When I first thought about writing this post, I wanted to re-write the lyrics to the song Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy with a spin on blogging. But then I couldn’t decide if I should use Big Daddy Kane’s song as a base or whether I should recognize the O.G. Ice-T with his song.
So…I’ve scrapped the remix for now.
Back when I first thought about entering the world of blogging in August 2006, I have to admit that I was one of the people that thought blogging didn’t look all that hard. Now I didn’t think that meant making money from blogging would be easy but just the simple act of blogging looked like a piece of cake.
Now that I have been running at least one blog for over a year, I have a new respect for everyone that runs their own blog and keeps the content flowing. Right now I have three blogs that are keeping me busy with the latest getting started a little more than one month ago.
In the time that I have been blogging, I have seen quite a few people come and go. There have been people that were very active bloggers and then one day they just seemed to disappear and I haven’t seen a new post from them since. Others have gone through periods of activity and then periods of silence as life keeps them busy, returning as an active blogger when time permits.
There are others that keep the content rolling day after day. That is not an easy task and I have tried my best to be one that maintains a consistent level of activity across my blogs.
I’ve had the pleasure of “meeting” many great people as a result of the blogs that I author and that really does make all of the work worth the time and effort. Not only that but I am still having fun with my blogs and love the challenges that every day brings. But for anyone that has authored a blog knows and any of you thinking about starting your own blog – bloggin’ ain’t easy.
Since I wanted to entertain you with my lyrical skills, I’ll leave you with my remix of the closing verse to Big Daddy Kane’s version of Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy
Well, it’s Friday night, ain’t a damn thing funny —
AdSense better make me money
Contact me if you want to sign me to a record deal! 😉
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I definitely agree with this post. When I was thinking about starting up my site, I didn’t think it looked too difficult. I still don’t think it’s too bad, but the worst part for me is coming up with good ideas. Once I get a truely good idea, the rest isn’t too bad though.
As far as the money part goes, it is definitely much tougher than I thought it would be.
Walk a mile in my shoes, Derek. 🙂 I not only maintain my own personal blog, I have two other side blogs, as well as my freelance writing duties at a couple of the blogs. That’s a lot of blogging!
It’s definitely not easy to keep writing day after day. If I get stuck for ideas, I’ll usually try to do something else for a few hours, then go back to writing – I find fresh ideas come more easily then.
A shopping trip is one of the best cures!!
Blogging definitely not easy. I could make posts everyday but the content would show my lack of interest. I would much rather make posts when there is something significant for me to write about.
I am sure blogging is a very tough task. Visitors like fresh and new content every time they visit. So I guess to keep the visitors happy you need to be on your toes to find new posts everyday. It is a very high stress job, it just looks simple. You need to have full knowledge about the market, the current affairs, etc.
Hat’s off to all the Boggers as ‘bloggin’ ain’t easy.’
@Nick :: Thanks for the feedback. The ability to come up with ideas consistently is the hard part, particularly when you have multiple blogs to do it for each day. Actually writing the posts hasn’t been too difficult.
@Michael :: I’ve got shoes with quite a few similarities as I have three blogs to actively write posts, although as opposed to the additional freelance writing I have an off-line job that consumes a good deal of time.
@Melanie :: Maybe it is a good thing that I have yet to convince my wife to blog as the shopping trips might bankrupt me, lol.
@Leo :: You’re right that it is important to try and only publish posts when you have something to say. I’ve tried to do that myself but I am sure there are times where I may have been better off not posting.
@MPB :: From the outside it does look simple but it is a big time commitment. Family and friends that know I have been blogging think it looks very easy but none of them have been able to maintain the time commitment on their own blogs. I think that is why you see so many blogs get started and then just drift off into the abyss.
Amen to that! I was just looking at my feed reader yesterday and noticed some of the blogs I used to read but have no longer posted. Glad you’ve been able to stick around, and although I haven’t posted as frequently (but at least there is some consistency), I plan on sticking around as well.
Word up Derek. This blogging thing is hard. I know I have fallen into the “period of silence” bucket. Competing project deadlines, family, my band, etc. all take time away from posting new material…such is life I guess. Wish there were more hours in the day.
Glad to see you going strong though…I may not post but I sure do keep up on my reading. Keep em’ coming brother.
Blogging is easy … for the first week 😛
You’re right that keeping a blog going for as long as a year can be one heck of a challenge. There have been too many great bloggers that have left the scene either because of other priorities in life, or some other reason. Hopefully your site will be around for a while longer 🙂
One of the things that makes blogging hard is that we’ve been taught you need to niche down. The further you niche down the better you can do and the better chance you have to place highly in the search engines for your topic. That works fine for 20 or 50 page websites, but when you’re talking about a blog you want to update daily, you’ve got to have a broad enough topic that you never run out of ideas and you can always bring something new to the table.
@Dave :: Thanks! You better keep on posting because I always look forward to your insight on various topics.
@Chris :: Thanks for the comment. It is difficult to consistently find the time to keep things fresh but I will do my best to keep it going for quite some time. I just need to eliminate that pesky full-time job. 🙂
@Jason :: I’m not planning on going anywhere. Although there have been times when I have thought about a blog network where a group of people could collaborate on one or more blogs. Some people could focus on writing, others on behind the scenes work, others on advertising deals, etc. Who is interested? 🙂
@Annie :: That is a great point. I’ve actually thought about that with regard to my Dad Balance site as there is really only so much you can write about work life balance. Eventually I will likely need to expand the focus to keep the content flowing. Thanks for the great comment!
I’d love to supply some articles to other blogs and maybe gain a little readership in return, but it’s not easy to dedicate the time towards other sites when I’m struggling to find time for my own.
I’d be interested in a once-a-week thing, though … do you have any more details on your network plan?
I have had a similar (but quite different) idea pass through my brain…maybe I should give it some more thought and get something rolling…unless Derek gets something up and running first (which I would be more than happy to jump on board with).
i’ve realized that completely dedicating yourself to more than one personal project is pretty difficult. i have three, plus full-time work and freelance projects. ok play time is over, gotta get back to work now… 🙂
I too agree with this post. I have found that some bloggers can be greedy too. I have also learned that ones readership will come and go.
@Jason / @Nick :: I haven’t done any of the work required to actually begin planning such a collaboration. With all of the knowledge and skill, I am sure it would be possible to assemble a killer team of people that collectively could reach new heights. I’ll continue to think about this but feel free to jump in with your own ideas.
@Danielle :: Lol, I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been trying to finish up another project on the side and it has been difficult to find time for anything else.
@Rose :: There are all types of people in the blogosphere but I think that is part of what makes it so interesting.
Blogging is easy, blogging well is difficult!
Keeping the posts flowing on a daily basis is a tough one especially when blogging isn’t your primary job. You’re so right that blogging isn’t easy and I’ve figured that one our firsthand. Nice post.
This really speak out my thought. I have just started about a week plus and my blog is not even in any niche. Just my daily rambling and thought and I already felt that blogging is really not that easy.
To think you have been doing so for so long…. Great job, keep going.
Asia’h Epperson’s last blog post..Can Someone Tell Asia’h Epperson What’s Going On?
one should have gifted to create wonderful lyrics. it is not easy as we think. i like old melodies and music.
I think blogging all days is very hard….
Word. Blogging all day, 24-7 365 is a hustle especially when running other side businesses.
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