The mysterious powers that be tell me that if I want to included on the lists of best daddy bloggers or social media A-listers I need to step up my game and dole out copious amounts of wisdom.
I’d like to say that I cared enough to make that happen but I have an exceptionally thick head and I am unwilling to blog as they wish I would. Bully for them and boo for me.
I don’t know about you but I am tired of reading 1,298,398 posts on how to use Twitter, be a better blogger and or how to make millions of dollars by blogging for 2 hours each day. Â Nor am I interested in reading more bullshit about the biggest names in social media.
Those posts bore me because they are among the weakest and worst forms of linkbait. Lazy people create those lists in the hopes that one of the really important people they linked to will notice their posts.
If your best effort consists of writing a list of 5-10 names and one sentence about those personalities you need to reconsider why you are out here. Because all you are doing is adding to the noise that already exists. If you are into meaningless chaos and confusion than by all means keep doing what you are doing.
It makes me wonder Why Do You Blog?
Why I Blog
I blog because I love to write. I blog because this is where I learn, clear my head and clarify my thoughts about life. This is where I chronicle the mundane and the magical. And because I blog I have been given some great opportunities and remembered that the dreams I hold dear don’t have to be limited to fantasy.
I am a Nintendo Brand Ambassador. Â In my role as a brand ambassador I have received compensation in the form of various products (read games/clothing) and an incredible trip to Nintendo Headquarters. That trip was a hell of a lot of fun for a ton of reasons but what really solidified it for me was the opportunity to meet the other ambassadors.
It was the social part of social media and I loved it. I met people I never would otherwise have spoken with and had some fascinating conversations. I sat with other parents playing video games and laughing about you never know where life is going to take you.
Thirty some years ago I was just a kid who played Pong and Space Invaders. Just a kid who loved his Atari and never dreamed that one day I would be a part of this world.
I could write ten thousand more words about why I am here and what I am doing but that would be overkill. Suffice it to say that I know why I am here and what I hope to accomplish. So the ball is back in your court. Why do you blog?
And this, dear Jack, leads to the final why. I believe when I blog it is for the right reasons, but I have a bad habit of getting a bit too wrapped up in each and every post, trying to make every photo perfect, every word profound. Reminds me that I need to get my own Borsalino….
I blog to get ideas out of my mind. Obsessive fixation on an idea for an article goes away when you write the post.
That is very true. I find writing to be very relaxing.
Many guest bloggers will give away very generic overview articles in exchange for their links, I do my best to avoid accepting anything I think is fluff or won’t benefit readers. I really do strive for the standard rule for each article to inform, educate or entertain though some fluff still gets through.
You would be surprise though that even with thousands of blogs covering the same tech topics, some find the article or info for the first time on my blog so it shows you that even sites that have the same topic can find unique audiences.
Hi Justin,
I am “guilty” of sometimes writing these posts that cover the newbie stuff because it does generate a certain amount of traffic. But I can’t help but get irritated because there seem to be very few bloggers who inject passion and or new ideas into these posts.
They are just dry, dull and boring.
Not to pick on you Jack, but there are tons of posts asking people why they blog as well. lol
Having said that, I blog because I can; that’s pretty much it. The fact that I have 5 blogs says that I feel I have enough to say to fill up 5 blogs. Truthfully, blogging brings about the conversations I can’t have locally because it’s hard finding people locally that care even the slightest about things I care about. Online, the folks are there, and if you work it they’ll eventually find you.
That’s all I’ve got.
Hi Mitch. I don’t mind being picked on, I have a thick skin and I asked for it. 🙂
Five blogs? That is a lot of work. I have two that I work on fairly consistently but if you love this medium it doesn’t feel like work.
You are right about the conversations. Online you can always find people to talk about anything- really the people make this interesting.
Wait. You can blog two hours a day and become a zillionaire? Count me in!
@ginidietrich In Chicago you can blog for two hours a day and be elected mayor, even if you aren’t on the ballot. 😉
@TheJackB Especially if you have your friends vote more than once.
@ginidietrich If I didn’t know better about Chicago politics I’d have to laugh at that. Some voters never die there.
