If you’re reading the title of this post and think you’re going to find the answer to a burning question, think again. I’m not going to tell you anything. Instead, I’ll give you a few things to think about. That’s the way I like to roll, really. I prefer to throw out a few discussion points and let you find your own way. “My way or the highway” pontificating is boring anyway.
No, I don’t know the purpose of a blog and I’m not going to pretend to do so. I feel blogs have different purposes for different people. Sure, they can be used as marketing tools and there’s nothing wrong with that. They can also be used to make money, to offer observations, to share and to teach. All or one of these answers are correct.
In the past few weeks I’ve read a couple of interesting blog posts, some quite sarcastic, regarding a blog’s purpose. Many are specifically scoffing at bloggers who are wondering about better ways to monetize blogs and content. There’s nothing wrong with this. If bloggers want to earn, and people are willing to pay, why would I ever fault that? However, I’m not going to insist blogs should only exist to make money. I’m also not going to insist blogs are only to be used for marketing purposes. I’d like to maintain they’re good for both…and more.
It’s yours, do with it whatever you like
The purpose of a blog? It’s what you want it to be. This blog network is for sharing tips. It’s also heavily monetized because it’s a full time job and I can’t afford for it not to have ads. However, it’s not a blog for earning money as much as it’s a place for writers to hang out and for me to build my business.
I also own a cooking blog with my sister. Though I wouldn’t mind earning more money for that blog, the truth is, it’s more of a hobby. The purpse of Cookerati is to share with other food lovers. I didn’t create it to be a money-maker, and it’s certainly not a marketing tool. However, if I want to talk about the Turducken my family enjoyed for Christmas or share my zucchini bread recipe, it’s a place for me to do so.
I guess my point is, what you decide to do with your blog is up to you. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to earn with your blog or using it for a place to share. It’s a terrific marketing tool, but if you’re not using it to promote something, that’s ok too. I can probably identify a dozen uses for a blog, and none of them are wrong.
The purpose of a blog?
You tell me…
I have two blogs. One, lindseyloublogs.blogspot.com is specifically regarding all matters of the home, particularly interior design. My other blog, lindseylouwrites.blogspot.com is my “whatever the eff I want it to be” blog. I’ve posted a couple of newspaper articles that I’ve written for my school newspaper, bi***ed at Ann Wintour for calling a size 4 model fat and posted dozens of pictures of pretty dresses that I’ll be spending my income tax return on. The only one I “market” however is my interior design blog. I’m not entirely sure of what to do with a blog that I use as my editorial mouthpiece.