In a previous post we all shared what we do when we’re not blogging and your answers got me thinking.
What inspired all of you to start a blog?
What did you know about blogging prior to that?
Today’s Lesson
Prior to blogging, I was already spending numerous hours a day on the computer, researching, reading, playing games, emailing, hopping from site to site, expanding my knowledge base and/or doing my job.
When I started hearing the word “blog”, I didn’t know what it was, so I Googled, “What is a blog?” The definition of “a weblog” answered my question, however, I didn’t know what a weblog/blog looked like, nor did I look for an example.
Months later when I landed on Steve Pavlina’s blog, I “got it”.
When I saw how having a blog was a great way to communicate ideas AND generate a passive income, my interest was piqued. I thought, “how perfect”. I can continue to enjoy spending time on the computer while I “download” life lessons from years past, share hints and tips, throw some ads on my sites, make a few dollars, get back into writing and leave this world a better place. It sounded like a win-win.
As we all know, making money with is blog is not as easy as is written, however the rest worked out fabulous and resulted in not only a newly found passion, but the making of many cyber-friendships.
Needless to say, I am now hooked.
Now it’s your turn.
Today’s Assignment
What inspired you to start a blog?
Did you know what a blog was?
Has having a blog met your expectations?
Curiosity has the best of me. I’m anxious to hear your answers.
~Barbara.
Photo Credit: kevindooley
Hi Barbara
Your questions gave me pause to reflect – thank you.
What inspired you to start a blog?
Since I was a girl, I’ve had a nagging sense that somewhere in my soul, there is a writer struggling to emerge. Unfortunately, life happened, the thought got pushed down into the deep recesses and my day job is technical and logical – and on the occasions I get to write, it is amazingly boring content. Blogging is that outlet to write. It’s also a place to experiment with photography – another of those creative pursuits that I never gave time to develop. Both the blog and the photography are novice – but that’s ok. More than any other reason, though, the blog is a way for me to see myself. Now that my children are adults, finding my second -half best life has become a journey that unfolds in the blog. I’m beginning to see what is important to me because that is what I write about.
Did you know what a blog was?
I did know what a blog was and had been reading several before starting my own.
Has having a blog met your expectations?
So much so that I’m working on starting another. I find the technical aspects of blogging almost as much fun as writing – setting it up and fiddling with the code to get a certain look or add widgets and stuff.
Hi Barbara –
Blogging looked like fun.
It turned out to be fun.
It is better than expectation because it is almost a way of life.
Off topic, but:
Have you seen the ‘review’ of your site on Tuscson SEO Solutions? (day76)
Cheers – Rhys
Rhys´s last blog post..The 109 Day Link Building Explosion Review
What inspired you to start a blog?
After spending three years in the grandest adventure of my life that went “not-as-I-expected” (or wrong to be plain) -Joining a Catholic Seminary and all its associated activities-, I needed a way to share and express myself.
Furthermore, as my job prospects seemed uneasy I wanted a second line of income “just in case”.
Did you know what a blog was?
Yes, I did.
Has having a blog met your expectations?
No.
In the community sense of it, it has exceeded my expectations. In fact it is even my “social network” of choice (that is blogging + commenting).
In the monetary sense of it, it has been largely unsuccesful. I made a few bucks here and there, but not to justify the dedication put to it. Perhaps it’s because I was concentrating in getting a government job through an intense competition.
Now that I got it, well I’m already running for a better job within the Spanish Administration, so I have given myself permission not to care about money. I will still blog, but just as hobby, for the time being. If I need or want to make money, it would be much better to have something already running and old enough.
I mean posting is one thing, commenting is another, but then you have to add a lot of marketing activities that consume a large chunk of your time,.
Miguel de Luis´s last blog post..I did not do any drugs
I knew of blogs because they were all the buzz on talk radio. So I looked into what it was and didn’t think too much more about it.
I started blogging a year or so later because of my goal to become a published author. I wanted to establish an online presence and that really was the only reason that I started.
I continue to blog for several reasons. Number 1, blogging is an outlet to share my thoughts. Secondly, it forces me to write on days I might otherwise procrastinate.
I didn’t expect to make friends online and I wasn’t sure that I would pick up readers, but I have done both of these things.
