5 Blogging Secrets You Can’t Share With Your Wife
January 18, 2008
Let’s admit it. Blogging is weird and bloggers are weirdos.
At least in the eyes of other people. Our families and friends think we have lost a screw or two somewhere in the center of our head.
Many times people ask me what do I do online – and yes, this has never been an easy question to answer – I try my mightiest to explain it all in the terms they can understand, but all I get back in response is suspicious stares.
I bet they feel sorry for me and my wasted talents.
Regardless of how some of the bloggers have reached the pinnacle of success with blogging, for most bloggers it remains more of a chore that doesn’t pay well. It’s time consuming, exacting, and earns very little in the short run. Yet we continue to be mesmerized by this elusive genie.
Even though I patiently answer the blogging queries of my family, friends, and acquaintances, here is an imaginary dialog on 5 blogging facts I can’t possibly risk having with my wife(to-be).
1. I blog for my readers
Her – “Uh.. say what? What do you get back from them?
Me – “Er.. nothing. It pleases me to be of some use to them.. and so what if I don’t get anything back, we should be helpful to other people, shouldn’t we?” I say defensively.
She squints at me suspiciously.
2. I don’t earn enough to pay my hosting bills
Her – “OK honey, you must be making a lot of money, that’s why you give away so much for free!”
Me – “No darling.. I have to pay my hosting bills from my own pocket. Whatever I earn from my blog, I buy iPods and stuff with it and give it back to my valuable readers in blog competitions”
She stares back at me in shock.
3. I’ve thousands of online friends
Her – “Uh.. so that’s really nice of you to be so good to your.. uh.. oh yeah.. readers. But have you made any real friends with this blog of yours?”
Me – “Yes sweetheart.. I’ve plenty of friends. I’ve been counting my friends the other day, and to my surprise, all my friends at Digg, StumbleUpon, Mixx, Sphinn, Twitter, and Facebook add up to a couple thousand.” I declare with a proud smile.
She stares at me with gaping mouth.
4. I work diligently to contribute quality content to the social media
Her – “OK, this is really weird. What are those Digg and StumbleUpon thingummies?”
Me – “Ah.. now that’s an interesting question. These are called social media sites. I go to these sites and add plenty of friends and spend hours promoting news stories as well as submitting new quality stuff.. and no honey, they don’t pay me either” I finish reluctantly.
She shakes her head in disbelief.
5. I keep up with hundreds of RSS feeds
Her – “Mohsin, I really am getting worried about you. Just one last thing.. where do you get all these ideas to write daily on your blog and all the stuff you submit to those sites you just mentioned?”
Me – “Don’t worry honey.. that’s just the way we bloggers are. And to answer your question, I have this thing on my computer called feed reader, where I can read all the hundreds of other blog posts and decide which ones to post about or submit to social media sites. This really is addictive.. oh.. hey.. what happened wifey?”
She faints.
Your thoughts?
How do you explain blogging to your family and pals?
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I really enjoyed reading this article! It’s so true to life.
My girlfriend is actually pretty cool with the whole blogging thing and gives me ideas for posts all the time. Explaining it to co-workers and friends is a bit more difficult. I just tell them that it’s an online magazine for men covering guy things. I don’t elaborate on Digg and StumbleUpon communities because unless they know about those site, they just don’t get it!
Christian
Exactly the things I don’t tell my boyfriend! LOL.
Christian, the thing with a few of them is that they insist on knowing more about blogging. And when you explain it to them, they react as though they’ve just seen the bogeyman!
Pelf, make sure you never do, or he’ll start making fun of you. I tell you this from experience lol..
There is a great book by Og Mandito called “The Greatest Salesman in the World.” In this book, Og concludes the following – by NOT mixing the two – one’s professional life (e.g. blogger life) and personal life (e.g. spouse), one can be happily married to both and have both in one’s life…therefore, one must not share intimate details about one’s blogger life, lest one’s spouse get upset, etc. In a way, our lives are like the Tao – with the yin and yang…both “touch” but ultimately must remain separate for that sacred balance to remain. Regards, Keith Johnson, M.S. Education, Hallandale, Florida
Good point Keith. But the biggest objection people have against blogging is that it’s not a profitable profession in the short term. After all, you don’t start earning money as soon as you start a blog. It’s only after you have developed authority and credibility for yourself in the blogosphere, when the profits slowly start trickling in.
