Ask The Community: What Do You Blog About and Why?

by James on May 17, 2012

The following post is from James of Google+ Tutorials:

Source: quinn.anya

My last blog here at Blogging Your Way was titled Does Your Blog Have Clear Direction? In that post, I talked about the importance of our blogs having a good focus so that your audience can know exactly what to expect every time they come by your blog, and that actually by limiting your content to a specific niche, you are more likely to build a loyal base of readers.

In the comments, I was replying to a question that someone had asked, and it really got me thinking again about our motivation for blogging and the topics that we blog about. I am sure that there is a wide range here in this community, and I thought that it would be really great for us to have a discussion about this. Not only would it help us here at Blogging Your Way to know the sort of posts that would be helpful to you in reaching your goals, but also a great opportunity to discover new blogs written by others in the community and finding out the motivation behind them. Pretty cool idea right? I think so!

I thought that we could all introduce ourselves, our blogs and our motivation. So what I would like to propose that we do is each answer three questions in the comments below. This will be a great opportunity to discuss, discover, and grow as bloggers!

The questions that I would like as many people as possible to answer in the comments are as follows:

1) What is the web address of your blog

2) What is your blog about?

3) What is your motivation for blogging?

(Fame, fortune, sharing knowledge, meeting new people, being involved in a community, etc!)

Perhaps we will all find some new blogs to add to our Google Reader!

I am really looking forward to seeing some of your blogs, talking to you about your blogging motivations and making some new connections!

Let’s go! Answer the three questions from above in the comments below!

James Brooks is a professional blogger, web designer and social media consultant based on the South West coast of England. As well as being a co-founder of GPlusTuts, a blog about Google+, James also enjoys blogging about technology, food and tea!

  • http://microrrelatososhortstories.wordpress.com/ Alexandra

    Web Address: microrrelatososhortstories.wordpress.com…
    My blog is called ACT.REACT. or just THINK about it! and in it I post anything that has inspired me to ACT, something that has sparked a REACTION or just the millions of things that i THINK about in my 2 year stay in Mexico City and my recent 40th birthday…through this blog i gave myself permission to share the thoughts from my overactive imagination in my quest for finding answers to my life’s questions…my motivation: freeing up space in my mind for more thinking, writing as a form of catharsis all the while serving as a journal of these times in my life…I don’t have many comments so COMMUNICATION has stopped being a motivation…it’s just my free therapy: mental and occupational therapy

  • Lee Currie

    Address: http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/
    About: Everyday with four active kids – in photos + words
    Why: Because I’m so busy keeping up with it all I don’t want to forget the details that make our lives unique and our own
    LINAR = Life Is Not A Rehearsal and that’s what it’s all about :)

  • http://cube2farm.wordpress.com/ Mom @ Cube2Farm

    1. http://www.cube2farm.wordpress.com/ and http://www.cube2farm.com
    2. Cube2Farm is a website built to encourage and support
    stay-at-home moms.  FarmMom
    chronicles her journey from professional businesswoman in the “cube
    farm” to her life as a stay-at-home mom on a real farm in the mountains.  Amongst posts about her various
    misadventures as a first-time farmer, FarmMom offers advice, support and free
    printables on the subjects of homeschooling, gardening for self-sufficiency,
    organization and time-saving techniques as a homemaker and faith/service to
    others.  
    3.  Why do I blog?  Because I am stuck at home with an infant and toddler on top of a freakin’ mountain (literally) with NO ONE TO TALK TO… for miles (literally).  There, I said it.  At least I’m honest ;)

  • http://twitter.com/SlowYourHome Brooke McAlary

    Blog: http://www.slowyourhome.com

    Blog Mission: Slow your home – love your life.

    It’s all about offering small bits of advice to those who want to slow down their lives, homes and families and live a less stressful life. It covers organising, greener living, positive life advice, simple living and happy-making.

    Motivation: To help others.

    Two years ago, I suffered post-natal depression as I juggled new parenthood and a busy life running my own business. I found myself living life anxiously, just trying to get through each day. There was little joy and virtually no mindfulness. Now, I’m happier than I have ever been, more content and in love with my life (most days!) and I want to share some inspiration with others who may be feeling desperate, as life gets on top of them.

