Written on February 10th, 2008 at 06:02 am by Darren Rowse
Why Do You Blog?
It’s time for another poll - this one gets at your motivations for blogging.
Why do you blog?
Why do you Blog?
I’m not asking why you started blogging - but what keeps you blogging - what are your motivations?
Obviously I’ve only chosen a few reasons for blogging and there could be many more. If you’ve got another one feel free to add it in comments below.
Thanks to Dr Mani for his idea for this poll via Twitter.
70 Responses to “Why Do You Blog?”
Sue
February 10th, 2008 7:20 am
Well, I selected fame or profile, although it’s not entirely accurate. I think my motivation is more to be recognized as an authority on my subject, and thus garner more opportunities, both in writing and contacts with like-minded individuals. But it is fun, irregardless.
Blogfeld
February 10th, 2008 7:21 am
I blog for fun. It’s all about the fact that I can relate to people, and form “online” friendships on a much broader scale with people from all around the world, rather than just people that I work or live with.
I’m in it for the money, as well!
Brian Purkiss
February 10th, 2008 7:26 am
Woah, Darren, something is really messed up on your blog.
Everything is displaying all screwy…
as for me, I blog for multiple reasons.
my main reason is networking, the secondary reason is to share my knowledge (fun), and the tertiary reason is to make a little extra money (mostly to cover hosting costs).
Rehuel
February 10th, 2008 7:50 am
I blog for kind of the same reasons as Brian Purkiss, but it also helps me to really put my thoughts on paper. This stimulates the thinking process (the processing of the mind) for me.
Audrie Z Schaller
February 10th, 2008 8:05 am
I picked “networking,” but it’s more than that. I’ve only been blogging for a month or so. I started the blog to begin to expand my use of technology and to write about nonprofit issues. The purpose was networking, getting former clients to know I’m back in the game after a family-related breather (money making would come from consulting, not directly from the blog).
But blogging, which by nature involves reading other blogs, has been much more of a learning process for me. Not just about the techniques of blogging…I mean learning from other’s perspectives on the the issues I’m involved in. I advocate life-long learning; I just didn’t realize how much blogging fell into that category. I feel like a sponge, absorbing new info everyday.
Koby
February 10th, 2008 8:10 am
I started blogging as a means to get things off of my chest. Basically because my friends got tired of listening to my opinions and I needed an outlet.
Now I use it for that, to tell people about things, and as supplement to my radio show (http://www.powerofinformation.net) where I expand on topics that we don’t get to go into great detail on.
I started out as mostly commentary, moved towards informational (with a hint of commentary), now I’m back to commentary with some instruction on occasion. Some would probably say I have no focus…
James
February 10th, 2008 8:30 am
Very apt question, I actually wrote about my own reasons for blogging this week on my site. I can’t remember what made me start blogging, but a bunch of factors have come to the surface over the last year that have kept me blogging. It’s brilliant for getting my ideas written down, and allowing me to really think and evolve those ideas. I know I wouldn’t be anywhere near as clued up about my niche if I didn’t blog about it
Rebellious Arab Girl
February 10th, 2008 8:46 am
I started my blog because I wanted to speak out to people I knew and i didn’t know. To tell the truth about my life and my real thoughts.
My blog is a real life soap opera! :D
Lex G
February 10th, 2008 9:03 am
I blog because being online is my second nature … I actually started publishing online in the time of the BBS when everything was 2400 BAUD modem …
I had a BBS installed on my 486 PC and paid for my own phone line when I was 16 years old … The BBS was called ‘new world order’ ….
Good old times …
So basically I’d say that nowadays I blog because I have that ‘Urge’ … and because I like to experiment with combo’s of commerce, technology and communication ….
However if you want to make money you’re better of doing affiliates instead of blogging ;)
Lex G
Collin LaHay
February 10th, 2008 9:06 am
I voted for “money,” but I hate to classify it as just that.
I use my blog for money, business, and networking. The main reason I blog is to use it as a way to connect to my readers and to use it as a launch platform for websites I develop.
If your voting system allowed it, I would check all 6 boxes.
Sir Pavlow
February 10th, 2008 9:22 am
I voted for fun couse i am bloging for fun but just a time after I am close to make a big network when that time I would vote for business. I like so much coding and designing.
David Scrivner
February 10th, 2008 9:26 am
Although money seems like a fairly strong motivation, the fun that I have would really be my motivation to continue. I can not imagine money being the only thing keeping me going unless I was actually making a lot. Even so, I would still have to have fun doing what I was doing or it would eventually die. Everyone that says that they are purely in it for the money are kidding themselves. Blogging gives you the freedom to make money doing something you enjoy.
