No, not me, I’ll probably never stop blogging as it has become such an important part of my life and a great creative release, not to mention a good ameliorator to frustration. But if you are considering quitting blogging, please take a few minutes to read the following from the Boston Globe (hat tip to John Chilton posting on the UAE Community Blog)
Blogs ‘essential’ to a good career
free registration might be required to read the full articleBlogging is good for your career. A well-executed blog sets you apart as an expert in your field.
Ben Day blogged his way into a career as a high-earning software consultant while maintaining the freedom to schedule frequent jam sessions and performances as a keyboard player.
Blogging gave him the opportunity to stand out enough to support the life he envisioned for himself. ”For your career, a blog is essential,” says Phil van Allen, a faculty member of the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
”It’s the new public relations and it’s the new home page. Instead of a static home page, you have your blog,” he said. It’s a way to let people know what you are thinking about the field that interests you.
Employers regularly Google prospective employees to learn more about them. Blogging gives you a way to control what employers see, because Google’s system works in such a way that blogs that are heavily networked with others come up high in Google searches.
And coming up high is good: ”People who are more visible and have a reputation and stand for something do better than people who are invisible,” says Catherine Kaputa, branding consultant and author of ”Blogging for Business Success.”
and they go more in detail, I’ll reproduce some of their points here, but do read the full article:
1. Blogging creates a network.
A blogger puts himself out in the world as someone who is interesting and engaging — just the type of person everyone wants to meet. ”A blog increases your network because a blog is about introducing yourself and sharing information,” says Kaputa.
2. Blogging can get you a job.
Dervala Hanley writes a quirky literary blog that got her a job is at Stone Yamashita Partners, a consulting firm that ”tries to bring humanity to business.” Hanley says the firm was attracted to her ability to put her business experience into personal terms on the blog.
3. Blogging is great training.
To really get attention for your blog, you’re going to have to have daily entries for a while. At least a few months to get rolling, and then three or four times a week after that. So you will really get to know your topic well.4. Blogging helps you move up quickly.
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Still want to give up blogging?
Comments
The right article at the right time for me! I was needing this exact reminder of what’s in blogging for me. Not that I don’t know, but doubts creep in from time to time.
Taking a positive stand, there just seems to be something remarkably healthy and self-fulfilling about blogging. I agree with all the advantages you brought up (one year of blogging and I’ve already experienced all of them).
Yet, personally, quitting is a possibility. My dilemma with blogging is centered around 2 issues:
-The balance between blogging and my personal life. Bloody blogging takes over sometimes and I find it hard to coordinate.
-The disappointment when you feel that you still haven’t caught enough attention! I have psychological issues that I have to deal with, I know!
Anyway Mahmood, thanks for the comment you left me. You’re doing good to me and many other bloggers out there. History will keep a record of that:)
ØÂتماً أنت آلهة البلوغات البØÂرينية!! —>Buttering you up 🙂
I know the dilemma you are talking about, sometimes blogging does take over your world for sure, and the more you blog, the more you are compelled to blog and if you don’t, then you could get the “shakes”.
But it’s not the end of the world, and as it is not your main earner, there is absolutely no harm in putting it on the shelf for a while until you get on and do what is more important to you; once that is done, and if the fancy take you, just post once in a while… that “while” could be every few hours, days, weeks or even years. Who cares? Most blogs are hosted for free and as long as people visit them, their hosts won’t yank them off!
Take care of yourself, do your exams… but if you would take my advice, don’t use that word “never” just blog when YOU are ready to do so, no matter how many emails, nudges, phone calls, shouts, etc you receive. Only you can prioritise your life and objectives.
Asalamu Alaykum…
If you want a good job, life and the rest of it, you won’t get it from blogging, you’ll get that from going to university…lol.
لا تÙÂعتقدْ ÙƒÙÂلّ شيءَ قَرأتَ يا Ù…ØÂمود
Don’t believe everything you read mahmood.
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http://www.hajeji.blogspot.com
This is exactly why i keep and maintain two blogs (not only one!) . Each of my blogs reflect my interest in a particular field. If you google my name (my real one not this one) you’ll get my blog as the first result. If you google my first name you’ll also get one of my blogs which is great. Blogging is also a great way to let people know who you are and distinguish your self from the rest of the herd. Writing and research is really important in my field of work and that makes blogging even more attractive to me. You don’t have to write about current local/international political affairs to be a success. Write about stuff that you specialize in. Something that relates to your real life profession. Being interested in it also helps ofcourse :).
Somehow I doubt many employers check out job candidates for blogging activity. From what I see, most employers are incredibly lazy, seeking only to find a warm body to fit a cold chair. It used to be an employer might go to college and interview a dozen kids for one or two positions. Then, they seemed to slack off and get three people to interview for one position, but only because HR made them. Now, from what I see, employers are happy to stop looking as soon as they get one good candidate. They could care less if he’s blogging or gardening in the nude or dating sheep.
Steve