This is something that I have been thinking about over the last couple of days.
Do you remember when you first started blogging?
Maybe it was before you realised that you could actually make money from your thoughts, when the reason you wrote was just to clear your mind, or to share the things that you have been thinking about. The time when writing was about passion and not paycheck.
But…
Have you noticed that as you continue blogging and you start to learn about monetisation and traffic strategies – that the focus starts to shift, and your content becomes more of a tool than a creation. Something that is written following a ’special formula’ – to maximise traffic, instead of an idea that is birthed in our hearts and chewed over in our minds. Where the focus turns from content into keywords.
I have recently noticed…
that I myself over the last couple of months had been making the change. I started this blog because I was passionate about blogging, but as it grew, my focus shifted from providing content that was unique and based on my current thoughts, to content that I knew would get comments and included the right keywords for the search engines. From networking with other bloggers, to ‘drop and run’ commenting.
However…
I noticed as my focus shifted from quality to quantity, that even though I was getting the result that I wanted (more subscribers, more comments and more traffic) that the satisfaction wasn’t there. The passion was gone – and I felt like a sell out.
In a way I felt like an elite athlete…
(not that I’m anything like one). But how the they are now doing what they always loved – and getting paid for it. However, constantly we see it usually just becomes a job, with all the training and expectations - I am sure a lot of them lose the passion and joy that they first had when they were kicking the ball around with their dad at the park, or surfing at the local beach at 5am with their friends.
But it doesn’t have to be like that, so I just wanted to give you a few quick tips on how to bring the fun back into blogging:
- Re-find The Passion
Start reading your blogs archives and find the time when you loved writing your new posts and starting reading. Inspire yourself! - Keep Blogging Fun
Sure write with your readers in mind, but if that is causing you to lose your passion – then maybe you are in the wrong niche. First and foremost you need to enjoy writing your posts, because if you don’t enjoy writing them then your readers probably wont enjoy reading them! - Mix It Up
If you are finding yourself getting bored with your blog, then maybe it is time for a change. This doesn’t mean ditching your blog and starting a new one, instead look at ways to ‘mix things up a bit’. Try video blogging or have a question and answer post – sure it mightn’t work as you planned – but what if it does? If you are doing the same thing day in/day out, then of course you are going to get bored. So what are you doing to keep the blogging passion?
I hope that if any of you have started to see the fire in your blog starting to go out, then this post has inspired you to keep at it and to refind your passion for your blog!
I notice what you mean Tom. I’ve sorta went this way as well but I always remember to have fun at the same time.
I think that if you trying to make money off of your blog you should strive to find a balance between the too. Remember, work should be fun.
The neverending challenge about making money doing what you love. It’s so important to maintain the balance between pursuing the almighty dollar, and having fun doing what you do.
Well, I took your advice, so of. For Christmas, I received a new camera, and to highlight those pictures and a city I’m proud to live in, I started a new blog, and I’m loving every minute of blogging.
I will admit, my other blog has suffered, but I know that this is temporary………..:)
Most bloggers now-a-days either blog for a passion or blog to make money. I think since blogging has developed in more of a business, most people don’t really have fun with it any more because it is too much money on the line and they don’t want to lose that edge with their readers.
Hey Tom,
You are so right about blogging for fun.A lot of my friends think that blogging about their personal life makes them money!
Ying Hang,
Robin – That’s exactly it. It’s a balance! The post wasn’t meant to say ‘forsake profit’ but instead ‘make sure you are enjoying what you are doing’.
Boyz 2 Men – exactly, as both you and Robin mention, finding the balance is key.
Lisa – That’s great! You take some really nice photos, and who is to say that this new blog can’t become profitable :D
Donny – I don’t think it has to be that way. I honestly believe that you can run a successful blog without having to sell out on your passion.
Ying – The thing is that some people do! But niche blogging is a lot easier to profit from :D
Hey I was just thinking about this for the past few days.
Now I need to find the fun back as I am too much concerned about my readers opinion.
I haven’t had the experience of blogging for money yet Tom but for now I am blogging for fun and open up to learn from others.
I like this post. I can see it was from heart. I went through the samething. I started focusing on making money and not my writing. Went back to focusing writing and whatever money comes from it great. I rather focus on helping others than make money.
I feel you mate about blogging for fun. From previous experience with frogstr and my science blog, I think blogging about what’s popular and what some of your readers want instead of what YOU want is what will kill you. I mean, it is good to blog about what’s popular or what your readers want, but if it’s not what you want to talk about, what’s the point? At the same time it is important to to a couple of posts about “popular subjects” so that you drive some decent SE traffic, but doing it all the time will kill the passion.
I think that instead of blogging for what a small group of people want, blogging about what YOU want is the key. It might take longer, but people loving what you do will eventually follow you. It’s all about the long term.
Great post buddy!
vivek – while reader opinion is important, you are doing the right thing in trying to regain your passion for blogging.
Kevin – just make sure it stays fun!
Ben – It’s turning around pretty quick, I am more inspired than ever to keep pushing this blog to new levels!
But definately I agree with blogging for yourself, first and foremost!
I personally still find it fun despite the fact that I’m trying to get the traffic – but I haven’t really thought about it too much :)
Lucky for me, these days, blogging is always fun, and it had better be, as much as I write. But I’ll admit that, when I started my first blog 5 years ago, I felt it was much more of a chore, mainly because it’s a business blog, and therefore I don’t get to do as much freestyle writing as I do with this particular blog. But this one helps me with the others; it’s nice having one place where you can write about whatever you feel.
To answer your first question, I have not blogged extremely passionately for a long time. Now in the past few months I have blogged to keep my blog alive.:)
I know what you mean, and I was actually going to do a similar post in a few days (I won’t anymore of course). About a year ago my focus shifted, when I learned I could really make money from my blog, and i became an expert at that, but once I got into that, it seemed I was an expert at everything but writing posts. It becomes harder to think of new unique content, it becomes harder to focus your ideas, and you care about every aspect of your blog. It would be nice if once in a while you could just let that go, and blog passionately for 1 day.
Thanks for the reminder that I should make more use of that video camera that I bought and have only used a handful of times!
Taris – that is awesome. And that’s why your readers enjoy your blog :D
Mitch – you are right. it is all about finding something you enjoy writing about.
Nathaniel – I understand what you mean. We need to get to a level where every post we make is made out of passion.
Nick – Sounds like a good plan :D
Why doing anything if it isn’t enjoyable. I blog because i learn lots and i get to write about what i enjoy. You can blog about anything you want so why not make it enjoyable.
That’s what is so great about blogging, is being fun. If your not having fun every day blogging you need to do something else.
I’m still blogging for fun, and it’s only waiting for the time to dive into monetizing. So I guess I ‘ll keep in mind all the above thoughts and sharing.
But the one thing I’ve nvr been disagreeing with what my mom said was (lols): what keep you alive is to do what you love, something you passionate about.
Hey, I’m still blogging for fun that’s why I have more than one blog so I can talk about my interests besides making money online and stuff.
Honestly, I started my first 2-3 blogs with the intent to strictly help people and not make money. I’m still doing that as we speak but some chump change to help pay bills doesn’t hurt. :D
Jay