Ray Fowler
February 10th, 2008 9:43 am
I thought about checking either “networking” or “fun” because those are both important motivations for me in blogging. But I decided to go with “other” instead. As a pastor my primary motivation in blogging is simply ministry, sharing my thoughts on God and life from a Christian perspective and trusting that will be helpful to other people out there. But I am also having a lot of fun and enjoying the people I meet while doing this!
Julie
February 10th, 2008 9:49 am
Stimulus, broadening horizons, creative focus and space for expression, interaction with like minded people & exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Andrea
February 10th, 2008 9:50 am
Although I voted for fun, I blog on my personal blog (http://atypicalife.net/blog/) for many reasons. One, I can’t stop. :D And two, if I go too long without posting my mom calls and nags me.
On the other blog (attached to my name), I write to help others.
While both have ads, money is no the main motivator. There’s plenty of other as to earn money, so for blogging you’ve got to love it before you can cash in.
jhay
February 10th, 2008 9:50 am
Well I blog mainly for fun and advocacy, money-making came as a bonus that helped me with school expenses. :D
Andy MacDonald - SEO & Marketing Blog
February 10th, 2008 9:51 am
Well, for me, i blog for 2 reasons. 1, i’m disabled and cannot walk, so i occupy my time at the computer, and i really enjoy blogging, so it seems like the perfect “hobby” so-to-speak, and secondly, to give me a place where i can post the articles i write on a regular basis. Its all well and good submitting to article directories etc, but that doesn’t really allow you to build your own ‘personal’ community as such, so a blog allows you to do that.
Heraldo
February 10th, 2008 10:10 am
I blog for love of my niche.
Ed O'Keeffe
February 10th, 2008 10:16 am
I voted business but really it is a combination of business and networking. I run a daily photo blog and it is not my intention to be a pro blogger or make the majority of my income from the blog.
The reason I blog is that it works better than having an static online gallery of my images, google prefers blogs in terms of SEO and through my blog I have gained a number of clients after commercial photography. Advertising currently covers the costs of hosting etc but in time I would hope it would start to pay for my cell phone contract and maybe one day new camera equipment.
Blogging for me is a way to drive traffic to my “portfolio” of images and promote myself as a professional photographer in a world of high competition and easy access to digital cameras.
Learn SEO
February 10th, 2008 10:17 am
I blog for passion and fun, but why in the heck is your blog breaking if the latest firefox version? Also another question, I see your google adsense referral, has Google enabled referrals for Australia and Europe?
Chuck
February 10th, 2008 10:17 am
I think very few people blog for just ONE reason. This study would have been a little more accurate if you had the readers list their reasons in order of importance.
One person may list them out like this:
Money, Fun, Fame & Status, Networking, Business, Other
while others may have been like this…
Business, Money, Networking, Fun, Fame, Other
etc etc…
ericabiz
February 10th, 2008 10:21 am
Where’s the “cathartic release” option? As in, “I must write or I will become crazy and mumble unintelligibly at the world”? ;)
I picked “networking”, but … yeah. *mumbles unintelligibly* :D
Angela
February 10th, 2008 10:25 am
I started blogging in an effort to commit to writing every day. I’ve wanted to be a “real writer” since I was a kid. Who knew blogging would give me an audience and that I’d actually end up liking these people? It’s a blast, I’m meeting like-minded and intelligent people, and I get to feel a little like a
“real writer” too. Great question.
RandomThinker
February 10th, 2008 10:50 am
For me it comes down to a number of things. Of course everyone wants to be a “problogger” and make some $$$, but that may not happen for 99% of us. I blog for a number of reasons. I/m very fascinated with the web, how it works, how many people are at my “doorstep” and how I can something that I write can be read all over the world. Also, I blog because no one else will listen! If I stood up in a room full of people and decided to ramble on about my interests or just some miscellaneous thoughts, who would listen? It’s also very addicting…like a competition with myself to attract more readers. I also have tons of time on my hands and it gives me something constructive to do.
Shannon Lilly
February 10th, 2008 10:57 am
I blog for many things, but my ultimate goal is to make money, and I do a decent job by offering what people need.
