Surprise! Blogging Is More Than Just Writing.

 78 Comments on Surprise! Blogging Is More Than Just Writing. 0 603

Buried in my archives is a post from 2008 titled “Biggest Misconceptions of Blogging” which started an interesting discussion where we shared what we learned about blogging AFTER we had spent time immersed in this hobby.

From the comments, here’s a small sampling of what bloggers said.

Today’s Lesson

George from Tumblemoose shared:

I have to say that the biggest misconception for me is that I thought I would run out of things to blog after about a week.

From Davina of Shades of Crimson:

…In the beginning I honestly believe I was writing more for myself, but somewhere along the line I’ve found myself writing for the readers….

Carla of Green and Chic stated:

…one misconception I had was that no one would ever read my blog!

Betsy from Passing Thrushared:

…Never thought it would be a way to meet new, delightful, interesting, knowledgeable and caring people….

Eliza of Silver and Grace said:

…COMMUNITY! If there was something I didn’t know about blogging going into it, it was the incredible high one gets out of interacting with fantastic people all over the globe….

Jungle of Life’s author Lance couldn’t believe:

…it [blogging] would become as “personal” as it has. And that’s in a couple of ways. One is how personal this begins to feel because of community (what many have mentioned). The other big “personal” for me has been how much I’ve allowed myself to open up to people I haven’t known at [all] that long….

Professional blogger Vered wrote:

I thought it would be mainly about writing. I didn’t know about commenting, social media and other types of networking.

John Hoff of Secure My Blog shared:

My biggest misconception was how much time it would take to maintain and grow a blog….

I think it’s common to have misconceptions about blogging and depending on where we received blogging information from prior to starting our blog, chances are, we may not have learned the blogging “truths”.

Just like the comments listed above, I also had many misconceptions.

What about you?

Today’s Assignment

What misconceptions about blogging did you have?

What surprises have you experienced along the way?

Care to share?

~Barbara

78 thoughts on “Surprise! Blogging Is More Than Just Writing.”

  1. Fun topic… I already shared my misconception -looking forward to read what others have to say! Thanks for the link Barbara.

  2. Hi Barbara – Thanks for the mention! If I could add one thing to what I wrote back then it would be: blogging *can* be a business! It will be fun to see everyone’s responses. Thanks!

  3. I am new to blogging, and I’ve had a few false starts in the past. New that I’ve really committed to doing it, I have to say that, as ridiculous as it sounds, I truly underestimated the need for networking. I had no Facebook, did not comment on other blogs, and, as you get into blogging, you see the absolute need for it.
    Cheers!

    1. Welcome to blogosphere C,

      That’s true. If we don’t network, the chance of having our blog found declines. Although some bloggers do have good luck with SEO (search engine optimization), networking has advantages SEO doesn’t offer.

    2. The key I’ve found is making sure writing and adding content to your site is something that’s enjoyable and an escape for you. If that part is list eating lima beans… then you are in trouble because the SEO stuff is sort of a grind at times.

  4. Barbara, I did not realize searching for and reading other people’s blog posts, learning about blogging from other bloggers, writing comments and subscribing to other blogs would be so addictive.

  5. I thought blogging is just an online diary where you publish your thoughts and (almost) daily goings-on. Now it can actually become a business! With sponsorships, partnerships, ads, etc. blogging has evolved into a commercial or a business outlet, too.

  6. Great article. Blogging seems so easy initially but it truly requires dedication and commitment. Persistence is key in being a succesful blogger. Thank you for sharing.

  7. When I first started blogging 4 years ago, I don’t think that I knew enough about blogging to even have any misconceptions about it. Until my friend talked me into starting my own blog and then gave me a set of instructions that took me step by step through setting up my blog, it never entered my mind that I would become a blogging. I didn’t have the technical skills to do it on my own. There is still a lot of technical stuff that I don’t know how to do.

    I had no idea that I would become friends with people from around the world. I love that. I didn’t know that I would be able to reach out to so many other incest survivors through my blog. I didn’t know that I still had some healing to do of my own that would happen through the writing that I do on my blog. I certainly didn’t think that I would ever be on the radio several times and in a magazine talking about healing from incest. All of that has happened because of my blog. All I knew for sure was that I had enough to write about that I was going to make it passed that first year that most bloggers don’t make it through.

    1. Hi Patricia,

      It’s amazing how we can touch people’s lives with our blogs, isn’t it? And to think, when we start blogging, we have no idea where the journey will take us. To me, it’s the journey and all the surprises along the way that make it well worthwhile.

      P.S. Happy Anniversary. Four years of blogging is a HUGE milestone 8)

  8. Initially I was told that blogging was like having an electronic scrapbook where one would share all sorts of interesting goodies. I did not want to have a scrapbook, but decided to give blogging a whirl anyway. I began what I wanted – a platform from which to share messages that I have been asked to share.

    If I had not started my blog, I would not have discovered the diversity of the blogosphere. Plus I see blogging as a form of community: giving, receiving, growing, and loving. I certainly did not realize I would come to love people from all around this globe. I did not anticipate the seriousness of our responsibility to share our words and ideas with integrity. It becomes evident as more and more people respond to our work.

    1. Hi Amy,

      I agree. When others begin to respond to what we’re sharing, it becomes very evident (some of) what we are sharing is being taken seriously. All the more reason to blog responsibly.

  9. The main misconception that I had was the following: I wouldn’t be able to do it correctly and bloggers will consider my posts spamming. Luckily, that’s not the case 🙂

    1. Hi Anna,

      I hear you. When we’re new to blogging, worrying if we’re doing it right is a concern. Fortunately we quickly learn, there’s no one “right” way to blog.

  10. Hi Barbara,
    I had no idea that blogging would change my life as it has! Two years ago, I had a personal blog; during that time I would wish for connection with like minded people. Last year, I created a new site, which morphed into a business; life changing.

    But the biggest thrill is the heart connections I have made! I’ve met quite a few fellow bloggers in person and have hosted them on the boat (that I live on). So: a career that is fabulous and amazing heart connections that enrich my life:)

  11. Barbara,
    As I think back over the last three years (that I’ve been blogging), it amazes me as to how I’ve grown as a person – and how blogging has been such a part of that. And that is, without doubt, from the two-way personal and caring relationships that have developed (something I most definitely did not see happening way back on day 1).

    Barbara, thank you for creating this space – and for facilitating the caring conversations that happen here.

    1. You’re welcome Lance,

      I know what you’re saying. When we start blogging we don’t realize how it can change our life, as well as introduce us to wonderful people from all over the world. What a great “hobby”. 🙂

  12. My misconception was that I could make some money. But first of all Blogger dropped me and since that time I have not made a cent. However, I enjoy blogging and although I would still like to make money, these days I write because I want to and hope my readers enjoy it. I don’t have many readers, but I have a faithful few.

    1. Hi Jo,

      I think many bloggers have the same idea as you; to make some money with their blog. (I did). I don’t know about you, but for me the connections I made online became more important than the money aspect.

      P.S. I have a post in the works in which I’ll share what others are doing to make money from their blogs/via their blogs. Maybe it will give you an idea or two to pursue. 🙂

  13. Hi Barb! I guess to have misconceptions, you first have to have a conception, or expectation. I had none. The whole experience has been delightful. I started just to write on a prescribed schedule to keep me writing. I never dreamed I’d have a following, or “meet” other bloggers, or anything at all really. So it’s a hoot to be sure and I’m positively hooked. It’s all good!
    hugs
    suZen

    1. Hi SuZen,

      Good point. If we have no expectations to what blogging can become, or what it can do for us, whatever happens ends up be a total surprise. I’m happy to hear you’re still enjoying it.

      ((hugs)) back at you.

  14. Starting out with my blog completely coastal, I had no idea that it could grow into a little business, having lots of advertisers on board. Also I didn’t know how time consuming it all was going to be, from creating posts to researching to networking and socializing. I’m not complaining, I love it, just saying. But do wonder how people do it who have kids and jobs which I have not. Now I’ve just started a second blog (this one: Little Buddha)…, but will try a different approach of growing it.

    1. Hi Maya,

      You’re right. Blogging can end up being extremely time consuming, especially when we add networking and researching to the mix. I think it comes down to finding a blogging rhythm that works with our real life schedules and demands but yet being flexible if need be.

  15. Barbara, thanks for these lessons. This goes to show that most of the lessons with respect to blogging and being on the internet are timeless. As more and more people start their blogs, there will always be a new crowd that could use some help, seek some advice and wisdom.

    I am not entirely new to blogging and am still learning the ropes. I haven’t found what works, but have definitely found some of the stuff that does not work (at least for me ;-)).

    It is nice to meet other folks through comments that might be at a similar or same situation that I find myself in.

    The lessons you have mentioned in your post made me renew my commitment and rekindle the persistence – Many thanks for that .

