What Is A Blog And Will It Feed You Or Eat You?

July 24, 2008

So just exactly what is a blog? Could it make you rich and famous? Would it propel your business to unimaginable heights? Or would putting a blog in your grubby little mitts be The Internet equivalent of tossing a firework into a liquor factory?

What The Hell Is A Blog Anyway?

There’s a common misconception that a blog is an online diary. Whilst some bloggers do indeed write about the cheese and pickle sandwich that made them belch for the entire afternoon, the number of press ups they can do on one hand, or the fact that their child has just thrown up on the vicar’s wife; most don’t.

A blog is a website which uses special software that produces pages in chronological order. And blog pages tend to get listed on search engines much faster than “normal” webpages, which is a major attraction for most of us. It gets you seen quicker. Trouble is some blogs – especially business blogs would be better off not being seen at all – ever.

Some Good Reasons Not To Blog

To Make Money: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make money. But if it’s your only reason for blogging, you’d be better off doing something else – almost anything else in fact.

If Your Business Sucks: Do you treat your customers like dirt? Do you ignore all the bad things they’re saying about you online? If so, there’s no point in starting a blog until you sort your business out. In fact some businesses shouldn’t even think about blogging at all.

As top blog consultant Michael Martine pointed out: “Some businesses don’t have blogs and shouldn’t have blogs: oil companies, Blackwater, KBR, Halliburton, whatever. Evil = no blog for you, unless you just like putting a hate magnet on the interwebs.”

If You Have Nothing To Say: Could you fit what you know about your chosen topic on the back of an envelope? Does the idea of learning and research appeal to you about as much as brushing your teeth with a loo brush? If so, a blog is probably not for you. But there’s a few exceptions. If you’re smart witty and interesting like these fine people, you may be able to get away with blogging about just about anything:

Rita (Bloggrrl)
Heather (Dooce)
Kelly (She-Power)
Vered (Mom Grind)

If You’re Not Passionate About Your Topic: If neither you , or anyone in your Company is passionate about your chosen topic, then a blog is probably not for you. Your business probably isn’t for you either but that’s another story.

If You Can’t Spare The Time: Setting up, running and marketing a blog takes up a lot of time. Can you, or a member of your staff spare that time? If not and your marketing budget allows, it may be worth paying a freelance writer to blog for you.

Some Good Reasons Why Individuals And Businesses Blog:

To promote their business.
To help build a brand.
To keep in touch with customers and get feedback.
To keep friends and family up to date with what they’re doing.
To write for pleasure.
To make money.
Because they feel so passionate about something they want to share with the world.

Do you blog? How long have you been blogging? Do you do it for pleasure, to promote a business, or for another reason? Can you think of any more reasons to blog or avoid blogging completely? Is there a particular type of blogger you’d happily torture with candlewax, in the hope of shutting them up? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Image Credit: Robert Whitlock

Still Not Put Off Blogging? Check Out The Following Resources:

Business Blog Consultants

If you don’t know where to start and want to avoid ruining the reputation of your business, you might want to consult one of these outstanding individuals before launching your blog:

Liz Strauss
Michael Martine
Men With Pens
Kathy Hendershot-Hurd

Posted by cathlawson | Filed Under Marketing

Comments

23 Responses to “What Is A Blog And Will It Feed You Or Eat You?”

Scott McIntyre on July 24th, 2008 5:15 pm

Very timely advice for me, Cath!

You ask what a blog is?

Well, to my many friends (who are all users of the internet), I loosely describe a blog as an “online magazine”.

I know this doesn’t 100% encapsulate the concept, but it works for the purposes of me try to introduce my friends and family to the brilliant concept of blogs.

As you know, my guest post series at Liz Strauss’ blog is aimed at helping bloggers more effectively target offline readers and readers of blogs without blogs.

While a blog is easily understood by the “blogerati”, there is still a huge gap- and potential- between what bloggers understand and what the untapped offline reader does.

Can I ask how you describe a blog to any non-blogging contacts and contacts you have who don’t yet read blogs?

Do you have to show them a blog for them to grasp the concept?

I find I always do as the concept is actually quite difficult to explain without some kind of demonstration.

In my view, it is very enlightening to take the viewpoint of someone who has never seen, or heard, of a blog.

That way, some of the issues relating to connecting more effectively with the offline audience may become a little clearer.
Vered on July 24th, 2008 5:22 pm

Why THANK YOU!

At times, I am troubled by the fact that my blog is scattered over so many different topics.

But I blog for fun, and blogging about a single topic (such as finance, which I COULD blog about if I wanted to) would bore me to death.

