When Should You Start a Blog?
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Skellie Wag - who runs an excellent metablogging blog - asks what can we do to make people comment on each others comments.
My short answer: Stop blogging. Start a forum.
It is very hard to build a community around a blog. Its much easier to build a community around a forum. That is because of the “rule-of-voice.” On a blog, the publisher has the biggest voice. On a forum, every member has equal voice. Hence, the incentive for someone to post on a forum is greater. And because there is no power difference, “discussions” can happen freely.
The flip side is, because everyone has equal say on a forum, it is very hard to distinguish yourself as an expert on them. You need a blog to position yourself as an expert.
When Should You Start a Blog?
1.To Position Yourself as an Expert
When you want to position yourself as an expert, start a blog. Because your voice is biggest on your own blog, its the best platform to position you as an expert.
2. While documenting a process.
When you want to document a journey or an adventure or maybe even a book - start a blog.
3. To Teach
If the topic requires conversation, go for forums. But if you already know more than most people - and want to teach instead of converse - go with a blog.
4. When You Don’t Have Time
When you don’t have a lot of time, go with a blog. Forums take a lot of time to gain momentum. And to moderate and make sure things go on smoothly. Blogs relatively take a lot less time.
Note: This doesn’t mean that blogs are a big No-No if you want conversations between readers. Conversations should be encouraged when you can. But it does mean that a forum is a better place for conversations while a blog is a better place for teaching and preaching.
Credit: Pic by Skellie
If you liked this post, buy me a beer. (Suggested: $3 a beer or $7.5 for a pitcher)Spread the word:
del.icio.us Digg Reddit StumbleUpon
If You Liked This Post, You May Also Like...
I think you raise a lot of valid points, and thank you for sharing the image with a new audience with fresh ideas. I do still think that some things can be done to build a more discussion-friendly culture on blogs. There are a lot of great debates that occur on politics/religion blogs for example, and I’ve noticed some interesting discussion on personal finance blogs.
The key seems to be posts which encourage opinions, or posts which allow readers to post their individual problems in the comments, where other readers might then step in and try to help.
But I do think that if the main thing that attracts you to starting a blog is community you might consider starting a forum instead, or if your blog is popular enough, perhaps attaching a forum to the blog?
Posted 03 Oct 2007 #
Skellie: Thanks. Your last line hit the nail. When a website gains momentum of its own, it should start leveraging. A forum owner should start blogs - and get his best posters to write columns for his website. And a blog owner should start a forum so that people can discuss and brainstorm. Its not an either / or scenario. But if your topic will do well with discussion and you are not an expert, start with a forum.
Posted 03 Oct 2007 #
Hi! Those are really good tips, nice article! I really enjoyed reading it. I’ll be checking your site more often
Limitless
Posted 03 Oct 2007 #
Limitless: Thanks
- You have a really cool looking blog!
Posted 03 Oct 2007 #
Very nice suggestions you got here!
This post is very enlightening. I am thinking of starting a forum myself.
Posted 05 Oct 2007 #
Hello, very nice site, keep up good job!
Admin good, very good.
Posted 29 Oct 2007 #
[…] When Should You Start a Blog? […]
Posted 07 Aug 2008 #
Thanks, that’s why I decided to build a forum about somalia pirates and not a blog about pirates.
I’m not an expert in this field but I’m interested in Somalia pirates
Posted 02 Dec 2008 #