Lately I’ve been chatting to a number of bloggers whose blogs have dropped off the radar. I’d been disappointed (as a reader) that they’d stopped blogging and I’d secretly been thinking of it as a “failure” of sorts….
But I was reminded by those bloggers that in many ways that they’d actually succeeded with their blogs and that stopping blogging was a sign of that success.
In this video I explain more.
Notes
- View this video full size (in HD) here
- Video shot on a Panasonic Lumix DMC GF1 (aff) – here’s why I use that camera to shoot my videos.
Transcription of “The Five C’s of Blogging: Reflections on Eight Years of Blogging”
I’ve had this video transcribed below for those who prefer to get it that way. The transcription provided by The Transcription People.
I was having a chat to a blogger that I really admired and was writing some incredible content a couple of years ago. I was chatting to her a couple of weeks ago now, and she kind of dropped out of the blogosphere and wasn’t really writing any more—just the occasional post.
I used to really love her content, and it was almost like a daily experience of wonderment and learning just logging in to see what she was writing. And then she kind of disappeared; one of her posts said that she’d just got a new job, and the posts kind of disappeared after that.
And I was always disappointed in that; and I said to her, when we caught up for a coffee recently, “What happened to your blog? It was so great; it had so much potential.” And as we were chatting she said, “Well, I got a job. And the reason I started a blog was that, you know, I wanted to land a job, I was out of work, and the blog was never really going to be anything beyond an online résumé, a place for me to build my profile and build some credibility, and potentially meet some employers.”
And it kind of was interesting to me, because I’d always sort of seen it as a bit of a failure—as a disappointment—that she’d stopped blogging; but, the more I chatted to her, the more I realised that a temporary blog, a blog that just had the goal of landing her a job, is really an okay thing. And whilst it was disappointing for me as a reader that she disappeared, she actually had landed her dream job as a result of her blog.
It reminded me of another interaction that I had with a blogger who, off the back of his blog, launched just a very small piece of software. And it was a piece of software that really took off and got used a lot; and as a result of that software, he then went and launched another piece of software and another piece of software, and then ended up with a software company which employs ten to 15 people.
And I remember having this similar sort of conversation with him: “Why don’t you blog any more? Your blog was great; I loved it; I really found your ideas interesting.” And he reflected back to me that again, his blog was a means to another end—he was never going to be a professional blogger, that wasn’t his model; his model was to launch a software company, and he used his blog to do that.
And again, there’s a whole heap of stories I could probably tell along similar lines. And I guess these sort of conversations are reminding me that there’s not just one model for blogging and for making a living from blogging. And your blog doesn’t have to go for many, many years to be successful. If success for you is landing a job, or launching another company, your blog can actually be a stepping stone for you.
And whilst I’m disappointed that these people aren’t blogging anymore, I’m really excited that blogging is a medium that can be used to help people achieve their goals beyond having a successful blog.
This is just something I’ve been thinking about the last few days, and I’m interested to hear your comments. What’s the goal of your blog? Are you blogging for blogging to be the end, or is it a stepping stone to something else for you?
Love to hear your comments.
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Blogging as a resume has worked for so many people I know. Especially as the clincher after the real resume has been put in.
Kind of like the guy who ranked his name on google to get the marketing job in the USA. Clever.
Tyrant
At least for me, blogging is a way of life. Whether it is to make money or to post what ever it is on my mind (which I normally do on my personal blog).
Even though I might not be able to update my blogs, as frequently as I would like to, but I love them nonetheless and keep coming back.
This post is really insightful. Thank you so much.
Just stumbled across ProBlogger and I can’t stop reading! Some amazing resources here and I can’t wait to join the conversation.
I recently went back to school to study web design so I could get a dream job. After I was done, I started blogging, to keep myself on my toes, and learn about online communications. It’s only been a few months but I realized that I actually love blogging itself.
To top it off, I applied for a job by writing a tutorial about the company on my blog, and out of over 500 applications they picked me based on that content! I will keep blogging on my own as well since it wasn’t intended to be a means to an end – just got lucky!
Ps. Just checked out Blog Tyrant too – more good stuff!!
Melanie
For me, blogging isn’t any one thing — which is probably why I have so many of them on the go right now. I need to get a bit more focused.
