Poll: What Is Most Important To You?
Awesome Content: Set Up For Online Success
As I surf across the internet meeting different bloggers and webmasters, I seem to find that everyone has a different motive that fuels their drive for a prominent online presence. For some the dream of online riches empowers them to drive forward. For others it may be the opportunity to connect with other people with similar interests and passions.
The truth is this: everyone’s motives are a little bit different. This means that your concept or definition of success will not be the same as mine. It also means that you will have to apply different techniques than other bloggers and that you’ll have to personalize your site’s experience in order to accomplish your dreams.
Here’s a review of the poll that I’ve been running here at Site Sketch 101 for the past 2 weeks. I had about 120 people answer this question: What is the most important to you at your website or blog?
Daily Discussion: So where do you fall into the mix in this poll? Why are you online and what do you think that you’re going to have to do differently to create a blog or website that will accomplish your dreams?
vasiauvi said:
“Connecting with people” definitely is for me and I can put also on the same level “Expressing what I believe”.
Bruce said:
I chose money, not that I expect fat wads of cash to roll in from my blog. My thought process on the whole matter is actually more complicated then I could put into a comment, but if there was no money to be had it probably wouldn’t be worth using what little free time I have on.
Corey Freeman said:
I guess I fall kind of into the “other” category. I don’t really try to “express what I believe,” but rather get a few points across and share the information I have with others.
I do like getting cash, but I use my blog to direct the flow to my freelancing business.
I guess I mostly blog because I love it and it’s fun. *Shrug*
Hua Chen said:
My motion is:
1) Express what I believe, love and know;
2) Make extra Money(but $0 till now~);
3) Connect with people.
akira07 said:
But the question is, which is more important to you?
Nice if you listing connect with a people, and i’m more happy if you take it as the most important.
Anyway with this post, i’m also wanna clarify something. I get a mistake when answering
. Money is my main purpose, but it’s not my important things.
Because after thinking, reading other opinion (including many comment in this blog), and seeing fact, connecting with people is more important.
Because, if we’re success to connect with people, build close relationship with their, i belive money can come so easily.
InternethowBlog said:
When I first start blogging it was for making lots of money and establish an online presence. This was mainly because i saw others making lots of money from it. Well at least that is what they claimed. However, as I was money motivated, it was also stressful. However, i changed my attitude now. I am doing it because i want to do. If i can make money from it it is good and I would be very happy. However, i do it with my own pase and when i feel like it. It is more fun and enjoyable like this.
So, my choice would consist all the option. But if I have to choose one that would be: Fame and recocnition, where people value my opinion and like what I write.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Thanks everyone for the responses on here. I hope you all see that there are a lot of different motives among us. I think that sometimes people feel bad admitting that they are blogging to try to make some money but there’s nothing wrong with that. The main reason, I think, that bloggers tend to be hesitant to associate themselves with that motive is because of the large number of scam and spam blogs out there. But if you are genuinely working to produce a quality website and are trying to also make enough money to take a little home with you, then there is nothing wrong with that in the slightest.
When I created this pole I selected a bunch of answers that sum up why I am blogging. I want to make money. I want to connect with people. I want to teach people how to improve themselves in terms of blogging and website design. And I feel like I’m being very successful at all of these goals. And I hope that each of you are becoming more and more successful at your goals as well!
Traci said:
I just joined the online craze and started an online store (making money) that sells products I believe in (expressing what I believe). In the meantime, it has given me the impetus to research products that are organic and healthy for my lifestyle as well as others (connecting with people). This has provided a great turning point in my life!
Joe said:
Another interesting and informative topic, Nick! I appreciate and admire the obvious hard work you put into this site.
In the poll results, I’m kind of in the camp of “Expressing what I believe”, but that sounds too much like having a soapbox and doesn’t really describe my motivation.
Of course it’s nice to connect, have some recognition, and thereby at the same time making some extra moola, but for me it’s also important, and personally rewarding, just putting together a site.
As I’m sure you know, after all your labors, it’s a real thrill to design a page, have everything looking exactly as you intended, everything functioning as it should. That feeling of accomplishment alone is sometimes motivation enough to fuel my drive.
I guess I’m online for the creative outlet it affords and that’s at least equally important to me as all the other poll choices. Though it would be great if it happens, I may never connect, get recognition, or make any extra dough. I probably break too many rules, or fail to heed the sage advice from the pros such as yourself for that.