  • Lindsey T

    http://www.everydayoriginals.com

    My blog is about all things DIY, organizing, living green and frugally with little bits of fitness topics, recipes and odds and ends!

    My motivation is sharing the things I learn with others and the excitement they get from it. It’s helping others to get themselves organized, think outside the box and live a full and happy life. I love to write, craft, DIY, cook from scratch, exercise, save money and more. But most of all I love sharing all that with my readers. I’m slowly building and growing my blog, and every idea I have to write about is more motivation. The comments from readers, emails I get and facebook messages are motivation. There’s so much motivation around me and that’s what keeps me writing and sharing!

  • http://melsfunnyfarm.wordpress.com/ Mel

    My web address is:  http://melsfunnyfarm.wordpress.com/

    My blog is about rural homemaking.  My goal is to entertain and inspire others.

  • Katherine

    1-Web address: katesgreatcrafts.blogspot.com
    2-My blog is about all the great crafts that go into making a home.  At first I had intended it to be a place to post about my craft projects, which I do, but in this season of life (with a 2.5 year old and a 1 year old) I don’t have time for very many of those, but I do have time (or make time) for homemaking.  So I post about cooking and baking experiments and/or well loved recipes, menu plans, shopping trips, organization, and link to posts that make me think, along with the occasional craft project or DIY.  It maybe seems like a lot of different directions, but that is the essence of being a homemaker – juggling all of those things and making them work.   I’ve never really laid that all out before, so thanks for the questions!
    3-I blog because I like the visual aspects of an online journal, and I like to think that maybe someone else will find what I write helpful or entertaining in some way, as I have found with others.  I don’t blog for money.  I just do it because I enjoy it.

  • Catherine

    Web address: http://www.ginghamcherry.blogspot.com
    My blog is a journal of my handmade exploits mainly.  I just love making stuff and sharing about it (although health problems and so on have made it very sporadic over the last couple of years).  I used to share all this stuff with my sisters but since I moved overseas I mainly blog to be part of a community with similar interests.  I don’t have any real life friends with the same interests so I get that online.

  • http://twitter.com/chamcuartero Cham Cuartero

    Hi there!
    My blog URL is: http://eaturbanana.blogspot.com/.
    I blog about Books, Pets & Animals (especially my little Lady Arya), Writing, Food & Cooking, Marriage & Family Life, and whatever comes to my mind. My love for reading & writing and all of the stuff I’ve mentioned serve as my motivation. Blogging for me is my chance to say whatever I want to say, a breather from the daily grind.

  • Jennifer

    my address:  stuckinourstarter.blogspot.com
    I just recently started my blog about living in a small house.  We are a family of 4 living in 1100 square feet and we are busting at the seams!  I’ve been inspired by so many blogs to organize and purge and I want to make our house as functional as it can be.  My motivation is just that….. to keep me motivated to go through every corner of our house and figure out ways to make it better!   

  • http://www.cleansmartsimple.blogspot.com/ AlexisAnne

    My blog is http://www.cleansmartsimple.blogspot.com
    I blog about Clean Closets, Smart Solutions, Simple Projects and Stylish Inspiration- basically all things related to home organization and design- with a touch of larger concepts such as time management and overall personal fulfillment.
    I blog mostly as a creative outlet. I love to write and take pictures, and the things that I blog about are things that I’m passionate about in my home and life.

  • http://www.momdropbox.com Audrey

    My blog is @ momdropbox.com

    My blog focuses on motherhood, relationships, and money.

    Honestly, I blog for myself.  I blog about the things that are relevant to me as a mom of small kids.  

  • http://ajoyrenewed.blogspot.com/ Brittnie (A Joy Renewed)

    http://ajoyrenewed.blogspot.com/

    My blog, A Joy Renewed, is my reflections on eating disorder recovery, infertility and my (blessed) life now with my first baby. It is also focused on how Jesus is the only way you will truly be set free from your pain/addictions and find that renewed joy that might be missing from you life.

    I blog in hopes to reach out and touch someone who might be experiencing an eating disorder and/or infertility, to let them know that they CAN make it to the other side and true joy IS possible. 