I couldn’t agree more that if it’s money you’re after, ANYTHING would be more lucrative than blogging.

Vered’s last blog post..Who Cares About Truth In Advertising? Sugar Can Help You Lose Weight! (Wordless Wednesday)
Al at 7P on July 24th, 2008 5:42 pm

Hi Cath,

Very thought provoking! I think a blog can evolve over time, and these questions need to be asked periodically by every blogger.

When I first started blogging last year, I heard of LiveJournal and thought blogging was similar and was just simply a public diary. I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I started. Now I’m glad I did, because I think as my blog evolved over time, so did I.

Al at 7P’s last blog post..The Best Investment Strategy During a Recession
cathlawson on July 24th, 2008 9:00 pm

Hi Scott – an online magazine is a good why to describe it. It’s difficult to describe a blog to others isn’t it? I usually describe it as a website that is updated regularly – often on a daily basis. But I know that I had probably read lots of articles on blogs myself and not even realised they were blogs.

The connection part is difficult. I guess a lot of people are just looking for information, then they go. Getting them to interact is quite difficult. I guess we need to find out what would make them want to interact – what’s in it for them? I read on Liz Strauss’s Open Mike that you can get a “What Would Seth Godin Do?” plugin which encourages new users to subscribe to your blog. Maybe that would be something worth trying.

Hi Vered – You’re welcome. You blog very well on a variety of different topics and that is a special skill. I bet you could even make finance sound interesting.

Hi Al. Well I have not heard of Live Journal. That is interesting that you say that you have evolved with your blog. I feel that way too – my blogging has changed but so have I. I think that sometimes the things you’re writing about make you think more.
James Chartrand - Men with Pens on July 24th, 2008 9:46 pm

Hey Catherine,

This was great. That’s a very nice resume of a blog and some dos and don’ts. There are plenty of good reasons to blog, but as you pointed out, there are many reasons not to.

And if you are going to blog, I always say to do it the right way and plan it out properly. It’s a tool, but you need to know how to use it best.

Thanks for the link, too. I appreciate that.

James Chartrand – Men with Pens’s last blog post..HALT Your Way to Better Business
Liz Strauss on July 24th, 2008 9:48 pm

Thanks, Cath!
What great title! I hope it attracts lots of readers, because it states the question with passion. If you’re heart’s not in it, you won’t last. As Vered said, making money can be done a whole lot easier than by blogging.

Thanks so much for offering my expertise to bloggers.

Liz Strauss’s last blog post..Reaching the Offline Customer: Do You Promote Your Blog Offline?
Avani-Mehta on July 24th, 2008 9:49 pm

Hi Cath,

This is a great resource to read. Thank you for putting it together.

Avani-Mehta’s last blog post..Unlock Your Mind – A story from Houdini’s Life
Barbara Swafford on July 24th, 2008 10:11 pm

Hi Catherine,

I love how you write. This post is making me laugh as it gets the point “home”

As you know, I’ve been blogging for almost a year and a half now. I blog to help others by passing on what I have learned, and continue to learn. I blog to build community, and to find and help new bloggers. I blog to meet others.

I totally agree, anyone who thinks they will make a fortune blogging, best have a big bank account to fall back on. Although it is possible to make money blogging, most don’t see any sizable income until after year two.

Another reason not to blog is if you hate to write and read. Blogs are about the written word, and if you’re not willing to share what you know, don’t waste your time. It’s hard work.

Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Interview With Lorelle VanFossen – Part 3 – Content: Is Good, Good Enough
cathlawson on July 24th, 2008 10:13 pm

Hi James – you’re welcome. And you’re so right – planning is important. And getting a proper design to begin with is a really good idea too. Can you remember my boring old unmemorable design before you and Harry revamped this blog?
cathlawson on July 24th, 2008 10:19 pm

Hi Liz – you’re welcome. And thank you. I struggled to come up with a title but I hadn’t eaten all day – which is probably why I came up with that one.

Hi Avani – you’re welcome.

Hi Barbara – Thank you. Isn’t it amazing how people who hate to write and read start a blog? I blame all those make a million blogging sites.

You’re right about time too. You know what – I thought I had a heap of posts on here – around 379. Then I read today – think it was on John Hoff’s blog that Problogger has around 4000 posts. I’ll probably be in a nursing home by the time I’ve written that much.
Robin on July 24th, 2008 11:06 pm

A good read, Cath!

I love the way the blog is totally unlike any other medium – it’s a mix of writing, photos, design – and is interactive and both public and personal. Getting an immediate response to the writing is amazing, AND you get to decide YOURSELF what goes – having had lots of children’s books published, that’s a biggy.