However, at the end of the day, I still have my feelings of accomplishment, page by page, and that motivates me to keep going and to do more.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Joe » Thanks! I do put a lot of work into the site here but that’s because I really have a passion for this. I didn’t even think about having a ‘creative outlet’ option but I suspect that it may have been a choice that many people would have picked. It makes a lot of sense actually. Thanks for sharing that view with us.
Arisu » I agree. There’s nothing wrong with trying to achieve many different bonuses from a blog or website. I know that Site Sketch 101 certainly rewards me in several of these categories. Good thoughts.
Rena » Ha ha. I like that. You are quite right. Many people do start out a website or blog to feed their inflated egos.
All » It’s comments like these that make me believe in the value of feedback. You all brought to the table some unique ideas and thoughts that I hadn’t thought about. If your not seeking open and honest feedback at your sites then you really are missing out. Thanks everyone for your great thoughts on this. If you haven’t already left your opinions on here then go ahead and let us know what you think!
Arisu said:
I voted connecting with people, but I think any life experience should make richer more than one aspect in your life… I work in something I like, and I believe that it can improve peoples life, also, I want to get some reognition by being good at it and, of course, a very important thing is that I can live out of it.
All your projects, even when having one main goal, should improve more than one aspect in your life. If you have to choose money over health or fun, you need to try something else or change the way you´re doing things.
Rena said:
I think that most individuals that have websites and blogs start them off as an ego trip. Don’t get me wrong – I actually think that having a big ego is a good thing. It’s important to know who you are and your own self worth as long as you don’t take it too far. Connecting with people, expressing beliefs and fame naturally come out of that.
nelson said:
to sum it up : making my life easier .
it’s as simple as that :
- making things easier for my career .
- meeting people that I can learn from .
- and … why not , making some money if possible .
and it all sums up to this : making my life easier .
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
nelson » That’s a good summary. I like how everyone is able to bring a different perspective to it. Thanks.
George Serradinho said:
I belong to 3 of them namely:
Connecting with people
Expressing what I believe
Making some extra cash
We all go about our different ways, but I think we want to achieve the same. We need to be different and unique and that is what will make us famous.
Typhoon said:
Well I gave vote on this poll to the 1st option. I think Connecting with your readers is an important thing before you can succeed in blogging.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Typhoon » That’s true. Connecting with readers is one of the most important things in my opinion. That’s why I try so hard to respond to every email and to get out in the blogging community and communicate with other bloggers.
Rish said:
I do agree! And a blog will never become a blog unless you have readers and you are getting feedbacks from them.
Ana said:
A great poll to explore human interest in technology. When I first looked at the poll options, I geared towards “Connecting with people” and “Expressing what I believe”, but then I realised that these two are part of one big wave. With one comes, the other. Taking a breather from it, I realised the truth.
I think the reasons leading up to why we are on the Internet, are not measured by success, but rather our choice of experience and what we find meaningful in our lifes. The success I will call the technology itself, to enable us to express ourselfs through the medium.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Ana » I like that. It seems that every person that interacts on this post seems to view blogging in a little bit of a different way which, in my opinion, is one of the beautiful things about blogging. We can all do it for very different reasons and enjoy the ups and downs of striving to reach our own agendas. I like how your main focus is connecting with people and expressing what you believe. Although I kind of focus on all of the options a little bit, I really believe that connecting with people in a real and genuine way is the most important.
ZXT said:
I think connecting with people is number 1 and maybe some cash on the side will help you gain more motivation to blog. Then comes expressing what I believe.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
ZXT –> I like that order of priorities. Honestly if connecting with people is number 1 then you will be surprised how easy it is to accomplish the other goals.
Sat Chen said:
I voted for connecting with people because thats what a blog is for. Extra money never hurts
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
Sat Chen –> Connecting with people is really the most important to me and I agree that this is what blogs are all about.
Ron Boracay said:
When I started my very first blog, all I think is an online journal, so for personal use.
Then it became a fashion, and I want to be known for my blogs.
Then, lately, it became blogging for extra income.
That is my blogging history.
akira07 said:
It’s so simple story
And when you know blog can be monetized, you’re become addict, right? Me too
Anyway i see your blog also to find what monetizing method you’re in, and i find so many google adsense. I advice you to delete some adsense channel, it’s too many
Ron Boracay said:
Oh, thanks for the honest review about my blog. I am just starting out to monetize that blog and testing out what works best for me.
I will consider your suggestion.
ZXT said:
I’m glad most of us here thinks the same way. I believe most good bloggers thinks the same thing.
