I started this blogging thing a month or so ago for real. In that time, I’ve had a couple of semi-high profile links from places like Captain’s Quarters, Michelle Malkin, and LaShawn Barber. I’ve learned how to play the trackback game, taking every opportunity to comment on those with extra-liberal trackback setups, like WizBang. I’m a “slithering reptile” in the Ecosystem. I am the “website of the day” at Brassknuckles.net today. My traffic has gone from zero to a few hundred unique visitors a day in the last month or so. That seems like a lot at first, but it’s not really.

And I’ve found that to keep traffic, you need to constantly - always - be on top of the hot topic of the day. This takes time and effort. So now I’m wondering, is it worth it? Why do it?

There are several possible reasons that I can think of to really spend time on this.

1. It’s fun
2. It’s profitable
3. It’s a soapbox that might impact the world
4. It might make you almost famous.

To deconstruct.

It’s fun.

Yes, it is somewhat fun. I read the stuff anyway, why not post it out there for others to see? Well, because they can get it elsewhere. It’s only fun, really, if one of the other options goes with it, like it’s profitable or it makes a difference in the world. There’s also a bit of a charge, which I’m sure is a novelty, of seeing how many readers check out your blog and where they come from.

It’s profitable.

Well, not yet. I’ve earned a few bucks on Google ads (click ‘em!!!!). I think the way this blogging thing really becomes profitable is if it lands you a real job as a writer, you come out with your own book, or whatever. I already am a famous writer (well, ok, I contributed a few chapters to this book), and I really don’t have much desire to do that for a living. So unless the Google ads or Amazon links or sponsor ads start making some money, this is not profitable yet. I wonder, does it become profitable at 1,000 users a day? 100,000? 1,000,000?

It’s a soapbox that might impact the world.

I think there may be something to this one. This is probably the motivation that might actually keep me going. Without the blog storm, Dan Rather would not have been exposed. Without blog storm, Eason Jordan would not have been (or will have been) exposed. Bloggers are a HUGE factor in the next generation of media, and I might be able to be a small part of that. But what if I stopped doing this? Some other blogger will take my place? But what if everyone had the same thought? It’s almost like saying “why should I bother voting, there are lots of others who vote.” And in addition to just a political platform, it may be a way to share my faith with others by integrating it into my work, as LaShawn tries do do regularly.

It might make you almost famous.

Well, yeah, maybe. But I don’t think I want that. I’m not really trying to hide who I am, but I’m not publicizing it. When I email other bloggers, I use my real name, but I don’t scream from the top of my blog what my name is, who I am, where I live, etc. I don’t want to do magazine or TV interviews. I don’t want to write columns for major papers. I have a “real job” and I work from home, so if I was almost famous I would have to buy some new clothes and worry if every hair is in place. Maybe some day I’ll be interested in this, but not today. I’m pretty content to be me, right where I am.

So why keep blogging?

I’m not sure, but I’m going to keep going for a while. Maybe once this Easongate thing dies down it will be easier to keep up with the Jones’ … right now it seems impossible to keep up with Captain Ed, LaShawn in terms of sheer volume, and people like Michelle who have the connections to call congressmen and media bigwigs and actually get through.

Maybe my little space will contribute to changing the world somehow. Maybe it will simply be fun for a while.

Why do YOU blog? Comments and trackbacks are welcome.

The Easongate swarm is interesting to observe, is it about Eason? Is it about the blogger doing it gaining noteriety? Is it about profiting from controversy? I think it may be all of those things mixed together. And if a blogger wants noteriety, why? It’s probably either #2 or #3 … making money or changing the world. I guess there are people out there who also enjoy the ego boost as well, even if it’s not profitable, but I can’t really relate to that one as much.

Someone like Michelle blogs, I presume, to further her name recognition, her respect by the average Joe, and ultimately to help her career as a writer / pundit / columnist. Nothing wrong with that. LaShawn blogs (see Update III: 5:27 pm) to eventually do what she loves full time, and - I think - to impact the lives of her readers. That girl somewhere out west who got fired from her real job blogged because she loved writing - and now is blogging because she is unemployed. Instapundit must make money somehow. INDC didn’t really make money last year. Captain Ed either wants to change the world or he makes money doing this. Maybe both. Dawn Eden picks a topic and sticks with it, sharing her passion for life. And there are lots of others out there… I wonder, why do you blog?

-MZ.