6 Things Blogging Taught Me in 2008 And Can Teach You Too

photo (and cover) by The Jamoker

It’s officially 2009, and 2008 has come to an end. Through out the course of last year, I learnt several valuable lessons and principles from blogging, some of which I want to share with you, in this post. It’s always a good idea to review how the last year has been for you, and to improve yourself. So, enjoy, and a Happy New Year!

Please do not be shy to express your own opinions and lessons that your blogging has taught you, this year. And oh, please do bear with me, if I sound boring or overly didactic

1. Tolerance

The internet is a huge place. There are people of different religions, nationalities, opinions here. Each has the right to express his or her own opinion (that’s why blogs exist, in the first place!). Over the course of this year, I have interacted with people from all around the world and people belonging to different religions. Blogging has taught me tolerance. I have learned to respect others’ opinions, and not to attack or belittle their beliefs. And tolerance is a very important lesson, at least in real life.

Moreover, I have learned to accept criticism,for it is criticism (both positive and negative) that helps me improve.

2. Knowledge

Good content is well researched. In my quest to write good, valuable content, and in the process of researching, I have learned many new things that I would probably have learnt way later (or maybe even never) if I had not been blogging.

Here’s an example: All my blogs are based on the WordPress platform (which I love). In order for this blog to be unique, it had to have a unique theme. So, I learnt how to design for WordPress, and I designed the current PuttingBlogsFirst theme. I learnt how to develop for WordPress, and that led to a series of tutorials on the WordPress platform.

The thing is, I learnt something new, and it benefited me. Similarly, I gained a boatload of other valuable information about different subjects. And, it was fun too.

3. The Importance of Social Networking

I didn’t realize the importance of social networking, during my first few months of blogging. I didn’t know how valuable a tool this is to market your blog and find new readers and friends.

I joined some reputable blogging forums, and became active on Twitter. And I made great friends too. I also got to attend a bloggers’ meetup, which was great fun. I became social.

So the thing is, you have to establish a good social profile. You have to be active on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed and so on, and participate in the community. Because, only if you give to the community can you even think about getting anything back

4. The Value of Time

Blogging requires one to regularly produce content, day in and day out. You have to have posts on the ready. This taught me the value of time.

I knew that I had to write a post for the next day. There is only so much time available, and I have to make full use of it. Time management is essential for any blogger. Blogging has taught me that: I have to get things done, and get them done ASAP.

As they say, time is money

5. Being Myself

Let’s admit it. There are hundreds of “blogging about blogging” blogs around (this one included). No doubt, some of these blogs give outstanding and excellent advice, but then, there are simply too many!

I started this blog way back (more than a year ago). As soon as I stepped into meta-blogging waters, my “uniqueness” disappeared. Poof! I mean, I was just one of the hundreds already there. I wasn’t “I“. I was “We“.

Over the course of the last few months, I’ve been trying to make myself “I“, instead of “We“. I’ve been searching for my unique place. I’ve been working on slowly shifting this blog’s focus: from something cliché [all the other blogs] to something new, unique [me]. Readers have had enough of how to blog this and not blog that; they want and deserve a fresh perspective: something different, for crying out loud!

I’ve tried to look through the murky waters to find the light, if you will. And the process is still not over. It will never be over, as I think of it. Things keep changing, don’t they?

To pin the nail on the donkey’s tail, I am trying to be unique. And it’s not easy. Being unique isn’t easy. Suppose you have a brilliant idea that you think no one else could even have fathomed. You do a quick Google search, and BAM! Right in your face. Believe me: been there, done that. There are simply too many blogs and too many people: being unique is like reaching the stars [literally speaking]. It.is.hard. But, not impossible

6. Persistence/Patience/Strength

Blogging is not easy work. At least if you want to succeed. There are millions of blogs on the internet. Hundreds or thousands of blogs in your niche: competitors. If you’re serious about your blog, you better pack for a long journey.

As I said above, I’ve been running this blog for over a year now. Why?. This first year hasn’t exactly been a money bloomer for me. Why am I still continuing? Because I know: success needs time and hard work.

Success also needs passion. And passion is the main reason I’m still blogging. I love what I blog about. And if you love what you blog about, everything else is secondary. Even the fact that there is loads of competition breathing down your neck

Also, blogging has given me encouragement and self-confidence. It has taught me to be patient. Success comes to those who wait for it.

What About You?

So, what has blogging taught you in the year 2008? Huw did it turn out for you? Did you glean anything valuable? Please do share it with us