Blogging as a Hobby
Blogging starts out as hobby for many. Before blogs became income opportunities, they were personal stories offered by their authors in a journal mode, very much like an online diary. They were spontaneous, real, fun, and interesting to a specific group of readers.
Motivation for Blogging
A blogger who blogs because of genuine passion for a specific topic, advocacy, expertise, or interest can look at blogging as a hobby more than as work. It is done voluntarily because of the desire to provide knowledge and information which a blogger thinks he or she can contribute to the blogosphere. Blogging as a hobby generally does not have the pressure associated with monetized blogs.
Deadlines for postings are virtually unknown. Search-engine optimization or SEO is some foreign word that is not a priority. Presentation and form is not much a concern either since readers are only given two choices – take it or leave it.
What Does a Hobby Blogger Talk About
A hobby blogger talks about his or her personal passion. No one needs to tell him or her what to say. The words and ideas flow easily, well until the ideas dry up or have been exhausted, that is.
It is important therefore not to limit the topic too much. Bloggers can choose to expand by including related topics to make the blog more interesting. Having a specific niche is good but bloggers must learn to look at the chosen niche on a wider perspective.
Taking Blogging into the Next Level
At some point in time, most hobby bloggers will realize that they do care that readers find them and that it would be very nice if they would come to visit over and over again. It certainly feels good to know that someone is actually reading the blog. This is also the time that hobby bloggers will realize that they are competing with so many other blogs for the attention of readers.
Hobby bloggers will most probably find themselves looking for ways to achieve this. They will find out that consistency in posting is important. In their search for better blog exposure, they will encounter terms that will tell them that they need to pay attention to content quality, right titles and keywords, and social network participation. There is more work to be done but still the blogger enjoys doing it.
…And the Next Level
Once bloggers realize that they actually have a future in blogging, many will consider monetizing their blogs while some will choose to continue doing it as a hobby. The decision is a personal one and there is no right or wrong decision about this. This decision has to be made with full understanding that when a blogger crosses the line between a hobby and work, commitment to hard work is accepted with it.
Monetizing a blog carries responsibilities which are different from blogs maintained as a hobby. There will be advertisers to be considered. It is highly possible that advertisers will be pushing for products and services that are not actually in agreement with the over-all concept of the blog. Bloggers will have to determine for themselves what is acceptable and not.
My Say
I have been introduced to the working side of writing web content way before I even remotely thought of blogging as a hobby. My first try at blogging was borne out of a personal frustration for what I then saw was poor customer service of a certain company. It was seconded by a desire to counter the widespread online misinformation about our family’s registered trade name AMBOS MUNDOS RESTAURANT. Eventually that blog became my personal platform about family, tradition, life, and my creative writings. This blog became my venue for my natural desire to discover and provide information while my newest blog became my anchor to living. I have never enjoyed blogging as much as I do now.
Engkantadang Malikot
I started blogging when I was 16, way back 2009 and I started to write anything under the sun. Just like a diary. A personal diary. But, I ended up deleting my first blog when I started to work in an online based company since privacy is just really important and I just realized its value when I started working.
And now, my blogs are just sidelines for me to gain my income! ๐ I’m pretty happy of what it is right now since I write what I like and I get to paid with it! yey!
Teresa Martinez
Yes, personal blogs still have limits especially if a writer wants to establish a credible presence online.
Rovie
Aside from the discovered passion in writing, I find blogging as a medium for me to connect to my family and friends. And of course, my blogging life has become more exciting and interesting when there is an opportunity to monetize them.
Teresa Martinez
It does get exciting when earning opportunities are offered because of something we really like to do.
papaleng (@papaleng)
I am a die-hard follower of your blogs, Mareng Teresa. Educational na motivating ba ang mga posts. Happy to know na you are getting money in return sa mga hardwork mo. sis, I can only say, blogging id fun if you have passion for writing.
Teresa Martinez
Blogging is indeed fun when there is genuine interest for writing. I cannot say that I am earning much and writers like us always hope there are more opportunities but for now I’m doing the best I can while enjoying writing.
Paul Pruel
Very good topic packed of facts and useful tips friend.
Teresa Martinez
Thanks for appreciating.
kulasa
…reading through your words was like looking back at my journey through blogging…at first it was just a means to keep my thoughts preserved…I did not care whether anyone read my blog at all….I was happy when a reader or two dropped by until such a time when I met more bloggers who inspired me to keep doing what I love doing and for a cause…and the rest is history…happy blogging to you and keep us all continually inspired to write ๐
Teresa Martinez
Blogging is really a journey of discovering our capabilities in the art of writing.
betchai
i see my blogging as a hobby, though i am happy to say that it has grown to be a self-sufficient hobby. there are times i become lazy to write, but whenever I get paid tasks, all of a sudden, my enthusiasm to write rises ๐
Teresa Martinez
You said it right, it really is very inspiring to get paid for doing something we love doing.
