Is Blogging a Waste of Time?

@derek_a (10874)
December 29, 2008 5:16am CST
I read an article on line this morning that was saying that blogging was a waste of time, because where once there weren't a great many blogs, now there are millions of them all competing with each other. I have had a blog for around about 5 years now and thoroughly enjoy posting to it and having comments left as feedback. I do not get to post every single day, but I do most days. Although there have been times when I wonder why I bother, when I think about it a bit more, the fact remains that I enjoy it. I can write, and post pictures and have made lots of friends. Do you have a blog? And if so, do you think it's worth blogging?
6 people like this
26 responses
@margaux08 (1094)
• Philippines
29 Dec 08
I have a different point of view about blogging. For me it is a way of expressing one's self, ideas and feelings. So even if there are thousands of blogs out there, I can say that each has its own distinction, its own unique way of telling what and who the author is. As of this writing, I do not have any blogs yet, but that is one of my goals in 2009. Writing is stress-reliever for me. It makes me be the person I want to project even if it is thru the letters joined together to make up a particular idea/s. Simply put, blogging is definitely not a waste of time for me. Where it serves its purpose, it is actually a good idea and may bring out the best from the writer.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
29 Dec 08
Thanks for posting. As a therapist myself I know the value of blogs as de-stressing tools. Long before the Internet, I used to advise my clients to keep journals and write every day what they feel and how they intend to improve things for themselves. Even to this day, the clients I see who do not have a computer, still carry out writing and often bring their journals to their sessions with me. :-)Derek
@margaux08 (1094)
• Philippines
29 Dec 08
I used to keep a journal. it really eased any emotions bottling inside. It was my best friend, my confidant. However, my work tend to take much of my time and before i knew it, my journals took a back seat. Come 2009, not only will I start on blogs but I will also rekindle my lost love to keeping a journal. Thanks for a great discussion!
• Philippines
26 Jun 10
hey, good topic. I was also thinking of the best way to make money from my blog. I've only started a blog because I like writing about the things I know until I came across some articles online telling me that I can make money from my blog. I am still looking for the best ingredients on how to increase the ratings of my blog but I am positive that one of these days I'll know the answer to that. I'm happy that many people gave you really useful info here. cheers!
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
27 Jun 10
Thanks for posting. Yes, if you focus on being passionate about your writing and getting enjoyment from your blog, that is the best way forward and will increase your ratings. But I have found that this is quite slow, and no longer worry too much about my ratings any more and concentrate on making friends and interacting with them. I have seen my rating go up and go down again. It all depends on how active I stay on my blog which reminds me, I ought to start thinking about creating a blog post around about now . Summertime is quieter on line though. _Derek
@balasri (26537)
• India
23 Jun 10
If a blog doesn't have the quality and stuff to attract readers it sure is waste and gets dissolved in the millions of blogs.I am yet to start a blog and I am working on it.I want my blog to be a readable.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
27 Jun 10
Thanks very much for posting and I wish you the very best of luck with your blog.. Yse, I gree we really need to make our blogs interesting enough to get others to want to interact with us. That is what the Internet is all about I think. _Derek
• Philippines
27 May 10
For me, of course not. I enjoy posting blogs and creating some articles..i love sharing thoughts and ideas.. This is one the way I only know where I can express myself.. It's not a waste of time... because we can learn a lot from it..
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
28 May 10
Thank you for responding. Yes, I enjoy blogging also and I have made a lot of on-line friends from the activity, and it allows me to share what I am passionate about. _Derek
@winjayoma (186)
• Philippines
28 May 10
Blogging is not wasting of time if you are doing this in a right way. Blogging here in mylot is wonderful. I could make some advises and even share the Word of God to other people and yet I am being paid. See, it is not wasting of my time.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
28 May 10
Thank you for responding. Yes, myLot is a great place to be and share with others what you have learned. It could help them too. _Derek
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
23 Jun 10
Well, it all depends what your motives for blogging are? Do you do it in order to make new friends who are interested in the same things you are? Then I would say that it is definitely possible to do that! Do you do it to make money? In that case, it is a bit harder, but you can do it, you just need to learn how to promote your blog properly. So I think blogging can be very fullfilling for some, but it all depends on what you want to achieve with your blogging!