I blog because I can’t find people like me, therefore I think I am a rare voice. Perhaps people want to hear, perhaps not. I think I am wise, but I also think it’s arrogant to think that. Do wise people really make noise at the night or do they sit quietly satisfied? Is there really anything new under the sun? I know for some there is but am I the one to shine the light? And if someone listens, is that the best service I can offer? Others want to be loud and shine bright so much that they spend all their time building a higher tower to shout from and a brighter fire, but in the end it’s mostly noise and blinding flashes, endless streams of in-consequence. I am troubled by the decision as to whether I should struggle to build the tower too, knowing that it isn’t part of the message but also knowing that the message will not be heard without it.
I also blog because it’s fun. I like arguments and contrary views and finding smart friends and learning.
I blog because I can’t find people like me, therefore I think I am a rare voice. Perhaps people want to hear, perhaps not. I think I am wise, but I also think it’s arrogant to think that. Do wise people really make noise at the night or do they sit quietly satisfied? Is there really anything new under the sun? I know for some there is but am I the one to shine the light? And if someone listens, is that the best service I can offer? Others want to be loud and shine bright so much that they spend all their time building a higher tower to shout from and a brighter fire, but in the end it’s mostly noise and blinding flashes, endless streams of in-consequence. I am troubled by the decision as to whether I should struggle to build the tower too, knowing that it isn’t part of the message but also knowing that the message will not be heard without it.
I also blog because it’s fun. I like arguments and contrary views and finding smart friends and learning.
I agree 93%. Blogging about blogging is boring for most people. Most of my readers, who are mainly non-bloggers or minimal bloggers (I mean, let’s face it, who isn’t a blogger today?), don’t want to read about how hard my life is as a blogger.
I love/hate/must/need to write, and what I usually write about is what is on my mind and if blogging is on my mind then that’s what I write about, except even I’m bored about blogging. I just want to write (oh, and be read, there is that nasty little detail otherwise I’d just keep a diary under my pillow, wouldn’t I?).
I’m cleaning out my twitter following right now. I’d lost my way and got distracted by the numbers and the big names. Now I only want to follow humans who either be interesting or (gasp!) even deign to talk with little ole me. It looks like you are one or the other. In my follow file you’ll stay.
@Chloe Jeffreys <i>I love/hate/must/need to write</i> That is as good a description as any- if there is feeling in the post it makes a significant difference.
Agreed on the need for engagement- if you don’t have any interaction in your Twitter stream I probably won’t stick around.
Hello Jack, I’m a little different because I have a niche blog. My blog might bore you because its topic is technology, but I do try to make it fun! I blog because I kept telling my friends about and helping them with personal technology. I loved helping them and wanted to spread the word about tech to make it more understandable for others. I read plenty of tech blogs for techies, but there weren’t a lot for everyday people.
I haven’t found too many blogs that bore me. The ones that do I simply don’t return to.
@wonderoftech Nah, I like tech and always enjoy learning about it. You don’t mired in the echo chamber and that is refreshing. I try to give people a chance to catch my eye with more than one post, but life is busy so….
I blog to make people laugh or cry.
I blog to make people understand my therapy.
I blog because I’m supposed to write.
I blog for myself in hopes people hear me.
I blog to cleanse my soul.
I blog to inspire.
I blog to combat unoriginality
I blog for followers.
I blog to make people scratch their heads and go ‘Eh? What?!?”
@Jonathan Gaurano Those are solid reasons and well worth following up on.
I blog to make people laugh or cry.
I blog to make people understand my therapy.
I blog because I’m supposed to write.
I blog for myself in hopes people hear me.
I blog to cleanse my soul.
I blog to inspire.
I blog to combat unoriginality
I blog for followers.
I blog to make change.
Everyone here has such personal reasons for blogging. I am blogging because I have something to say, certainly, but for the most part am only talking about very focused business topics. I really do love my topic (customer service) and enjoy helping others excel at it. The laser focus keeps me out of the echo chamber, and I like that as well.
@adamtoporek Adam, I appreciate the passion and effort you put into it. It makes a difference and is part of why you aren’t part of the echo chamber.
I’ve had so much stuff going on lately I can’t blog about. I hate that! : )
I blog because … I can’t stop?
Pretty much the same reason why I always seem to be taking photos too!
@TwentyFour Those are all solid reasons. I understand the frustration with boundaries. There have been more than a few times where I wish that I could just write as I wanted…
I like having friends in just about every location I ever visit.