    1. You’re welcome Amanda,

      It sounds like you’ve learned a lot through trial and error, which I think actually works well for many bloggers. Even though any of us could share what we do to, like you said, it may not work for others.

  16. A big misconception for me was that blogging would be easy. Staying committed and setting aside the time necessary has proven to be quite the challenge. All in all, I can’t complain because I really am enjoying myself.

    1. Hi Chelsea,

      I think that’s a misconception a lot of bloggers have. I don’t know about you, but I also found, the longer I blogged, the more time I was spending (on blogging).

  17. I started blogging because I needed some place to put my writing and just hoped that some one would read my words. This work has more than met my needs in that direction. It does take more time than I thought.

    I am hoping as Wiseears dot com gets totally underway that it will be a spring board to use my gifts to make some funds for retirement and daily living. Still learning, and learning is so fun.

    1. Hi Patricia,

      Yes. Blogs are an excellent place to share our writings. Even if our readership is low, it can be very therapeutic just to get stuff off our chest.

      Good luck with your new blog; Wise Ears. I know it’ll be a HUGE hit. 🙂

  18. Hi Barbara.
    Your generosity and support of bloggers continues to make me smile. You’re one of a kind. Thank you for the mention. 🙂

    You know… there are two sides to every coin. What I said in 2008…?: “In the beginning I honestly believe I was writing more for myself, but somewhere along the line I’ve found myself writing for the readers….”

    I’m learning that as writers we have to find our balance IN the writing. What works for one person doesn’t always work for another, and that goes for blogging too. We need to set our own schedules and our own rules.

    It’s become just as important for me to write for myself as it is to write for the readers — in my experience it needs to be a little bit of both. Guess I’ve come full circle. This illustrates exactly what Patricia has just alluded to: The learning never stops.

    1. You’re welcome Davina,

      You’ve raised a good point. Each of us will have to find our own writing style. It’s what makes us (and our blogs) unique and in our writings our authenticity comes through.

  19. The only misconception I can think of, for my personal blog, is this. I thought it was a little easier to set up comluv, and get my feed to burn correctly. Thanks! 🙂

  20. My biggest misconception was that as soon as I started writing, thousands of readers would just pour in there by making my blog popular overnight. lol. When I think about it, I just laugh at myself. Even after three four years into it, I am still nowhere. Oh, well. Now the expectations have come down anyhow in terms of numbers that is.

    1. LOL Ajith,

      I hear you. Although I didn’t think I’d have thousands of readers quickly, I did expect more than just one or two. I don’t know about you, but watching my stats and waiting for those numbers to sky rocket was a total waste of time.

      Eventually we learn, don’t we? 🙂

  21. Pingback: Who Do You Write For? | Shades of Crimson

  22. Hi there Barbara – I guess one of the prominent things I discovered was the power of blogs for promoting a project – I’m looking forward to the networking that could potentially happen with my new blog (and showing musicians how they can make the most of this, too).

  23. Hi Robin,

    Welcome back to blogosphere. 🙂

    I’m glad you brought that up. Blogs can be a very powerful vehicle for promoting – whether it’s self promotion (for our own business), or like you’re doing; promoting musicians.

    I wish you all the best with your new blog.

  24. Hey Barb the biggest misconception I had was I though it would be easier to come up with fresh ideas daily I have since had to cut down my posting to every other day instead of trying to keep up with a daily post.

  25. My biggest misconception was thinking that its all been said before…totally not true!

    1. Hi Susan,

      You’ve raised a good point. For bloggers who feel it’s all been said before they may hesitate to start a blog. But with each of us having a different spin on things, I think it’s important for new bloggers to know their words are important.

  26. I didn’t even know there was so much traffic and money in it, I just started a blog for the fun of it and now I just work from home doing something I love. It has turned into a career.

  27. my misconception was that the page rank of my site will boost automatically with the daily content posting 🙂

  28. My misconception was anesthetized by the expression that said “making money with blogging is easy”. I build my blogs since two years ago and I got nothing from them yet. and I realize that I need to implement many other technique to monetize my blogs.

  29. Arunii, don’t feel bad, I thought high page rank also would boost traffic but sadly it does not in some cases.

  30. It’s weird reading the old comments and realising how much everyone has changed and grown since then.

    And it’s hard to go back five years and remember. But I really didn’t understand the importance of community. I thought it was just restricted to a few people commenting on each others blogs. But I soon realised that it reached far further than that.

