Passion: The Missing Ingredient for Your Blog
Okay, so I know the title of this post sounds a little Oprah-esque, but I’m fine with that. I’ve spent a lot of time on this and other blogs giving tips to help you get your blog the most attention and reader-loyalty possible. For the most part, these tips are usually technical things you can incorporate immediately to make your blog more successful. But this tip isn’t something that can be taught. Either you have it or you don’t.
It’s passion.
Whenever you read a blog that lacks passion, you can tell. You know when people are posting just for the sake of posting. And you can tell when someone is running a blog just because it’s what they’re supposed to do according to their marketing plan. It’s these blogs that don’t connect with readers, and ultimately, they fail.
See, blogging is a social activity. People read about subjects because they’re passionate about them. If the author is just blogging to make a few bucks, the passion won’t be there, and it will ring phony to the readers. Emotions are what connect us to each other. Passion is the emotion your blog needs to gain readers who are as dedicated to your interest as you are. In other words, a passionate blog breeds passionate followers.
You also need to be passionate because blogging is a marathon not a sprint. Sure, you might be able to get by without passion for a few months. But just wait until that writer’s block hits. You’ll find yourself skipping updates on your blog, and eventually, both you and your readers will lose interest. Passion is the only fuel that will keep your blog fresh day in and day out for years to come.
It’s like they’ve always said, if you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Blogging won’t be a chore if you write about something you have a passion for.
Couple Passion with Knowledge for Success
Of course, passion alone isn’t enough for a great blog. You have to couple that passion with knowledge. Because if you don’t know what you’re talking about, your readers will sniff it out in a heartbeat. And they’ll be more than happy to call you out on it.
So, think of passion as the fuel your blog needs to keep going over the long haul, and knowledge is the engine your passion feeds.
What are you passionate about? Identify that, and you’ll be on your way to having a blog you can give your all to.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:07 am
[...] Passion: The Missing Ingredient for Your Blog [...]
January 16th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
[...] Passion: The Missing Ingredient for Your Blog [...]
January 24th, 2009 at 1:32 am
I 100% agree with you. I’m new at blogging, but my blog is all about passion in all aspects of life – work, personal, etc… I cannot see the point in blogging at all unless I am writing about something I am passionate about. Perhaps in time I will enjoy having more followers.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:50 am
i agree too. Because with passion we have a thousand idea to implemented to our site. More enjoy and will always having fun with blogging.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:49 am
[...] with passion—A few months ago, I wrote a post titled “Passion: The Missing Ingredient for Your Blog.” The point of the post was to encourage you to blog about topics you’re passionate about. See, [...]
October 27th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
[...] subject am I passionate about? You might remember my post from a few months ago titled, “Passion: The Missing Ingredient for Your Blog.” To me, you need to be passionate about the subjects you’re blogging about. Otherwise, your [...]
November 13th, 2009 at 7:03 am
[...] about subjects you’re passionate about—In the past, I’ve written about the importance of passion in blogging, so I won’t beat the point into the ground here. Needless to say, if you aren’t passionate [...]