Arisu said:
I agree on that, good bloggers really manage to get the best of blogging by connecting with people, explore a subject they know about and love and make cash out of it. But if you´re missing one of them out, you´re missing part of the best things that come with a blog.
Pinaybackpacker said:
Arisu:
I have to agree with you. I think that is one of the best things about blogging. meeting people and being able to share a common ground.
At the deepest level, I think it’s all about affirming our humanity – which is the need to be ‘stroked’.
Rena:
Yes, it’s also an EGO thing.
Hearing (or reading) people’s compliments and having them agree with your opinions definitely boosts one’s self esteem. It adds to your self-confidence which may or may not result to an inflated ego.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
ZXT –> There are just some things that drive people to success in this line of work. Being passionate about connecting with people is definitely a powerful force.
ZXT said:
You got tyhe right word Nick, passion. Without passion the job will never get done or you will feel tired in what you’re doing. We need passion in life, whether its about work, love or friendship. Or blogging perhaps?
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
ZXT –> Passion is the key to life. When you can truly be passionate about the things that you do then you can accomplish amazing things.
akira07 said:
More of it, the best combination is passion+obsession
Pinaybackpacker said:
I chose the niche I’m in mainly because I want to learn more about it. I have traveled around in the past mainly because of work (paid) and as part of some non-government/volunteer initiatives. For many Filipinos like me, traveling is an expensive idea – something that only rich people do. And I want to dispute that.
The second reason is that I want to be able to influence others to explore my country – the Philippines. So, I guess that falls in the category of connecting with people.
The third reason is of course to make money eventually. I want to be able to earn without being tied to a specific location. My feet gets too itchy if I stay too long in one place.
ZXT said:
Just visited your blog and I like it. Though I don’t travel a lot but I take the opportunity if there is one.
akira07 said:
It’s hard to choose one of it, since all option is my reason to online and make blog.
But honestly my first purpose is about making money. And that’s why i’m always looking for another way to earn money.
But in building blog, don’t explicity show that our intention is about making money because people hate it. And that’s why build relationship with the other is important too.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
akira07 –> I believe that we should be 100% honest with our readers about our intentions. People don’t want to feel like we’re trying to deceive them.
akira07 said:
How to communicate properly about my intention in making the blog is to monetize it? Do you think this is best policy? I fear people will leave…
Arisu said:
Akira>>
Well, if you want to monetize your blog, why not talking about money? People won´t mind helping you to get it, as long as you help them to get it too.
Lots of people buy books and take clases to learn how to get money – so, they´ll help you to get it, if there´s something for them too-.
Ron Boracay said:
Blog about making money online or just give your audience or visiting something in return while reading or staying at your blog.
Also, its wise to have a privacy policy also stating how do you use your blog and what are the ads you are serving to your readers.
akira07 said:
Nice idea. Hmm i’m thinking to giving e-book away for the visitor.
Arisu said:
Akira>>
That´s a very good idea. Give an extra to your readers, and they´ll be more than happy to give something back. You can also join an affiliate program and sell other books -if they think the one for free was worth it, they´ll be more open to anything you recommend.-
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
akira07 –> I’ve actually found that the people looking to just make money seldom make very much money. Those who are looking to help people and contribute real value end up growing their earnings much more quickly.
Ron Boracay said:
Nick, I think, its a matter of what those bloggers are trying to accomplish.
Is it for a short term or long term.
Approach and styles differs a with those two categories.
Rish said:
I think I became a part of that poll and what I’ve answered is “expressing what I believe”. Of course, connecting with people is still a great part of it. I don’t really care if I earn bucks online, having friends and a comfort zone on the internet is invaluable.
I feel like traveling and I love it! LOL.
Jo said:
I just want the world to read about Miss Blimey! It’s my love and my passion. Aside from that meeting creative peeps across the globe is one of the raddest things ever! That’s what it’s all about for me.
Thomas McGee said:
I would say for me the most important reason for being online would be to connect with, and learn from other designers/bloggers. There are many good ideas out there, many of which can get your own creative ideas going.
Very true to that you need to be passionate about what you do. If your not, it’s not worth doing!
Nice article by the way, I will be working on getting a blog up and running and this site gives some good tips and advice!
My Latest Blog Post: iPad, the forgotten details
Derek Jensen said:
The overall purpose of my blog is to make money. I am going to be honest.
But, to get there I am connecting with people and showing/ telling others what I believe in. I feel this is the most important part of your blog. Building yourself as a brand and then letting everything else fall into place.