Why do people read blogs?
People read blogs for education, inspiration, entertainment, or to connect with other bloggers.
I’ve been blogging for four years and have published posts on a variety of topics. Some posts have shared personal thoughts, poetry or prose. Others have provided writing or grammar tips.
I’ve enjoyed writing these posts for different reasons. Over recent months search engines have sent traffic here through searches about how to use the possessive apostrophe or the difference between lie or lay. I love believing these posts are answering questions.
As a writer, I enjoy when Google sends traffic to my blog post An Erotic Poem: From Wild to Rose or to the vacation series I wrote when I stayed at a bed and breakfast on Bowen Island.
Exercise your writing style
What should you blog about? The answer to this question depends on the purpose of your blog. My advice is to choose a half dozen different categories. Exercise your writing style. It will keep both you and your readers interested.
What should you blog write about? I’ve seen advice on the Internet to not write about yourself on your blog. Well, there is no better way to stand out in the crowd or connect with other bloggers more than being yourself. And sometimes that means writing about yourself.
When it comes to answering this question for writers, especially for writers, my answer is write to connect with your readers in whatever way excites your expression. If that means writing about yourself, then write about yourself. Write in your voice. Be yourself.
Give your readers a reason to care
Only the writer can decide what they will publish on their blog and how deep they will go. Sharing personal information is risky so folk need to use their judgement. Blogging is not a replacement for therapy.
If you are a writer and you have to ask what you “should” write about on your blog because you’re afraid of low traffic, lack of comments, constructive feedback or making a mistake, perhaps you should stick to writing in your journal until you feel ready.
Let go of the stage fright or the fear you might be feeling because you are BLOGGING and remember that you are writing. The blog doesn’t make you… you make the blog.
The most memorable posts I’ve read have been the ones where people have shared what is going on for them. They’ve been vulnerable, witty, sarcastic or just plain funny. They were compelling and generated engaging discussion. They stirred creativity and inspiration.
Successful writers demonstrate — not tell, but show — their personality to their readers. They invite opinions and feedback. They encourage empathy in their readers.
Give your readers a reason to remember you. Give them a reason to care.
What are your favourite types of posts to write and why?
What types of blogs do you follow? How did you find them and why do you follow them?
Photo Credit: Alamodestuff
{ 10 comments }
Writing about our trips, of course, is one of my favorites, along with sharing images. The blogs that I follow are those who have posted something that interested me. If their posts go off on some tangent I’m not interested in, I’ll stick with them for a while, until it’s apparent that they’re unlikely to write something that appeals to me or they start writing regularly on something or in a manner that I’m not comfortable with.
Neat thinking and writing here Davina,
I think I will start answering your questions at the end list. I find blogs to check out on Stumbleupon and Google + and a great many from Comment Luv on my beginning blogs – something about the title or comment or gravatar says yes this looks worth checking out. For the past 4 years I have attempted to read 200 blogs a month. I have 50 favorites which are quite diverse – the majority are writers and artists.
I love a blog post that sends me researching to learn more – the spiritual blogs often are like some news agencies, it trues out not to be true or something twisted and fabricated; then I am delighted I discovered it. Keeps my thinker thinking!
I have a lot to say and have been told many times that more folks could use hearing what I have to say. My favorite blog posts are when I have communicated well about a concept or idea that assists folks in being their best selves. I post it and as the comments come in I think this is like running into a former student in the grocery store and they say – I learned so much in your class and it made a difference in my life – it’s those kinds of moments. I do miss teaching on the college level very much.
I have written one post that was too personal and I had to defend myself with a rant and that post cost me dearly in readers and on the other hand, it was one of the most honest pieces I have ever written…the Internet was not worthy of it.
I always thought I would write a book…blogging is fun
And I adore reading and sharing about what I have read…wait until you see the book I am reviewing for the 5th of July 2012….some of the best research on the planet went into this history book…and it was written by US citizens – not Canadians…amazing
turns not trues – typing too fast today
To be honest with you, Davina, I haven’t been following many blogs since I came back to the blogging world with Crumble Cult. Sure, for the last six months I’ve been dipping my toe in the water, searching for the odd nibble here and there, but I don’t think I want to be trying to read upwards of fifty blogs a day any more. That was a lot of work, and it got to me after a while. So, now I just stick with a handful, and I don’t even visit those as often as I’d like (the strip takes up a LOT of my time).
