This might sound like a strange question for someone behind a site called ProBlogger to be asking – but do use the word ‘blogger’ to describe what you do? In this post I want to explore some reasons why I’m using the term less.
In short there are three reasons why I’m using the term ‘blogger’ less and less to describe (and think about) what I do:
1. Your Competitors Don’t Limit Themselves – Why Should You? – to think that you’re competing just with other blogs can actually limit the potential that your web publishing might have. I spoke to one blogger recently who told me that he had one of the biggest blogs going around in his niche – he spoke as though he’d ‘made it’. I congratulated him but then pointed out three other sites in his niche (a review site, a forum and a news site) which had significantly bigger traffic than him (according to Alexa).
2. Your Readers Don’t Really Care What Format Your Site is – I’ve lost count of the conversations that I’ve had with friends who tell me that they’ve never read a blog before – but whom when I question them about the sites that they read find that they read blogs everyday week without knowing it. As bloggers and web savvy people we are often very tuned in to what type of site a site is – however most web users couldn’t care less and read sites not because of their format but because it meets a need for them in some other way.
3. Positioning Yourself for the Future – blogs have had a ‘cool’ factor about them for a year or three now – but there are constantly new types of websites constantly being developed. More and more we’re seeing bloggers morph with other types of websites. While they continue to have a blogging component – they’ve been adding forums, social networks, bookmarking, newsletters and other mediums to them.
Let me say before ending that there’s nothing wrong with calling yourself a blogger or even marketing your blog as a ‘blog’ – however there are good reasons to explore stepping out of this mindset also.
What do you think? Do you call yourself a blogger? Why? Why not?
I’m looking forward to some good discussion.
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“Web Publisher” — I like the sound of that! There are far too many people out there that still say, “Huh?” when I tell them I am a blogger.
Plus, as far as newly made up words go, “blog” is not one of the more mellifluous ones.
About a year ago I read a post somewhere (unfortunately I can’t remember where), where the blogger preferred to call himself Conversation Architect instead.
For some reason that term has stuck with me. I think it describes more what a blogger does. Sets up conversation, like this post just did.
Another thing you could ask is, should you call your blog writings posts or articles?
Many sites, including this one doesn’t use the classic blog look anymore, but more of a magazine-style theme.
Is that a blog or an online magazine instead? ;)
That is a great point! I call myself a blogger because I have never been challenged otherwise! I guess you could call yourself a business person ‘providing a service that is wanted by others?’
I don’t know, I am going to have to think about it now!
Not usually. “Consultant” is how I usually refer to my profession.
But with regard to the “blog”, being old school (started with the web in ’91) I tend to call it “my website” or “my site”, and I “post” rather than blog..
I have also been known to get annoyed when people use “blog” to refer to sites that very obviously are NOT blogs at all.. but then again I get annoyed by ads that urge us to “log in” when there obviously is not any login needed..
But, I am “old school” :-)
My present thinking is that I am a blogger. I publish and manage a blog.
I do not feel compelled to come up with a euphemism for what I do.
Perhaps I’ll feel differently later.
I have long since stopped calling my blog a “blog” because many of my readers simply don’t know what taht is…And I must admit I have a hard time explaining it to them…lol
So my blog is simply a “website.” Because they are of a religious nature, I used one of the following terms: “Web Minister or Web Pastor…
I also use the following terms at times: “Web Editor” and “Web publisher.”
Thanks for bringing this up…
“Web publisher” how long till we see prowebpublisher.net – still available last time I checked.
I have a blog http://www.newslite.tv but would not call myself a blogger.
I recently quit my job as a newspaper journalist and use the blog as a ‘shop window’ for stories. Newspapers contact me for full length versions of blog articles.
My blog has sold me around £1,000 worth of stories in the past two weeks but would still consider myself a journalist not blogger.
Great question!
I call myself a writer; i write fiction offline and my online non-fiction writing is akin to writing for a music magazine (as my blog is about songwriting and music recording), except it’s my own ;)
I have to add i came into blogging through the zine scene; i was one of those kids spending a lot of time near Xerox machines to make copies of my music zine back in the 90s! So for me, having a blog is a continuation of that; what i like about the internet is that it brought the DIY punk/post punk ethics to a whole new lot of people.
I think it’s better to refer to yourself in a more generalized way. I tell people I’m going into electrical engineering and they ask why I’m limiting myself to a simple electrician job and not going into a career that involves designing electronics or computers. …what? An electrical engineer designs electronics and computers. Where did electrician come from?
Relating this to blogging… I don’t call myself a blogger, because people have a lot of misconceptions about it. Instead I call myself a web developer.
