Blogging .. Write for Yourself or For Others?

In the beginning, blogging was a form of self-expression. One could write about anything and everything. In recent years, blogging has evolved into something more specific, related to a particular topic or niche.  This is definitely a far cry from what blogging was in the beginning, but if you want to start a blog, you need to keep this in mind.

Alright then, should I write for myself or write for others? Just because blogs should revolve around a certain topic, doesn’t mean they can’t be fun or expressive. On the contrary, if you’re writing about something you’re very passionate about, you can have fun doing it, gain a following for yourself, and earn money along the way.

For example, if you’re passionate about building and growing a business and have the track record to prove it, you can talk about business strategies to help other people with their business questions. There will always be people who want to go into business, and there will always be people who struggle with their business. You can fill a gap in this niche by writing about what you already know. AND they may even provide new topics for your blog posts! How cool is that?

Marketing is a critical aspect for your blog or spreading the word that you have a blog. When I started, I used social media to post my blogs on personal development.  When you begin to spread the word about your blog and the useful information you provide, folks start to follow along.  So, how do you spread the word about your blog and its useful content? You can do this in several ways.

First, you could work to make your blog rank on Google for its most relevant keywords. The easiest way to do this is by buying a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) course or by hiring an SEO expert right away. You can also submit your blog to the different blog directories. You can use your social network on Facebook by asking them to share your blog on their own walls, which is what I decided to do. Any one of the things mentioned above can help get the word out about your blog.

However, if you want to build a solid following of people, you need to write informative articles that are worth sharing, relevant, and timely. If your followers are asking for information on topics you’re not familiar with, do your research, write about the relevant information, and then share it on your blog.

If income is a concern, you can earn money from your blog. Search for products that are related to your blog and then check if they have an affiliate program that you can sign up for. If anyone is interested and purchases those products, you earn a small commission.

In general, write about something you’re passionate about but write with others in mind. Is your goal to educate, inform, or just write for the purpose of sharing your ideas and thoughts? Have fun, write for you, and for others. You can do it!