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Blogging is Rocket Science

Posted By Darren Rowse 8th of November 2009 Miscellaneous Blog Tips 0 Comments

Today’s post is by Kevin Sanders of Strong and Fit.

Do you ever have those moments when seemingly random, unrelated thoughts kind of merge together in your mind? This happened to me a couple of weeks ago.

I remembered a documentary I watched on the space shuttle years ago. Something was said about the percentage of fuel it burns within the first two minutes of liftoff. It stuck in my mind and I tried to find the information on Google. No luck. Then I remembered that one of my family members (Dale Hutchens, Ph.D.) works with NASA. He is a chemical engineer who was directly involved with developing the shuttle’s solid rockets. He gave me a quick estimate:

For launch, the solids provide the vast, vast majority the total LAUNCH thrust. The solids burn out in 2 minutes and 12 seconds, if memory serves. Each solid holds 1.1 million pounds of propellant. Therefore, in the first minute, you probably burn something more than 50% of the solids, or 41-ish % of the total fuel. A more certain number is that in 2 minutes and 12 seconds you have burned all the solids (2.2 million pounds) and close to 380,000 pounds (out of 1.6 million pounds) of the liquid, for a total of 67% of the total fuel.

The space shuttle burns most of its fuel within the first two minutes of flight! The science geek in me thinks this really cool.

What does this have to do with blogging? Stay with me.

I began thinking about some things I’ve learned on this blog. A few weeks ago Darren said problogger.net is kind of in maintenance mode (my paraphrase). In other words, it doesn’t require the same amount of work it used to. John Chow said something very similar in his video seminar—he now works about two hours a day.

But both bloggers spent a lot more time and energy getting things started.

In some ways, blogging is like the space shuttle—a great deal of effort is required to get it “off the ground.”

Think about some of the steps a typical blogger would take during the first six months of creating a new blog:

  • Choosing a topic (big one).
  • Choosing a platform and design.
  • Choosing a name/domain.
  • Writing/creating a hundred posts (assuming an average of four posts a week).
  • Registering with digg, stumbleupon, twitter, etc.
  • Participating in forums.
  • Leaving comments/backlinks on other blogs.
  • Writing guest posts for other bloggers.
  • Registering with directories (such as blogcatalog).
  • Spreading the word on social networks (facebook, etc).
  • Developing a core of followers.
  • Setting up a newsletter.
  • Printing business cards with your blog address.
  • Telling your friends about your new blog.
  • Finding appropriate affiliate programs.

These are just a few steps that come to mind. When you think about the cumulative effort, it’s a lot of work.

Maybe this is one reason some blogs never make it very far—some bloggers just don’t realize the initial effort that’s required on the “front end.” Or maybe they don’t realize things will get easier (or at least more productive) over time as their blog gains momentum.

As I’ve mentioned before (both here and on the forum), it took about six or seven months for me to see significant traffic on Strong and Fit, my fitness blog. It still requires effort, but I’m now seeing more results with less work (in terms of traffic and income).

OK, I’ll admit it—blogging isn’t really rocket science. But we sure can learn from it.

About Darren Rowse
Darren Rowse is the founder and editor of ProBlogger Blog Tips and Digital Photography School. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Comments
  1. Blogging is as hard as you make it. The more work you put into it, the more you will eventually get out of it.

  2. Great analogy. It takes a LOT of force to get anything worthwhile off the ground. It gets easier, but only if you’re willing to do the hard work up front :)

  3. Hope this post encourages everyone to stick with it an persevere.

  4. I think Blogging is fair enough, as much as you give it as much as you get in return! it’s a fair simple equation.

    Well written article

    Thanks

  5. Without Hard Work a blogger will take years to succeed with his blog and chances are he will rather quit blogging than doing it for longer run.
    If hard Work is done in proper sense then blogging isn’t a rocket science after few months.

    Regards
    Typhoon a.k.a Sushant
    http://www.smartbloggerz.com

  6. Blogging can be rocket science. It can also be bicycling. It isn’t that hard, unless you make it hard.

    If you enjoy blogging, then blogging isn’t rocket science.

  7. I totally agree. What you put into it is what you get out of it, and certainly, the more groundwork you do, the more momentum you gain along the way. I’m still in the groundwork stage with this blog, but I really love the process so much, so I have no problem with it at all. I find it really exciting to watch it grow from nothing, and it’s a challenge to me.

  8. I sometimes think blogging as rocket science… there’s so much to learn !

  9. That’s a pretty good analogy. Blogs do definitely require a lot more work in the beginning. That is true. Promotion. Site Building. Article Writing. Design. It all takes work. And I’m afraid that most people never make it past that initial burn. Most people just fizzle out.

