What I’ve Learned about Blogging
Here’s what I’ve learned about blogging so far – some good, some bad: 1. Hits and links aren’t everything – Some blogs get them; some don’t. It’s a status symbol to get them, and hey, who doesn’t want to be read? But it’s just the same as having a big church vs. a small church. Bigger doesn’t always mean better. It can be just as meaningful to have a conversation with a few friends and strangers through a blog. It’s also gratifying to get to know other bloggers around the world, even a small number of them. 2. You’re blogging for yourself, or God – Well, you could be blogging for something or someone else, but most of us will never get the attention needed to say that we’re blogging for fame and fortune. I don’t think anyone’s getting fortune through their blog. You’ll probably need a more personal motivation to sustain your interest in blogging. 3. Comments can get out of hand – Sometimes, comments are the best part of a blog. Sometimes they’re the worst. It doesn’t take much for things to get out of hand in the comments section. Bad arguments, personal insults, and, of course, some great insights can be found there. 3. You will get criticized – You will get nasty e-mails. You will be misunderstood. People you know may even read your blog with a critical eye. That does create challenges – how do you blog about a co-worker, or church, or personal situation knowing that some of the people you’re blogging about will read your post? But no matter what you do, you will get criticized. 4. Blogs are real – We’re all tired of the corporate websites with no personality. News websites are good, but they’re not the essence of the Internet. The best part of the Internet is that real people are there – not just in the personal sites with cat pictures circa 1995 (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but in the gritty, uncensored accounts of life, the daily ramblings, the fascinating arguments. 5. I like your blog. If you don’t have a blog yet, I like the one you’re going to start (I hope). As Bene Diction would say, blog on.