Why Do You Blog?

I know you’ve heard this before but my take on it is a little different:

The simple fact is you probably never will be a TOP Blogger according to the ‘popular’ definition out there.

Did I just say that? I know that isn’t what you want to hear, but please hear me out…

(Of course) if you are trying to make a career for yourself online your position in the SERPS, authority etc. are important to you (and the reason for blogging is self-evident).

But if you are not a niche or business blogger, the vast majority of you just blog for personal fulfillment, fun or pleasure. Not to say that being popular isn’t important to the human condition…

A little BLOGBloke Background:

For example, when I first started blogging I used to stress out over how many comments I received .. until I realized it’s NOT really an indicator of ‘influence’. It’s just narcissism.

As you can see I’m human too. Like you I fell into the trap until readers pointed out my posts were so complete that it didn’t leave much room for further commenting. (I blame that on my legal background).

I stopped worrying about comments when I understood that most of the ‘popular’ blogs are really just marketers that are very clever at manipulating themselves into the limelight.

I also noticed that many people prefer to comment on Twitter and Facebook instead of commenting directly on my blog. That’s why I have social backlinks installed.

Unfortunately however, all that we hear these days is if you don’t have a lot of comments you’re a loser and doing something wrong. The plethora of blog posts about getting more comments are a testimony to this reality.

What you don’t realize is they are playing reverse psychology on you because they know you will never get as many comments as they do. So it keeps them on a pedestal with you looking adoringly up.

With all the gaming, affiliate linking, phonyism and cronyism that goes online, it’s really hard not to be cynical. Or like they say, ignorance truly is bliss.

Ironically, a lot of the biggest and best blogs out there get very little comments, if any.

So although getting a lot of comments is nice, it shouldn’t be something we should be stressing over.

This is my advice: Stop beating yourself up over it.

If you believe the number of blog comments that you get, or the number of Twitter/Facebook followers you have is an indicator of your self worth .. you’re headed straight for a therapist’s couch.

The world is a pyramid by design. No matter how hard you work, what your political, business or personal aspirations are, only a few can be at the top of the heap.

So do the math, and stop sweating it.

That’s why I’m always preaching your online priorities should strive for personal fulfillment and enjoyment. That is the TRUE definition of success. Everything else is gravy.

Techno freaks preach the opposite. For them it’s just a popularity contest. It’s payback for not having friends in the REAL world. Just ask Zuckerberg.

Although this goes against what those other ‘gurus’ will tell you - life’s experience has taught me one important truism.

Most at the top of the heap aren’t there because they are necessarily better. It’s because they are better at manipulating their way to the top.

Or like my blogging friend Wayne Hurlbert reminded me (how could I forget).

“Manipulation might work in the short term, but being REAL lasts forever”