I started a blog five months ago. The blog is about a topic I am passionate about. I started it because I wanted to share everything I learned with other people. I now wonder if I should kill it and would really appreciate your ideas. I know that most blogs die within the first six months and I really hate to be one of those. On the other hand, I think sometimes it is wise to learn from your efforts and move on. This is all new to me, so I don't know if this falls into the "did not try hard enough" or in the latter category.

English is not my own language. My blog is almost all original content and writing a blog post costs me an entire evening, at least. I feel that to do this right, the blog takes up ALL my time and even then I feel that quality is not good enough. I want to post three times a week, that seems to be the minimum that people expect from a blog. I have a young family so time in weekends is also limited.

My topic is very controversial and I have come to dislike all the heated discussions, all the bickering, all the dishonesty and stupidity. I also feel I am too much of an introvert to be a "real" blogger. I don't really enjoy the chatting and discussing other bloggers do. I notice that I also start to dislike the controversy itself. I even feel indifferent about the subject more and more and wonder if I am actually helping people or just adding to the noise.

Of course, I don't have to post three times a week and I can just ignore everything that goes around in my niche and post in a vacuum, but then I wonder: why blog? Wouldn't it be better to turn my site into a regular resource site that is occasionally updated with new content?

A blogger chooses a topic that he/she is passionate with. Since that seems not to be the case with you, I would advise you to choose another topic as opposed to quitting blogging altogether.
just my two cents

Well firstly, I think you should turn off comments. It's obvious that you have no use for them and that they only frustrate you. If someone has something that they really want to say they can contact you by email. Killing your comments won't kill your blog, and many successful bloggers do it. Also, you say your content is controversial, so it also might get people emotional, and when people are emotinal they say, or in this site write, what they wouln't if they were calm. Giving them a chance to contact you could give them a chance to cool down, but also a chance for you to still get some feedback from people who have something at least interesting to say.

As for post frequency, quantity really doesn't matter, expecially for a controversial topic. I assume you give people a lot to think about in your articles and frequent updates may overwhelm them. You should just have a schedule and stick to it. Just tell your readers your're going to post less frequently, but that you are doing so to preserve the quality of your work as well as the blog. Since I see you don't really care about monetization and you really care about the readership, the people who are truly interested in your blog will stay.

I can't assume a whole lot about the content, because I haven't read any of your posts for obvious reasons, but I can feel that this blog is an outlet for you. You say that you feel indifferent and that seems negative to you. I disagree. Indifferency as well as hurt feeling or thoughts about one's own beliefs are just a sign that you too are learning and thinking at your own work as well as other people's views with objectivity. You do say that you are an introvert so it seems logical that you take all the comments on your work to heart. The think that makes most bloggers quit is that they haven't yet "grown" a thick skin. As for all things, 90% of the comments you get are probably crap, as Sturgen would say.

From your post here, I feel that the blog is really important to you and that some of the comments have discuraged you and that in some way you are looking for an excuse to close your blog. If you really wanted to close it, you would to so, because if you're the type of introvert I am, you would take other people's advice only if it was for something you didn't want to do.

So here's what I recommend. First, kill the comments, they aren't doing anybody any good. Secondly make a posting schedule and stick with it... Tell your readership about it. Leave time out for your family, they are going to need you, but keep on writing. Maybe someday it will be something you will tell your children about. It can only help grow your blog in quality over time. You seem a passionate writes, expecially when it comes to your blog. We all need passion, so don't let other people's prejudice stop you. Write on, my friend, write on.

From a fellow introvert,
Ivan Brezak Brkan

P.S.
Send me the link via PM if you want...

Just remember, if you do decide to turn off comments then you risk killing the blog anyway. I've seen a lot of good blogs fall by the wayside because they halted discussion -- many bloggers won't read if they feel they can't comment, and they often won't want to write a post of their own just to challenge your views.

I don't agree. Only 6% of all blog readers ever post comments. The blog could die if it depended on comments, and as we see they are only causing more grief to both the author and the readership. The people who want to comment can either send you a mail or they can comment on their own blogs, which will only increase your trackbacks.

Most blogs that die as a result of disabling blogs are blogs that only let readers engage in a discussion, but don't offer any usefull content. If the content is of some quality, "they" will come. A good blog doesn't have to have comments to be a blog...

I'm not saying you *have* to have comments. I just said he risks killing the blog -- I've seen it happen so I know it can be a side affect.

You should always take into account all possible outcomes before you make an action, his readership obviously wants to comment otherwise this wouldnt be an issue.

It sounds like your purpose of the blog is to share info...so is it doing that? Be true to yourself, if you are accomplishing your goal, don't stop blogging. Turn off your comments (it doesn't serve the purpose of YOUR goal-you sharing what you know). Ease up on the 3X a week post pressure. If you feel you must post more often, break down your posts into parts (part one, part two, etc) and spread one great and longer post out during the week.

Do you have a forum you post on regularly? Tell your visitors you'll be at that forum if they want to post comments re: your blog. The spammers and trouble makers will move on to another blog to harass. The people who really want to discuss issues will meet and share with or without you. Ideally, find a forum on your blog topic.

I know I don't know your or your blog...but for whatever its worth-I feel like you should NOT stop!

Never kill your blog!

