Reasons you should Never Blog

A lot of people talk to me about how they need to start a blog. Here’s how the conversations go:

Friend: Come on Noah it’s the coolest thing. Look how many people recognize you on the street just cause you blog.
Noah: Uh, no one.
Friend: Well, it will be a great way to get attention for my company and market our product.
Noah: What are you doing now and why does anyone care to read about what you have to say?
Friend: I am not sure but it will work. Trust me.

(update: image removed)

I just wanted to highlight for people why blogging is not that great. So many people are tricked by the main stream media that blogging is everything and all the benefits of it. I will be the first person to suggest for some companies/people to NOT blog. Gasp. Here are the 5 Noah questions/rules I give people before they can start blogging:

  1. What’s your objective in blogging?
  2. Can a newsletter do what you want?
  3. Do people care what you have to say?
  4. Can you do it for a consistent basis?
  5. Do you have interesting things to say?

Blogging will not make or break your business. It is a perfect tool for communicating with your customers. Make sure you are Noah approved before you start doing it.

Welcome to Noah Kagan's Okdork! I am really glad you found me. Don't go just yet. If you're killing time at work, enjoy marketing, online communities and other business things; then you are at the right place.

You should check out my Okdork Virgin Guide to get started.

If you like what you read why don't you subscribe to RSS Feed?

Thanks again for dropping by and I hope to see you soon! - Noah

Want More? Get new articles via email:

people read Okdork everyday!

10 Responses to “Reasons you should Never Blog”

  • Wendyness
    October 12th, 2006
    2:06 pm

    At the latest Refresh San Diego meeting, the topic was blogging. All these noobs got super excited when they heard that blogging = free marketing. I’m going to pass this entry on to them..

  • Tony Chung
    October 12th, 2006
    4:48 pm

    I think Guy Kawasaki puts it best. When you’re starting/writing a blog, treat the process as if you were writing a book.

    You have a specific audience and focus. Otherwise the blog is pretty much garbage and only caters to a select few (your close friends).

    Took me a year or so to realize this. :p

  • Jason
    October 13th, 2006
    4:31 am

    I think every business magazine has had an article about Blogging for Bucks. I wonder what percent of blogs are:

    1. Fully Funded by ads or sponsors
    2. Earn a living for its writer
    3. Made someone a millionaire

    I would guess .001 percent. It is a rough business. All i can say is momma don’t let your kids grow up to be bloggers. Sorry I am from Texas.

  • Noah Kagan
    October 13th, 2006
    8:21 am

    I think that .001 of people get 90% of the attention so everyone thinks it is easy to make a big blog.

  • Joseph Hunkins
    October 15th, 2006
    10:22 am

    Good one Noah. I do think that commercial blogs and personal ones are often different animals, though a lot of us kind of mix up that distinction e.g. Carnival of Marketing.

    As I think you are noting for most people a blog is best thought of as way to organize their own ideas and thoughts and project them to a very small audience. Also important is that is puts you into the fast- paced information and idea environment in a way you can’t be with passive stuff.

    For me it beats yelling at the TV.

  • Damon Z
    October 15th, 2006
    9:55 pm

    Blogging is becoming the reality tv of the internet, Fools Rush In. I just blog because it’s less expensive than therapy. Plus, shrink only listen, they won’t read!

  • Noah Kagan is a thief » at Tom Raftery’s I.T. views
    October 16th, 2006
    5:48 am

    [...] Noah Kagan did this recently. He used an image from this site on his blog without asking my permission. This is theft. I pay for the bandwidth that he and his site’s viewers are consuming. [...]

  • Andrew
    October 17th, 2006
    4:58 am

    Great list, Noah. I totally subscribe to the “What’s-in-it-for-me?” philosophy, which not too many blogs adopt. Fortunately, you have it, and that’s why I keep on coming back to your blog, man.

  • Skip Tracer
    October 17th, 2006
    6:26 am

    Good advice.

  • Sean Howard
    October 18th, 2006
    7:59 am

    Hey Noah,

    Coming out of lurk mode.

    I can’t believe you are leaving the trackback to the petty flame war from Tom. You’re a braver, kinder man than moi.

    By the same token, I can’t believe you didn’t tell him to go F himself. ;)

    Sean

Leave a Reply




Most Popular Posts...EVER!

    will brb.

Noah.licio.us

September's Top Commenters

?>