4 ms·
"Friends say I should start a blog" This is not a good reason to start a blog :-) I read just under 20 blogs (by which I mean real people's blogs, not tech ne
by frossie 17y ago
"Friends say I should start a blog"
This is not a good reason to start a blog :-)
I read just under 20 blogs (by which I mean real people's blogs, not tech news that just happen to use the blog platform to publish).
The best blogs are defined by a very strong focus on a particular topic. This both because it gives the writer the opportunity to explore themes at lengths, and it gives the reader a certain amount of predictability in what they are going to find.
Narrow-focus blogging also has the advantages of allowing you to build a more diverse audience. This may sound counter-intuitive at first, but the more subjects you touch the more you end up narrowing your audience to people who think like you.
I think your instincts are correct. "Random thought" blogs are not going to have a wider audience than your friends and family.
- ErrantX 17y ago> This is not a good reason to start a blog :-) I dont know - we dont really have enough data about his friends and why they think this. It could be good advice. For example if I was considered expert and insightful on, say, a security forum my friends there might suggest I start to put some of it in a blog for a wider audience :) To the OP: It really depends how good a writer you are and what sort of topics you can write about. If your engaging to read then your audience might range across a number of sources. Yes, people do generally read a small set of core blogs - but we also sit and read interesting stuff that goes by our radar. You might not get people checking your site every day but if they can find good content on there once or twice a fortnight (say) they might look out for your links on HN et all. That, to me, is as good a readership as any :) (if you in it to make money though that's a different matter)