Let’s face is, there is no one real answer to why people blog — there’s daddy bloggers and Regretsy, Copyblogger and people who post photos of their pets. Everyone’s got a different reason to start, and a different reason to keep on.
This blog is a marketing piece for me — it’s something I both enjoy doing and that comes naturally to me, but I wouldn’t blog here, about the things I do, if it didn’t help me out in my business. I do put time and effort into making sure that most of my posts offer something, even if it’s only a cute cartoon or the chance to recommend your favorite brand of face wash.
I have had other blogs in other places, but they’re for different things. I post photos of my cat licking milk off his nose, talk about my favorite books and tv shows with like-minded friends, and rant about poor grammar on the internet. Okay, I do that last one here, but it’s a lot nicer. Those blogs allow me to connect with like-minded people for fun, to share things I’ve made or seen, and to be myself (okay, even there I’m perhaps nicer than in real life, where I’m actually deeply cynical and snarky).
What brought this subject up for me is a recent spate of high-end copy writers writing posts on their blogs talking about how it’s a big sweat shop that they’re forced to generate all this content for free, and to me, that seems like they’ve lost sight of the reason why they started blogging in the first place. I’m not talking about little hobbyist bloggers, either — these are people whose blogs serve to bring them into the spheres of their potential clients and customers, so that they can sell services, consulting, ebooks and more. And yet, despite that, they’re suddenly thinking they should also be paid for their blog posts.
So I have to ask, if their blog posts were paid, then how would people find them to know they wanted to pay for the posts? Would they have to start a second string of crappier, less useful blog posts to serve as their marketing? Would they just rely on their charming Tweets and good site design to lure people into subscribing?
There’s a ton, and I mean a ton of great info available on the web for free, because people have chosen to make it that way. But the people who write the best, most informative blogs aren’t doing it entirely out of the goodness of their hearts — they’re making a living off that time, effort and expertise, somehow, some way. Leo Baubuta writes a bunch of different blogs, but also sells books and gets ad revenue. Men With Pens gives a ton of great writing advice for bloggers, copy writers, and fiction writers, but they also sell a whole suite of services. Ittybiz writes excellent marketing and life lessons that are both entertaining and full of swearing, but she’s got expensive consulting, less expensive ebooks, a membership site, and more.
And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
Sony spends a ton of money on their commercials, sometimes ones that are entertaining enough they get shared on websites everywhere for free — and yet, they wouldn’t expect you to pay to watch them, because they’re getting their return another way.
I’m not saying all blogs are advertising — but this one is, and the blogs I’ve mentioned above have marketing as a part of their purpose. When I post kitten pictures on my personal blog, I don’t expect to sell anything as a result, and a ton of hobby bloggers out there are posting for love and community.
So, I’ll ask again, why do you blog?
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Comment by Holly — February 4, 2010 @ 2:45 pm
This is such an interesting post, and may cause a wall of text response. I run a marketing blog, and recently started a personal blog to write about the things that I can't write about on my marketing blog.
My blog is probably responsible for attracting 90% of my clients. For Cottage Copy, the blog is a huge deal, and a major marketing tool. I also run a more personal business blog: I talk about myself more than most, I think. I try and provide value, but I'm also keenly aware that this is why people hire me, and I need to keep that in mind when I write.
I had a strong emotional response to that recently, and started a personal blog without a name attached. I felt a need to write with freedom for me. I don't care if anyone reads it, and I'm just writing for myself.
In some ways, I do get paid for my blog posts, at least in an indirect way. My blog attracts business, which pays my bills. My business has been growing exponentially, and I'm honestly tempted to chalk most of that up to the blog. My blog gets me the clients, and my work brings them back.
I wouldn't ever charge for my blog posts, just because it seems like bad business. The internet was originally a tool for sharing information and building communities, and I think people still expect that free exchange. I try and provide value (or at least humor), and sometimes personal insights. I think if you're in a position where you can charge for your blog posts, that's awesome, but I personally think it's a little silly. Why shut out part of your market if you don't have to?
I think if you're a self labeled blogger, then you shouldn't feel tortured blogging. In my experience, the people who become power bloggers are the people who love writing and the process. And honestly, more writing shouldn't be that much more taxing, especially when you have control over the content. If you feel that way, instead of charging, I'd suggest that you step back and take a good look at why your blog isn't fun anymore, and try and inject some fun into it.
Comment by Amy — February 4, 2010 @ 2:59 pm
@Holly – Having a place to talk about personal stuff separate from my "public" business life is really valuable for me, and writing all this out has really driven home for me the reasons I'm annoyed every time I see an "A-List" blogger talking about paid posting. Every blog has a slightly different purpose, and I think it's important not to lose sight of whatever that purpose was — or to be afraid to revisit it, if that doesn't seem to be working out for you.
Comment by Yolanda — February 4, 2010 @ 3:30 pm
I write blog posts, I think of them as articles, solely for the purpose of marketing. That's it.
I am not a natural writer. I write well enough but need an editor. And I don't love it the way a true writer does.
BUT neither do I hate it. I enjoy it and it can be fun most days, but regardless of that, it is a business/work activity.
When we think about A-List bloggers complaining about being paid for their posts…I simply think "what a whiner", really. If they really, truly wanted to be paid for their writing efforts they would find a way to get paid to write. There are plenty of ways to do that. So why complain? Charge for your posts, who cares? Of course, when traffic drops off we'll have to read about that too…or maybe not since they will be charging and we won't be allowed in and then they can whine about it all they want…maybe they should charge…hmmmmmmmm
Here's the thing…what ever reason you choose to blog, it's yours, live with it, love it or leave it. But shut the #%@%%# up, alright already.
Wow. I feel better already.
Comment by Amy — February 4, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
@Yolanda – I think a lot of those people get "paid" for their posts by selling ebooks and having giant $100K product launches, or being able to charge a premium for their services. I suspect that, like anything, sometimes people just lose sight of the reason they're doing something and let it become a thankless chore — when they simply forgot the ways in which they were getting "thanked."
I suppose if they did move to a paid model, I'd just have to find someone else to read… oh, wait, I already have plenty of those. Problem solved on my end, anyway! š