I also like telling stories, memorializing my youngsters’ childhoods, and summarizing my travels.
@MoeDaniels There is something cool about knowing people wherever you go. They don’t have to be your best friend or someone particularly close either.
The storytelling and chronicling of lives is among my favorites too.
Great post! I blog because I love to write and I want to save people time by giving them an answer that took me hours to find online. I’m a self taught photographer and blogger and I’m not an idiot, but there were days when my site and my camera made me feel like the dumbest person alive. I figure I can’t be the only one who feels that way so I blog and I like it. It’s fun.
@KimberlyGauthier Do you know twentyfour she is a photographer too. I think that your idea is great. I am a fan of the DIY people who dig in and figure out how things work. There are times where I like the experts, but there is something nice about the raw nature of the amateur who has figured things out on their own.
Totally unrelated, how do you put a soundbyte into your blog post?
@mehulkar I use Google Voice and then upload the file as an MP3.
right but what is that skin that you’ve used in this one? is that what a default audio embed shows up as?
@mehulkar That is part of the Jetpack plugin for audio short codes.
So I can hang with you?
I see you in the pic; 7 rows back 3rd from the left………..
So, that would be shameless if I linked you to my post? What if I kept it to once a week?
Can I be like you when I grow up?
I think I’m going to start dropping more pictures in my blog to keep the interest level up. That would probably work with most of my in person friends; maybe not online.
Obviously I don’t have much to add today; probably because I could be ‘that guy’ you speak of.
I blog because it’s fun and a great way to interact with others on all levels of the spectrum in terms of talent and ability. For now, that’s enough for me………
@bdorman264 I don’t remember if I am in that photo. I probably should look at it again.
You can link to my posts every day if you would like, I would be honored. And as I keep saying, you know how to blog just fine. Otherwise you wouldn’t receive 2,982,873 comments per post.
@TheJackB@bdorman264 Please Jack. Bill only gets 2,982,871 comments per post. Let’s not inflate his ego any more than we have to.
@adamtoporek@bdorman264 I’ll see what I can do. I haven’t ignored your comment at his place, just been stuck on other projects.
I blame it on ginidietrich I have been busy working on turning the economy around. 🙂
@adamtoporek@TheJackB Have you seen the size of that guy’s head?
Jack, aloha. Quite honestly, I don’t think you could be like other people even if you tried–and why on earth would you want to do that anyway?
Jack, I absolutely love this sentence of yours because it is exactly what I come to find on your blog.
“This is where I chronicle the mundane and the magical.”
Mundane is not a “bad” word rather I think of it as referring to ordinary or commonly occurring things. Jack, the way you write about those everyday occurrences, situations is magical. You are a gift word weaver and story teller.
When I read your posts, Jack, it is clear to me that you are writing to express your thoughts, write your way through to clarity of thinking on a topic of reflecting on something that matters.
Each of us blogs for a different reason. We have to know why we are blogging and stay true to that purpose. Or, we have to admit that we are going in a new direction and do it.
Bill Dorman recently wrote a post similar in that he seems to be sorting through where he is in the blogosphere and what matters to him.
Jack, as Dr. Seuss says: “there is no one youer than YOU” so keep on being the incredible, sometimes irreverent and always amazing blogger and person you are. Aloha. Janet
@janetcallaway Janet, no worries- I like being me. Course, I don’t know anything different but that is ok.
Part of the joy of writing for me is to try and take the mundane and make it a bit more interesting or at least tie it into something that has more meaning.
I appreciate your comments. I consider “storyteller’ to be a compliment of the highest order. And in the process of telling stories not only do I find clarity of thought but it is also where I find common ground with other people and that is important to me.
Love Dr. Seuss. Did you know that he was also a political cartoonist:
http://www.thejackb.com/2006/02/21/dr-seuss-on-war-politics/
Hello fellow ambassador (yup, they let me sneak in the backdoor)! I started blogging so that every once and a while I can open the window and scream out loud to restore my sanity and then shut the window again and go about my business. Does that make sense? Oh and my dapper alter ego does it because he is a vain bastard and likes to talk about shiny things many of which he will never own (my preeeecioussssss). You are Jack and I am not and that is why I blog 😉
@NewYorkDad What? They let the crazy Italians into the club too? Must be because you look like Mario. 😉
Well Gollum, that dapper guy is interesting- covers stuff I wouldn’t normally. Reminds me that I need to get my own Borsalino….
