What Do You Give; What Do You Get?
November 18, 2008 by Danny Thompson
Filed under Social Media
Is blogging worth it? That depends entirely on you. There are a few things you can ask up front to help you decide:
1. What do you want to get from your blog?
What are your aims for your blog? Do you want to use it to build your list? Generate some solid leads? Build a following? Sell more product?Blogging for business isn’t the same as a hobby-blog. What do you want to get out of it?
2. What are you willing to give in return?
What can you give your readers in return for doing whatever it is you want them to do? Insight? Entertainment? A better experience with your product? A chance to help improve it? Freebies? How much time are you willing to spend? Money? Manpower?
3. Is it enough to get you what you want?
Is what you’re willing to put into it enough to get the audience to do what you’re asking? Honestly? If it weren’t your product or service and someone else was willing to give what you are…would it be enough to convince you do take a similar action? If not, what more would it take
4. Is it worth the time and effort?
Now, is what you want to get worth the time and effort is will take you to get your audience to do…whatever it is you want them to do? If not, could you outsource it and make it worthwhile?
If not…then there could very well be a better way to do it. One that you’ll be likely to stick with over time.
Photo Credit – Source: SXC.hu
I think #4 is key here. I have started a couple of blog about something I’m passionate about, only to have it become very consuming and ultimately not rewarding (whether it be financially or building a community or whatever my ultimate goal was).
Hi Niki, thanks for the comment. This illustrates the point perfectly.
#4 is the critical factor. For a personal-interest blog, passion is often enough, and can keep you going as you learn more about your subject and/or keep track of your efforts or progress or ideas (or whatever).
But if you have a business blog, ROI is something you must take into account. Not necessarily in financial terms…but if you’re going to expend the effort to make it a success (content, replying, promotion, etc.), you need to know what you want and how far you’re willing to go.
Seth Godin’s “The Dip” is a great book to read for some insights into this issue.