America In Transition: PB120: Should You Start a Blog? 22 Questions to Ask To Identify if Blogging is a Good Fit for You

Thursday, June 2, 2016

PB120: Should You Start a Blog? 22 Questions to Ask To Identify if Blogging is a Good Fit for You

Note: this episode can be listened to in the player above or on iTunes or Stitcher

22 Indicators to Help Determine If You’re Suited for Starting a Blog

Today I want to talk about the characteristics and qualities of professional bloggers.

Lately on ProBlogger we’ve noticed a bit of a surge of readers who are what I would call ‘PreBloggers’.

People asking questions about how to start a blog and even wondering if they should.

As a result we’ve recently published a 5 step guide for starting a blog which walks you through some of the technicalities of how to start out.

I want to step back a little from that process and tackle an important question that really should come before you start your blog. Should you start one?

Today I want to suggest to you 22 questions to ask yourself if you are considering starting a blog. These are not yes or no questions. These are 22 indicators to whether or not you might be suited to blogging.

In Today’s Episode 22 Questions to Ask To Identify if Blogging is a Good Fit for You

Do you have a message?

Do you have something you really need to say
A central message

Are you a good communicator?

Communication skills are an advantage
You can also learn communication skills through blogging

Are you willing to be in the public spotlight?

Blogging is a public act
People will analyze what you do, say, and how you look
You are putting yourself out there
Once you write something online it is hard to get it removed

Are you thick skinned?

Can you take criticism well
Someone will write about you sooner or later

Are you a self starter?

Starting a blog takes initiative
It takes motivation to get a blog off the ground

Are you disciplined?

- Blogging requires regular attention and motivation over time
- It’s good to aim for writing everyday
Do you have time?
- You need to be able to update your blog regularly
- You also need time for comments, promotion and social media, etc.

Do you have the ‘energy’ for blogging?

Blogging takes focus
After a long day at work can you still focus and be creative

Do you have any technical ability?

It’s not a requirement, but it’s an advantage to be able to learn and work on a technical level
You don’t have to know everything to start, you just need a willingness to learn or ask for help

Do you have a blend of humility and Ego?

Bigheadedness abounds in the blogosphere, but the humble blogger often ends up on top
Many ‘look at me bloggers’ haven’t lasted
You need a healthy ego and self worth
Build something of worth and have the confidence to promote it
Getting the balance right is not easy

Are you an organized person?

Bloggers need to be organized
Most successful bloggers have some type of system in place

Are you a Social person?

There are advantages to being a people person and liking your readers
Having a genuine heart for your readers and making their lives better tends to work the best

Do you enjoy ‘virtual relationships?

Some people who are great face to face aren’t that great online
Being comfortable with speaking to and working with people you have never met is an advantage if you’re a blogger

Are you willing to learn?

Blogging is a journey where everyone knows something, but no one knows everything
Industries like blogging also change

Are you a creative person?

Creativity on the web really stands out

Do you have Stick-ability? Are you a patient person?

Take a long term approach
Blogs are a bit of a slow burn
Some take years of work

Are you Consistent?

Blogger get into trouble with their readers by changing from week to week
Don’t be inconsistent and frustrate your readers

Do you take yourself too Seriously?

Bloggers should have a sense of humor
Have the ability to laugh at yourself
How you deal with foolish moments is important

Are you honest and transparent?

Some bloggers completely disappear by being found out and not being transparent
Most people are pretty honest
There are some people who have gone down in flames doing things that aren’t honest

Are you willing to step outside your comfort zone

You are going to have to put yourself out there
Be open for critique
Be willing to learn

Do you have passion?

Sometimes passion gets over emphasized
There is more to it than passion
It is important with passion for your topic
If you don’t have a passion for a certain topic, be passionate about what you are doing

Are you willing to work hard?

If your goals are to build a large audience and have an income stream, you will need to work hard
Blogging for income is not a passive thing

If you have gone through this list and answered no. You are not alone. I struggled with many of these things, but I still did it. This list is to give you some areas to work on and be aware of before you start blogging.

I asked on my Facebook page for bloggers to tell me the top 3 characteristics and qualities that they see in bloggers. I was thinking I might get a handful of responses that I could use in this episode but the response was quite overwhelming.

I’m going to list some of the first responses below but even by the time that I’d gotten these in there are many more already being added. So to see the full list of advice head here.

Top 3 Characteristics of Bloggers From My Facebook Page

Peta Lee

This sounds so cheesy but passion. If you aren’t passionate you aren’t going to succeed. Passion get you through those really tough moments (and there will be plenty of those along the way). When you are passionate magic happens.
You have to be true to you. You don’t worry about what others are doing and trying to keep up with them. You find what works for you, what your audience wants, what is on brand and you do it with enthusiasm and confidence. Don’t think you need to do what every other blogger is doing.
A thick skin. It’s not an easy career path and you need to know when to take a moment and be upset and when to dust yourself off and continue forward.

Trudie Bristow – Success is many things to many people, but as for qualities and characteristics that allow particular bloggers to connect with their audiences and do it well I’d have to say:

Genuine and authentic desire to engage with others and to affect change in others as well as being open to it doing the same for them.
Being brave to try things that scare them or are little left of field whilst having the stamina to get up and look for a new angle and reassess if things weren’t received how they envisaged.
Being real and truthful, in an online world where so much of it is highly curated I think the ones who have the staying power are those who aren’t living a different life behind the mask of their blog. Bottom line is once you start sharing online it’s there forever, if you’re not going to be real or truthful you’ll slip up at some point and it will all fall apart.

Carly Jacobs

They need have genuinely good intentions (not be greedy mean people), they need to be truly unique (the weirder and more honest, the better) and they have to have to have a Teflon arm shields for pew-pewing away all the negativity.

Kate Shelby

Being Genuine and Showing your Personality.
Being genuine and addressing people’s questions no matter how insignificant they may seem and showing your Personality. It doesn’t matter what your doing you can bring your personality into it. Otherwise I’m going to assume you don’t enjoy your job or you are holding out in some way.
As a reader that keeps me engaged.

Krystal Abbott

Optimism and the ability to see opportunity in every situation,an understanding of what makes them happy and a desire to see others happy too. smile emoticon Happiness all round.

Brent Vaartstra

Successful bloggers need to be business minded, resilient to failures, and truly excited about their niche.

Bling and Butterflies

They need to be honest as karma will come bite them on the bottom, organised to the hilt and know exactly who their target group is.

Annette Hill

Successful bloggers have a genuine desire to connect with readers, something to say, perseverance and imagination.

Vanessa Smith

I think bloggers need to be organised, likeable & relatable.

Brooke Ciccozzi – A great blogger should be:

Relatable – Even though you may be an SME in your niche, no one likes a smug ‘know it all’. Readers respond to an empathetic vibe
Responsive – Able to be timely and contribute constructively to current posts/threads/views in their niche or industry
Generous – Share knowledge, experience and support kindly to build a genuine sense of family amongst your readers

Kathy Marris

I love to read blogs that are entertaining, pictorially brilliant and provide great information (in an interesting way). There is nothing more boring that a bland account of information!

Sharon Gourlay