I think it’s better to refer to yourself in a more generalized way. I tell people I’m going into electrical engineering and they ask why I’m limiting myself to a simple electrician job and not going into a career that involves designing electronics or computers. …what? An electrical engineer designs electronics and computers. Where did electrician come from?
Relating this to blogging… I don’t call myself a blogger, because people have a lot of misconceptions about it. Instead I call myself a web developer.
DARREN, YOUR HAVING SERVER PROBLEMS!
When I was living in Australia, I was working as a producer (television/TVC/Video), mostly about all things Internet.
While my job was producing, most of my day consisted of research (finding new and interesting content), sometimes scripting, and always pulling together the best people to surround me (cameramen, sound, editors etc.) to ensure the best product.
Since moving to the US (late 2005), I’ve been blogging, and it all started because I needed a way to share information (I still report for a small radio show in Oz). Anything that I discussed on the show, I would blog about and include links for listeners – so at that point, I was (and sometimes still am) described as a reporter.
While I blog now about even more topics, I still don’t consider myself a blogger. I’m just using a blog as a way to pass on any information I think may be useful to others.
Over the past year, I’ve been setting up blogs for classrooms at the school my little people go to. What is interesting, is the principal – when I started – asked me not to use the word blog as it would put off quite a few of the teachers.
Funny, don’t you think – the birthplace of Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) and mid 2007 that was his comment.
Since then I’ve built quite a few class sites and recently a teacher approached me about helping her set up a similar site. When I told her I was using blogging software, she looked shocked and replied “No, no way is that a blog – blogs are those horrible …diary like…[contorted face] …places people whine (they dont say whinge here) and moan about what they did that morning since they got out of bed…”
I live in Silicon Valley, I don’t create blogs, I create mini-sites…but, at the heart of things, I’m still someone that produces ‘things’ that are meant to be useful, informative, and help others get to know the Web and the Internet better – :)
Darren, I second Dan…weird server problems….
I think that you were a little harsh with the blogger who made it in his niche. Asking a blog to compete in a non-blog genre (i.e. some topic where blogs are not the subject) is a severe standard. In particular, forums and news sites are massively collaborative efforts. A healthy forum has hundreds of contributors, and a news site aggregates the efforts of many journalists. Expecting someone, or some small group, running a blog to compete isn’t that reasonable . . . at least not in every circumstance.
That said, I’m a guppy, little minnow, tiny plankton, in the blog realm, so maybe I’m full of it.
I’ve actually gotten into the habit of calling myself a “blogger”. When you say “I have a blog” it seems to make my website more approachable. People show more interest in it because it sounds more “personal”. When I say I have a “website”, people seem to be less interested in it.
I’ve actually gotten into the habit of calling myself a “blogger”. I didn’t refer to my blog as a “blog” for a while. When you say “I have a blog” it seems to make my website more approachable. People show more interest in it because it sounds more “personal”. When I say I have a “website”, people seem to be less interested in it.
I’ve actually gotten into the habit of calling myself a “blogger”. I didn’t refer to my blog as a “blog” for a while. When you say “I have a blog” it seems to make my website more approachable. People show more interest in it because it sounds more “personal”. When I say I have a “website”, people seem to be less interested in it.
“Third” on the server problems…
I am definitely trying to move away from the word blog. I am also calling the things I write articles and not posts.
I tell people I’m a blogger, but lately I’ve just been saying “website” so that I don’t have to explain what a blog is, then explain that I don’t write about what I had for dinner etc… Also, when talking to people who aren’t familiar with blogging, I usually use the term “articles” instead of “posts”.
I def call myself more of a consultant, and refer to my website as a website, or site, not a blog. But I’ve recently realized that I should think of myself as a blogger so that I can develop a website that is more interactive, and hence a blog.
I am a blogger but that is just one of the hats I wear. I am also a journalist, a travel writer, a consultant, and that’s just in my professional life. I would regard http://www.thegooseberryfool.com (food) as a blog, but http://www.roamingtales.com (travel) is a website with a blog as the static article pages are equally as important as the dated posts.
I tell people that I blog when they understand what a blog means. Other then that, I just say I have a website. People usually understand that part. ;)
I like the term “Web Publisher” too. Sometimes, though, I use the term “Writer” just to remind myself to prioritize writing in my daily work. Content IS still king. ;)
I have been calling myself a blogger since 2001 when I started my site. But back then, the people that actually blogged were a small minority, and I miss the close-knit communities we had back then. I still like my blogger tag because it reminds me of the “good-ole days”. However, it really depends on who I am talking with whether or not I refer to my site as a blog or myself as a blogger. The current trend right now is creating more news portal type of blogs, and I think that will distance the label “blogger” even more. Great point Darren.