MR
February 10th, 2008 11:12 am
Blogging is fun for me. The fun part is getting money! hahaha
Undergraduate Historian
February 10th, 2008 11:12 am
I blog primarily because formulating posts helps me learn, but I also enjoy sharing my knowledge.
stagueve
February 10th, 2008 11:13 am
Money+Business+Fame or Profile+Networking+Fun and some more ^^
Blogging can give us so much, why just picking one of them ?! ;)
Money Never Sleeps
February 10th, 2008 12:26 pm
Darrin, never lose focus that its all about the money. Never forget this, you have the opportunity to become rich and have this blog easily earn over $100K per month (which is over $1Million USD per year). If you need any motivation watch the movie Wall Street over and over again!
Johny B. Goode
February 10th, 2008 12:27 pm
My blog is personal. If it every got any serious traffic, I wouldn’t slapping on some google adsense or some other ads. Main goal is to be interesting and learn to phrase the random thoughts into desirable presentations.
MMJ
February 10th, 2008 12:54 pm
Fun, but it would nice to make money.
Ken Y-N
February 10th, 2008 1:00 pm
I fit in the “other” category - while money and limited fame within my niche are nice, what I really love is being the only person providing such a service to the particular niche, and what gives me the biggest buzz is when I get someone writing to me right out of blue saying how they found exactly the information they were looking for from my blog.
There’s also a degree of self-therapy in the blog - I have stress issues at my job, so blogging is a great way to be in control of my work (and my blog is work to maintain!) thus brings a lot of personal satisfaction and helps me with my depression issues.
Tom Beaton
February 10th, 2008 1:35 pm
I do not believe any one reason is enough. You need multiple reasons to make it worthwhile.
Meredith
February 10th, 2008 1:39 pm
I started blogging because I didn’t think there were enough people out there blogging about what I do. I continue to blog for a few different reasons. Number One is because I want to affect change in the world. My secondary reason and probably the more personal reason is that it gives me more of a purpose to my life. FYI, my blog is about how to start living a more green life style and making a positive impact on the world.
Kelvin Kao
February 10th, 2008 2:21 pm
For the personal blog, it’s because it has become a habit, and I need a place to put down my thoughts. It’s also a way me and some friends check up on each other.
For my puppetry blog, it’s because I love puppetry and I like to share what I made and what I learned. If one day I can launch it into a business, that would be nice too… though that’s not happening at the current stage.
Chetan
February 10th, 2008 2:21 pm
Darren, you were a bit late than me in posting the topic ;)
Yesterday i too had opened the same topic, hope you have a check on that : http://www.thewwwblog.com/why-do-you-blog.html
I love for money, also for networking!
Johny B. Goode
February 10th, 2008 2:22 pm
Correction: If it every got any serious traffic, I wouldn’t MIND slapping on some google adsense or some other ads.
Interesting how one word can change the meaning.
Troy
February 10th, 2008 2:33 pm
Down the road, I’d like people to be saying “Look at him, he started a blog with absolutely nothing and now makes a living off of it”, then the interviews would come pouring in :P. Right now, though, it’s not the 60 cents a month or the 13 blog reactions keeping me going, it’s the fun. I feel like I’m building up content and honing my skills in writing, all while having some actual potential. It would be great to make money, but even greater to know that I’ve learned some real skills along the way!
Kelly
February 10th, 2008 2:56 pm
Darren,
Blogging was made for me. I’ve journalled, I’ve written poetry (published, too), I’ve done theses that turned into books, and pity all my friends and relatives, because when I write a letter you need a forklift to get it out of the mailbox. Even my notes on client interactions can get weighty.
Blogging allows me to be the editor-in-chief of my own little mag, and I accept all the good articles I can write. I do have to reject some, but I let me down easy.
Experience Design is a topic that’s really taking off right now, and I love to contribute to the body of knowledge that’s out there through the blog. It’s for business and profile purposes, because it lets potential customers know a lot about how I work and how our company works, and helps folks to “sell” themselves on Experience Design; it’s for fun, because it’s an outlet for rants and raves about designing Maximum Customer Experience; it’s personal, because people buy from people.
I love to teach and share. I know not everybody can be my client starting tomorrow. My blog allows business owners to gain a few ideas they can put into practice right away, and I no longer drive friends crazy with every observation that pops into my head. Now I drive ‘em crazy by saying, “Hang on, I’ve got to write that down.”
Regards,
Kelly
Maximum Customer Experience Blog
Ginkgo100
February 10th, 2008 3:34 pm
I have only started blogging recently. I do it in order to indulge my compulsion to write. I also write articles on Wikipedia, but I wanted an outlet in which I could express my opinions.
