Let me make one thing absolutely clear: I blog to support my business. I blog to highlight my expertise and put my name out there so clients can see that what I do WORKS – in terms of getting exposure.
Not one person has paid me lots of money to build up their website if they don’t care about their visitors. People who blog for business 99.99% of the time want a website/Twitter profile/Facebook page to encourage customers to buy their product, encourage clients to choose them or to make money in some way.
I don’t advise folks who blog for personal reasons. Why? Because I can’t. How could I possibly advise you on what to write if you’re only writing for yourself. I can’t tell you how to perfect your bio if you couldn’t care less who sees it.
Because at the end of the day, we write blog for other people. Sure, we can be ourselves and invite controversy and have our “right people” but we do blog for those people. We tailor our content when we find out what works and what doesn’t. We prettify our site because readers are visual as well as literate.
Blog Success Isn’t Just About Numbers
Your blog can be whatever you want it to be. For some (as one tweeter wrote it), “blogging isn’t just about traffic/comments/ads. It’s the act of writing and sharing that writing. If people comment, cool. If not, cool.”
Something I’ve noticed in the blogosphere: Sure, people who write blogs with hundreds of thousands and readers often make a full time living from their site. Others get book deals. But you don’t need that many readers for fabulous opportunities to land in your lap.
I once landed a freelance job because I commented on my future boss’s blog and only had a hundred or so readers at the time. He just needed to see I was familiar with blogging and a competent writer. Plus, I expressed an interest in what he wrote. One blogger I know landed a book deal with only a dozen or so Twitter followers. A friend of mine makes a full-time living from her moderately-read site.
Numbers aren’t everything, but you do need a few readers. Otherwise, what’s the point?
That said, my advice isn’t geared towards people who write just to write. Or for people who need a place to vent. As a friend put it, “You give great tips if you blog to be ‘known.’ Some just blog because it’s the new pencil and paper.”
I can tell you how to blog until I start foaming at the mouth, but what I “preach” isn’t gospel. Obviously. I can’t believe I have to emphasize that. My tips are specifically tailored to those who want to accomplish certain goals using social media. Most of those goals involve a certain level of exposure.
My blog is for you, freelance designer who needs new clients.
And you, fitness trainer who wants to sell your DVDs.
And you, unpublished writer who’s agent hunting.
It is not for you, blogger-who-couldn’t-care-less-if-only-your-mom-visits-your-site.
That’s your prerogative.
I’m not saying the “other half” doesn’t blog for good reason, but I’m honestly confused. If you don’t want anyone to read and engage with you, why post your writing publically?
So, for you folks who feel the need to constantly bring to my attention that you disagree with my advice because you “don’t blog to get known,” fabulous. I do. And so do most of my readers.
If you are part of that group, seriously, tell me…. Why do you blog?
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