Thoughts on Blogging

I am relatively new to the whole blogging thing.  Oh, I’ve known about blogs since they started appearing, and have even contributed to a blog or two in my time.  But having my very own blog that I try to maintain and fill with content that someone might be interested in–that’s a new thing for me.  (What next–a Facebook Page?!  Perhaps… wait and see…! 🙂 )  Anyway, now that I have joined the blog community, there are some things I am learning:

1) Bloggers like to know that people are reading their blogs.  That means, we like people to comment.  Even if it’s just a simple “Hello!”  Even more than that, we like people to follow us.  Add the blog to your blog reader, and it’s like making a new friend.  Who knows, it might end up being a mutual relationship!

2) When your blog is born, there are no announcements in the local newspaper.  There are no cameras ready to take pictures and send to relatives.  The news is not inscribed upon the clouds and into the hearts and minds of every web surfer.  You actually have to make the effort to promote it.  YOU have to tell people.  YOU have to leverage all the various tools available to make sure your blog appears in searches.  YOU have to notify friends and family that you’ve started writing online.  It can be time-consuming and frustrating.  But unless you do it, no-one else will.

3) Keeping the blog up-to-date takes effort.  And the extent to which you are prepared to add content echoes how committed you are to it.  And that goes back to why you have a blog in the first place.  Some days it’s hard thinking of something to say, or having the energy to say it (especially when it’s 100 degrees outside and the A/C is struggling to keep the house just short of a sauna).  That’s when you need to evaluate why you have a blog in the first place.

Okay, there are some of my thoughts.  I must admit, I was inspired to write this from a blog article I read by HopefulLeigh on 5 Ways to Be an Ideal Blog Reader.  I encourage you, if you frequent this blog, among others, to read what she says.  And add a comment–even if it’s just to say “hi!”