Say what you have to say to the world, even if it is only 1 time a week.

Again, don't kill your blog. To who you will say your thoughts on the subject then?

Originally Posted by bgmill

...his readership obviously wants to comment otherwise this wouldnt be an issue.

... a portion of the readership wants to comment. I doubt that every single reader wants to comment, it's just human nature. Personally, I doubt that could kill his blog, but he could see how many readers want to comment, maybe a poll or something?

The good thing about a blog is of course more than just publishing. If you choose that, then it is entirely ok.

Regarding comment on blogs:
Given the choices to build a community around your topic or not, I would choose the former rather than the latter.

There should be a lot of consideration before you kill your blog. I noticed that only a few people have grown the traffic to their blog steadily in a few months. Most of us need one to two year to get a few hundreds worth of unique visitors a day.

But if you think you really have another winner, then by all means start it. Just don't fall into the trap of jumping from one opportunity to another.

Just my 2c.

Wow, thank you so much for your thoughtful answers, especially since I am just an anonymous newbie here. I am really grateful for your advice and I think I needed it to decide to go on with the blog. I do still want to write about the topic, there are many blog posts waiting to be written in my head.

To be honest, I do not think killing comments will help that much because on my blog comments are actually quite civil. It is just that people disagree with me (mostly on other blogs) and I have heard their arguments time and again and it just gets tiring. But they are not trolls or spammers, if that was the problem I think it would be easier to tackle. I think Fortius had it right about the thick skin. I actually knew this was going to be a problem before I started the blog, but naively assumed it would work out itself. Any tips on getting a thicker skin fast?

I'll continue as usual (and even have a little faith in it again!) but I will ease up on the posting schedule. I think I can at least try how that works and if visitors accept it.

Thanks again!

Good resolutions.

I hope you do well.

I've recently dropped to a once a week schedule for my blogs. That keeps content current, the links to my other sites valuable.

The archives have value, so even if I went to a once a month schedule I would still keep them up.

enjoy

Give anything (including thick skin) time if you want growth. I would suggest finding a way to stop getting the neg info. Maybe avoid the forums and let people know you DO NOT want to hear it. Then YOU choose how much, how often, and when you will expose yourself to the neg. A little at a time will help thick skin grow. Sometimes neg info will trigger a valuable post. Find your balance. Change it as you change.

Glad to know you are still blogging!

Originally Posted by wahm

I started a blog five months ago. The blog is about a topic I am passionate about. I started it because I wanted to share everything I learned with other people. I now wonder if I should kill it and would really appreciate your ideas. I know that most blogs die within the first six months and I really hate to be one of those. On the other hand, I think sometimes it is wise to learn from your efforts and move on. This is all new to me, so I don't know if this falls into the "did not try hard enough" or in the latter category.

If you are really passionate about it, could there be - by any chance - that you are TOO passionate about your topic? Perhaps your passion is good, but the way you write is not 100% right?

English is not my own language. My blog is almost all original content and writing a blog post costs me an entire evening, at least. I feel that to do this right, the blog takes up ALL my time and even then I feel that quality is not good enough. I want to post three times a week, that seems to be the minimum that people expect from a blog. I have a young family so time in weekends is also limited.

Why you want to post three times a week? Why not post one longer article once per week?

My topic is very controversial and I have come to dislike all the heated discussions, all the bickering, all the dishonesty and stupidity. I also feel I am too much of an introvert to be a "real" blogger. I don't really enjoy the chatting and discussing other bloggers do. I notice that I also start to dislike the controversy itself. I even feel indifferent about the subject more and more and wonder if I am actually helping people or just adding to the noise.

Could you adjust your approach? Instead of saying "this is the right way to do it" or "I know that these religions got it all wrong" could you admit that there's a chance that you are too passionate to see limitations in your approach? I'm not saying that you are - and you might write well - but I'm asking if there's something you could do in your way of writing? Perhaps you have strong opinions about some issues and think that others should see it the same way?

I might be totally wrong - so please feel free to ignore me. I'm just throwing wild guesses.

Of course, I don't have to post three times a week and I can just ignore everything that goes around in my niche and post in a vacuum, but then I wonder: why blog? Wouldn't it be better to turn my site into a regular resource site that is occasionally updated with new content?

You just said it! Why post three times a week? What makes you think that 3-times a week is required? Why not make one post once per week for starters. Or once per two weeks! If the subject & discussion gets heated, that means there's lots to discuss before starting new subjects.

I'd like you to ask yourself: Why are you blogging? What are you goals for it? Are you trying to have fun, or is it going to wrong direction? How could you improve your approach? Why not chooose a more relaxing way: post when you want instead of forcing you to post three times a week if it seems bad to you. Nobody is forcing you to write more often than you want and what feels good to you.

Let us use Your blog as a test blog ..hehe .If u do decide to kill it

Funny enough you say you are an introvert. I thought this should be a good reason to blog since you don't have face anyone in real life and justify why your opinions count.

Well at the end of the day you need to ask yourself why you are blogging and if you don't get a good enough answer within yourself then maybe you should quit blogging.

I blog because I enjoy it and like sharing info with other like minded people. It also helps me grow as I can track what I've done in the past few months.

Remember your blog is your own opinion and in a free world we all should have an opinion on anything.

Cheers