Hi Darren!
I believe it’s in the eye of the beholder.
I like to say I’m a Network marketing writer with my own blog. Keep it simple. Be authentic. Have fun.
We all are taking baby steps. Imagine when I reply to your comment in 5 years.
Thanks,
Kelly
I refer to it as “my website.” If a client or friend asks a question, I say either “I posted something about that on my website last week — I’ll send you the link” or “That’s a question I bet more people are interested in and I’ll note it for a topic on my website.”
I believe this does two things: It lets them know that they are not the only one who might have the same question. It makes them aware of my website and I have an opportunity to send them a link which they can save in an email message.
JEMi. Web Publisher. I like it.
I didn’t have the wording but I did understand the concept that you spoke of in the video. I wouldn’t want InMyHeels to be limited because I have many ideas I would like to try out on there, one by one
I always like to have room available to expand and to adapt new technologies that will develop my site and ultimately be feature rich and enjoyable to my readers
Funny – when I thought of your tax return, I just figured you wrote ProBlogger :) *shrugs* hey – it’s a livin’ :)
When I’m not ‘blogging’ or referring to myself as a ‘blogger’ I call myself a patient advocate.
My business card says Online Journalist. I’m writing on blogs as well as in online columns on other sites.
I call myself a genius. Whatever follows is of no consequence.
/sarcasm
Honestly though, I’ve had a problem with “blogger” for as long as I’ve been “blogging” ;o)
So I agree – I tend to sway in the direction of “Web Publisher.”
I definitely agree with Sherman with the use of web publisher. It’s more encompassing and seems to be more easily understood. Web publisher has been around for a while and the broadness of it should allow it to stay for a while. A publisher can publish many different things – blogs, newsletters, press releases, ebooks.
I used to be a webpublisher. But it sounds cooler to call yourself a blogger. Even it is only a parttime blogger and not full time blogger.
I refer to myself as a freelance webmaster. Which is my way of saying “I’m a student who makes the odd bit of cash here and there making sites for people”.
Though my email signature calls me three different things – to try and make people interested enough to talk to me more.
Let’s see if it works here:
Michael Walker, Webmaster, Blogger and Poet;
http://www.yarrt.com | http://blog.yarrt.com | http://www.flamingcold.com
My card says “writer/performance artist” because that’s just vague enough to cover what I do and yet specific enough to mean something. Especially to other writers or other theatre people.
Though I tried to use the term “blogger” last year because it seemed expected, I’ve never been comfortable with it. I have lots of things I’d like to write in my subject area but aren’t specifically “blogging,” like informational posts or educational posts. I think they’re useful, but they also don’t seem to be as well received as more personal posts (in my category, anyway) and require more navigation to keep them organized. I am still working out how to add them and what to call them. A wiki, perhaps?
At any rate, my tax papers say “content developer” but I almost always just say “writer” when I’m meeting someone new. Inevitably they get excited and ask, “what do you write about?” and then I can tell them about my site and the other writing I do. So far, it’s working. And maybe I’ll meet a print publisher someday who’ll want to talk ink!
~Angela :-)
I’m a grad student who writes essays and posts them on a blog.
I use the term “blogger” to introduce my work, I don’t want to toot it like it’s the greatest stuff ever right off the bat, but blogging is only the medium.
I have only recently started blogging, but I’ve been reading blogs for years. I wouldn’t consider myself a full time blogger, but I am noticing the undeniable benefits of blogging to boost my online business. My blog actually resonates with people who might not otherwise ever contact me! Do we want to pigeon hole ourselves with a label? Mmmm, gotta think on that one for a while.
I call myself a programmer and sometimes a webmaster.
Hey Darren,
Well as i mentioned, im new to blogging, so at present, i do call myself a blogger, but i guess as i grow, my blog grows, and i (if) become well known, i probably will want to go into other area’s and not ‘just’ be a blogger. an interesting question, with some interesting responses.
I also like the fact this is a video blog, maybe you could do a post at some point about how current bloggers should approach the new ‘video’ age, and making the migration from blogger, to video blogger. it would be a post that i would certainly love to see.
I don’t call my self a Blogger because I created my website ( http://www.mohitaneja.com ) to share my knowledge with others and keep myself updated with the current web standards and technology..
This is the predicament I find myself in. My site is a blog on AFL (Australian Rules Football) and while there are not many blogs out there on that topic there are other sites eg. forums that have huge traffic streams.
I have now realized that it is now not my goal to be the biggest blog in my niche but one of the biggest sites in my niche. When I first started I thought of myself as a blogger (I guess I still do) but to the general web user they see the site not so much as a blog but a opinionated / news type site. Where as people that read sites like Pro Blogger or are bloggers themselves see it as a blog.
Small business owner for me. I don’t like bloggers. Kidding Darren.
Your point is a good one, Darren. I call myself “blogger” too often … that is, too often I think of myself as a “blogger” instead of as a person who blogs. But, I have recognized, as you have, that it is very limiting to “bound oneself” with such labels.
I have been retired for a little over a year now. Before I retired I never even considered that I might blog. Now, largely because I too often label myself as a blogger, it consumes a lot of my time. Too much, really.
Just shows that what you call yourself impacts what you think of yourself, which impacts where you spend your time, etc.
I have recognized that I want my site to be something more than a blog, but I don’t know what I want it to be. Perhaps if I can stop calling myself a blogger for long enough, I can figure it out.
And here we go….we now have the revered ‘problogger’ looking at the term,which he himself made so popular,with suspicion and trying to step out of that mindset….a mindset which is now almost synonymous with his name in the world of the internet.
Darren,I am an avid reader of blogs since the last 3 years but couldn’t start one due to some twist of fate.Now I am going to start a blog soon and I have even included the word ‘blog’ in the domain because it will be a blog after all.So when I read this post and the comments by various bloggers on it,I have had mixed emotions.I see people generalizing the term ‘blogger’ and I see people preferring to call them ‘web publishers’ instead of bloggers.Today professional bloggers here in India or I should say in most of the countries(as we can see) as a matter of fact,find it awkward to reveal their profession correctly to others.Thats because they think people won’t understand it.But aren’t they doing more wrong by not spreading awareness about this profession and camouflaging it with some other term.Haven’t you strived to spread awareness about professional blogging since the day you stepped into this field?…and aren’t you still mostly doing the same thing?…then why thinking about not calling yourself a blogger?
As professional bloggers,most of us tend to restrict the blogging horizon.Why can’t a professional blogger do blogging,blog consulting and designing and call himself a problogger?Why can’t we expand the term itself instead of trying to go beyond the term?
I look forward to that day when people(like your wife-to-be or in-laws-to-be) ask you about your work and you say professional blogger and they,instead of saying,”I am sorry?”,say,”Wow,thats cool!” and that day won’t arrive if bloggers stop calling themselves bloggers.
So lets not be skeptical about the term “blogger”…lets be proud of it.
My business card has the phrase “online journalist”, referring to my work on blogs, online magazines and other sites.
This issue has been brought up before in another blog that I read regularly, some time a few years ago.
I agree that referring to one’s self as a blogger is somehow limiting in many ways. So other terms were coined like the ones already mentioned by the other commenters above. These are very good terms, most even have an extra ‘omph’ to it compared to the term ‘blogger’.
For me, I use the terms ‘New Media Publisher’ or ‘Knowledge Technologist’ in most conversations and my CV/Profile/Resumes. It sounds way more cooler and more fascinating compared to ‘blogger’ which some people think and dismiss simply as ‘online diary writers’.
A blogger is surely just a specific type of writer. We write blogs. Novelists write novels. Both bloggers and novelists are writers.
I do call myself a blogger, because I am simply so passionate about my blogs. Unfortunately for me, few of my offline friends even know what a blog is, much less appreciate the power of this internet medium.
More and more these days, I’ve found myself reaching out into other directions too. I love web design too, and have begun to realize the benefits of social networking.
So my newest blog, Techiboo is all about “living a life online”, bringing together all the things I have come to love about the internet through blogging.
It depends on who I’m talking to, I guess. When I look at my stats, I realized that a lot of my viewers still use 800×600… not exactly the same crowd that checks TechCrunch every day. And many blog templates/themes don’t look good in 800×600. In that case, there’s not really a reason to call yourself a blogger. However, when talking to the people that would actually use MyBlogLog, EntreCard, etc., I would use the term blog cuz it’s more specific.
I usually refer to myself as a freelance writer, or a web developer, but rarely a blogger. In some circles, “blogger” or “blog” can seem less professional. So I guess I have a different answer for everyone, depending on who is asking.
Mostly “freelance writer”, though.
Good question. I never really call myself anything. And I don’t call my blog a blog, I call it a website. Though I use a blog platform to publish, and it has the look of a blog, it’s set into a … what do you call it? static website?
I’m not super savvy about any of this stuff – I just started doing it, and it seems to work out ok. I LIKE my website, but it’s very (very) niche-oriented. I guess overall I prefer people to think of it as a website, rather than a blog.
I’ve been bad this week, though, and haven’t posted much – so I better get back into the swing of it. That’s why I like popping in here – it gets me excited about… blogging / writing / website managing – or whatever the heck you want to call it!