Adopting a Personal Approach to Blogging

Blogging Tips Revisited

Before I first started my blog, I did a lot of research, focusing on what would make it successful. But the word success can be ambiguous, especially as it relates to blogging. Some measure success by monetary gain only. It is possible to make some good money blogging, and I won’t deny that it would definitely be a nice perk. Others strive only for more followers or post comments. Regardless, there are three main ideas in everything I read that were repeated over and over again: write for your reader, not yourself; define a certain niche; and post often. I think there is a lot of wisdom in these ideas. If you want more subscribers, which in turn leads to ads and profit, discover what content attracts readers and put it out there frequently. This model works for many lifestyle bloggers, but after 2 1/2 years, I feel a need to push back on these concepts from a personal perspective. With my blog still in its infancy, I am taking a step back and looking at it a little differently.

The Modern Blog vs Past Blogs

Blogging has evolved over the years. Early blogs were personal, focusing on daily life updates and opinions. Today’s blogs aim to reach a wider audience, using niche topics and curated content, rather than just personal reflections. Modern blogs emphasize search engine optimization, but they can lack personal touches and be fully automated. With tools like ChatGPT, anyone can quickly create articles on any subject. The posts are usually accurate and informative, yet unfulfilling if you enjoy writing as I do. If you run a business blog or strive for a visually appealing lifestyle blog with social media integration and many followers, that approach may work better for you. However, for me, the traditional blogging style seems a better way to go.

A New Approach

When I have an idea for a post, I always ask myself if anyone other than myself truly cares about the topic and what I have to say about it. In my job before retirement, a group of us alternated putting out a weekly market report. One individual always ended his report with a postscript titled Factoid Only Interesting to Me. That phrase takes residence in my head when I think about what to write. I want it to be interesting to my readers, but so much contemplation has resulted in fewer posts. So, I have decided to take a different approach and write more freely whenever I feel the urge and not overthink it. No thought to word count or staying within a certain niche, which can make it less genuine. The sights and sounds around me often trigger thoughts or memories (however trivial) that I want to share, along with my opinions or just how I view the world around me. I am still working on my creative writing, which will be seen here eventually as I gain confidence with it, and Tuesday’s Ten and Monthly Wrap features will continue along with my travels. So yes, maybe I am doing the thing I was told not to do: write for myself, but with the hope that readers will find it entertaining as well. This more personal approach feels like a better way for me to fill this space, and hopefully, you will continue to share in my journey.