This great post is by a new pal, Bill Dorman. Bill is a blogger who enjoys networking and adding value to his relationships. He is an insurance broker by profession. You can find him any day at billdorman dot me (www.billdorman.me) where all strays are welcome and you can even subscribe to his content.
Everybody has a story to tell about the journey that led them to blogging and thinking their work was worthy of publishing for all the world to see. Who didn’t have a few butterflies the very first time ‘publish’ was hit?
Most bloggers have some type of pedigree related to writing but some are novices just like me who thought “I can do this too”. There was no special ‘club’ to join; you didn’t have to be in the ‘in’ crowd so it was just a matter of making it happen.
One of the common threads is the love of writing and actually having a platform where you can publish your work whenever you want. And not only publish, but in most cases get immediate feedback. Most would agree it is unique indeed brought about by this crazy world we call social media.
Am I any good?
There are various forms of measurement used in social media and you can belabor which are valid and which are just an illusion. Probably the best form of measurement is the amount of satisfaction you derive when you hit publish and know it was a worthy post.
Yes, when people stop by and comment on your work that does provide a certain sense of validation; but then you have to avoid the tendency of only keeping a tally of ‘who’ is coming by as well.
If you write for yourself and don’t change your style just for a ‘certain’ audience, this is where you can ‘avoid the noise’ and find your own voice. It keeps you from always chasing and letting you develop your own audience.
But look what I found on my way to the blog
I found some friends; and not just friends, but friends so diverse and widespread it’s almost like I won the lottery. Between interacting, engaging and blogging, it has provided a vehicle to meet some incredibly talented and interesting people I would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise.
Blogging provides a platform for the perfect blend of every personality type, social status, age, etc to come together and express thoughts and ideas.
Maybe you are an introvert and aren’t comfortable walking into a room full of strangers; or your stay at home status or job doesn’t allow the opportunity to meet new people. Blogging provides a comfortable, safe way to do this and actually allows you to talk to other people and even be heard; anytime you want to. It can be a great confidence booster as well.
But what if they aren’t who they say they are
Some people will try to project their persona as something they are not, but if you engage with someone long enough eventually the true colors will appear. Most in the blogosphere are out there trying to find their own way just like everyone else, no more and no less.
What is your ‘why?’
It has been said if you don’t know the ‘why’ you are blogging it is just a recipe for failure. It will certainly help if you have direction on your journey; but look at all the people you can meet along the way. That alone is worth something, right?
Blogging is the perfect networking tool; you can be as focused or broad as you want to be in your efforts. There are no barriers or boundaries per se.
What is your why? Have you found one of the main benefits of blogging is the opportunity it provides to meet others?
What has blogging done for you?
Image by Stephen Eastop. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Eastop