What to do with this blog?
Just over a week ago I began to wonder about what I should do with this blog and so I posted about it:
This week Duncan Riley announced his new blogging venture, The Inquisitr (see my post here). However in my mind an equally significant announcement was that Skepticlawyer (Helen Dale) from Catallaxy and Legal Eagle from The Legal Soapbox are teaming up at in a joint blog venture, Skepticlawyer. Although they are both lawyers, they have different interests and politics, they are always thoughtful and intelligent, and I enjoy immensely reading their perspectives on law, politics and life. I wish them both all the best in their new collaboration.
This announcement, coupled with reading one of Kim Weatherall's now rare posts at Lawfont (see here), has made me think about possibly changing the tone of this blog, or perhaps launching a new blog. I enjoy writing this blog and I like to think it presents an eclectic mix of tech news, videos, politics and occasionally a little law. It certainly reflects what I read and watch each day on the internet. However, this mix has occurred by accident. When I began blogging I envisioned creating a more traditional law blog (or blawg) - one that you might expect a (semi-serious) legal academic to write. Instead it has become something quite different. Perhaps if I spent less time reblogging and posting links and videos I would have more time to write the sort of quality, original posts you see from Helen, Legal Eagle and Kim. I spend so much time "reporting" and covering what others are saying that I find that I'm not putting my own thoughts and arguments on the law and policy issues that I find significant and interesting out to the public to be tested, challenged and improved. To do this would mean fewer posts, but longer, more thoughtful posts. And although it may well be more time consuming, it would also likely tie in with my teaching and research more closely. That said, I like my blog now and I enjoy putting it together.
Anyway, these are just some thoughts I've been having over the last few days. I'd be interested to know what you think ...
And now Problogger has a list of questions to consider when working out whether you should give up on a blog:
- What goals do I have for this blog? Are they being met? Am I getting closer to meeting them?
- Am I Interested in the Topic?
- Am I getting personal satisfaction from posting?
- How Many Posts Did I write in the Last Month?
- Do I have time to keep the blog running?
- Is anyone reading my blog?
- Have I given it enough time?
- Do I still see myself writing on this blog in 18 months time?
- Is the niche growing or dying?
- Is the blog earning anything?
- Is the blog growing my profile and perceived expertise?
- Are there any other benefits from this blog?
- Is the blog giving energy to or taking energy away from me?
- Is the Blog’s traffic and income growing or shrinking?
- Are readers engaging with the content?
- If readers are commenting - what are they saying?
- What are other bloggers writing about my blog?
- Do I have anything original and useful to say on my topic?
- What else could I do with the time that I spend on this blog
- What would the impact be of me not blogging? (on readers and me)
Food for thought ...
They're good questions. I gave up a blog (http://www.bogosity.info/) at the start of the year and it was a tough decision. Paradoxically, it was the Australian Blogging Conference that made me question why I was still blogging on there. I see now that many of my answers to the above list would have been in the negative so I know I made the right decision. At the moment, I'm thinking of starting a new blog with a slightly refined vision but I worry that no-one will read it. The question is do I blog just to please myself or is there someone I'm trying to reach?
Posted by: Matthew Smith | Saturday, 17 May 2008 at 08:43 PM