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
27 Jun 10
Thanks for posting. Yes, making money from a blog is not so easy as making friends from a blogging. I have two blogs, one all about my Zen practice, which interesting some people and not others. I have more responses on that one, than my other blog, which is about making money on the Internet. Bloggins is quite similar to myLotting, it is very enjoyable, and the part I like most is that I get to learn about so many other people and cultures from all over the world. _Derek
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
28 Feb 10
I think that there is a lot of garbage on the Internet. (That is including my blog that I have created recently). There are lots of people asking for referrals or to beg you to subscribe to a particular site using their ID in order to gain downline money. I have a blog but sincerely up till now I have not seen any fruit from it however time will tell.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
28 Feb 10
Thank you for your repsonse. Yes, you are right there is a lot of garbage on the Internet, and the challenge is to make our own blogs interesting. I am quite passionate about Zen and my blogs are linked to the Zen way of life. Because I am passionate I enjoy the blog, and I am happy to put posts up there without monetary links at all. I have some affiliate links to Amazon in the sidebar, but I don't push them. It is surprising how many people have started buying books from Amazon through those links though. I like to help people and I have found because I do this, they like to help me back and they will often do this by joining in my downline. _Derek
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
1 Jan 09
I don#'t have a blog but I would seriously think about it. However I do believe that it entails a lot of work in order to keep up the interest in your blog going on.
1 person likes this
@hvedra (1619)
27 Oct 09
It depends why you blog. I think a lot of people use things like facebook and twitter for the chatter stuff but a lot of us have stuck to blogging. I prefer the format and find it helps _me_ when I get the urge to write a lot about anything and everything. I'm one of those people who isn't too bothered about other people reading it and actually prefer not to communicate via blogs and don't allow commenting.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
28 Oct 09
Thanks for responding. It is interesting about your blog and why you don't like to interact with others. I prefer to have people leave questions and messages on my blogs, but we are not all the same, or it would be a boring world! - Derek
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Mar 10
I have a blog and I consider it one of my best friends. :)
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
4 Mar 10
Thank you for your response. Yes, blogging can be so supportive as you can put your thoughts out there, and feel that it is your best friend. _Derek
• India
11 Oct 09
No , i dont think blogging is a waste of time. Blogging is an area where a user can explore the idea and information which they have interest in that. The most important things that users come closer and share information of the same interests. They can contribute valuable suggestions which is very fruitful for others user having the same interest. I think a person has lot of information in his mind which is very useful for others too, if he keeps in mind , then it will be not useful,and if he contribute and share his knowledge with others, then others get advantages from his contribution. So he needs blog.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
11 Oct 09
Yes, you put up a very good argument there Karunjay. Blogging has been a real phenomenon on the Internet and has proved highly valuable to many people. - Derek
• United States
11 Nov 09
I did video blogging. I didn't do it for everyone else. I did it for me. It isn't a waste of time to me. A few even appreciated my blogging. I have cancer, and also went through weightloss surgery. I blogged about all of it. It helps me to go back and look at my life and how I now feel happy I can put alot of my past in the past.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
12 Nov 09
Thank you for responding Barbara. I am sorry to hear of your health problems. I am pleased that you have found a way of putting it behind you through blogging. As a therapist myself, I have experienced how so many of my clients have gotten closure through writing and sharing their experiences.. - Derek
• India
11 Mar 10
hi friend derek, i don't have any blog, i will never say it is wastage of time, glad to know you enjoy this hobby, thanks for this wonderful posting bhuwan
1 person likes this
@jmeangeL (66)
• Philippines
1 Mar 10
I have a blog and it's fairly young; with only a few posts on it. I started it mainly to produce residual income from the internet. At first I was scared. Writing an article and having somebody you know or not know read about it is embarassing. In a way, blogging is like a journal, and having your journal read by somebody else is embarassing. But as I post, day by day, I overcame that feeling. It also eased my tension and became an outlet for stressful work days. Come to think of it. I'm probably the only one I know at work who writes a blog! That's encouraging, right?
