st, 2006 at 11:06 am
Great tips! I can’t tell you how many times I find that I’m burning out, but then I get a burst of energy and create yet another blog. Currently I have 13 that I own or maintain. One for every personality – some would say
I do enjoy blogging and I do enjoy it being my “full time job.” I’ve been an at home mom for 8 years and as much as burnout can hurt, I think about a commute and poof my energy comes right back
HOOAH!
May 1st, 2006 at 11:50 am
I know what your talking about……I slow down when I get nothing but e-mails talking me how bad my views are. But some times a person just needs to speak their mind, and say what they have to say.
May 1st, 2006 at 11:52 am
One more thing…..I always forget to read what I write before I post….lol
May 1st, 2006 at 12:02 pm
[...] Hooah Wife offers sage advice for bloggers who need sage [...]
May 1st, 2006 at 12:10 pm
I have to agree. Thanks for the tips.
There have been times that I just wanted to take a break, but then I get a comment or an email from a reader, and it just keeps me going.
I’ve been at this for a couple of years now, and I really only take one or two days off from actual blogging, usually the weekend. But, even then, I am researching things to post for the upcoming week, so I really don’t take time off.
I did ask advice of someone who gets about 25K hits per day. He said, blog about what YOU like. Blog with integrity. Blog everyday, even if it’s only once.
Thanks Greta. I enjoy your site.
May 1st, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Girlie you know with me that I will not remove my captcha. However, I read everyone’s blog and always leave comments on the blogs that I do read. I have slowed down some because I am in the process of moving. No worries it will start to pick up again soon.
May 1st, 2006 at 7:09 pm
I promise I’ll come and read you!
It was nice meeting you in D.C
May 1st, 2006 at 7:27 pm
And then, Greta, there are those of us that are just manic/depressive and blog like fiends on good days and struggle and hide on bad ones. It seems to even out over time.
Plus, there are those days, like today, when client work must take preference over musing about stuff like “A day without an immigrant”. However, when taking my wife to the docs in Beverly Hills from the westside of LA, with all of them off the roads, traffic was screamin’! Made the best time ever — Hey! This could backfire on them!!!
May 2nd, 2006 at 7:45 am
Great post! It is hard work, and it takes time.
May 2nd, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Great post – thanks!
May 2nd, 2006 at 8:56 pm
Wonderful Post….One of these days I will get more than 5 hits in a day.
May 2nd, 2006 at 9:06 pm
Thanks for the great post, Greta. I find it very hard to keep blogging some days. I think no one is reading my blog and as you said, I don’t want to just regurgitate the news. It’s a constant challenge to keep my writing interesting, but I’m not ready to abandon ship just yet. The few regulars (like yourself) that come by and leave me a comment make this journey all the more worthwhile.
Thanks,
Carol
May 3rd, 2006 at 2:27 am
On My Way out West
I’m going to be loving the American Southwest the next few days. Fill free to track back here while I’m away.
May 6th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Love this post. Blogging takes TIME – time to write, time to read what others have written, time to comment on what others have written, time to research. . . Gotta find time for family, friends and fun outside of that!
May 13th, 2006 at 7:21 am
Sometime during the week of May 8, I found a post that referred to a book published in the early 1950′s. The author of the blog reviewed the checklist in this book; it was a checklist of things to do to sabotage this country. The blogger went through this list and itemized what items had been completed to date. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME FIND THAT BLOG ?
Thank you so much.
Anne