  10. Excellent analogy! Having put in that hard work for the first several months, it’s good to know that the energy can now be redirected to other things. It’s nice to be reminded that the point of the rocket launch isn’t the launch itself, but the flight! What a flight to be on!

  11. Blogging is easy..I think it gets more difficult when one tries to establish a large following and make money.

  12. In the rocket science it fuels which burned but what burned in the case of blogging … do you have any idea about that ?

  13. Great and very informative post.Full with encouragement

  14. ZK, I think our energy and our efforts are burning brightly in the beginning of our blogging ventures. These can either propel us to the heights of success that we’re looking or it can cause us to fizzle out and give up.

  15. I think you really hit the nail on the head with the hard work piece. In a recent interview I conducted as part of my interviews with up and coming bloggers podcast, we talked about hitting brick walls, and how people often give up when they hit the brick wall of blogging, That being said, you really have to push through and work and I think there’s alot of be said for the initial effort you put in. The power of momentum really starts to kick after the first 6 months because you get creative, you get engaged, you from a blogger to a real entrepreneur.

  16. Hi Everyone

    Great article Kevin! i really related to it and understand where you’re coming from because i also have a brand new blog that is in post-launch phase, (any tips from you would be great!) and i have come to realize that blogging is an ART just like SCIENCE.

    Most bloggers out there stumble upon great sites such as Problogger, JohnChowDotCom and Entrepreneurs-Journey and they assume that they can too can easily acquire this success and they immediate create a blog, monetize and write. (notice how i stated monetize first! =p)

    Then after a fortnight to a few months later they realize that although Blogging is easy to spell, its not so easy to succeed…. and cutting a Long Comment Short, they QUIT!

    I can relate Blogging to many things, i’m originally a business owner and also in Network Marketing and Blogging has so many similarities, 1eg is challenges you face and giving up!

    @Ms. Freeman- i totally agree with you, A blog can have many different goals behind it, it depends on what we want to achieve from our blog.

    If you’re someone like my aunty who uses her blog as a journal and daily affirmations with no monetizing intentions at all, then i guess, you’ve achieved your goals and success with your blog then, lol!

    @Kevin Sanders- I just spent some time on your blog! *Hi5* dude, ive bookmarked it for my partner and myself so looking forward to learning lots from you! Cheerz

    @Everyone- I’m the “new kid on the blog” so any tips and advice (good or bad) that you can share your expertise with me would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks!

    See you at the next Post!

    Lam Nuwin
    http://www.richwealthsecrets.com

  17. You are sure right “some bloggers just don’t realize the initial effort that’s required on the “front end.”

    It’s taken me 3 years of part time effort before I could give up and work full-time on blogging.

    Hope many people read this post rather than read those stupid hyped up sales pages that say “I’ll make you $thousands every month – here buy my product for $27!”

    Andrew

  18. Thanks for all the comments, guys. Glad you liked the article.

  19. I’m just take 4 method
    We can’t do all the things..
    I’m focus on :-
    1. Scheduling writing content
    2. Social Bookmark
    3. Participate in forum
    4. Writing free article..

    That’s the way in phase 1 blogging..

  20. Great post. I personally believe that blogging is whatever you make of it. A photo blog, for example, requires significantly less time than a news blog. Obviously there are benefits to posting as often as possible, but once a blog is really off the ground it’s up to you to decide how actively you want to post.

  21. I see Blogging/SEO/Adsense/HTML/Wordpress anything that you would class as a geek trying to make money as Rocket Science lol

  22. Great analogy Kevin. Blogging takes dedication and preparation. Most of the energy is expended on the front; learning what does and doesn’t work. Finding what does work reduces anxiety. This lessens your workload.

  23. My questions is, how long on average does the startup phase take? I know that it will be different for everyone but it would be great to know what the consensus was. I have blogged for years but my newest blog is only slightly over a month old. I know it will take time and work and I’m willing to put in the effort I’m just wondering about other’s experiences.

  24. The big thing is gaining enough momentum from blast off so that continuing with a blog becomes easier.

    If you don’t get the launch right and gain the momentum its a massive fight to carrier on.

    Great article – loved the analogy

  25. Rocket science isn’t that hard: F = ma.

    The problem is m = m(t).

    They call it burnout for a reason!

    (Yes, I went off the deep end here.)

    That is all.

  26. Kevin,

    Great article . . . and timely, too. I love the things you listed that go into “getting the shuttle up and going” because I’m at the launching stage with my own blog and the tasks you listed are things I need to add to my “To-Do List” and incorporate in my action plan.

    I’m looking forward to visiting your site, too.