Blogging surpassed my expectations. It’s a great hobby to have.
The reason I started my blog was because I wanted a way to express myself. I love to write and missed being a full-time reporter. Plus, I am receiving treatment for my eating disorder and wanted to find others like me.
I read an article in Ladies Home Journal about blogging and decided this might be the thing for me.
Yes, it has met my expectations and more. Originally, I thought it was just be there as an online journal with no one reading it. I have six people who enjoy what I write. I would have never imagined that happening.
Blogging has helped me especially when I am having a bad day and just want to vent. I feel I can do so without be judged.
Sillygirl´s last blog post..Great meal!!!!
I knew what blogs were but not a whole lot about blogging. When I made the decision and launched my blog in Sept 07, it was on the heels of making the decision to niche my coaching practice to specialize in serving the self-employed. From that standpoint it has been a success. My blog has certainly given me a platform from which to encourage and inspire the leap to self-employment.
It’s the additional monetizing expectations after I began blogging that I continue to revamp and re-adjust because they have not come fully to fruition yet.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s last blog post..Loving Your Work is Overrated
Hi Barbara,
Well writing is my passion. So few months ago one of my friends told me “you better start a blog” and he gave me some basic information about why do we blog and how to start a blog. So I was so curious that I was searching for some good blogs to get an idea. And one day I was fortunate to find Daphne’s “Joyful Days” and Lance’s ” Jungle of Life” through an interview I saw at her site. Actually Daphne and Lance pushed me ahead and Jocelyn too helped.
So I love blogging for a extent that I can’t quit it easily. I’m addicted to it despite my busyness due to undergraduate studies.
And I always love to read from you Barbara. It’s really cool to coming here, learn some stuff and share other bloggers experiences too.
Have a great day!
When I started my personal blog, Halfway to Normal, I had already done some blogging as a freelancer for two clients. I didn’t have a burning desire to have my own blog, though, or to build an audience.
Then I started writing a book, and I really liked the idea of writing it within a blogging platform, rather than in one big Word document. It fit the vignette style of my book chapters, and gave me more incentive to get each story to a state of completion, hit “publish,” and move on rather than obsess endlessly over revisions.
For many months, only a handful of friends read my blog and gave me verbal feedback from time to time. Now that I’ve started promoting it a bit more, and my audience has grown, I love the format most for the interaction it allows, and the way I’ve been able to build a community.
Kristin T. (@kt_writes)´s last blog post..Welcome to another day to practice grace
I had heard about it but was not sure I wanted that or a website. Well, heck! it was all pretty much free with the exception of domain name and hosting. So why not and then I became addicted.
Now if I can get the ad monetization working where I can get some bucks, then life is AOK!
Linda´s last blog post..Rocks to Roofs
A friend of mine kept nudging me to start a blog some 4-5 years back. Hence I knew what a blog was but I didn’t really get it.
I rediscovered blogging last year when I came to US on a visa which doesn’t allow me to work. Blogging became my answer to all the questions which I had at that time – be it passing time, creating value, pursuing writing (a forgotten hobby), social interaction & creating a source of income.
Has blogging met my expectations? Yes, it has exceeded them.
Avani-Mehta´s last blog post..New Year Resolution – Learnings & Updates
what inspired me was the idea of creating something that would be noticed, and me getting to be known as someone who started something from scratch.
Noticias Automotivas´s last blog post..Novo Renault Laguna Coupe Black Edition tem mais equipamentos e preço reduzido
Hi Barbara – I used to spend a lot of time on a website authoring software’s forum – I kept checking it manically like I might check Twitter or blogs or blog paraphernalia now. Someone there had several blogs about making money, and after I had looked at her blogs many times and clicked on her adsense because there was nothing worth reading (heh), I Googled “blogs make money” and found ProBlogger. I “got it” fairly soon after that, and decided I needed hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy this house we rent, so I started a blog about clouds.
Robin´s last blog post..Calling All Gods And Goddesses!
