Not everyone should blog.
There are a number of reasons why you shouldn't blog, as well as a number of non-issues I discussed yesterday that people sometimes think are good reasons not to blog.
They include:
- I don't like to write
- I don't know how I'll come up with topics
- I'm afraid I'll look silly or foolish ( a common concern!)
- I can't write well
I dispute them here.
This is in preparation (and of course to convince people to sign up) for a teleseminar on this topic Tuesday evening where I'll go into much more depth -- click here to signup for the teleseminar.
So, what are some legit reasons NOT to blog?? Here are three.
1) You're not passionate about your topic or don't "have a beat"
Quite simply, if you don't care, why should anyone else?
And if you're passionate, but "don't' have a beat" -- follow closely and think about a lot, it won't work either. For example you might love something passionately but have little interest in discussing it or writing about it.
My friend Paulie is like that about flyfishing -- as passionate as possible, but if he can't do it right now he doesn't care to discuss it, read about, meditate on it, or anything else. Obviously he's not a good candidate to blog on flyfishing, despite it being the passion of his life.
2) In your organization can't blog freely -- your blog will be tweaked, positioned, arbitrated, massaged, or whatever term might fit by perhaps marketing, PR, or some other department which will truly be in charge of your "thoughts."
Sorry, but that type of blog simply doesn't work -- it's not effective. No Web 2.0 touchy-feely stuff here -- it just won't work so "just say no!"
3) You're not willing to make a commitment of blogging for at least a few months to try it out.
It may take a while to get into the swing of things, and to start seeing results. You can't blog for a few days and say it doesn't work.
They say it takes 10 years to learn to play the violin poorly. Taking lessons for a month and then quitting makes little sense for the violin, or blogging (unless of course you truly decide you despise it!).
I believe the violin part too! -- I have 3 little kids who are taking lessons.
Blogging? Within a month or two, if nor much faster, most people are quite comfortable although "results" may take longer, depending on what your goals are.
Of course I'll go into more details in the not expensive yet not free teleseminar "Is a Blog Right for You? Tuesday at 8PM 2PM Eastern.