Seven reasons NOT to blog

You’ve read enough articles telling you why you should blog. What about reasons not to blog? This will help you objectively decide whether you should or shouldn’t start a blog.

1. You expect overnight results

Although it’s generally quicker than traditional marketing methods, blogging is still a slow and steady process, very much dependant on how much thought and effort you contribute.

Before expecting any results, work through the reasons why you’re blogging and what it is you want to achieve. Only then can you start expecting and measuring your results. Without clarity of purpose, your blog will most likely deliver less than desirable results.

2. You’ll only blog when an idea hits you

If you only blog sporadically about whatever pops into your mind, your blog will be ineffective.

Blogging is another marketing tool and should be treated as such. You need to make a plan. Brainstorm your post ideas, revise them and then arrange them in chronological order. Then work out a posting schedule, and stick to it.

Do this every 6 to 8 weeks, allowing for breaking news posts. This way you won’t ever be stumped on what to blog about which increases the quality of your posts and your readers can spot your blogging patterns, so will be more likely to return.

Keep a little journal or file to jot down your great post ideas in the interim.

3. You’re a really bad writer

You’re full of wonderful blog post ideas, but you know you are a terrible writer. Unfortunately, no matter how practical and valuable your ideas, if you cannot write coherently, you are better off not to blog.

Paying someone who can write to blog for you is an expensive exercise. More importantly, the essence of you simply cannot be portrayed in the same manner.

Bite the bullet and learn! Learning to write well will benefit many areas of your business, not just your blog.

4. You don’t read or comment on other people’s blogs

Reading and commenting on other people’s blogs is a great way to attract new readers, build your brand, learn and find inspiration.

Make sure you include this step in your blog plan. Keeping your blog goals in mind, read and comment on selected blogs that will help you achieve your goals. If your goal is to attract new clients, then comment on blogs where you know your target market hang out.

Don’t forget to include a link to your blog in your signature.

5. You’re a fence-sitter

Boring. You won’t solicit many comments - or readers, for that matter.

Readers look for decisive, powerful, posts. Whilst this does not mean each and every post must be a controversial, shock-value rant, it does mean that you take a substantiated stand. Readers don’t have to agree with you; they have to be confident you know what you’re on about.

6. You’re going to remove comments you don’t like/agree with

We cannot please everyone. There’s always going to be that someone who doesn’t like/agree with us. Unless the post is blasphemous or insulting, leave it.

Do, however, respond with your own comment. This shows that you care about your reader’s thoughts and are willing to engage. This is one of the most valuable opportunities to showcase your client service acumen.

7. You’re blogging because everyone else is blogging

Your competition is blogging, and it’s all over the media, so you think you should blog, too. Perhaps - but is this a good enough reason? How successful will your blog really be if this is the only reason you’re blogging?

Again, it comes down to your blog plan. If you honestly cannot see value in blogging or you don’t have clarity of purpose, then you shouldn’t blog.

What other reasons are there not to blog? What elements of a blog do you think scream out ‘I don’t really care?’

Amanda Gonzalez designs and copywrites simple, effective websites for small businesses - without the fluff or jargon.

06 May 09

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Thank you for this. I must be one of the few who don't have a blog/twitter/facebook etc due to some of the points you stated above. I thought I wasn't normal! BoK from Sydney
I am developing a 'blog' driven website, and now have at least 7 traps I need to avoid for it to be successful.
(Now I'm off to cull my social netowrking efforts to focus on the direction and results in my marketing plan) Fiona Fell - websitePROFITS from Albury/Wodonga, Australia
I agree with your comments, I put a lot of effort into my blog about a year ago, blogging every night for 6 months, and did not feel any benefit from it. It is just floating out there in the internet ether. I still have my blog, but I now use it as a public resource file - e.g. I read a boook on powerpoint presentations, and posted a summary of what I learnt on my blog, I can refer back to it, and perhaps someone may one day benefit from it. It does lead back to my website.
I also use blogger and moved it from their domain to my own website domain, I think I lost all my subscriobers by doing this aghhh!
It changed the whole look of the blog, and I lost my sign up box - I now have a sign up link on my email, but I guess I should post it somewhere on the blog.
If anyone wants to test that it works here it is - let me know what happens for you:)
http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=blogspot%2FayXB
Blogs are too time consuming!! Heather Smith from CAMP HILL, Brisbane, QLD | Read my articles
This is a great article. Tail between my legs as I realise I am guilty of some of he "nots" and resolve to rectify. It does take a lot of dicsipline to be blog effective. Wendy Buckingham from Dee Why, Sydney, NSW | Read my articles
I think many small businesses feel that they have to blog to keep up with the Joneses or because they think that it is the magic solution to getting more website visitors. Most end up posting infrequently, if that, which results in a stagnant looking website because of seemingly out-of-date date/time stamps appearing on the blog homepage.
Another compelling reason for many to blog, I think, is the availability of free blogging solutions which can essentially double as a free website. Again, lack of updates creates the wrong impression and many don't go the extra mile and get the default layout altered either, resulting in a run-of-mill looking site, which ultimately creates the wrong impression. Perception of a business counts for a lot and increasingly the only view potential customers are going to get of an organisation is via their website.
An attractive, simple website with an easy to use content management system could be more beneficial than an infrequently updated, standard looking free blog solution. James Caws from Melbourne, VIC
BoK: Good news; you're normal! Loads of people have accounts on all sorts of social media sites, but whether they're used or not is a different story altogether.
Fiona: I'm pleased I could lend a hand with the traps whilst you're still in development. Good luck!
Heather: It sounds like you've found the purpose of your blog, rather than slogging away with little results. Well done.
Wendy: Anyone who hasn't had their tail between their legs at some stage is telling tall stories. Sometimes a thing called life gets in the way; highly inconvenient!
James: Thank you for your thoughts; I think you're spot on. With so many free, easy-to-use tools out there, creating a blog/pseudo website for your business couldn't be easier - or in some cases, more detrimental to your business and your reputation. Blogging is merely one of many tools, and is clearly not for everyone. Amanda Jephtha from Coogee, New South Wales

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