I knew nothing about blogging. I didn’t even know blogs existed. My boss sent me out to find blogs where we could promote our products. Once I discovered the existence of blogs, O just had to have one too. 🙂
Vered – MomGrind´s last blog post..First Rose of the Season
I hired a coach to help me finish my book and he recommended I launch a “blog” to generate “buzz”. Now, I had been installing blogs for years for clients who didn’t want to use HTML and http://FTP... but it never occurred to me to use one myself. So, I launched a blog to promote my book. However, I already had a static HTML site prepared to promote the book – so I decided to see if blogs really were better than HTML. One year later, the blog was getting 40X the visitors as the HTML site.
So I’d like to say blogging is a passion – but it was really just a wise business decision.
Now I feel like a REAL stick in the mud with all these creative and inspired bloggers who do it for passion and a higher purpose.
Kathy | Virtual Impax´s last blog post..Removing the Cat Turds from the Social Media Sandbox
My first experience with blogs were the ones that were more like diaries, like on Live Journal. I enjoyed having one to keep up with friends but gradually let it go when family demands limited my free time.
I started my current blog as something of a joke. Long story but the link is on my about me page if anyone is really curious. I had no idea people made money from blogs or that they had become more than just a place to write about your life or your hobbies or opinions. No idea at all that business were starting to use them and that they could be used for instruction until I started looking around for help in setting mine up.
Pretty much my motivation in writing a blog is to entertain people. That’s one of my favorite things to do. If it wasn’t a blog it would be (very) amateur theater! Which also answers the question some people have of why a blog, why not a diary?
Tracy´s last blog post..6 Things I secretly hope are included in life coaching
I had a website nobody was coming to that I gave up on after it no longer served my needs. Then I started getting Zenhabits and was hooked.
I have cyber friends and blogging buddy Julie I met in person.
I have coaching clients and get positive feedback on my ebook and book.
I like blogging. I’m hooked.
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog post..Magic Mondays = 1/7 of Your Life
What inspired me to start a blog?
Thoughts in my head. A story to tell. And a desire to keep others off this road I was on. It seemed like the perfect medium to accomplish all.
I knew what a blog was. As far as expectations go, some have been met, some have not. Either way though I’m still satisfied and still trying to keep on keeping on.
Scott´s last blog post..Quick Thought – Storms
I write all the time – no one was reading anything I write, my daughters said, let’s do a blog Mom with your writing…I said show me how and thus I got started. I really enjoy it and reading what other bloggers write is number 2 on the list.
Patricia´s last blog post..Opening Day
When I first started a blog, it was the usual make-money reason. Then, beginning of last year, I decided to pay attention to this one particular blog I had out of the few. It was a a platform to investigate into the law of attraction and about the power of intention.
As time went on, I realized that a lot of what I wrote in there was first inspired by my mother-in-law who had passed away a couple of years ago. I was a skeptic back then when she was alive. Nevertheless, I was curious enough to hear about her experiments and adventures into meditation, spirituality and energy healing in my many conversations with her.
I’d never have thought that I would be blogging and being in the personal development field. I’ve always had interests and hobbies at any one time, several of which I outgrew. However, blogging is something that has kept me hooked. I suspect that it is the community that it helps bring. I just love the interaction! The challenges in managing a blog are also stimulating!
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..Lessons Learned From The Law of Attraction
Hi Barbara. Blog are definitely a little tricky to beginners, I think. It works in a weird order and the blogging community has a whole set of unwritten rules you should follow. You have a post here which once mentioned about how to use forums, but boy, if you don’t use a blog right you either get censored, blacklisted, or …. 😉
What inspired you to start a blog?
Hmmm….thinking. I suppose the idea it could help market my company.
Did you know what a blog was?
At one point, no, I had no clue LOL. But when I started a blog, yes, I had a decent grasp of what it entailed – but not necessarily how to do it successfully, I suppose.
Has having a blog met your expectations?
Definitely. It’s not only helped my business grow, but it has brought new friends into my life.
I’m still figuring out what I want from a blog and what having a blog means.
I think that’s the fun part. I expected to keep reinventing myself and my blog.
J.D. Meier´s last blog post..Know and Share Yourself Enough
I wanted to forge a new path and reach out to a more modern, younger crowd. I think preventative medicine is pretty much a loss on even my generation, and if I am going to make a significant impact in the health care system we have to shift the paradigms of children NOW….I need to make being healthy cool.
