Remember the days prior to starting your blog(s)? It was pretty exciting.
Did you read how you can make money online? How some bloggers make a six figure income?
Do you recall the stories of how bloggers used their blogs as a stepping stone to becoming published authors, public speakers, and/or well known in other ways for their work?
Today’s Lesson
I remember those days. It was just over 18 months ago.
I read a few blogs, did some online research and had a mental picture of what blogging was all about.
Boy was I wrong.
For one thing, I actually thought traffic would be easy to acquire. Wrong!
I also thought I could makes buckets of money with my blog. Wrong!
And, I thought blogging would be just like other hobbies of mine. Hobbies I dabble in, “when I feel like it” or have a little extra free time. Wrong!
For one thing, traffic building is something that takes time. Whether using SEO (search engine optimization), link building, blog carnivals social networking, or other methods. people don’t come to a blog just because it’s there.
Making money? If I remember right, it was almost 9 months before I got my first check from Google. As for the other affiliate programs I signed up for, I’ve yet to meet some of their minimums. When a minimum is $25.00, and I’ve been at this for 18 months, I know I’m either doing something wrong, or all the hype is just that, hype.
Blogging as a “typical” hobby? Not so. I can’t stay away from it. In fact, I’m addicted to blogging.
The one thing I do not remember reading about was “community”. THAT is what brings me back to my computer every morning and keeps me close by all through the day, and into the night.
It’s the people who frequent my blog. The friendships I’ve built. It’s the comments and emails I receive. It’s the blogs I find and visit. It’s the support I feel in blogosphere; the kindness, consideration and compassion.
Although it was other factors that lead me into blogging, it’s something much greater that keeps me hooked. It’s something that is priceless.
Today’s Assignment
What are the biggest misconceptions you have found with blogging?
Has blogging taken you on a path you hadn’t expected?
Feel free to share you thoughts and let us know how the misconceptions about blogging has changed your viewpoint.
.
Photo Credit: AMagill’s photostream
Hi. I'm Barbara Swafford & I'd like to welcome you to Blogging Without A Blog. Grab a seat, share your thoughts and join in the conversation. 
Davina
James
Nadia Ballas-Ruta - Happy Lotus Lifestyles
Jodith
Hilary
Tom Baker
Tony Single
Taxi Finance
Kelvin Kao
Sandra Lee
suzen
Mandy Allen
Lori
I don’t know about you, but I love getting comments on my blog posts. Granted, they do take time to answer, but for me, there’s nothing better than the sense of community that forms in the comment section.
Recently I’ve noticed some blog authors have totally closed their comment sections and others close them for certain posts. A few blog authors never answer their comments, and some answer each and every one.
I was curious how Darren Rowse, author of Problogger and co-author of ProBlogger: Secrets Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
deals with his comments, so in this installment of A.S.K. (Answers Sharing Knowledge) series,
I asked
Many blog authors stay active in their comment section. It appears you prefer to be more elusive. Was this a decision you made early on, or have other factors influenced you to not be a part of the discussions?
Darren answered
This is something I grapple with on a daily basis. Unfortunately as my blogs have grown and comment numbers [have increased] it gets harder to maintain being able to interact with comments as I once did.
The other factor is that I’ve found that over time my readers have stepped into the place I once occupied and have begun to answer one another’s questions etc. I guess it’s about building a culture of conversation on your blog.
Reflecting On The Answer
Thank you Darren for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your answer.
Darren points out a factor we don’t always consider when we begin to blog. Will we be able to continue to answer comments when our blog expands?
Recently I’ve been thinking about what I would do. I haven’t come up with the perfect answer.
What about you?
Todays Assignment
Do you think a blog author should respond to answer each and every comment?
What would/will you do when answering comments takes up so much of your time, you’re left with no time to publish posts and/or maintain your blogging activities?
I’m curious to hear what you think. Feel free to share your answer.
.
Read other answers in the A.S.K. (Answers Sharing Knowledge) series.
A.S.K. Darren Rowse of Problogger – How Do We Increase Our Readership
A.S.K. Andy Bailey – What Was The Inspiration Behind The CommentLuv Plugin
A.S.K. Liz Strauss – How Do You Inspire Readers To Join Your Community
A.S.K. Liz Strauss – How To Format Blog Comments To Maximize Comments
Photo Credit: Darren Rowse/Problogger