Fugghedaboudit!
As for your Borsalino, their Doria line for driving caps is seriously great quality work (Made in Italy) for a fraction of what a Borsalino line would cost with pretty much the same fabric and seamless stitching. Their summer linen/wool caps are great in your neck of the woods where the snow don’t shine 🙂
@NewYorkDad Hey we get snow here- just a short two hour drive away. Fine to visit without the hassle of living in it.
I blog to meet people like you. I blog to not feel alone. I blog to add value to a world that has given me everything I know.
Thanks for sparking this discussion. You’re a great one Jack.
@Biebert Hey Aaron, you know @Faryna mentioned you on his blog today. Right? http://t.co/wE3TjSqA
@Biebert Hi Aaron. Your contributions are always valued and appreciated.
Yey Jack! Loved the audio, nice touch. Great to “hear” you and not just read your written words.
Ah, why do we blog! Great question my friend. Okay, here is my why…
I want to help others learn mostly things that have to do with internet marketing, social media marketing and personal development. I know there are tons of people writing about some of the same stuff but I think I put my own personal touch to each post. You know, I figure a lot of this stuff out so I enjoy sharing what I learn with my readers. I didn’t have that when I started and I know how hard it can be to learn. I do hope that my explanations are a lot easier to understand.
I may also throw in some personal stuff from time to time but not a whole lot because I don’t find my life too exciting. Who wants to read about what I do? Oh that’s right, I spend the majority of my time online! Dah!
I don’t necessarily hunt down the “gurus” when I want to learn something because I have found that I learn just as much from a lot of my blogging friends. That’s why I love visiting everyone’s place. The knowledge and the friendships that I’ve formed are truly amazing. You included Jack!
Thanks for making us think and calling some of us out on why we are here! You caught me! Hope I passed the test! 🙂
@AdrienneSmith Your personal touch and experience is what makes your blog different. Your posts don’t sound like an echo chamber. There is personality and a twist there that makes it more interesting to read.
BTW, you never know what people will find interesting. I am often surprised by what people like to read about here.
Nice points made in a pointed way. There are, however, newbs who like to discover tips on Twitter use – but putting the list of “influencer’s” names is, I agree a bit, no, very lame. I blog for nearly the same reasons as you – glad that there are others out there like that too – sometimes it feels like we are pishing in the wind – this type of post confirms that we are not.
Well said, well done and thanks for sharing this!
@combi31 I don’t mind posts for the newbies but it is the volume of the same thing over and over that I get tired of.
Totally understand where you are coming from about pishing in the wind- there are those moments.
Thanks for all your support on my blog. I always appreciate you stopping by!
I write to pass along the wisdom given me by past generations. It is sorely lacking in today’s world.
I write for my kids. So they can catch a glimpse into Dad’s warped way of thinking 😉
I write so I don’t forget. The memory is a terrible thing to waste.
I write for the possibility that I won’t be forgotten. We are here for so brief a period. I’d like to stay for awhile even after I’m gone….
Thanks Jack!
@JoeDeGiorgio Joe, it is my pleasure to visit your blog and to say that I blog for the very same reasons as you. This place makes a difference.
Hi Jack,
This is what I wrote bdorman today:
“Since last night I’ve been thinking long and hard about this, I listened to Stan and Yomar’s Podcast http://t.co/x3p9zvC0 and felt a light bulb go on (Sorry) . I write to be heard; to matter. I write because there are people online who will read what I have to say and I will feel human for a few minutes. The internet is an amazing tool that helps me find the gems who resonate with me. I’d much prefer someone I can reach out and touch, and I do have a few of those that I’m working with. But they can be few and far between. My real life relationships meet other needs. I consider myself very lucky having very low reader stats and comments. I haven’t lost the focus of staying true to what moves me and what I feel like I’m here to do. One good comment can fuel me for a long time! I can pretty much sum up how I feel about showing up for anything I like to do in life with a look at Forest Gump. He’s one of my heroes!! I love his character because he didn’t stress about how good he was at anything. But his performance was always top-notch.”
