You read that right. I’m not good at blogging, and I don’t think I ever was. In spite of that, I want you to keep reading my blog. Yes, keep reading… you’re getting sleepy…
But it’s true, blogging isn’t easy. In the past I’ve started and been a part of a number of them, but never kept it up. In my experience, the hardest part is coming up with a niche topic that will be of interest to others and has enough material to keep a blog going for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, this one issue leads to several more, each one challenging.
I actually do curate a list of possible blog post topics (most of which are not a niche topic that will be of interest to others) but I digress and try to formulate as many jot notes as I can. Unfortunately, my attempt at writing even the first draft tends to plateau rather quickly. Recently, I took an opportunity to ask Lifehacker writers a question, and asked them how they’re able to squeeze out more than a couple of succinct sentences on a very consistent basis.
I got some really good advice in response to that question, from some writers that I’ve read and admired for years. It was akin to getting business advice from Warren Buffett. I definitely hope to put into practice some of the techniques they suggested, but what I’d really like is to know what people want to read about. Instead of falling into a particular niche (like successful blogs are supposed to, according to the experts), everything I’ve ever written has fallen into more of a “no niche” category. Since this is the case, then why bother writing a blog for others to read when I could just write a private journal?
Not to say that the following is necessarily true, but I think it is possible that I post thoughts online in an effort to prove to myself that I’m not embarrassed or ashamed by what I think or feel. A private journal is just that, private. For my eyes only and beyond the reach of the judgment of strangers. If you follow me on Twitter then you may have noticed that I don’t set out to pick fights with people, but I also don’t censor myself. I guess I’m trying to use my blog as a long-winded version of that.
I follow a variety of online mentors*, who often write about ways to grow your readership and make just as much of an impact as an income with your words. I have no problem admitting that anything I do, think, write, or say, I’ve thought about how I can increase my social standing or my bank account. Sadly, this is almost never the case**. But, that’s the dream.
Thanks for reading, even if it’s just this one line.
* As Tai Lopez says, anyone whose thoughts you can digest can be a mentor. You never have to meet or ever know the other person.
** My AdSense balance is under $3 after several years.