Tay - Super Blogging
February 10th, 2008 5:18 pm
Well Darren, I blog for MOST of those reasons you listed, actually. I blog for money, fame (not necessarily fame, but I just love knowing that people out there read what I write, it’s a great feeling), networking, and FUN. Blogging is so amazing and I don’t think I could pick just one reason! ;)
Barbara
February 10th, 2008 7:43 pm
I checked “other”.
Although I certainly have fun blogging and love networking, the greatest gift I get from blogging is helping others. Whether I’m sharing a time saving tip, asking a thought provoking question, showcasing a new blogger, or linking to a great article, my joy comes from knowing what I write may benefit others.
Chetan
February 10th, 2008 8:11 pm
Btw Darren, the poll has broke down your design.
The right sidebar place is empty and actual sidebar has moved down below this post.
netvalar
February 10th, 2008 9:28 pm
I started blogging after placing information for my brother regarding helping his friend get into music. After making those posts on myspace I started getting questions that I answered and many times had to go do a bit of research. I love doing research so that was fun. I moved my blog away from Myspace once I learned that some of my readers weren’t on myspace and didn’t want to join. I did this so that they could leave comments sadly no comments appeared but I enjoy having my blog separate from any network. During the time that I was doing research for myspace readers I got involved in couple of forums and now I keep my blog going due to those forums. It has allowed me to build a reputation (I am constantly saying I don’t deserve the reputation) that makes me feel good.
Being recently asked to particpate in a start-up music company for a few weeks and be included on a list of big name music conference people. I would have to say what keeps me blogging is networking. The number of readers for my blog is extremely small (avg 20 uniques/day) but the quality of readers is huge. From authors of music resources to music manager companies to promoters.
I have also from blogging thus researching found new niches that could use a bit of Netvalar in them. And thus expanding my profile is another reason, I am working out for myself how I want to redo my different profiles to work together instead of being separate.
Ruchir Chawdhry
February 10th, 2008 10:08 pm
I would say I blog for all the above reasons. But my major reason is for fun…
Xue
February 10th, 2008 10:09 pm
Mainly I am blogging to learn. I am studying for university entrance exams and that’s what my blog is about too. I learn by writing and researching information for me and for my blog. And I hope that my blog will help others learn too. And it’s great fun!
Char
February 11th, 2008 1:01 am
I had to choose other because I really want to help fellow visual artists. I guess blogging to be helpful would be my choice if it were up there. I am driven by the urge to share my experience with others and get all sides of the spectrum together - beginning artists together with advanced artists beginners may be too scared to talk to. I know the position on both ends and I hope to bridge the gap between the two :)
Genesis
February 11th, 2008 1:42 am
I think almost everyone has more than one reason to blog. I chose business, because though I would do it for money, I´m not really earning much yet . . . but blogging has been great for my writing business. Thanks to people looking at my blogs, I´ve picked up a lot of ghostwriting work!
My personal blog is for fun and networking, it´s just a place to share my interesting life as an expat mom, but not to earn or anything. :)
Mike King
February 11th, 2008 2:12 am
Agree with Xue. I blog for learning more myself as well as to help others learn. None of the responses really fit but the closes I guess was networking, so that’s my vote.
Blogging about learning things ensures I really understand my content and sharing it to others in a useful and concise way helps me to really set those ideas in stone. I’m amazed how many people I talk to about things in life where topics come up that relate to something I’ve blogged about and I have a quality answer already well thought through since I’ve blogged about it.
http://abapprogramming.blogspot.com
February 11th, 2008 2:13 am
Blogging is a way of free expression and wonderful way of self
of course most of that free of cost.
This gives new friends, new world open and exploring new stuff.
All together it is a great experience for me.
dandellion Kimban
February 11th, 2008 2:45 am
This one was not for radio buttons but for checkboxes. I hardly believe there is one of us that is capable of selecting just one of the answers.
Ali from TheOfficeDiet
February 11th, 2008 3:13 am
Several reasons:
- I love writing (and write easily and quickly)
- I want to build up a portfolio of non-fiction writing
- I want to share the knowledge and happiness I’ve gained with others (I successfully lost over 3 stone — nearly a quarter of my total weight — and have vastly improved my fitness) so I started http://www.theofficediet.com to help out busy people who want to improve their health/fitness.
- It would be nice to make money, but that’s not my primary motivation — I want to contribute some value to the world, and to the ‘net (which often seems rather “surface” to me and lacking in strong content — problogger expected, of course!)