Oh… and I’m definitely in it for the money

Robin’s last blog post..A Magic Trick For Relationships
cathlawson on July 24th, 2008 11:14 pm

Hi Robin – Thank you. That is so true – there is so much freedom in blogging isn’t there? And the instant feedback is a good point. It makes it so much easier to discover what your readers like and don’t like.

I didn’t know you’d written children’s books. That is brilliant. Do you still write them?
cathlawson on July 24th, 2008 11:59 pm

Hi Rita – Thank you – you’re welcome. It takes great skill to tell a story that keeps readers engaged as you and the other 3 bloggers mentioned do. And it allows you the luxury of being able to write about anything you want.

I know the types of blogs you mean. Trouble is they get sucked into believing they’re going to make a fortune overnight. But as you said – the reality is they’d probably be better of with a part-time job.
Kelly@SHE-POWER on July 25th, 2008 6:02 am

Oh my god, you put me in a ‘writerly’ category (yes, I like to make up words) that includes Dooce? I am blushing and fanning my face with the thrill of it all!

Can I get you to become my personal PR Manager, Cath? I want a book and sponsorship deal which allows me to fluff around taking as long as I want to finish this damn novel that I keep looking at and feeling guilty. Oh, and $1,000 a week to blog about nothing in particular would be good too.

Thanks for the link love and this is a great piece for anyone who is thinking about starting a blog. I only ever had a vague idea about blogging for money and it didn’t last long, but as I travel through the blogasphere seeing the haphazard advertising and all the articles about monetization ’secrets’, I can’t help but wonder WHO does make money from blogging? I think professional blogging (not pocket change) is rare enough to almost be an urban legend.

I have to say you impress me with how much you blog about some really interesting topics, while still running a business and raising a family. Do you have a superman cape under your clothes?

Kelly

Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post..Happy 1 Year Anniversary to SHE-POWER
cathlawson on July 25th, 2008 9:55 am

Hi Kelly – That sounds like it would be a fab deal. You do write well on lots of topics.

I hear what you’re saying about making money from blogs. I guess only a small percentage make much through advertising. But there’s lots of ways you can use blogs to help promote your own products and services.

Re: Blogging, running a business and having a family – I’m guessing you missed this post: http://cathlawson.com/blog/2008/07/23/oops-i-sunk-a-business/

But I’ve already been working on other things.
SOB Business Cafe 07-25-08 - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. on July 25th, 2008 7:00 pm

[...] What Is A Blog And Will It Feed You Or Eat You? [...]
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach on July 26th, 2008 9:16 am

What a great post to which to wake up!

A blog for me is a means to touching the world and letting it touch you. You can become an awesome teacher, and at the same time, revel in being a student as well (so many excellent knowledge bases to lap up!).

Time for coffee, Barabra

Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach’s last blog post..Today’s Thought to Share: Does YOUR passion replace YOUR common sense?
cathlawson on July 26th, 2008 9:23 am

Hi Barbara – I love that sentence: “A blog is a means to touching the world and letting it touch you.”

Coffee – I’ve already had three cups and it’s only 10.15.
The Blogging Advice That Kept Me Up All Night | Catherine Lawson on August 13th, 2008 8:32 am

[...] Writing A Successful And Outstanding Blog What Is A SOB? Connecting With Customers – A Conversation What Is A Blog And Will It Feed You Or Eat You? [?] Share [...]
Will You Become A Corporate Blog Whore? on August 19th, 2008 5:34 pm

[...] What Is A Blog And Will It Feed You Or Eat You? 21 Amazing Business Writing Resources A Day In The Life Of A Blogger How To Start A Business Website and Hire A Web Designer [...]
Blogging Without A Business 2 - The Practical Stuff on September 10th, 2008 3:33 am

[...] Power of Blogging For Business Without A Business What Is A Blog And Will It Feed You Or Eat You? 47 Brilliant Blog Marketing Resources [?] Share [...]
How Much Money Does A Blog Make? 48 An Hour on November 5th, 2008 9:18 am

[...] Money Teenager Turns Down Offer of $2.5 million For Her Business Blog Marketing and Amazing People What Is A Blog & Will It Feed You Or Eat You? [?] Share This Hi, Thanks for visiting. You might want to click here to sign up to my RSS [...]
What To Do When You Can't Find Customers on November 10th, 2008 9:02 am

[...] Technical Jargon Losing You Customers Free Gift Ideas That Help You Sell More To Existing Customers What Is A Blog And Will It Feed You Or Eat You? Increase Your Blog Traffic In 30 Minutes & Get More Customers Find More Customers With These [...]