  • http://beyondthedefaults.com/ Abby Butts

    Address:  
    http://beyondthedefaults.com/

    My blog is Beyond The Defaults and I write, with my friend Sam, about how the average person can make technology work for them.  We both work in IT and are frequently asked “how do I” questions and we decided to work together to share our knowledge in a way that makes sense to the average non-IT person.

    I write because I enjoy it and I have knowledge and skills to share that can help others make their lives easier by using technology the way it should be used.  

  • http://microrrelatososhortstories.wordpress.com/ Alexandra

    I’m stuck in a huge city, with everyone running in opposite directions and still it seems, I too, have no one to talk to…my blog has helped me declutter my mind but hasn’t given me much communication with others, maybe because it’s not even a year since I started blogging…but it sure is nice to see the numbers that show that people do take a peek into my world through my blog, THAT WAY I KNOW SOMEONE IS LISTENING…big hug to you in your mountain! Alexandra

  • http://www.farfromflawlesslife.blogspot.com/ Missy June

    http://www.farfromflawlesslife.blogspot.com

    About: Issues of Motherhood, specifically single motherhood, and dealing with life that didn’t follow the ‘perfect path’ I planned.   I’m motivated by sharing that we don’t have to have it all together and life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful!

  • http://pictureperfectcooking.wordpress.com/ Tammi

    web address: http://www.pictureperfectcooking.wordpress.com
    I blog as a creative outlet and stress relief after workdays stuck in an office.  I love cooking and photography so blogging is a perfect way to express myself in doing these.  The opportunity to meet and talk to other writers with the same interests that I have been a great blessing.

  • http://www.structureinanunstructuredlife.com/ Beth

    My web address: http://www.structureinanunstructuredlife.com
    My blog is Structure in an Unstructured Life and I use the tag line “Finding calm amidst the chaos.” I blog about how to manage your home, meals, kids, and life from the perspective of a working mom. I write posts about home organizing projects, how I meal plan and use that to help me make my grocery shopping list, which in turn saves time and money, I write about time and stress management, and I write about parenting and the joys and struggles associated with it. My motivation for blogging is two-fold. One part of it is to share ideas and create a community of people working through the same challenges and struggles. A way to support other working moms out there. And the second part is to begin to explore a career in writing. 

  • http://www.brownthumbmama.com/ BrownThumbMama

    Hi! I blog at http://www.BrownThumbMama.com about gardening and thrifty living. There were so many people asking “how we do it” that I wanted to share my tips with others!

  • http://twitter.com/MomToSamCO Mom To Sam CO

    Web address- http://wilson-family-adventure.blogspot.com/
    I blog about our family, sometimes deals that I find, but mostly about what does in in my crazy household.
    I like sharing stories with our extended family and friends that don’t see us very much. I want to keep them up to date about what has been going on and on our son, Samuel as he grows up.

  • http://creativefamilyfun.net/ Terri

    My Web address: http://creativefamilyfun
    Creative Family Fun is about crafts, games, activities, education aimed at parents of preschool-aged and younger children. My goal is to expand and yes, make money. I want to inspire parents to play with their kids and that it doesn’t take a lot of money or time to do that. I also want to have fun while I do this and have an outlet for my love of writing.

  • http://thefunmommy.com/ Amanda Jayne

    I have two blogs, simplifytosave.com and thefunmommy.com. At Simplify to Save I write about our journey to simplifying our life, which included moving across the country and halfway back, taking two different new jobs, and selling most of our stuff. At The Fun Mommy I write about homeschooling, my kids, parenting, and family.
    My motivation…is to ultimately turn this into a work at home gig. I started Simplify To Save with that intent, and then The Fun Mommy followed when I wanted to be able to expand and write about anything I felt like.

  • http://twitter.com/MoneywiseMoms Gina Lincicum

    http://www.moneywisemoms.com
    My blog is MoneywiseMoms, and I blog about family finance and frugality. I do it for two main reasons–to help others with their family budgets and to work professionally from home.
    One of the things that keeps me motivated is the positive feedback I get from readers on FB and in Comments. I’ve gotten emails from others about how my strategies have gotten them through tough times, like unemployment.