Otherwise 1 in 3 children born today will be diabetic as adults. Our health care system just can’t afford it, there is so much corruption in the FDA and EPA….I may say things people working for those agencies don’t want to read….but the people have a right to know! The news and media may have to be censored, but no one will shut me up. Not even the hackers trying to shut me down! LOL
Dr. Nicole´s last blog post..The Tough Economic Times Diet
I know this wasn’t exactly the main point of your post, but I love how you said your interest was “piqued,” rather than the incorrect but much more common “peaked.” I guess that’s how you get to be the teacher! 🙂
Hunter Nuttall´s last blog post..How To Be More Creative: A Handbook For Alchemists
Hi Barbara. I had no idea how diverse blogs were until I took a one-day course. In fact, when I’d be searching for random information on the Net, I would get frustrated when I landed on a blog instead of a website. I thought blogs were more like a personal diary and I wanted “real” information. And now, I’m writing one 🙂 I started blogging due to a combination of business and pleasure.
@ Kathy, your blog is one of the most creative and valuable business blogs I’ve come across. Don’t change a thing, except to have even more fun than you can ever imagine!
Davina´s last blog post..When Surgery is a Laughing Matter
“What inspired you to start a blog?”
My camera and a love of where I live.
Did you know what a blog was?
Yupp, kind of, but I’m still learning new stuff everyday.
Has having a blog met your expectations?
Nope, I just started, so I still have a ways to go………………..:)
Thanks for asking.
LisaNewton´s last blog post..A Boy and a Wave
How interesting. You happen to have posted this on my six year anniversary of personal blogging!
It went like this: My sister gave me a planner, but after using it for a few days, I realized that I don’t plan too much. I marked important dates, but I simply don’t use it to plan many things. Thinking that it was a waste of space and paper, I started using it as a journal to write down what I did every day, until one day (six year ago), I decided that typing is so much faster and created my Xanga. I am not sure if we called it blogging back then, but many people had Xanga or LiveJournal. This was before all the social networking sites as well, so people connect to each other with these blogs.
After a while, blogs that are not personal journals (such as business blogs and niche blogs) started popping up. At the time I was also writing more and more about puppetry so I decided to move all that onto a new blog. That was my first taste of WordPress and all these things. I started out reading Steve Pavlina and Problogger. Many people probably did the same.
I definitely enjoyed interacting with other bloggers, and it’s been fun. And it’s a lot more unknowns out there when you are no longer just writing a personal blog read by only a circle of close friends. It’s been a fun, ongoing journey. Also learned a lot about running a blog.
Kelvin Kao´s last blog post..TweetDeck
What inspired you to start a blog?
Blogging is free and lets you be free! Before blogs, there wasn’t a place to share my thoughts, interests, work-in-progress, moaning, observations, etc. I would have had to accumulate these things, put them together in some marketable way, and try to either publish them myself or get someone else to do it. It would have been static, as opposed to organic and fluid the way blogs are. There would have been pressure to make money. And reading other people’s blogs inspired me to start my own.
Did you know what a blog was?
Sure….
Has having a blog met your expectations?
I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest! Having the blog has been surprising: what I’ve come up with, that other people read it, that it is so satisfying to simply put stuff out there into the world.
Jeannette´s last blog post..And now for my next trick
Hi Barbara,
I’ve followed a few blogs for quite some time, so I have been familiar with what a blog was before I started my own. After I started, I had a much better appreciation for what they are.
I started my blog because I watched the movie “The Bucket List” – and one of the things that came up when my wife and I were talking was the idea of writing. After tossing the idea around for a couple of months, I decided a blog might be a good place to test the waters. It has exceeded my expectations in so many ways, and enriched my life beyond my wildest dreams.
And you’re a big part of that Barbara!
Lance´s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Well, I think I first heard of a blog in March 2005 when I was reading a local paper citing Dooce as a SXSW speaker, so I Googled her and got the gist of a blog.
Then when I fell in with the Funsters band a few months later, I thought it would be cool to start a band website. And in choosing Web.com I saw I could have a blog, which I did not realize at the time did not, nor ever would have the option of comments. Can’t believe I stayed with them for a long as I did. Oh well… all water under the blogging bridge now.
