Starting a second blog ... ???

[ianpeatey]

I started my blog in August and am really pleased with it .. and the whole blogging experience in general. So much so, I'm already considering starting another one on a different platform (blogger ... just for kicks). I'm working on the assumption that a second one must be easier than the first and so less time consuming.

Any advice on starting a second blog? Specifically ... does it make sense to start one after only a couple of months or wait a while? does it really get easier and quicker? and pitfalls to look for? good idea or not to go with a different platform? any other thoughts or experiences?

Ian

[sadiessay-so]

I started my first blog in late August. I started my second blog in early October - the first, actually. My first blog, Say-So, is on Blogger, and my second blog, Skinny, is on it's own domain, hosted my GoDaddy using their platform, QuickBlogcast. I put a lot more effort into Skinny because I pay for it - and because it's something that's important to me. I have spent a lot of time over the last few months reading and learning about the blog world, and I know I still have a long way to go.

I guess what I'm trying to say is - there is no true answer to what you're asking, in my opinion. It all depends on how much time and energy you are willing to put into it, and what kind of blog you are looking to start. If you have a good niche, and you put a lot of time into it, you can do well. But that can be done if you only have one blog. So it really just depends...

[Nathan]

Once you start writing for more blogs it takes more time. Expect to have to do twice as much promotion. I know because when I first started out I started three blogs.

Needless to say two of them collapsed. The best, Inkweaver Review, survived. Now that Inkweaver Review has taken off and is starting to become relatively stable after six months of promotion and blogging, I have started Imagination Manifesto. This second blog requires much more attention to keep it going well.

Anyway, its up to you, but don't over extend yourself, that's my advice.

[benbrand]

I guess the same question can be asked about operating multiple sites at any one time, since some (myself included) regard a content management platform like WordPress as a good way to manage a website (if one can agree to a conventional definition of website v. blog). So, if you can manage multiple websites at one time, then you can probably do the same with blogs. It depends on how personal the blog is, and how important its success is to you personally - as opposed to the blog/site serving another purpose, like offering some product reviews and occasionally producing an affiliate commission.

[Bloggeries]

It's up to you really but August is still relatively new. I'd try posting more on the one you have first. That being said if you're looking to get away from just an account on a big provider and move to your own domain why not? It's a small investment and makes things more interesting.

[cjharley]

I don't think I could run two blogs. I just started in October and I like having one blog to focus my attention to. It makes it more personal for me and I think my readers.

Go for it though, if it's in your heart and you have the muster to do it.

[sukosaki]

not only is it two times promotion, it is two times original content.

try it, but if one is failing, stop the 2nd and keep up on first. you will need at least 500 posts before you can put your blog on autopilot. What I mean is, blogs that post only one time per week, already have a bunch of posts indexed. without those posts, they would be posting more.

If you dont have that, you might want to keep you one blog going before starting another.

[ianpeatey]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I guess the time saved is pretty limited by having a second one .. there's still the promotion and the content. I think I agree that I need to settle into the existing blog and get more posts on that (only 30 so far .. which is a long way short of 500!!!). And then get a bit clearer about why I want a second blog. Could be it's just the initial enthusiasm speaking to me .. and I'd hate to put the effort into a second one only to see my energy for them both disappear.

Thanks all for the food for thought. And looking forward to hear some more opinions / experiences.

[Ferox]

You can try writing and saving about ten posts for your theoretical second blog on the posting schedule you're aiming for- just to see if you can maintain it. Sort of like a try-before-you-blog type of thing.

[ianpeatey]

Ferox. Great idea! In fact I might even try that with my existing one. I always feel like I'm one step behind where I'd like to be.