An audience of one

[The Envoy]

Hmm well, one thing I do is have my blog not named to a specific genre/topic, but rather a generic, abstract title. That way, even if I tire of the current "genre" on my blog - Japan, internet, travel related stuff - I can avoid a natural death by coming back with a new interest in a couple of months, say movie reviews and post them on the same blog rather than starting a new one. Hence I avoid "natural death"

[ajwalsh]

These are some pretty eye-catching stats, especially the one saying that 95% of blogs are abandoned, but I'm not surprised.

Writing is still a very difficult task, and no new form of technology can change this. But with almost no barriers to entry and so many people touting get-rich-quick schemes, it's no surprise that blogging entices just about everyone at some point.

I completely agree with everyone that has said the best thing you can do is blog out of pure passion for your subject. If coming up with something new to post every few days is a chore, then your blog is doomed.

[bkpkgene]

Originally Posted by ajwalsh

I completely agree with everyone that has said the best thing you can do is blog out of pure passion for your subject. If coming up with something new to post every few days is a chore, then your blog is doomed.

This is why sometimes I feel bloggers get too locked into their 'niche'. For instance, if I am doing a site on the Mustang Cobra, there may come a time when I am writing challenged and just can't crank out anything on the Cobra. Would I have been better off focusing on the entire Ford Mustang line, featuring the Cobra? Or maybe Ford sports cars featuring the Mustang models? This would seem to allow for wiggle room on those blank days.

I personally don't mind if a blog I am following takes an off day once in awhile. I'd rather the blogger say hey, it's a crap day for me, I don't feel much writing about our normal topic, so instead I am going to tell you about my dog Julie who just ate my cell phone and now I am out of touch with just about everyone.

In fact, I wish more would. It gives me a glimpse into the person behind the Mustang Cobra site and humanizes them for me. At least we know why they are having a crap day and why we aren't getting our daily Cobra fix.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Its funny...blogs are like books. Everyone thinks they can write them. How many unfinished tracks are on producers computers? How many screenplays sit in the "Documents" file never to be opened again? I know I have a few of those on my computer.

I have a blog that I've been writing for a year and it's not popular but I write it because I love the topic of which I'm writing. I've started a new blog under a different name that has nothing to do with my original blog. I write because I love it. People who are in it for the money will ultimately fail.

[Katalina]

I think people fail with their blogs because they think they will earn easy money without having to work for it. You can make money blogging, but you have to do research on keywords and SEO, you have to market your blog, and you have to write about topics that bring the type of readers that click on ads. You need to treat it like a business.
Most blogs, (including my own ) don't do this.