Blogging for the masses vs. Blogging for yourself
As a new blogger, I am very conscious of what I am writing and I always try to think to myself: “Am I writing this for me, or am I writing this for others to come read. And when trying to market your blog and increase traffic and readership, you always want to keep this in mind.
Blogging for yourself
This involves posting things that interest you, and that may not necessarily be “hot topics”. This may include, but is not limited to, being vague about what your are writing about, perhaps using language or metaphors that most people will not understand, making posts about mundane
details of your life. When blogging for yourself usually you will not post regularly, but only when you feel like it or when you have something to say. These blogs can be extremely attractive to people who want to get a glimpse of someone else’s life, experiences and beliefs. They get their links by being placed in blogrolls, but likely never get links for particular posts.
Blogging for the masses
When blogging for the masses, you make sure that your posts are about things that people are really interested at the time, they will cover hot topics and other issues that are relevant at that particular moment in time. Blogging for the masses means using language that is accessible by everyone, and is usually very clear and unambiguous. When blogging for the masses, usually there will be little or no personal touch, they will be posts that are speak about certain topics, but that do not contain “a voice”. These types of blogs easily accumulate links because the posts are related to topics that will create a buzz.
The Middle Ground
Some bloggers prefer to be a little more eclectic, and will combine these two strategies. I consider my blog to be among that group. I blog for myself and for the masses, and I try to combine these strategies not only by posting some posts of myself and some for everyone else, but I also try to personalize my “mass readership” posts so that they contain a bit of me as well.
Which approach works best?
Well, I don’t know that any approach is more favorable. I would suggest doing what comes naturally to you. Some people are brimming with so much charisma and personality that they would never be able to contain themselves while trying to blog for the masses, and some people are more keen on reporting things and commenting on issues than speaking of their personal lives in a blog. You cannot force yourself to be something you are not, at least not comfortably, and when creating a blog you need to consider: Can I maintain this for a prolonged period of time? Blogging requires some level of consistency and your readers will soon come to expect certain things from your blog.
So there is no one approach that I would recommend - it is a personal choice. What works for one person might not work for another, and whether you blog for yourself or blog for the masses, or somewhere in the middle, your blogging and the style you adopt should be something that you can stick with, and something that comes naturally to you. Happy blogging! :)
Posted: July 15th, 2007 under Blogging.
Comments: 17
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Comments
Comment from
Time: July 16, 2007, 3:30 am
Interesting way of seeing blogging… I never really though of it before.
I must say that I tend to categorize blogs pretty quickly now - maybe too quicky. I found a lot of zealous religious blogs, money-making blogs with just ads and no contents (!) and “copy’ blog (just infos cut and pasted). These are the bottom-scale of blogging to me.
I think it all depend why you’re blogger.
If you want to make a living of of blogging, you gotta be inventive. Smart marketing, profesionnal layout etc. If you wanna share a story or your life, the key is to communicate, schmooze ;-)
The key is communication with the blogosphere in any way.
Comment from
Time: July 16, 2007, 3:46 am
I run a blog on either end of this spectrim. One blog is strictly for reviewing ways of making money online, the other is a place where I can be creative and myself.
I’m finding that the one I created to just be myself is actually read more often than the other one. I don’t know if it’s the fact that one is more fun than the other, or if it’s just marketed better. All I do know is that I’ve got more traffic at my play site, than at my work site.
Comment from Danielle
Time: July 16, 2007, 3:57 am
@Zhu - I agree that inventiveness is one of the most important factors to having a successful blog, and that schmoozing will get you everywhere! I think when some people sit down to blog they think: What do people want to read about? or they say: I don’t care what they think… this is what I am writing!
@sapheyerblu - That is likely because you are doing what comes naturally to you. Likely some people could not keep a creative, fun, play blog… but since it is second nature to you and genuinely written, people appreciate that the most! Keep it up!
Comment from
Time: July 16, 2007, 5:13 am
There is another middle ground. Using phrases and metaphors that the masses won’t understand, but the people that you are writing for probably will.
I see it a lot on tech blogs,SEO blogs or even fandom blogs like mine. If you’re not part of the group that’s being written for, a lot of it goes over your head.
Yeah, I’m guilty of writing blog posts that aren’t blog posts. As in, they’re not articles. I originally set up my blog to handle my site news. Then it finally dawned on me that I could use my blog to keep my site updated with content. Now my site’s front page is really just a splash page for the blog.
Comment from Danielle
Time: July 16, 2007, 5:18 am
Very good point - I guess writing for the masses could mean “writing for a subsection of the masses”. I think we are all guilty of a few “blogging indiscretions” but that is the fun part of having a blog - you can do what you want!!!
Thanks for stopping by and adding to the discussion. :)
Comment from
Time: July 16, 2007, 2:25 pm
ahh its a good discussion i would also choose the what i personally like approach … but i think its all a communication matter as Zhu said… if i know that some of my loyal readers prefer that i blog about something im doing it!! so i guess i dont blog for the masses… i blog for me and my readers!! :D soo all this to say im in the middle ground!!
Comment from Danielle
Time: July 16, 2007, 4:57 pm
I think most people choose the middle ground, but I know of some blogs that are clearly writing only for their own amusement and some that have no voice and it feels like you are reading a newspaper.
Thanks for joining the discussion confessing7girl! :)
Comment from
Time: July 17, 2007, 2:28 am
I guess I’m sort of a middle grounder. I try to post about things I think others would find interesting as well, but I always try to do so with a little personality :)
I’m not a big fan of blogs that just post very monotone articles stating facts which may be very helpful, but have no personality. I usually find myself remembering articles that not only informed me, but also entertained me in some way :)
Comment from Danielle
Time: July 17, 2007, 3:03 am
That is such a funny coincidence!!! I have a post that is to publish in the morning (I am trying out the whole post timestamp thingy) where I declare myself the Commenting Queen!!! Have you been reading my mind again?!? :P
Comment from Danielle
Time: July 17, 2007, 5:55 am
Yes, unless you are writing about something absolutely revolutionary in topic that no one else can explain, it is definitely more effective to “spice things up” with little personality.
Comment from
Time: July 17, 2007, 6:11 am
“With little personality”
I like to use a lot :D
Comment from Danielle
Time: July 17, 2007, 6:35 am
Then you have “a lot personality”.
Do you think it is possible to use “too much personality”? Can one go too far in being themselves when blogging?
Comment from
Time: July 17, 2007, 7:03 am
I sure hope not :) I enjoy being a little goofy with my posts. I like making people smile. Hopefully I manage to every now and then =)
Comment from Danielle
Time: July 17, 2007, 7:14 am
Well, that is why I will soon break records with # of times commented on a single blog in one month :)!!! You definitely have something, so stick with it because clearly it works for you… and it works for the rest of us too because we can’t help but return to your blog (though I am avoiding it today because I am scared of what people are starting to think about my obsessive compulsive commenting addiction).
Comment from
Time: July 17, 2007, 7:30 am
Aww, don’t avoid my blog. It will miss you :P Besides maybe you could win a nice little award. Commenting Queen or something like that ;)
Comment from
Time: July 19, 2007, 10:33 am
Ah a good topic. Thats why I have a personal blog for which I blog anything that interests me. I don’t care about the popularity of etc.
Then me and my mates have a blog for the Team we support
redsintheburgh.com
Then of course my business blog that I try to keep professional.
Jamie
Comment from Danielle
Time: July 19, 2007, 10:45 am
Ooh! A personal blog.. I will have to stop by! :)
I think that this is a good idea - to have a few blogs - especially if you blog for business AND pleasure.
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