I blog because I love to write and it gives me a chance to practice. I like different topics — humour, internet, personal development, golf, Christianity and faith, … so I’ve spread out a little thin that way.
I’m also using this as learning experience — WordPress, Drupal and PHP (to add to my existing html/css/javascript). I’ve actually stumbled across the idea of SEO (which never entered my mind until I started blogging and stumbled on sites like ProBlogger) and how I can use that to help other businesses grow their online presence.
I also want this to become an income stream as I would like to have several streams of income which allow me to work from home as much as possible.
I’ve never thought of blogging as a resume — I have a web site set up for that (it’s a bit out of date though) that I plan to convert to WordPress at some point, but most of the sites are for fun and (hopefully) profit.
When I stop writing on a particular blog it is usually because another project has consumed my time.
I’ve had a couple of temporary blogs — for a specific trip, for instance. I think they’re incredibly worthwhile because sometimes, you need to tell a specific story or achieve a specific goal, but when you’re done, you’re ready to move on to the next part of your life.
What bothers me is when someone creates what is clearly meant to be a temporary blog and then takes it down when their purpose is accomplished. Just because your purpose is accomplished doesn’t mean that your readers are done (and there’s no reason to think that new readers won’t benefit, even after your blog is done). Furthermore, it can cause some headaches for anyone who linked to that temporary blog.
Rather, we need some way for temporary blogs to end gracefully and allow the information to still be available down the road.
Interesting Darren. Never really thought of blogging as a stepping stone for a job, but I bet this happens often. I’ve used previous blogs of mine as stepping stone for ideas which then grow out of the blog, but for someone wanting a particular job, I bet it would be a great thing to have on their resume.
I personally blog for two reasons. My Erratic blog is simply for my enjoyment and entertainment. It will hopefully provide help to some people, and maybe a little income along the way, but it’s mainly an outlet for draining my mind :-)
I also blog on my ecommerce site which as you can guess is for increasing sales of my products.
It’s really interesting how many different types of stepping stones can lead out of a blog.
Over the years I have blogged regularly at different addresses. Each one has been temporary, and a means towards an end. I’ve had a break for a while, but now i’m off again – different goals – different blogs.
I’m similar to the girl in your story because I like to think of blogging as an online resume too (although I am certainly not against turning it into a business!)
Also, it’s still October 5th in NY – so I thought you posted this from the future Darren. Time-traveling would help explain some of your massive success! :)
I blog to get my ideas on science and technology out. I’m kind of expecting to run out of those ideas after half a year or so since most of it is stuff I’ve been rolling around in my head for years, and there’s not much beyond it.
When that happens, I’ll take all the skills and techniques I learned making this one and start writing ideas on another subject that interests me. It’ll have a better start since I’ll have all those beginner mistakes ironed out pre-launch.
It’s less stressful for me when I think of the blog I’m doing now as a stepping stone to a better, more profitable one. :)
Great video, I really enjoyed its humble and direct approach.
It shows true class that you have nothing against those who temporarily choose to utilize the power of blogging to reach different goals – even despite your dedication to blogging as a means to promote your own ventures.
Blogging continues to evolve for me.
At first it was a tool to create an online portfolio of written work.
It then became an opportunity to see what kind of content worked and which didn’t.
Now it is helping to build credibility in my discipline and will ultimately lead to services which I will provide to the general public and businesses.
Blogging as an end upon itself, as we have all seen, is not as ideal as we would have previously thought unless you are marketing some type of product or service.
So for each blogger it will be a different avenue in the same town to reach their destination.
The reason I started my blog was to write a book. Specifically, a book about being an expat American city boy living on 20 acres with an olive grove in New Zealand. I figured if I wrote a post a week for a year, I’d have enough content to work it into a book. Think ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ with a healthy dose of humor, plus chickens.
But now I have a new problem. The blog has taken on a life of its own, winning awards and content appearing in local radio and magazines. I want to start working the content into a book, but now the blog has actually become a bit of a distraction!
I just can’t seem to let the blog go. I’ve reduced post frequency to more-or-less monthly, but I’m still spending more time on it than I should, and very little on ‘bookifying’ previous blog content.
This post reminds me that stopping a blog does not necessarily equal failure.