  27. You have point here. Yeah, you are right that Blogging is working like rocket science. Blogger surely burn most of resources in first day of blog. :D

  28. Blogging has become a part of my life. It also consumes much of my time so i try and make it worth while.

  29. Blogging is more difficult than everyone thinks. The proof of this is the many people that quit soon after starting.

  30. Here’s the real PROBLEM.

    Instead of calling it blogging, just call it writing.

    Now, do you know how to write? If not, then learn.

    The term ‘blogging’ has become a cliche.

    It’s an excuse to write without thinking, without defining an audience and without having any plan.

    If you want to succeed, develop your plan first and then ‘blog’.

    Ivan

  31. I absolutely enjoyed this analogy. I have helped many set up a blog. At the same time I have seen many give up after a month of blogging. As my mom used to tell me, “nothing in life comes easy. You have to work hard to see results.”

  32. Kevin, I just love that rocket science analogy! Completely with you on that page! I’ve always looked at blogging as a layering of effort, each one making the foundation stronger and then one day, all that effort and layering has formed a strong foundation and exponential results begin to happen …. I am still in the “layering” stages.

    Thank you vou for a great article.

    best…………valentina

  33. Siddharthak Sangwan says: 11/08/2009 at 7:39 pm

    Great analogy Kevin. Blogging takes quite a bit out of you. Most of the energy is expended on the blog. Finding what does work reduces anxiety. This lessens your workload.

  34. Just enjoy what you are doing, work hard at the same time enjoy.

  35. Anything you want to be successful requires effort and more time in the beginning. Once you’re established, maintaining is easier. I believe this applies to many areas in our lives, not just business and blogging.

  36. Blogging like anything once you get your momentum going doesn’t take that much energy, but getting the momentum started takes a lot of focus and energy.

  37. Very true! Many blogs end up in debris in cyberspace.

  38. That’s a great list of things to take care of in the first six months. I think I’m only about a quarter of the way through the list…

  39. I have only just started blogging, launching my blog last thursday. It is very hard work but if you set a goal of where you want to be within a year, or 3 years then it makes it so much easier as your working towards a goal.

  40. Yep. There’s a lesson from the rocket science that we can implement. I remembered the first I setup my blog. Well, that’s kind of nostalgic.

    One thing, we’re actually blogging in spaces!

  41. good post, it’s really true that a blog needs a lot from it’s blogger to get it off the ground at least…i’m a perfect example because i’m just starting off…

  42. The timing couldn’t have been better for this post.

    I have just started a new blog as an example for several people I’m teaching how to set-up a blog and the peripheral activities that surround a blog.

    What seems to have happened in the past is that we all have had our sensory systems bombarded with the “make more money than the national treasury in 6 short weeks” bull horns, that some people actually believe they can do it.

    Blogging is fun, but it is also work. It takes time and effort to get to the point where a blogger can glide.

    Great post.

  43. Wow, that is an amazing amount of feul the rocket burns! I would be freaked to only have 30+% of my feul left for the trip! TY for the stats – the science geek in me loves info like that!

    You also forgot write an eBook, maybe build a forum. Lol. It really is a lot of work. And even more in the beginning if u don’t have a clear direction on how to build a blog. Takes a substantial amount of time. Great post. Glad to hear your site it starting to see a strong gain from due to your time and effort.

  44. Blogging is:
    1) Hard work
    2) Great content
    3) Nice platform
    4) A little of luck

  45. Great analogy Kevin. Blogging takes dedication and preparation. Most of the energy is expended on the front; learning what does and doesn’t work. Finding what does work reduces anxiety. This lessens your workload.

  46. Thank you! Excellent article! I am quickly learning all the background work and set up. For years, I have blogged with little success – now I know why! :)

  47. Kevin,

    You hit the nail on the head when you say: “some bloggers just don’t realize the initial effort that’s required on the “front end.”

    The reality is that until you start the work you have NO IDEA OF HOW MUCH WORK IS INVOLVED IN BLOGGING!!!

    I do believe that a lot of people give up because you’ve got to do that work day-in-day-out and you’ve got to be committed.

    This is a great post! Maybe you are write. I might not have beenall that good in science in high school, but maybe blogging has turned me into a scientist after all :-)

    Krizia

  48. Blogging really takes a lot of effort,hardwork and dedication.Six months is a time where you can tell if you’re doing good or not.

  49. Great article, Kevin. When I read the title in my e-mail alert, I couldn’t wait to read the post.

    Perhaps unintenionally, you proved that each individual post is like rocket science as well. The launch – a great post title and opening hook – is vital.

    It gets your message off the ground! Your article serves as a superb reminder of that fact. Thanks!

  50. Have had blogs here and there to not much satisfaction. Now, starting over and talking about a passion. Hope to evolve into something worthwhile and prepared to do just that. A resolve and patience…

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