BTW He mentioned your blog in his post…
Betsy
@BetsyKCrossbdorman I liked what you shared at Bill’s blog. It resonates with me. Writing to be heard is a great way of expressing it. Gump really didn’t stress- he just did and there is a lot we can learn from that.
I started blogging because I wanted to launch my intuitive practice online and occasionally share what I knew about the subject along the way in service to others. I never expected it to become what it is after only a short time, and I look forward to growing it. I have met so many great people that I never otherwise would have come across, and I have grown a lot myself.
As for whomever may be writing the kind of blogs you mentioned, or who is at the “top”, I actually don’t know and don’t care. I figure that I will find the people I am meant to find, and likewise they will find me. Hopefully they will be glad they did.
@Julie | A Clear Sign Hey Julie. The people really are what make the blogosphere run. There are so many interesting and incredible folks hanging out here. It makes every day an adventure and a pleasure.
Hi Jack…Loved the audio file insert….very clever and effective!! I blog for a few reasons…I started blogging for my business and that in and of itself seems pretty straight forward. I have taken the business blogging to another level by including weekly ( usually 😉 ) video blogs to try to further “engage” visitors. I also blog to fulfill my passion for the written word. I love words and how they play with each other. I am far better at expressing my self in the written word than I am verbally…maybe I feel safer. Hmmm maybe I need to investigate that more 😉 I also love combining photography with blogging. I have found that having a Tumblr site is really conducive to posting written word, photos and audio files…
Thanks for sharing your feelings as to why you blog. You are definitely a natural with a gift for making the words jump off the page…
Claudia
@SocialMediaDDS Hi Claudia. The advantage we have in writing is that it is much easier to edit our thoughts here. Even the best speakers make mistakes but without the advantage of the delete key.
I think that it is great that you enjoy posting photos. I am interested in photography and keep planning on taking classes so that I can become more proficient but thus far it just hasn’t happened.
Thank you for coming by, I always appreciate it.
Are we brothers from a different mother?
I wanted to write a post like this after out twitter conversation. I write because I love to write. If my blog bores you – a) you have no musical taste b) you’d rather read stuff about baby poop or recipes or lists about crap.
awesome, Jack
@TLanceB You have all the right stuff in your blog. Sometimes I go just to see what song(s) you are linking to. Music is a crucial part of my life and since you seem to feel the same way it only makes sense to check it out.
Gee, JB, I think a post on how to make millions as a Tweeting Dad Blogger with attitude would be great!
@BruceSallan Let’s do it. We’ll meet for breakfast and over pumpkin pancakes discuss how to take over the world.
Hey Jack,
That’s a great blogging rant! 😉
I started to blog to get back into my writing, to promote my other business, Terra Cotta Pendants and to create a platform from which to launch my writing. I had no idea how much more to it there would be! Another reason I started blogging was to create a gathering place where people could talk about life which would become a safe community. THIS has turned out to be the most fun part – that and the challenge, as mentions in his post today, of putting out the best quality possible every time!
I think the answers to the question of why we blog must evolve as we evolve through the process. Have your answers to this question changed since you published your first post?
@Lori Lori you have certainly created a very fine gathering place for talking about life. Look at the community that you have created there, it is outstanding.
Blogging is an evolutionary process and mine certainly has evolved. But I suspect that if we reviewed my answers as to why I blog they would be pretty consistent throughout.
“Nor am I interested in reading more bullshit about the biggest names in social media” — you mean those people who have demonstrated beyond doubt how they have no life outside of a keyboard and monitor? Lets talk Twitter, I’ve seen people with 45K+ tweets, here’s the math on that. If that person started tweeting the day Twitter went live, July 2006, they would have averaged 24 posts per day, am I the only person who sees something wrong with that?
I don’t know about you, but my life happens away from the computer. The other morning I was taking my kids to school and saw a guy jogging and typing on his phone – simultaneously. The first thing I thought – he’s tweeting about how he’s jogging. Then I thought – get a life.
@ChopperPapa If someone has figured out a way to earn a living from social media I wish them nothing but success. I enjoy this and have no compunction in saying that I would gladly do the same.
What chaps my hide are the people that have no passion, no clue and no business claiming expertise. They are just trying to latch onto the latest craze praying that they can make a few bucks from it.