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
1 Mar 10
Thank you for responding to my discussion. Yes, I can identify with what you are saying here. When I first went to a writing workshop, I was horrified to discover that we had to read out our own work to the rest of the class. It felt embarrassing as if I was revealing my secrets! But what secrets? I was writing fiction! Anyway, I soon got used to it and started to enjoy the experience. I noticed the same thing with blogging because here I was presenting my ideas to the whole world! Nothing could be scarier than that! But now I've got to enjoy that too. Happy blogging.. It's good for the soul and just might be good for the wallet too! _Derek
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
31 Dec 08
I've done blogging for a couple of years and it's definitely worth it. I manage to earn some money from it, and it gives me the chance to write about things I'm interested in (movies, music, health and medical topics, etc.)
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
1 Jan 09
Thank you for responding. Yes, blogs are a great way for earning money as you build up a network of people who visit regularly. It is a great discipline if you like writing.. :-) Derek
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
30 Dec 08
I do have blogs. one personal and one for my small business. I don't mind writing into it when I have something to write about. I don't like writing a blog just to get attention or to get more marketing. These blogs aren't about money making so I don't see why I should write it for those reasons. I think of it as a website, it's fun to change layout etc I don't add pictures there but I do add on my website. What's important in a blog for me is the contents. I had a blog about money making sites a while ago I was thinking to share honest sites if I ever found one, unfortunately I ended up not active in these sites so I cancelled the blog, it's not that high in ranking anyway.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
30 Dec 08
Thank you for posting. Yes, creativity definitely comes into it. I have not yet changed the lay-outs on my blogs, but I can remember how satisfying it was setting it up in the first place. :-)Derek
• United States
29 Dec 08
Nothing is a waste of time if you get something out of it. That can be anything from stress relief, enjoyment and sharing, or money. I suspect that the author of the article was looking at blogging purely from a financial point of view. If so, that's just one way to view them, and doesn't necessarily apply to the vast majority of bloggers. I've been blogging for years, sometimes for very different reasons, but mostly to share information and ideas. Right now, I have only two blogs, both of them on a network, and both of them bringing me in some extra income. I'm thinking about starting another idea-oriented blog, which I may or may not decide to monetize. For me, the ideas and writing are usually more important than the income, but I am working to become more professional in my writing--meaning that I get paid for it somehow.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
30 Dec 08
Thank you for posting. My blogging has earned me a little money from time to time because I used affiliate programs and of course I have a link back to myLot on it too. I find great satisfaction from creating a good post and it is even better when someone responds to that post. :-)Derek
• India
30 Dec 08
As the internet evolves int a vehicle for social interaction,maintaining online journals and blogs is getting increasingly popular.Blogs are evolving into alternative source of information that bypass mainstream media to engage directly with the audience.Many bloggers have acquired personal fan following that can rival those of cine stars!So blogging is not a wastage of time rather it is a way to express yourself to the world through internet.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
30 Dec 08
Thank you for posting and giving your thoughts. Yes, I have seen some bloggers who have huge a following, something I think surpass some stars blogs. :-) Derek
• China
30 Dec 08
I never consider blogging is a waste a time, first it's a way of expressing yourself, your feelings, your thoughts, it can truly relieve the anxieties around you, and it's a better way to let friends know you, what have you been done recently, browsing some of the beautiful pictures you uploaded, it's worth the time.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
30 Dec 08
Thank you for posting. You sum up nicely what everybody has posted, and it seems that blogging can't be a waste of time and it is here to stay.. :-) Derek
• India
30 Dec 08
It depends my dear friend, Some people blog to kill time,some to earn from it and some to share their knowledge and I think that the last group is really helping the world with their experiences.I am sharing gadgets if U are interested check this out ! www.gadgets4blog.blogspot.com
@derek_a (10874)
30 Dec 08
Thank you for posting and sharing the link to your interesting blog. :-) Derek