So last fall when I switched to WordPress, I felt as tho I’d won the lottery. Comments are so much fun!
Blogging has exceeded my expectations, didn’t realize the friendships could be so deep.
Jannie Funster´s last blog post..Potential Regalements
I have been blogging for 2 years and I started as a form of rant. But then it took on a life of it’s own….being a single dad trying to survive was difficult and I needed to write, vent etc.
I was obsessed. I blogged for almost a year before realizing the HUGE potential of the blogosphere.
I can hold contests, get reader’s involved.
I can and do give freebies regularly.
I have met friends from all over the globe, granted I am pretty sure some are from other planets lol.
Always remember what BLOG truly means:
Better
Listing
On
Google.
😉
I don’t remember where I read that, but it fits.
Garret Belisle´s last blog post..An oldy but a goody – funny job application.
i started my blog probably because i heard/read it was the thing to do, so i gave it a go. i also enjoy writing and considered it practice for what i wanted to do. slowly i started getting feedback and making people smile or think brought me joy. yes it has met my expectations and more.
Natural´s last blog post..E is for Episode
Hi Miguel – Again, congratulations on landing that government job. I know the competition was stiff and you studied hard. What an honor.
Yes, blogging and the marketing of our blogs gets very time consuming. Now that it’s a hobby for you, may you find even more enjoyment in writing, commenting and meeting others.
Hi Kathy – You’re welcome. I hear you. The writer gets buried in a lot of us as life happens. How wonderful it is you now have a chance to let the author in you emerge as you live the second half of your life.
Like you, I also love to play behind the scenes with code. Isn’t it amazing how a few letters and/or numbers can produce a totally different effect?
Hi Rhys – Yes, blogging is a lot of fun. Who knew, hey?
I have not seen the review, but will come by shortly and check it out. Thank you.
Hi Chase – I agree. Blogging is a fantastic hobby.
You’ve raised a good point, blogging does give us an online presence and if we’re attempting to become published authors, the web is a great place to showcase it.
Hi Tom – That was perfect timing, wasn’t it? To niche your coaching program and then use your blog to promote it sounds like a wise business decision as you’re certainly developing a superb online reputation for those who are or want to be self employed.
Hi Vikum – Isn’t it wonderful how other bloggers can spur us on? With writing being your passion, I’ve no doubt you’ll end up being extremely successful with your blog. Enjoy the journey.
Hi Kristin – Oh yes, our audience does inspire us. When community begins to build on a blog, and it’s more then our real life friends, we find immense support from those whom we’ve met in blogosphere. With all of being in the same boat (so to speak), the empathy we receive is priceless.
Hi Linda – I hear you. Blogging is such a joy. Finding the “secret” to making money with this awesome hobby would be like the icing on the cake.
HI Sillygirl – That’s very true. We can vent on our blogs and others won’t judge us (although there may be some exceptions). I’m thinking of how you write about your eating disorder and just you opening up about it must certainly help others in the same position. Even though you’re only showing six who follow your blog, I’m guessing many others are reading it but are remaining silent.
Hi Avani – What a perfect solution to your situation. I like how you also mentioned writing was a forgotten hobby. Now you’ve made a name for yourself in blogosphere and can share your world with others. I’m happy your friend planted that seed.
Hi Notocias – Oh yes. That’s true. Our blog does start from “scratch”. Isn’t it fun watching it grow into something bigger?
Hi Vered – So, you were hooked right away. Me, too.
Hi Robin – Like you, I also found Problogger early on. The thrill of making money online captures the attention of many. Now we all just have to figure out how to do it and get that which we dream of.
Hi Scott – You’re right. Blogs are the perfect medium to share our stories and experiences and to help others. Although they may not meet all of our expectations, they sure get us hooked, don’t they?
Hi Patricia – How perfect. Aren’t you glad your daughters got you into blogging? It’s the perfect outlet for anyone who loves to write or read.
Hi Kathy – How ironic you were setting up blogs for others but didn’t have one of your own. I like how you’ve “tested” blogs vs HTML sites and found blogs gather more visitors. That good to know.
Hi Tracy – So you’ve had past experiences with online publishing, but found blogs to be more satisfying? I can see how they would win out. Although we all could just keep diaries, they certainly wouldn’t be as much fun, would they?
