Why the heck are you blogging? Do you even know what for?

Have you ever wondered why you should blog? Ever sat down and understood why you post stuff hoping someone will read it?
I do. I think you need to understand this as well so your blogging starts to bring in the rewards you earn.

So why blog? In a word – social proof. Ooops I did it again. It’s 2 words actually but you know what I mean.

Let me put it this way – if you’re hungry and you’re driving around somewhere new to you when suddenly you spot two restaurants that look the same on the outside and even have the same menu in the same price range, how would you choose which one to eat at?
I’d say 99% of the people would go into the one with lots of cars parked beside it and never take a second glance at the one that’s deserted with not one customer.

That’s social proof.

We are wired such that we tend to go where everyone else goes, and do what everyone else does. Yup, that goes for rebels too. They seldom do it alone and go with the flow of other like minded people.

I have another question for you. Which blog is more valuable to it’s readers – the one with tons of post each with tons of comments, or the one with just several posts dated months back with not a single comment?
The answer should be obvious.

If you want to shine, add value and drive tons of visitors from your blog to anyplace else online (your affiliate links come to mind), you need to create social proof for yourself and for your content.

That’s why I’m speachless and honored to have won this:

It just goes to show that I am actually adding value. That’s apparent to anyone hungry for good, relevant, valuable content. It will actually go a long way into showing others that my blog’s worth a read (if I do say so myself)

Share and Enjoy:

20 Responses to “Why the heck are you blogging? Do you even know what for?”

Roger on August 2nd, 2009

GIl, congratulations on your award. And you’ve summed up very nicely some of the reasons that I am becoming addicted to blogging.

I don’t know whether this is true for you or not Gil, but I really *enjoy* blogging ! To anybody else wondering “What do I blog about ?”, I’d say this: just look around you … for example, visit other blogs or write about an incident from your “real” life. (You do have one don’t you ? LOL !)

It doesn’t have to be a large essay. In fact, in some ways, less is more.

But remember, good content adds value. And we should always strive for good content. And Gil, you’ve certainly done that.

All the best,

Roger
Rob on August 5th, 2009

Gil,

Congatulations on winning the Website of the day, you’re obviously doing something right.

My good old dad wouldn’t go into a restaurant if there wasn’t a number of cars in the carpark.

It made me laugh out lou when I read that bit of your post, so true for me.

I agree that you need to be posting regularly, and be adding interesting, thought provoking value, or a free gift or two.

Keep in touch
Rob

It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.
Napoleon Hill
David Stillwagon on August 5th, 2009

That was a great analogy about the 2 restaurants and very telling.
Rich Martin on August 5th, 2009

Gil-

First..congrats on winning the Rog award.

Then…EXACTLY! The busy restaurant scenario is a perfect analogy. Sigh. I’ve done that many a time!

Keep up the great blogging!
andrew vaughan on August 6th, 2009

Hi Gil,

Love this example of ‘Social Proof’

Hits the nail on the head – and congrats on your accolade.

Andrew.
David Walker on August 6th, 2009

Hi Gil,

Congratulations on winning an award from Roger. It’s highly prestigious and revered among the internet marketing community. I would say that, having won one myself :-p

This is probably my third attempt at running a personal blog. Previously I ran one because I thought it’s “what I should do” but I didn’t really have any back story, any direction or purpose and that’s why they fizzled out each time.

However, that won’t happen to either of us this time because we have an end goal in sight!

David
Norm on August 6th, 2009

Hi Gil
Just roving around looking for good blog sites and ran across yours.
Lots of great content. I’ve got a bit of an ADD problem and have trouble reading long posts.

Your’s got my attention, though, and I read it all the way thru. I don’t always do that.

Blogging for the sake of blogging didn’t seem to make a lot of sense to me but I must admit it does somehow grow on you. Even when you don’t think you have anything to say you still want to write something if for no other reason but to just get it off your chest.

Have to remember, thought, “content is king”. If you don’t have something worthwhile to say you can’t expect people are going to enjoy reading it.

Keep it going
Norm
Anatoly on August 6th, 2009

Gil,In couple of years you will sit on the balcoon of your condo in Miami and say “Why the heck did I started blogging?” LOL
And you definitely will learn the answer.
Mike Mott on August 10th, 2009

Gil

Congrats on the award.
Blogging is a skill just like any other…….& just one of the many that I have to get to grips with! Video next ……..
Cheers
Mike
Rudiawan Lukman on August 11th, 2009

Gil,

congrats! You deserve the rog award. Cool blog!

- Rudi
Petra Weiss on August 15th, 2009

Congratulations, Gil, from another Rog-Blog “Blog of the Day” award winner! You are doing a great job with your blog, and I will check back more often, and leave comments, because you deserve “social proof” !
Julie Newman on August 18th, 2009

Hi Gil – I love analogies – yours capture the social proof instinct perfectly. Keep them coming!

Thanks Award winning blogger

I’ll drop by later,

~ Julie
Bill Bartmann on September 2nd, 2009

This site rocks!
Bill Bartmann on September 4th, 2009

Excellent site, keep up the good work
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AccepayFexy on April 3rd, 2010

Hi All Im New, Iv been looking around this board for a few weeks as a guest. I found it very and it has helped me allot. I hope to stick around for a while and help out.

Thx’s.
aduppopaulp on April 4th, 2010

Greetings im new to this board i hope i will be able to help out & give something back here because iv learned a great deal myself.

Thank you

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sunglasses shop on June 5th, 2010

great share, great article, very usefull for me…thank

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magalissandoval on July 4th, 2010

I have bee following you on Twitter and came across you blog. Enjoying it very much. Always a pleasure. I’m curiousrp know more about publishing on amazon?
Meira Eliot on July 27th, 2010

I have often wondered why I blog, and you are so right that social proof has a lot to do with it. It may also be something to do with the excitement of being in a content-led writer-reader relationship, rather than a profit-led – not that there’s anything wrong with profit! But what comes over very strongly from your blog and tweets is the sense of VALUE – income and success for quality of life, and creativity and intelligence as the sources of value. Great stuff, keep the tweets a-coming!