Ali
Ty Brown
February 11th, 2008 3:54 am
I blog with the goal that one day I will become THE definitive source for dog training and dog behavior information.
OutSmarts
February 11th, 2008 4:24 am
I started blogging over 3 years ago as a favour to a friend who has a webdev company - posting articles on her site now and then. I enjoyed it so decided to try it out for myself under a pseudonym in MySpace to see if I could be consistent.
I now blog professionally to establish expertise and drive traffic to my company’s site: http:www.out-smarts.com .
Right now I am debated monetizing the site but am not sure if ads would put of my visitors.
Mich
February 11th, 2008 4:34 am
It really surprises me that money was number 2. I would think it would be much lower. Also, I wish there was a blank box to expand upon the “other” choice. For example, I use my blog as a pseudo online file folder to keep track of news and articles — It beats printing out a bunch of paper.
Binny V A
February 11th, 2008 4:49 am
Its a combination of reasons - the options must be in checkboxes - not radio buttons.
Since I can choose just one, I am going for fame/profile.
Pádraig
February 11th, 2008 5:04 am
Networking.
Adrian @ Path to Your Destiny
February 11th, 2008 5:57 am
For me, I started blogging because I noticed I own a lot of viewpoints contrary to what’s out there in personal development, and I wanted to share and educate other people on those (my) viewpoints.
Kristie McNealy
February 11th, 2008 6:08 am
I blog as a way to add content to my business website. I also hope the info helps out the parents who make up my target audience. Money would be nice, but thus far blogging hasn’t gotten me much…
Marc
February 11th, 2008 7:38 am
I vote for fun. I am amazed that total strangers would read what i write.
Angela Klocke
February 11th, 2008 7:47 am
I have things to say. I have things to get off my chest. But also it’s great for networking, for getting a feel for what readers enjoy from me as a writer and photographer. And…I have things to say ;)
Jasmine Shanea
February 11th, 2008 4:23 pm
I totally agree with Angela. It’s a place to just rant and be free to do so without the restriction of time, money, space and resources. It’s a personal space which I feel corporate entities might have begun diluting and infringe in this personal space by using blogs as a marketing avenue.
Sean
February 11th, 2008 7:28 pm
Every should blog because its fun. Its fine to have the money incentive but that shouldnt be your primary reason for blogging.
Deb
February 11th, 2008 10:53 pm
Once again my answer doesn’t fit a category and I refuse to answer “other.” I keep blogging because it generally seems when I am most discouraged and on the brink of giving up on writing that someone pops in and posts that they love what they just read and look forward to reading more.
Hans Muster
February 11th, 2008 11:04 pm
Normally I blog to keep me alive :D . But I chosed “Fun” ;-)
Money Blog
February 12th, 2008 3:02 am
Nice blog friend, very interesting contents.. would you mind if I ask you for a link exchange? Regards…
I blog coz it’s my passion… I like to write, and convince something out of nothing.
nabilah
February 15th, 2008 12:42 pm
I blog because putting my thoughts down in an entry because it would be a shame if all my brilliant thoughts were not shared with the general public.
Okay, actually not. :)
I do think that we all are capable of moments of brilliance or even just thought-provoking insights, and many a times I find that mine go unexpressed. Which IS a shame, because there are probably people out there who feel the same as you. Blogging gives me such a platform, finding people who are like me, or better yet, finding people who disagree with me and can express an opposite opinion that I otherwise would not have considered otherwise.
I guess I basically look for an exchange of opinions from people who are willing to share their views without fear of reproach or being judged. And that is why I blog.
Steve
March 31st, 2008 8:39 am
Writing with passion in a blog is a great way to monetize your blog or as we do our main corporate site of Planet Berry. We utilize the blog for up to date information and to keep smaller items on the front lines so to speak. The visitors typically will go from our Blog to our other locations where our reveunes are present.
Manish
April 1st, 2008 1:51 am
WEll i am from retail Industry which is the next big thing after BPO boom and I am quite happy to be in this industry. any one with the same Industry ca contact me for any kind of suggestion as i am in this line from last 15 years.
Also I like to discuss ablout bolywood any one intrusted.
putihungu
April 3rd, 2008 11:28 pm
well, i’m relatively fun blogging in to share my love story. it’s help me many times when i need to share the problem, happiness, etc. in un6u.blogspot.com thats the feeling show. but recently, i learn from problogger also from yaro tarak’s web, why can we earn some money from it. lets have fun and enjoy the money. so i choose fun, that thing keeps me blogging.
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