I equate bloggers with artists who can’t pay the bills selling their art when they are small, but make millions selling each of their masterpieces when they are renowned and famous.
Very funny. I got a few chuckles because I can relate to it. Like most comedy, it’s funny because it’s true:-)
This one was comical…I like the off-beat nature to it, but yet it presents a realistic representation of how people misunderstand bloggers and blogging
One person kept calling it “blobbing” and asking how my blob was. It was at that point that I stopped explaining blogging to anyone. Now I just say that I’m a writer on the internets.
So perfect. My Mom and I were just having this conversation over the phone this morning.
And what do you do?
I blog.
I’ve given up on explaining because just like this post, the weird stare with the mouth slightly open in shock… that’s just priceless.
That said, I do appreciate the question that follows “what’s a blog?” Sooo you don’t get on the Internet too much do ya?
Great post, stumbled and sphunn.
that’s so true!
me: “I got a stumble hit!”
her: “a what?”
me: “20,000 visitors in one night!”
her: “wow! how much money did that earn you?”
me: “well, just 3 dollars on adsense, but that’s not the point. I got stumbled!”
her: “3 dollars…” (walks off with the non-understanding shake of head.
this is really funny and hits home as I’ve had someone in the family tell me I spend all this time on the internet ‘in chat rooms’ blogging
wish I had seen it before, I just published my weekend list of links..
It is hard to explain to non blogging people. When they look at me with glassy eyes, I try explaining by saying things like “it’s like I write a daily column, only it’s online, not in a newspaper.” That doesn’t always work either…
Well, everyone, it’s definitely comforting to know that I am not the only one frequently going through this annoying experience.
I love this post!! My family and friends do look at me weird when I tell them what I do at home and I do get some funny looks from people when they ask me what I do at home all day. I love blogging though and will keep doing it , even though I am a weirdo!! Thank you for this post.
hahah OH MAN.. well I dont think they quite get it..
Since my wife blogs it’s not too hard to explain to her
Quite true. Although my wife doesn’t bother asking anymore, nor does she bother to mention it to others. I think I avoid some of the questions because I have a “real” job in the outside world. LOL
How funny and how true. I’ve infected two co-workers with the “blog bug” but others just don’t understand why anyone would care what you have to say online. Quite frankly, I felt the same way a year ago when I heard about blogging. I’ve since become a convert and use any available opportunity to preach to the masses.
Great post.
Hi great Article. You nod you head the whole time laughing. I love blogging, it has become a much a part of me as my daily chores. I have tried explainig to my husband who just nods his head, as much to say good honey you have a hobby. I have tried to get him to read my blog now for 6 months and haven’t accomplished that. I doubt I will see the day he ever does. But only bloggers really understand the true addiction to quality blogging and the thrill of it.
Thanks for this post. A big thumbs up and I will definately be returning.
Megan
http://www.PassportMentors.com
Funny Post but Oh so true. It’s really hard to explain to non bloggers what this is all about.
Found your blog thru bloggingzoom, enjoyed reading it
Expect the Best,
Heather
This is so funny! I still have friends who insist to know the URL of my blog, so they can help me make money by clicking on my ads.
My partner doesn’t have anything to do with blogging and internet marketing, although I try hard to drag himm into this, maybe we can travel more. Now we are limited by his vacations.
I read it twice!! and I laughed more than ever in the second time!
great article! stumbled!
That’s really a nice one!
Blogging is truly addictive!
Q: How do you explain blogging to your family and pals?
A: I dont. My family wouldn’t know what I’m talking about and I’d probably get beat up and a wedgie if I told my friends about my blogging.
LOL.
Great post.
Hi Mohsin,
I must say you really have a great knack for
being such a hilarious person!
Have you ever thought of doing a
podcast of some sort and then maybe
later make it some kind of online radio talkshow?
LOL. Just giving you a good suggestion.
Keep going bro,
Vern
Vern, thanks but I think you won’t like my ‘desi’ accent.
That was hilarious, and oh so true. Just what I don’t tell my husband. I’d be all happy about the rise in traffic that I’m getting when I check my stats, he thinks I’m making more money, when in fact I hardly made any.
And then he shakes his head and asks me why I even bother.
Tsk tsk tsk
Ok, I’ve laughed hysterically imagining every scene as I progressed along. So true.. although the character in the story may be switching from spouse to someone else. ^^ Think you’ve just sparked an idea somehow. Thanks. Stumbled it.
@wchingya
social media/blogging