To Blog or Not To Blog: That is the Question

This particular blog has been active for a couple of years now. "Active" is probably a pretty loose term to be using since my last post was about 2 months ago and there have been much longer stretches with no posts as well. I did not commit myself to making sure I was adding new and relevant content and so I never really gained traction. If you are thinking about starting a blog or already have... you can learn from my mistakes.

Mistake 1 - Don't commit the necessary resources
- I started this blog thinking I would just write a post every couple of weeks or so and eventually build up fresh content that is relevant to my audience (you). This may have worked if I had actually been adding posts every couple of weeks instead of every couple months... or longer.

In order to make a blog work you have to have consistent content being added. This keeps your audience engaged and gives the search engines a reason to serve up your posts in their results. Search engines look for credibility, which can only be built through time and relevance.

Mistake 2 - Don't create your own content
- I quickly realized that I wasn't adding content consistently enough and I probably wasn't going to have enough time to start. I decided to start using other content that is readily available on the internet. Better to have content than not... right?

As it turns out, not necessarily. Content is not king, if it is old content, not well written content, content that everyone has or content that isn't relevant. Content is king if it is fresh, relevant and consistently updated! Readers don't like canned content that can be found anywhere and search engines really don't like content that is found on multiple pages.

The key here is, once again, that you need to dedicate the resources to provide fresh content. There is no shortcut to fresh and relevant content!

Mistake 3 - Expect instant gratification
- I know we live in a country that thrives on instant gratification, but that is not the way a blog works. If you write it, they will not necessarily come. Blogs are built over time with good content and consistent posts. It will be a little disappointing when you write your first great post and you read it five times... only to realize it has only been read five times!

Don't be discouraged! You are in this for the long haul. Keep with your game plan and you will continue to watch your blog grow. Don't be afraid to get out there and tell everyone about your great content. Social Media is a great place to start growing your readers!

Some of you will point out my hypocrisy in this article, as I have not followed my own advice. I agree with your assessment and I will need to reevaluate my purpose and goals for this blog. Perhaps I just enjoy writing?