Thanks for that.
I need to focus on the reason I created this unruly beast in the first place!
I think that blogging is pretty much my model as you say, to create content that is useful, but I guess there are other varaiations and benefits I want to see come from my blogging efforts, such as ebooks, dvd tutorials and other product launches.
In the future I can still see me blogging, but my aims and goals will change to suit my own interests as I have a dream of a few graphic novels written and drawn and published by me and that is my end goal, the end result of my blogging, to build a name for myself as I learn along the way too.
Nice blog posts with video….
That’s weird to think about. Especially how dedicated most people can be to there blog. I guess that as people reach different levels of “success,” that their view of tedious blogging could become an unnecessary hassle. I could see it being really hard to give something up like that.
Darren,
Great post and I love the concept that it illustrates – that our goals are often moving targets that change us as we move toward them. I’m a Life Coach and I tell my clients all the time that they get to try stuff, start stuff, play with new ideas and skills and if it doesn’t feel right it’s ok to move on and do something different. The bloggers you talked to each found their next thing to move on to, and did so without being tied to a bunch of “shoulds”.
Love your blog, just found it and am already using the information you give to improve my blog.
Thanks :)
Melinda
As for my own blogs, I make them to be independent and self-sustainable fora for me to share and discuss. But I also make blogs for clients to promote their online and offline businesses, both before and after those businesses are launched. I personally don’t do much software creation or offline business, and thus don’t really need a stepping stone blog.
Your post was indeed useful for people new to the internet looking to start an online business or to promote their offline business, as well as those torn between blogging for money and profit with the help of blogging.
I’ve been thinking about this very subject the past few days, bc I will beging to blog seriously soon. I’m thinking that what I am planning to do will fall between the two extremes — blogging for a living, and also doing other things such as speaking, consulting, and producing and marketing a product, etc. Why not do more than one thing, if that is where you feel led to go? That is where I feel the best fit is for me. How much blogging that is going to include, exactly, I’m not sure. I imagine a lot. We’ll have to wait and see. I imagine a lot. I love to write and blog. But it will definitely include other things also. I do however believe I will be blogging for a long long time! I don’t really want to give anything up! Hope that makes sense!
While I’m having a blast right now, I was just saying to my husband that I don’t know if blogging will be my main focus forever. I’m using blogging to become a part of my community, to make connections, to become an authority in my niche. I love teaching, so I’d like to think that this will eventually be a stepping stone to doing workshops, videos, etc. It also gives me connections for a product line I’m working on.
It’s too early to say. After poking around for a year, I’ve just started blogging seriously. It’s a lot of work! I love it, but I also want time to be an artist. I’ve considered that down the road, I might take on partners if the blog is successful so I can still be a part of it but have more time to work on art and projects.
Wow, so there are people who blog to get a job. Surely not one of them and hope I will not have to be ever again. Good luck to them, just not my cup of tee.
My blog is brand new, learning how to walk, but it’s full time job just to learn how to’s, write content, not to mention reading other people’s info.
Now it dawned on me…..I should read less and work on my staff more…has anyone else arrived to the same insight?:)
When my husband was laid off from his job a few years ago, I tried to get him to start blogging as a sort of online resume. He did find a job after a few months, but I still think it would have been nice to get him blogging.
Note to “moon over martinborough” I’m just wondering if there might also be a perspective to seeing your blog as even better than the original goal of writing a book? What was the intention of the book that the blog doesn’t fulfill? Just a thought. :-)
amazing, it goes to show the power of online and internet, and a new approach and angel to blogging and having a blog to achieve something else in life.
For me, blogging just seemed to be a natural way to keep on producing content.
Somehow or rather, having a blog that you know is being read by even a handful of people, is enough to send motivation through the roof.
That element of constantly having to ship something viewable in the public domain keeps you “alert” in a unique way.
On top of that, I get to slowly refine my skills in the craft (eg: I get better at sketching for my sketch blog)
Hi Darren–just love the accent ;)
I blog as a way to de-stigmatize mental health services, and to supplement my income as a therapist. Eventually I will sell products and be able to reduce my office hours and spend more time with my young son.
