Should I Blog?
One of the most common questions from people is whether or not they should blog. Blogs are extremely powerful and can help your business or career – NO doubt about that, but should YOU blog? Certainly blogging is not for everyone or every business!
First, some non-issues. You might think these matter, but they usually don’t.
1) You don’t like to write
I would have told you in 2004 that I hated writing. Five years of blogging later, and a couple of published books, I can tell you that I was wrong. I love to write. What I didn’t like, and thousands of successful bloggers agree, is formal writing, the type that they tried to beat into me in school! I love conversational writing, informal writing which is closer to how we speak, than what was forced on me to do in the 4th grade. Good chance you’ll find the same thing.
2) You don’t know how you’ll come up with topics
Once you start blogging, coming up with topics to blog on is rarely a problem. It’s usually the opposite — you can’t write on every topic that you want to! Most days I could blog for 12 hours. Yes, occasionally I’ll get a very minor case of writers block. Big deal! It passes quickly.
3) You’re afraid you’ll look silly or foolish (a common concern!)
As long as you have thoughts or opinions, and we all do, chances are you’ll be respected in the blogosphere. Sure, many people won’t agree with everything you write, but that doesn’t mean they won’t respect you. As long as you pick a topic you’re passionate about, i.e. you care about, you’ll be just fine.
4) You can’t write well
As long as you can be understood, it’s all right. Hey, do we make fun of brilliant Nobel Laureates who speak with a heavy accent? Not usually. And often we can’t even understand them because they’re so smart! Also remember, you’ll become a better writer as you blog. Practice does not make perfect, but it’ll make you a much better writer.
So, what are some legit reasons NOT to blog?? Here are three.
1) You’re not passionate about your topic or don’t “have a beat”
Quite simply, if you don’t care, why should anyone else? And if you’re passionate, but “don’t’ have a beat” — follow closely and think about a lot, it won’t work either. For example you might love something passionately but have little interest in discussing it or writing about it. I have a friend like that. He is as passionate as possible, but if he can’t do it right now, he doesn’t care to discuss it, read about, meditate on it, or anything else. Obviously he’s not a good candidate to blog on fly fishing, despite it being the passion of his life.
2) In your organization you can’t blog freely – your blog will be tweaked, positioned, arbitrated, massaged, or whatever term might fit by perhaps marketing, PR, or some other department which will truly be in charge of your “thoughts.”
Sorry, but that type of blog simply doesn’t work — it’s not effective. No Web 2.0 touchy-feely stuff here – it just won’t work so “just say no!”
3) You’re not willing to make a commitment of blogging for at least a few months to try it out.
It may take a while to get into the swing of things, and to start seeing results. You can’t blog for a few days and then say that it doesn’t work. They say it takes 10 years to learn to play the violin poorly. Taking lessons for a month and then quitting makes little sense for the violin, or blogging, unless of course you truly decide that you despise it!
Is blogging for you? Immediately dismiss the common non-issues above. If any of the three reasons for not blogging describe your situation, then by all means don’t blog. Otherwise, it’s certainly something every professional should consider.
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Great article! Blogs can be so intimidating now because so many people do it, but it also has become so much easier and funner to get into. Thanks for the food for thought!