    And in my non-blogging months, I’ve realised that the community part of it all is more important to me than blogging ever was. I’m still going to have a new blog tho. 🙂

    1. Hi Cath,

      It’s good to see you. 🙂

      Like you, I didn’t know community would be such an important part of blogging. In some ways, it becomes the reason why we continue even when we experience burnout. Who knew?

  31. I started blogging like it was a message in a bottle. I never thought anyone would actually listen, or that it would become the vehicle for so much growth!

    1. Hi Delena,

      I like how you put that; “like a message in a bottle”. You’re right. Many of us don’t think others will care what we share, but via comments we find out we’re really making a difference in the lives of others.

  32. I think the biggest misconception i had is when i thought that my blog is about me, but later i discovered that it’s actually about my readers (unless it’s a personal blog). So we all should write for our readers and don’t assume that our readers will like something just because we do.

    1. Hi David,

      I think a lot of bloggers think that in the beginning – that a blog is all about them. Once we start getting visitors/comments, like you said. we quickly realize we have an audience to consider.

  35. Hi Barbara – the uncertainty .. I was lucky and that was quickly dispelled .. bloggers seem to like my ‘take on life’ – I’m like a teacher keeping one step ahead … or highlighting things I didn’t know.

    I’m pleased I went into probably what is nearly a unique niche .. and that unexpectedness (of what to blog about suits me – leaves me free to think and ponder (too much sometimes!)), but readers just seem to look forward to my posts …

    Even the daily A – Z didn’t floor me – just left me to do my thing once again.

    I’ve appreciated the learning re how to blog I had originally – and realised the etiquette quite quickly .. and then I sort of settled in .. but it’s great to have ‘friends’ one can ask questions of and blogs we can learn from – as here … without the over top bit.

    The other really important thing to me – is how many disciplines I’ve touched, been interested in, been able to find out about, and be able to contribute to .. learning increases our brain capacity and gives us so much to talk about – as long as we don’t mention blogs in social conversation!

    Misconceptions – thank goodness those days have gone and as my mother would say – I’ve been fortunate in my blogging choices and friends ..

    Cheers – love the article – now I have to read the comments and your replies .. Hilary

    1. Thank you Hilary,

      You’ve brought up a good point. When we start blogging I don’t think we realize how much we’re going to learn from others. Not just from people in our own niche, but from people from all over the world who willingly share their life experiences and lessons of all sorts.

      Yer, we all are teachers and students-sharing our knowledge with each other.

  36. Hi Barbara,

    I guess I will be one of the few guys to comment on this post 🙂

    My first blog was a blog about myself and I expected that people would be interested about me, an ordinary guy. But soon I realized that if I wanted to write about myself and attract people, I would have to do it in such a way that so that there would be a reason for people to come to my blog and read my posts.

    Now, I write about myself, my findings and what I think would be helpful/useful to my readers and I am getting a much better response.

    Nail

    1. Hi Nail,

      You’ve raised a good point. It’s one thing to share blog posts about ourselves, but if we want to attract and keep readers, those posts also need to hold value.

  37. In my opinion, blogging is a life-style, not a hobby. For some people, blogging is a play, for others a hobby and for others a life-style. There are bloggers who blog just for fun, others for money, others for fame, others for none above mentioned. I love blogging!

  38. I think blogging is more for fun and hobby. I can’t accept it as a full time job.

  39. Thanks Barbara. What I love about the whole internet thing, whether it is my e-mail list, blogging or just getting involved in communities, is that I can make contact with folks from all over the world in spite of being housebound due to a debilitating chronic illness. This amazes me daily. What a privilege.

    1. You’re welcome Rika,

      Isn’t that great how blogging works? There are no boundaries and no topic is off limits. It’s like we have the world at our fingertips. Sweet, hey? 🙂

  40. What a attractive blog, you have obviously put alot of hours hard work into this. You are deffinatly right us bloggers have to stick together otherwise we end up with poor results and never being found by anybody and whats the point in that?. The message in a bottle comment is a excellent metephore.

    1. Thank you Ben,

      Yes. I think it’s important bloggers stick together. Those who don’t blog aren’t aware of what goes into blogging, but if we can make friends online at least we have someone who can empathize with us.

  41. Everyone can create a blog but only a few ones can become successful in blogging.

    1. Hi Mel,

      That’s true. Blogging takes commitment and to succeed, tons of time needs to be invested. For those who don’t have that luxury, blogging often remains a hobby.

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