I admire the two you profiled–sounds like it was very easy for them to walk away once blogging gave them the opportunities. Hmmm, that sounds kinda nice on some days…:)
I must say that I have a couple of reasons that I blog. One is that I love the medium. I love to write and am rather opinionated…as you may know. But the other reason to be honest is the potential to make money at the same time. The fall of the economy over the last few years has taught me that you have to have a back up plan, and I guess blogging is my back up plan.
I blog because I love to write and I like the idea of other people actually reading it.
I got started this summer, because I had some extra time due to loss of a part time job. I do understand the people that blogged to land a good job. I am open to that possibility!
Most of all I like to be able to reach a lot of people – potentially the whole world and give them valuable and practical relationship advice!
Thanks Daren, I follow your work and I like it!
I tell my clients that it’s important to have a plan for your blog or website. What is the end goal?
I’d expect many of your readers want to develop their blogs into a source of full-time income so the idea of blogging for a specific short-term purpose may sound a bit strange. However it’s a viable way to leverage your efforts into other areas – new jobs, software etc.
Back to Leslie Nicole – Yes, I’ve thought of that. Maybe my terms for ‘success’ need to change and I should just be happy with blog success? But I’ve just got this thing about paper and glue. Call it a fetish. Call me a Luddite. Can’t help it. I. Want. Book.
What I think is that there are two types of people,one the kind who Blog for pleasure the other for benefit.Its never a failure for both to stop blogging either ways because the benefit blogger only stops when they acquire what they want and the other stops out of boredom
@Moon over Martinborough. I understand! LOL
I’m an artist and just ordered an expensive Epson printer – even though it makes no sense as it’s more labor smart to outsource. Like paper. Like ink. ;-)
I guess we have to learn to juggle the passions of technology. The new and the old. Both are pretty awesome.
But really, if your blog is winning awards and has a large audience, that’s pretty awesome for getting your writing out there.
I am by no means a pro at blogging. I’ve worked in IT for many years, and over the last 3-4 years, I’ve been finding blogging intreaguing … I think this is especially so, because I don’t have good relational skills that seem neccessary to be a pro blogger – yet I desire to obtain them, and maybe starting a blog is a good way to do it.
Good insight that I got from this blog. Mine would be a mixture of that two … but it wouldn’t stop me from blogging. The only difference that when I landed on the dream job or able to build my own company would be how frequent that i update the blog. i read one blog last week .. (gosh I don’t remember the blog name) … but I manage to pick up the context of this article … he’s insight about blog was as a means towards personal development which I found it to be true.
Darren – I love seeing your daily feed in my in-box every morning!
I am just beginning to research blogging as a venue to write. I don’t even have a website yet, that is how new I am in my research. I have always enjoyed writing but didn’t and still don’t know where to start. I was just looking on google on how to create my own website so I can start blogging. If anyone has any tips for me on where to create my website I would totally welcome your suggestions. I just started reading emails from ProBlogger.com yesterday but have not joined yet. Again any suggestions here too would be welcome. I got side tracked and looked at Moon over Martinsborough website and was very impressed, that is exactly what I am looking to develop, just my life story and helping others. Thanks for listening and I hope this will cure my lifelong urge to write. Good day all!
I just started blogging recently and I have never thought about it being a good resume booster.
Hey Darren
First time I’d seen you ‘in person’ so to speak. It’s a great medium for you :)
It drives me mad when people make carte blanche statements that question the point of blogs if they aren’t read, aren’t making money, etc.
We blog for many different reasons as you demonstrate in your vlog.
I have two purposes for my blog.
I blog mainly because I want to speak my mind on certain things – in that way it’s like a conversation with my readers. I also want to bring to a wider audience things that I have found very useful over the years. Being a mom at home, people only see a very small side of me and I wanted to demonstrate that I am so much more than just a minivan driving mum (although that is very valuable and important.)
My second goal is to use the blog as a platform to make money. I’m working on that.
I can’t really say why I originally began blogging. It’s partly because I came across this blog in its relative infancy and I was inspired.
Blogging for me ended up having several different benefits. First of all, I have learned a lot about my particular niche just from researching for articles. Let’s just say it has honed my skills. Secondly, I have developed a love for writing I never really had before. It has given me a passion for communicating thoughts and ideas through the medium. Thirdly, my blog has worked several times as a resume. The first time it helped me was when I was applying for a blogging gig for a big blog in my niche and it really helped to land the job. Also, I was able to actually list my site on a paper resume and it helped to prove I have some proficiency in my niche.