Lainybelle
As I have said across my blogs for the umpteen times, “I write to express and not to impress.” For me, writing down my thoughts in the medium called “blog” is always a passion. They may not like what I write or the way I express things but like you’ve mentioned here, they can take it or leave it. But yes, like most bloggers, I have been lured, inspired and motivated to blog with all the perks that comes along with blogging. A lot of us have been drowned in the throng monetizing our blogs and some might have forgotten how we have began to blog in the first place. But then you’re right. It’s a personal decision and there’s nothing wrong in it as long as we blog responsibly.
I always go back to where my heart is and my heart partly belongs to blogging so no matter how many countless hiatuses I declare, I always come back to my “babies” I call my “blogs.” For me, it has made my life more meaningful and colorful.
Teresa Martinez
I never really thought that blogging would be this important to me but I’m certainly glad I’ve found my place and there is nothing else I would rather be doing as a profession and as a hobby.
Chubskulit Rose
Blogging is therapeutic for me. I can express what’s in my heart and mind. I started blogging out of boredom the a friend of mine said that if I put full effort into it I could earn from it and the rest is history.
Teresa Martinez
I really love blogging although I could sometimes appreciate doing it in a more leisurely phase but that would mean no work for me so…
Claire
Aaah! what a great article to get reminded of how we all ended up blogging. I started with a friend coaxing me to do it and out of my frustration to be a writer. I love the feeling of being able to document my life so when my passing comes, I can have my family and kiddo something to recall.But it’s also a great reward to be able to get paid for something you like doing:)
Teresa Martinez
Oh so we think in the same line. I treat my blog as something to bequeath to my children when I am no longer physically with them. This is the reason why my personal blog is written the way it is.
Pinx Labado
Blogging used to be a hobby for me but now, it has become a source of income for me, although most of my posts are personal. It’s just a venue of my thoughts on everyday life, but somehow, it managed to catch the attention of some advertisers.
Teresa Martinez
It is really nice that you have found a way to make your blogs financially productive.
Jam Kuh
i was able to read your post easily simply because i can relate to it! for now, i only enjoy blogging.. attending events.. and meeting new people..
Archie M. de Lara
I like blogging as a hobby as it gives me satisfaction telling stories.
But it would be better if I also earn from it.
Teresa Martinez
Yes, earning does make it more inspiring to work not only because of the money but by the fact that someone is actually willing to pay for what we write.
Rochkirstin Santos
I also treat blogging as a hobby. So now you have two blogs or more than that? How many posts do you manage do publish in a day? ๐
Teresa Martinez
For my 3 personal blogs, I just publish at least 6 each per month as I do have a heavy load of 3 posts per day as a contributing writer for other websites.
Sining Factory (@SiningFactory)
I started blogging as a hobby and never thought that it will flourish and even get awards. I am really happy whenever a lot of visitors appreciate my blog and knowing I can inspire them. I think that is the best part of being a blogger. ๐
Teresa Martinez
Awards and visits, those can really make a blogger feel proud.
mommyjem
I am glad that you enjoy blogging.. It shows in your writing. I like your style and truly rich in information. Thumbs up ๐
Teresa Martinez
Thanks for the thumbs up, really appreciate it. I’ve read you blog and it really offers important information and I really, really like information.
Franc Ramon
I think it’s better to blog for the love of it and once you’re established, the earnings will come in. It’s always important that you want what you are doing as it can generate better outputs.
Teresa Martinez
We cannot force writing because it will come out as … forced. Loving what we do makes everything a lot easier considering that serious blogging is not an easy task.
Fashion Travels (@tauyanm)
agree Mam Teresa. I started blogging because i am so inspired reading other people’s views in life and i love that those people share those happy things via their blogs. I thought that’s just it. and now i am not just blogging, but also inspiring other people and get some from it as well =)
Teresa Martinez
I have read so many inspiring posts from other blogs and that inspires me more to do the best I can with my own.
Tess Chancellor
I started blogging as a hobby and now owns some niche blogs, I earned a little, enough to treat my 2 boys at Mc Do. and until now I consider it a hobby.
Teresa Martinez
Blogging as a hobby is fun but it actually gets better when someone pays us to do something which we like to do.
Wanderer Juan
I would agree that a blog is a great outlet for people in all walks of life. A blog is uncensored and carries the personal thoughts of its writer. A blog does not have to be deep or informative to be interesting it is the personal connection that readers feel.
Teresa Martinez
That is what is so wonderful about blogs, we can create a pool of information in a topic which we like best and share the information to others.
erica
I started blogging out of irritation. My friend wouldn’t just stop begging me to create one… so I did and to my surprise, I really liked it ๐ Besides the fact that I love reading and writing, I love being moved and inspired so I thought what a better way to bring back the inspiration than to write to anyone who’d care… My blog remains to be a work in progress though, I’m still in search of the categories that will narrow down my posts…. from time to time I tweak my blog and aim for “the higher level” ๐ Gladly for the past year I managed to earn from Nuffnang advertisements and benefit from some paid reviews… I couldn’t agree more. I too have never enjoyed blogging as much as I do now ๐
Teresa Martinez
Good for you. Isn’t blogging simply fun?
erica
indeed!