Hi Evelyn – What a wonderful story. Isn’t it amazing where blogs take us? I do agree. The interaction from other bloggers and the challenges of working behind the scenes do stimulate us. What other hobby gives us that?
Hi Tess – It sound like many have been inspired by Leo @ Zen Habits. He puts out great work, doesn’t he? How neat that you have met a fellow blogger.
Hi J. D. – That’s a great way to look at it – keep reinventing ourselves AND our blogs. And….enjoy the journey.
Hi Dr. Nicole – I love how you’re making a difference in the field of alternative medicine. As a believer of it myself, and having a concern for the younger generation, I’m happy to hear you’ll keep fighting to educate who ever will listen. The hackers will eventually just give up on you when they figure out, you’re here to stay. You go girl. 🙂
Hi John – Blogs can be “tricky” to a degree. Although there are no written “rules”, there is blogging etiquette which many do practice. And…I also think it depends on the circles we “run in”.
Blogs are a huge bonus to a business. With you having a web host company, your blog is the perfect compliment.
Hi Hunter – I can count on you to make me laugh. Oddly enough when I typed “piqued”, I wondered if I was spelling it right. Oh, the English language.
Hi Davina – That’s funny you should mention that you felt a blog’s information was “less than” a website. Having done a lot of research online, I felt the same. Knowing that a great reminder how our blogs can be misinterpreted, and first impressions do become key.
Hi Lisa – You’re welcome. And what a great blog you and your camera have created. It’s a joyful read/look see.
Hi Kelvin – Happy Anniversary on year six. That is wonderful.
I love your story of how your blog evolved. Who knew, hey? This past six years must hold many good memories for you. And look at you now. You have a great blog about puppetry that’s available for the world to read.
Hi Jeannette – Isn’t that amazing knowing when we hit the publish button, anyone in the world can read our work? It sounds like blogging has become the perfect outlet for you, as it has for many others. It’s a great hobby, isn’t it?
Hi Lance – Thank you. That’s pretty cool how “The Bucket List” movie inspired you to blog. Obviously you have a writing talent, so it will be fascinating to see where your blog takes you. I’m guessing your future will be looking bright.
Hi Jannie – What a great story. It’s one of those “if I knew then, what I knew now” moments, but you’ve done well – and can now sing about it – on your blog. 🙂
That is true. The friendships we develop via our blogs are awesome. Who knew we could grow to care so much for those who were once strangers?
Hi Garret – It is a real eye-opener when we stop to think of how far reaching our blogs are. You’re right. It is global.
I’ve never seen the BLOG “meaning” before. That’s true, isn’t it? Thank you for sharing.
Hi Natural – Like you, I get joy out of my blog(s). It doesn’t get much better than that, does it? Knowing we can make others smile or think. What other hobby can do that for us? I can’t think of any.
Thanks for this post. I started blogging, not just to promote my coaching business, but because in my former career I’d pent up so much creative energy that I needed a regular outlet. Another great side benefit it’s had for me is that I’ve been able to adapt material from the blog into my books and audio series. This has been a particularly good use for my old posts that nobody read. 🙂
Hi Chris – You’re welcome. I like your idea of using unread blog posts as material for your book and/or audio series. That’s a superb way to revive them.
I began blogging to share my spiritual knowledge and experiences. I felt a need to connect to others. I had no idea about how to blog or what a blog was…then like you, I stumbled across one and knew I had to try it. Blogging has been a blessing in my life. I now have a stage to share my thoughts and photos. And I learn so much from all the blogs I visit.
Caroline´s last blog post..Favorite “Foto” Friday and random things about me…
I first started blogging on education topics – basically because I was not pleased with the manner in which our schools were failing (largely) to prepare students to learn and work in the 21st century. Though some progress has been made, there’s still much to do.
My mortgage blogging is now fueled largely for business reasons. Though, I do see a very important opportunity for my blogging to increase/enhance folks’ general knowledge about the home loan industry.
Looking forward to the day that I wrangle an average of 40+ comments on my posts, like you do here! Keep it up, Barbara – you’re always a wellspring of goodness!
Kevin Sandridge´s last blog post..Florida USDA Rural Development Home Loan Map and Information