Why do blogs exist ?
June 5, 2006 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Business
My accounting lecturer one morning asked a question to the 400+ students that sat before him. It was a question that sparked a few brave souls to put up their hands and answer. So you can follow the story I had better tell you the question.
“Why do businesses exist?”
One brave student put up his hand and answered with;
“To provide goods, services and employment”
“Wrong” said the lecturer. “For that is a charity. Businesses exist to increase the wealth of the owner“.
Now apply this to blogging. Do blogs exist to increase the wealth of an owner? I guess it all depends on what you want to achieve with your blog. People have different opinions, if you had asked Liz from Successful-Blog I think her answer would be something along the lines of – “Blogging is about your passion to write and produce interesting content to share with others”. Darren from Problogger may have a similar view but we all know he earns a bucket load from blogs and whilst there may be passion, I’m sure he wants to “increase his wealth” as well.
So you have two different goals. To increase your wealth or to blog for passion.
It’s all up to you.
Liz, you’re a little behind. Catch up!
This post is actually for Darrens new writing group project, I hope to see you join in Liz.
Oh and thanks for stopping by :)
PS. I work too hard. :)
I’m fairly certain that readers can see money-making blogs for what they are. You know that a blog that’s out to make cash is going to endeavor to post content regularly regardless of whether or not there’s passion involved in the creation of said content. So the quality will wane and sometimes be down right garbage (what I refer to as meta-blogging: blogging about content on other blogs) for the sake of just keeping the clicks coming through.
On the other hand, people who just do it for the love of it get tons of visitors because readers can instinctively tell that what they’re getting is genuine and not forced.
The same applies to people who blog for the ego stroke (of which I must admit I’m at least somewhat guilty myself).
Bottom line, as far as I’m concerned you should be doing it because you love it. You have something to say and you want to share it with the world. If you make money in the process, great! Otherwise, reading a blog whose primary goal is making cash just evokes feelings of telemarketers calling me at dinnertime. “Yeah, right, you really want to help me with your product, sure.”
Really good points, every one, Ara.
It seems that most bloggers don’t give readers enough credit. That’s certainly true in the print, I know. If you respect the folks who are going to read what you put before them, they will give you a fair shot in return — more than fair shot actually. They will be grateful and give you the benefit of the doubt, because so few actually treat them that well.
Why do blogs exist ?
To get the blogger fired from day jobs.
Hi Jamsi,
Coming back after my coffee.
I know what is that got me off thinking I was talking to Paul. I came through on the link from Technorati and saw his picture.
Sincere apologies for my inability tor read.
Perhaps one of my blogging goals should be to pay better attention to what’s on the screen . . . Excuse me while I go add that to the list.
PS. I’ve always been a workboxers reader and a fan. My take on things is so odd sometimes, I usually refrain from adding a comment — it would only interrupt the conversation.
Hey Paul,
Thanks for including me. I’m laughing, because I think you were smiling when you wrote that. You know I love to write fabulous content that moves the bar in strange and interesting ways, but I also like to eat. :) My blogs are a way to make money. Successful-Blog has expanded my resume in ways I could never have done so in the 3-D world. So I’m on the side of creating wealth, just a different model than yours or Darren’s.
Liz
Why can’t it be for both? Business owner helps out the community by employing locals (having great service) AND lining his/her pockets with paper.
I touched on my goals for (business blogging) in my piece. Obviously, for my business to survive, I do have to think about profits. But the blog is more about helping to build my field. It’s about being part of a community. Sure, I need to be able to put a roof over my head, but I’d never be in something just for the money. Money’s not really the big motivator with my blog.
I like the idea of blogging for passion, if you are passionate about your subject then hopefully the readers are engaged by that same fervor.
I quite agree with Rob’s comment, starting a blog can be for both making money and sharing a passion, but I truly believe that providing information in such an easy way is probably one of the most interesting thing that happened to the Internet.
But yes, let’s face it, I wonder how many people would bother if it wasn’t for making money…
yes, I agree with you 100%. For me blogging was initially a way to express my knowledge and skill in Internet and then soon it became a profession for me and now I spend all my days and nights to improve myself in this field. I am blogging actively for just a little over 100 days but really it is the best work, I can think of.
Thank you, Jamsi, for this post. It made me stop, look, listen, breathe. Your statement on my blogging goals is so much a part of what I am and what I’m doing, I’m not sure that I was aware of it. I’ve started my post and I’m finding that blogging is BOTH a passion and a business.
Well, I started posting in 1991, and didn’t start running ads until 2003, so I think I can fairly say I didn’t start blogging for money.
And it wasn’t even called “blogging” then :-)
That said, Adsense etc. income is pretty important to me now, and I have increased the pace of posting because of it. Without the income I’d probably post once a week or even less, but now I almost always post daily.
But what the lecturer misses is that while, yes, the business owner started the business to make money, the community allows it to exist because it provides, or helps to provide, “goods, services and employment†to the rest of the community – they were both right :)
The whole is made greater by each individuals effort. You only get something back because you put in.
(geez, I sound so communist, and I’m really terribly capitalist! In an enlightened self interest kinda way ;))
What comes first, the blogger or the blogged? I must say I am a bit sceptical about “passion”. Sure there might be something that gives you the impulse to start, but what sustains it? Is it fame or recognition, need to engage with others, or something more deeply personal? Perhaps it is purely superficial. Or perhaps it is just cash.
While this is a fine, simplistic, cut-throat attitude, I think the world accomodates more shades of grey and anything in between.
Sure, money is a factor. I think if I was only after the money, I’d be doing something other than blogging though, I’m not sure that is the fast path to wealth at least in my blog subject ;). For me it is more about having an outlet for my frustration with my child and being stuck at home with him all day – maybe you could say it is to keep me sane, if that is possible, or has that line already been crossed? ;)
So, first an outlet, and if that outlet brings me some money, great, if not, I have other options I’m already promoting which I see as better income generators long-term. Selfish goal??
Daily Adsense Profits
You Cannot Not Make Money!
Profit In 60 Min – Only $22.50 Now
http://www.adsensemadeeasy.com/?affid=136
For me it’s a win-win situation. I’ve always loved writing and I do get more that my fair share of typing endless (useless?) memos at work. A blog gives me the chance to write about what I feel like commenting upon.
Basically, it’s mine: if you don’t agree (if anyone actually deigns to read it, that is), good. If you do, even better!
To be honest, I’m still at the stage where I get a kick seeing the stats slowly crawling upwards.. :D
GOOOOL Just to honour the coming football (or refer to it as soccer, see if I care) extravaganza. Yes, good goal, simple, to the point and well articulated. We might all still be writing blogs, but if we didn’t get any money doing so… we would blog lot less.
Jarkko I think your spot on.
Money is a great motivator isn’t it? :)
in my opinion blog exist have several reason
1. people trying to find alternative to write article
2. For marketing product
3. Relationship with client
4. Personal though
thanks
dadan
I don’t think they are mutually exclusive, especially considering how the low investment of starting a blog is.
And how badly I butchered my grammer.
You have a fine blog. Are you interested in the world cup coming?
For me, blogging at first is a business, then ability to explain my opinion on any subject.