Even though my blog has helped me meet several goals in life, I would not call it temporary. For awhile when I was writing for that larger site, my posting schedule dropped off considerably. I am actually disappointed in myself. I am back at it and am enjoying every minute of it.
Few years ago a friend of mine introduced me to blogging and wordpress and referred me to read problogger. I started a blog about software and computer tips to mainly remember computer tricks I love and few software. After few years I left my job from software house and started full time blogging because I was happy with what I was earning from my blog. As a developer I had few ideas in my mind from long time ago and I wanted to launch my own websites but I could not; due to shortage of time, job stress and low budget. But then my blog gave me freedom and I have launched a programming website, a social media website and a local advertisement network now. I still love my blog and post at my blog. I will keep posting at my blogs which I started and i will maintain my new ventures which my blogs helped me to build.
I am trying to start a woodworking business, and started blogging as a way to connect with customers. The blog is not an end in itself, but serves the end of furthering the business. I have no idea how “permanent” it might be given the unholy percentage of new businesses that fail. In the mean time, I have learned that I have an awful lot to learn about blogging. Thanks for being there to help me figure things out.
Really love that you are talking about this. Sometimes a blog can be a means to an end. But, I also think that blogs give us the space to explore something….to ask questions and to perhaps stumble across some answers. And sometimes that journey has an end point.
I think when it comes to blogging as a source of income, you really have to firstly, pick a topic of high interest, and secondly, be in it for the long haul. I think the days of slapping up a blog and accomplishing overnight success are long gone.
Hi. I recently started a blog specifically for the design community – blog.realerhq.com. It’s aim is to get designers to keep coming back to my site with the aim that they will subscribe to my project management application. I figured there’s only so many times someone wants to hear “buy me” before they switch off completely. The blog is about sharing productivity tips which compliments my application and it’s something I enjoy researching. So for me the blog is about indirect sales.
I’ve started 4 months ago a blog in the “making money” niche : may be I should have choosen another one, because of the big competition.
But it is so interesting to learn more day be day, about all the “secrets” of blogging : reading other blogs and bloggers, finding tips and tricks, searching for improve your basic knowledge is important if you want to succeed.
It is also nice to see the first results, after your initial work.
I think the basic rules are perseverance, commitment, determination, dedication and enthusiasm.
Good luck to everyone and thank you Darren for the help !
I use my blog as a way to help people and their relationships by giving them true and honest advice. I love to help people and I have been doing this for a long time. Now I’m just expanding my passion in a way that I can reach a much bigger audience and ultimately provide the same benefits to a much larger group.
I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon…
Blogging is the good thing to make money online.So many people are using blogging for making money and fame . It is the very first time when I see that so many people are contributed their views for blogging .
“Darren Rowse” really your post “Temporary Blogs: Blogs as Stepping Stones” is great one.
I appreciated it . Please continue writing such great post.
I want to succeed in the blogosphere, hopefully turning it into a career someday, but I also have a few other creative ideas that I would like to try, using my blogs as a starting point to get my writing and my name out there. I guess I’d like to do a combinations of blogging and eventually sell a product.
Hi –
Just came across your video blog about the many reasons that people blog. I had no idea that people blog for so many different reasons. I am a write so I blog to release my feelings in hopes that it may help others.
I started when my Mom passes away as a way of processing my grief and with the hopes of helping others and it has turned into a real passion.
Darren,
I am relatively new to blogging, but not in marketing.
I notice marketing our blogs online is different than marketing our products or services offline.
But basic key to be success is patience and hard work, fails can be a motivator for the next step.
I would say that blogging will potentially open up some new opportunities for bloggers. You will never know, and no matter for what purpose you started blogging, when opportunities come, they will come anyway.
Hey there
Starting a blog to promote a company is great because it work as another means of marketing your company but I don’t think that it is good to leave blogging after you successfully market yourself you have to think about those who were following your blog who are then going to be left stranded. Landing a jod from a blog show that there people who like what you blog about and they want you closer to them.
Thanks