I am connected more often than I am not but I make a point of putting down the phone and closing the laptop.
It is important for my kids to see that I have a life outside of this. This is fun and enjoyable but it shouldn’t be the only thing we do.
Same reason. I don’t blog to commit to the swirling pool of something south of wisdom. I don’t have any. I read copiously, I’m obsessed with the magic of life, and I blog, like you, to iron it out.
I’d be happy if everyone blogged. Then the pyramids would be built–a few people would sit happily making money, and then we could ignore the noise. As it stands, we are all curators and librarians now.
I’d love to know how a Nintendo Ambassador sees the world. There must be some point in life when “getting to the next level” becomes what it always was for us: a fun challenge with some dragon or monster to kill.
Cheers,
M
@Mark_Robertson The magic of life is an outstanding way to express it, because life is magical.
A Nintendo Ambassador is just a man like yourself who is doing his best to enjoy the journey and experiences that life presents. He is a Taurus who likes to read, play sports and talk about himself in the third person.
I think a quote from the Princess bride would have been perfect for this blog post. [grin]
@Faryna “No more rhymes and I mean it.!” 😉
Considering the design you have, you don’t own the right to have headline such as this one.
@Bojan Hi Bojan. We can debate the value and importance of design. To me it is a bit like making judgments about people based upon whether they are dressed in designer clothes or not.
Ok, let me qualify that. A user friendly design is critical but the topic of design is a separate discussion. Today I am focused on content. If you have comments about that I am interested in hearing them.
I began blogging to express myself, but over time it became about reaching more people than I would via ‘normal’ business practices. Why do I want to reach them? Because I’m committed that fewer people live lives of someday thinking and quiet desperation. And this, dear Jack, leads to the final why. . .WHY is that important? Because deathbed regrets suck.
@Sandi Amorim Sandi, I have a deep appreciation for people who try to serve others and help. There is no doubt that blogging provides an opportunity to increase the reach of your message and to initiate conversation with others you might not otherwise reach.
*delurking* I recently just reflected on this same topic, why do I blog? n fact I updated my entire About Me page with my answer and then some.
I started blogging to be a part of the big circle and once the excitement of it all died down I settled in and got cozy. I now write to see my words on the page, to better understand myself and to de-clutter my mind. Words are fantastic little play things. I’m just here to have fun with them, to learn more about them and myself and to hopelessly stumble upon other writers that make me feel at home with their words.
@klynnski8 I love it when people delurk. I always wonder who you folks are and why you are silent.
I appreciate the “decluttering” of the mind as that is one of the reasons I love this. You are so very right about the fun, happiness and joy that words bring. Amazing little creatures. Hope you continue to share your thoughts.
Hey Jack! I blog for several reasons…to express myself, to help others find peace in their relationships and themselves, to promote peace, and so that people know I am available for empowerment coaching and speaking. I am so addicted to it that I get inspiration for blogging every where I go. 🙂
@Joanne Cipressi Hey Joanne. I really like your reasons for blogging. I understand finding inspiration everywhere- there really are a ton of things to write/topic about. So many fascinating people and places.
I believe when I blog it is for the right reasons, but I have a bad habit of getting a bit too wrapped up in each and every post, trying to make every photo perfect, every word profound. Before I now it I get a bit burnt out and a few months go by and I still have not posted. I want to blog to entertain, to give others a good chuckle at my expense, and to share my life with family and friends, as well as other who want to peek in once and a while- I just need to let go and relax a bit more…
@krkilmer I am a big fan of the “just write” philosophy. Put pen to paper and let the words fly and good things will happen. Don’t overthink it- that fight for perfection kills blogs.
I think a lot of people do it for the keywords in hopes of coming up in a google search too. I did one, but it was a prompt for a virtual conference. I think there are some who give valuable info, but most of them are the same stuff over and over again, i.e. no auto play music, no black backgrounds, etc.
@LeighAnnTorres I am sure that a lot of them are doing it for some “Google Juice” but I wonder if they are really getting anything out of it. My guess is that if you aren’t providing any new information there is a good chance that you really don’t much about what you are doing so…
Well, I could be wrong but I think that it is tied into why so many blogs fold in 90 days or less.