In this post, I want to share some thoughts about blogging. After all, this is my 1100th post on The Devotional Guy™ blog. Woohoo! What more appropriately fitting subject to cover than blogging?
I’ve been blogging for a minute and through my blogging journey, which began back in 2008 and includes a decade as The Devotional Guy™, I’ve gained some experience alongside a growing community that follows my blog (by God’s grace).
One lesson I’ve learned is that the stats don’t reveal all. At best, they paint an incomplete picture of your blog’s health and total audience. There are people who read and like my posts that never show up in stats page.
How do I know this to be true?
The Devotional Guy™
Because I’ve spoken to people who read my posts and are able to tell me what appealed or resonated with them about a particular published post. Yet, I see no evidence in visits, views, likes, or comments that they ever even found my blog, let on alone visited it long enough to read anything. Curious, isn’t it?
A second thing I’ve discovered is that my blog thrives on Sundays and Mondays, holds it own Tuesdays through Thursdays, but barely exists on Fridays and Saturdays. However, I also know that I have faithful readers on Saturdays, especially Saturday mornings. But, it’s been difficult to write and publish a post on Saturdays lately, primarily due to a busy work schedule.
Thirdly, over the years I’ve realized that blogging takes effort, requires patience, and demands perseverance. I’m not famous. I’m not super-rich. I don’t have any easy routes from here to there. For my blog to thrive and flourish, I’ve got to get after it and stick with it. Nobody is handing me anything. Like all other things in my life, I’ve got to work for it in order for it to work.
Why do it?
Great question. Over the course of 15 years of publishing blogposts, as well as articles on sites like LinkedIn, Worship Ministry (.com), and a small host of other places, I’ve been able to engage and meet some great people. Truthfully, I’ve probably gotten to know more folks better via my blog than through church and even through ministry. At the end of the day, it’s about community and legacy. And, advancing the Gospel as an ambassador and advocate for people seeking to know God better.
Well, that’s probably not everything anyone ever wanted to know about blogging, but it’s a start.
How about you? Why do you blog?
Thanks again for reading Blogpost #1100!
Blessings and Happy Blogging!
Rainer Bantau
The Devotional Guy™
#bgbg2#BibleGateway
The Devotional Guy™ Rainer Bantau © 2023
The Devotional Guy™ 
You’re welcome! Keep what works, set aside the rest. Here’s my post based on your comment. https://thedevotionalguy.blog/2023/07/30/bogged-down-in-blogging/
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Be my guess and thanks for the advice!
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My friend, it’s easy to get bogged down in blogging (excellent title for a blog or a post) [I may need to steal it].
I believe a critical piece in our blogging math has to be knowing our why. If you’re simply blogging for stats you’ll always be frustrated and discouraged. Why do you want to blog? That’s the key. Thanks for stopping by my blog and engaging. It matters. Gratefully-TDG
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Amazing! I have spent the last few days struggling with a decision as to whether blogging is something I should continue with. I feel the Holy Spirit pressing me with thoughts to share but I get severely bogged down by the cumbersome nature of writing and managing a blog. Then I look at the stats and they seem to be confirmation that no one is reading them. I struggle with defining myself as a blogger. I guess I could go on but I’ll stop here. Thanks for this blog. It appears to be encouraging me. I pray often with direction for this project and it seems you’re an answer to my prayer. Bogged down in blogging.
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Thank you, Beth! That’s an interesting theory on the stats. I know that social media channels have both banned my blog and suppressed my content in the past. Personally, I’m glad you found this to be a good outlet for your lessons. As I know others are, too. Community is a blessing indeed!
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Happy 1100th post Rainer!! I’ve often wondered if stats are skewed because of privacy settings on the viewers side (cookies being blocked perhaps). What brought me to blogging was that I wanted an accessible place for people to view my lessons without having to have a social media account or any account for that fact. I also wanted a place where readers could receive the lesson by email and simply read with no pressure to like or comment. From my blogging experience has come the unexpected blessing of fellow bloggers like yourself with whom I enjoy reading their work, learning from, and engaging in comment conversations.
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I’m grateful if I’ve been a modicum of help. Blogging does provide us an outlet to share what’s on our heart.
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I blog because I seek a place to share my devotional thoughts. As a former full-time vocational minister, I miss leading others in Bible study. So, writing a Christian blog is the next best thing.
I appreciate you, brother. I’ve learned a lot about how to blog better from you.
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I agree, Bridget. If we encourage one, it’s worth it. We have begun to see a bind develop among a great circle of blogging friends. It’s special. Thank you 🙏!
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Wow! 1100 posts! That’s amazing. Thank you for sharing some of the lessons you’ve learned over the years. I blog because I love fellowshipping with the amazing friends I have made on WordPress. And I like to encourage others. Even if my words only touched one person, I know that at least I shined a bit of the light of Jesus.
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Thanks!
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Well done mate.
A brilliant achievement!
And I agree – figures can be very misleading and shouldn’t be taken as ‘golden’.
Andy B
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