I think one of the questions that has been plaguing me lately is why I keep on blogging so I try to answer that in this post.
For many old-time bloggers, I guess the one question that they always receive is why they keep on blogging. I know many bloggers have shifted to social media as the main platform for their content. I get them, short-form content has taken over long-form content in terms of popularity. Who wants to read through a long article or watch a three-minute video anyway when they can get the answer (and entertainment) that they want in Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok posts? For content creators, it's easy to create and publish short-form content plus there is always the lure of going viral (and, hence, getting popular which equates to possible brand gigs).
Grateful Dad #10.23: Why do I keep on Blogging?
Going back to the question -- why do I keep on blogging? In one word, it's the passion for the craft. I once dreamed of becoming a writer or a journalist but the world had other plans for me. Fate led me through several detours but I really wanted to write. I'm not a professionally-trained writer so I had to find a way to practice and hone my writing skills. Blogging seemed like a logical choice back in the early to mid-2000s, so I opened a private blog.
I can write, commit grammatical lapses, learn along the way, and get back on track -- all without the pressure of an editor to lash at my lack of writing skills. I practiced writing about several subjects -- travel posts, food posts, personal posts, poetry -- until I was confident enough to make my blog public. I think that's about five years of intermittent writing.
Google was still very kind at that time to bloggers -- my blog received search traffic even if good SEO practices were non-existent at that time. I had readers and made a few virtual connections. Anyway, the point is, my blog was primarily a platform for me to polish my writing skills and then secondly, an outlet for me whenever I felt down. Yes, writing became a therapy for me as well.
Looking back, I think I did quite well. Blogging helped me write confidently. I got small restaurant review gigs after close to a decade of blogging but that's just about it. I never really got big, unlike my contemporaries in blogging. I think that's because they were more consistent plus I do admit that those bloggers wrote really well. I look up to them up to now.
Lately, though, I've been asking that question to myself -- why do I keep on blogging? To be honest, I'm not always at my best. While I can write non-stop, there always comes a point when I crave appreciation. It's human nature to desire validation and I'm no different. I appreciate hearing that I'm on the right track, that I'm able to provide value to my readers, or just know that there are people reading what I write. I appreciate the brands who work with me because they believe that there are people who find merit in my thoughts and opinions.
Admittedly, I feel the pressure of social media content creation. I'm a dinosaur; I'm finding it hard to adapt to the social media trend. I'm finding it hard to adjust my blog content into something that people will read on social media. I've exhausted my brain for content ideas; still, I'm as dry as dust. I'm as humorless as that fern in your garden. No matter what people tell me, I still feel lacking in that aspect. Let's face it, brands give premium to social media these days over blogs.
On the other hand, blogs are relegated as "bonus" publications or channels for press releases in support of social media pages. I've never felt it as much during the recent Father's Day brand collabs -- I was the least busy among the dad bloggers because I've had the fewest brand collabs.
It's nobody's fault, I don't even blame myself for my lack of creativity, but it is what it is and I've moved on. I'm just rethinking the future of my social media platforms because I find that maintaining them has become taxing for me. Add to that the fact that social media algorithm is sending less traffic to blog links. I'll still maintain some of the platforms that I enjoy but without the pressure to earn from them.
To end this post, I still write because it's my passion. I will always go back to my objective -- my mission -- which is to inform other people. I will keep on writing even if nobody is willing to read what I write about. As they say, we must be willing to get hurt for the things and the people that we love.
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Blogging is difficult, partially because the algorithms are changing to the detriment of smaller bloggers. It's too bad that it is becoming more and more hard to get an audience no matter the quality.
ReplyDeleteYes, I super agree with you. You've described perfectly the predicament of most bloggers. I, too, feel the effects of the algorithms. I'm thankful though that my blog still survives. The ultimate question though is, "how long will my blog survive?"
DeleteNnniiicceeee....just like you, I write so much, because I am passionate about it. That aside, there is so much that I would love to tell about.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this as well. I have been blogging for so many years. I used to write a lot of personal content, but now it is more work. It is nice to have something as a side job, but I miss blogging for fun.
ReplyDeleteBlogging is a wonderful way of delivering fabulous content for readers. I appreciate old fashioned blogs and enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteDebbie