Wednesday, June 27, 2007

How do you define success?

I was looking at Mashable today and saw a post entitled 6 Key Ways to Measure Your Blog's Success. It is, as you might expect, a look at different rating systems like Technorati. And while I understand what they are talking about, it raised an important question in my mind: what does it mean for a blog to be successful?

I have yet to check Technorati to find out how my blog is doing -- largely because I would be surprised to see it there at all. None of my blogs have many readers. And that is OK with me because I don't think blogging is about numbers. To me, if there is one person who has gotten even one idea or one different perspective on just one topic, the blog has been successful. If one person reads something here that helps them see that they aren't the only one who thinks a certain way, it will be enough for me.

And actually, if no one reads this blog but me, I will still keep blogging because blogging is in large part about the writing and the thinking. I want to continue to do both within the confines of my blogs even if no one ever sees them because I will have learned something in the process. That in itself is success.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm also a low-readership blogger and am happy to be so. But I do read your blog because you have so many terrific links to technology-related places that I would not have otherwise heard about.

Anonymous said...

I discovered your blog via Doug Noon. I am glad I stopped by.

While I have developed a loyal reader base, I am not what would be considered a "star blogger", and that is ok. As you say, for me it is about reflecting, writing, and sharing. If, in all of that, I happen to inform and educate one person, that is good.

ms. whatsit said...

Regardless of how popular one's blog is with others, I think it's important that the blogger is getting personal satisfaction from the experience. I've been blogging for a couple of years now, and like you, it's the process that appeals to me.

The popularity is just icing on the cake.

Anonymous said...

Well you can count this blog as successful! I picked up a nice idea about pageflakes from your blog - and now you have another reader!