Yours is one of the ones I’ve added to my list of favourites though. As a writer, I love the writing and grammar tips that you’ve given (it’s amazing how much of this I’ve forgotten since I left school), and your personal writings have always been engaging, as well as meticulously put together. Yeah, I think I’ll be coming here for as long as you keep going. Long may you continue!
You travel well, Mike. I enjoy reading about your trips and watching the videos you make from all the pics you take. You do a fabulous job with them! You’re living one of my bucket list items: taking road trips in your trailer. Same here. Certain blogs may have caught my eye because they have written something that captured my interest, and sometimes that is simply by accident, as a result of doing research.
Thanks, Patricia.
That’s interesting that you find bloggers from your beginning blogs as over time a large percentage of bloggers stop blogging. I believe a catchy title does wonders for attracting readers… at least baiting them :) Of course, if the post doesn’t entertain you or the title was misleading, then I imagine you don’t stay around too long.
I haven’t used Stumbleupon very often, although in the early days I would Stumble favourite posts. Funny that I’ve never used it to find blogs to read :) That is a good idea — thank you. That’s amazing that you read 200 blogs a month — 200 different blogs? You must have disciplined yourself to manage that number… set a schedule? Good for you for stepping out so far and wide!
Ah, so you’re a little bit of a blog detective, investigating some of these posts. :) You are very literate, that’s for sure. I understand you are busy writing book reviews in addition to blogging… for two blogs? And writing a newsletter. You have accomplished a lot and I wish you well with Wise Ears, your professional listening services.
You value self improvement. That is obvious from a large number of your blog posts. I’ve seen how committed you are to being the best you can be and so it is understandable that you are grateful when you have connected with like minds. Feeling you’ve been of service is liberating and satisfying.
Hey, Tony!
So nice to see you here.
It was nice to see you come back to the blogging world. I’ll take what I can get! :) You’re a talented artist, witty, funny and sarcastic. All of that together is a winning combination. Blogging does take time and energy, and I believe that especially when you’re as creative as you are, sometimes you just have to close the door to all of that and nurture that side of yourself.
I’m touched that you favour my blog. Makes me smile to read that. Thank you for stopping by, Tony. I enjoy putting the writing and grammar posts together and in fact the next one is on a grammar topic. My goal is to try to publish more of a variety in the future, as I’d been posting a number of grammar posts in a row. Would love to put more personal writings out there too!
It’s interesting how, in my experience, the question of whether and how to write on a blog raises the same issues that come up when we’re thinking about whether to be writers at all — for instance, whether we have something deeply personal that needs expressing or we just want an audience, etc. I know, this comment is so meta it’s overwhelming.
Hi Chris.
Writing and even the thought about sitting down to write seems to open doors for more questions, doesn’t it? :) It’s interesting too about how much of the deeply personal writings we choose to share and why. Some of it is more sacred without an audience and yet, some becomes more sacred *because* of an audience. Great comment, Chris. Good food for thought here. Thank you.
Davina: I think that my favorite posts are motivational or funny post, but funny with a point. I like when I read posts that impact my heart and make me think about what I have read even when I am away from the internet. I guess that I just like to be entertained. There are tons of great blogs I follow, but mostly personal development because I believe that to be my niche.
In the end though, the only way to make it blogging is blogging about what we are passionate about because success does not come overnight.
P.s. nice to site ( :
Hi Davina .. well this post I kept in my reader to see what everyone would say .. and I honestly think I’m extremely lucky – to realise at 60 that I wanted to blog and then to be able to establish my rather English style (eclectic, informative and educative) .. and have many say – “please don’t stop”. So I guess I write for me and for my readers – and that camaraderie of friends we build up .. it’s an amazing place: this blogging world.
It’s great when old friends re-appear – as Tony … cheers Hilary
Hi William.
Thank you! I’m glad you have enjoyed your visit to my blog. I appreciate your comment.
I share your appreciation for personal development blogs. Making that heart connection is what is so important. When you walk away from a post and find yourself still thinking about it, you are getting to know more of yourself :) You’ve obviously found some great blogs to follow. Reading what you are passionate about will surely feed you to write about what you are passionate about.
Hi Hilary.
It is so great when old friends such as Tony show up. That was a nice surpise :)
I believe that your appreciation for having known you wanted to blog shows through in your writing and your dedication to your blog. Your readers connect with that. It’s so great to have developed that connection. It keeps you motivated.
Your English style offers a charming sense of charater to your writing. You are unique. :) I enjoy reading your blog.