  • http://joyceandnorm.wordpress.com Joyce and Norm

    Wow, very diverse crowd here. :) Love it!

    I blog at Keeping Up With the Moys | http://joyceandnorm.wordpress.com/ where I blog mostly about our family happenings. We have family all around the world and it is the best way to keep them updated on what we’ve been up to. Reason similar to Lee Currie’s as well…I was a PreK teacher once upon a time and I just got used to documenting daily events of kids, but I blogged before kids too. I post about our day, crafts that I’ve made in MOPS (mothers of preschoolers), what we’re eating, and hubby blogs about his guitar and other music stuff as well as yummy eats in the area. He works in SF so there are a lot of Bay Area food truck posts on our review blog. I might also start to blog about homeschooling since we’ll be starting in the Fall. Lots of random things, not too focused. That’s us though…trying new things. :p

  • Christine @ iDreamofClean

    Address: http://idreamofclean.net
    About: organizing and cleaning tips for the busy mom

    Why: God and family are THE most important things to me so my blog exists to help busy moms spend less time cleaning more time with the ones they love.

  • JANET OLSON

    My  blog address is craftythriftydecoratingwifemom.wordpress.com.  Needs work, I know-too long.
    My blog is about my faith, crafts, being thrifty (couponing was my start now tag saleing, thrift shopping, etc. is included), decorating on the cheap, family–including chronic health issues such as autism in an adult child, asthma, arthritis,etc.  My original purpose was thinking it might discipline me if I had a blog to be responsible for.  Since becoming officially-oh, I hate that-and I don’t use hate lightly, I just float through life with all my encumbrances.  If you’re a follower,THANK YOU, you know that’s failed.  I hope I communicate my family life well; what it is to be a family of 3 disabled people trying to get things done.  My most recent hospitalization left me with more restrictions, hence it’s harder to do anything, but I’m not giving up.  I won’t be cranking out projects of one kind or another as frequently as I’d hoped, but occasionally one will appear.  Now I think it’s morphed into more communication, I hope education of disability life, faith, it’s importance in our lives.  I’ve considered trying to do a craft day, a thrift day, a life day.  Thoughts?

  • Dina Marie

    I have a couple blogs.  They are http://dinamarie.typepad.com/deafbusybee/ and http://dinamarie.typepad.com/touching_memories/ .  The first blog is about my personal experience which I share with readers.  I also share something educational and news in regards with deafness.

    The second blog, which is entitled Touching Memories, which I share some projects I have been working on and give some ideas of what readers can do with different kinds of tools available.

    What motivates me to blog is that there are some issues, which I want my readers to become familiar with.  Of course I enjoy thinking and expressing in writing. 

    I can picture if I get some comments on these blogs, it creates me to have more motivation to update these blogs.

  • http://profiles.google.com/bernicerleung Bernice Leung

    Address: http://btsoi.blogspot.com
    I blog about things that occupy my time: things I make, my family (mostly my two boys), traveling and our life in Australia. 
    Blogging is my way of documenting our life and it’s an easy way to share it with our friends and family on the other side of the world. It forces to me to slow down to notice the details and also motivates me to stay active and try out new things so I have something new to write about.

  • http://www.lifecommaetc.com/ LifeCommaEtc

    My blog is http://www.LifeCommaEtc.com

    I am doing my best to steer it towards personal finance, lifestyle, and career in that order!

    I blog to start a conversation with what I hear is the most amazing network of bloggers, readers, and people across the planet!

  • Michelle

    Nourished at Home wwww.nourishedathome.wordpress.com is my blog. I explore “real foods”, homeschooling, health, Christianity, crafts, and classic books, plus whatever else crosses my mind. My motivation is to share with others some of the beautiful/interesting/important things I experience or learn about on the path to making my home a haven; to create an online journal that records my family’s days and my thought life; and maybe eventually to bring in a little income.

  • http://teamaidan.wordpress.com/ Heather

    My blog is http://teamaidan.wordpress.com/

    It’s about raising a child with an undiagnosed disability and a seizure disorder. It’s a peek into our life and also tries to be educational as well.

    I started it with no forethought because we needed to fundraise for an accessible van pronto (done). I now blog to appreciate my journey, build community, and help educate other.

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