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Sep 10 / Viji Iyer

I’m starting a blog! But why bother?

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My squiggly notes

Yeah, I know! I had to ask myself that question before trudging further. With more than 133 million blogs that have been indexed by Technorati since 2002 and counting (source: thefuturebuzz.com) why am I piling onto this blogosphere? I did not want this to be an impulsive or sporadic thing I choose to do one morning or get carried away seeing some of my cool social media friends do it with such ease and poignancy. Before investing any further, I had to know what my intentions were? In looking for a deeper or intellectual explanation to convince myself, it dawned on me that my motive was quite simple. I was plain curious!

I was curious about signing up on Twitter wondering what to do with it next? It all started as fun and games when a friend of mine coaxed me to sign up on Twitter last year as a way to stay in touch and have live conversations. In less than a year since I signed up, I’ve started using Twitter as my primary source of information and knowledge. It’s become my daily go-to site for everything. I get my daily dose of live local and global news, get inspired reading posts from my blogging gurus, follow updates on newly posted jobs in my area, even trust the movie reviews I read helping me decide my Friday plans for that week!

Like Twitter, I’m curious to follow the evolution of social media and its potential impact on my life. I’m curious to see how it is transforming the way I perceive the world around me. How it is changing the ways I assimilate knowledge and gather news from dynamic sources. Primarily, I’m most curious to see the domino effect it is starting to have in my life and influencing how I communicate with my world.

Truth is, I have been actively engaging in social media since its inception without even realizing it! Look around, social media has permeated our everyday life influencing how we perceive and engage with the world around us. Right from the choices we make each morning starting with the brand of coffee you drink, the clothes you wear, the stocks you choose to invest in or the restaurant you go to and celebrate your special events are all influenced in some fashion through a more dynamic form of ‘word of mouth’ – the social media. I had to be a part of this revolutionary form of communication and pen my thoughts along this process.

So in getting back to the ‘why bother?’ part, I felt ‘now’ would be a good time to transfer my longtime illegible squiggles from my small red notebook and convert it into an actual blog. I therefore start this blog with a pure intention of getting back to writing using this medium as a bouncing board to share my thoughts, experiences, questions and hopefully a few eureka moments. As a social media enthusiast, I’m curious to see where this process takes me, and eager to document and share this with you as I surf through the bursting world of social media and its yet to be explored potentials. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I know I’ll enjoy writing about it. Would love to hear your side of ‘why bother?’ that got you into blogging.

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Filed under Branding, Social Media
  • http://staceyalex.com Stacey Alex

    Great first post, Viji! I just watched a video today that said the campfire is social media, and the water cooler at work too. I like that you bring that same idea here.

    To answer your call to action, I got into blogging about 3 years ago. First with a health blog, then a blog reporting the various adventures I got into, and now for branding myself as a professional in social media. It’s a great way to share your thoughts while also gaining trust among your readers. Not to mention that the constant writing improves your skill.

  • http://staceyalex.com Stacey Alex

    Great first post, Viji! I just watched a video today that said the campfire is social media, and the water cooler at work too. I like that you bring that same idea here.

    To answer your call to action, I got into blogging about 3 years ago. First with a health blog, then a blog reporting the various adventures I got into, and now for branding myself as a professional in social media. It’s a great way to share your thoughts while also gaining trust among your readers. Not to mention that the constant writing improves your skill.

  • http://www.marketinghipster.com Cord Silverstein

    Why bother Viji? I think it is important that you and anyone else who wants their voice to be heard has the opportunity to do so. Don’t worry about the 133 million blogs. Be real, be genuine and there will be people who want to hear what you have to say.

    Welcome to blogosphere! We are very happy to have you here.

  • http://www.marketinghipster.com Cord Silverstein

    Why bother Viji? I think it is important that you and anyone else who wants their voice to be heard has the opportunity to do so. Don’t worry about the 133 million blogs. Be real, be genuine and there will be people who want to hear what you have to say.

    Welcome to blogosphere! We are very happy to have you here.

  • http://topsy.com/vijiiyer.com/2010/09/i%E2%80%99m-starting-a-blog-but-why-bother/?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention I’m starting a blog! But why bother? | Viji Iyer — Topsy.com

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cord Silverstein and SocialWayne.com Blog, Stacey Alexander. Stacey Alexander said: Why start a blog? Post by @viji__iyer will help you figure that one out. http://bit.ly/coQ6b6 […]

  • http://www.1918.com/ Phil Buckley

    This is great news Viji! I’m with Cord, if you don’t let your voice be heard, nobody will ever know how awesome you are!

    I’ll be looking for your next blog tomorrow ;-)

  • http://www.1918.com/ Phil Buckley

    This is great news Viji! I’m with Cord, if you don’t let your voice be heard, nobody will ever know how awesome you are!

    I’ll be looking for your next blog tomorrow ;-)

  • Maura McDonald

    Glad to se you took the plunge. Why bother to me is because everyone is unique and you never know who is listening.

  • Maura McDonald

    Glad to se you took the plunge. Why bother to me is because everyone is unique and you never know who is listening.

  • http://squarejawmedia.com Brian McDonald

    Viji,

    There’s always time to create and join the millions of blogs. Why? because you have a voice and experience that may be of interest to others.

    I started blogging as a way to get back into writing and understand the medium. Since then I’ve found it to be a great way to understand how content creation is changing and better understand social media, SEO, marketing and other important topics in my field.

    Congrats on starting your blog and look forward to more posts!

  • http://squarejawmedia.com Brian McDonald

    Viji,

    There’s always time to create and join the millions of blogs. Why? because you have a voice and experience that may be of interest to others.

    I started blogging as a way to get back into writing and understand the medium. Since then I’ve found it to be a great way to understand how content creation is changing and better understand social media, SEO, marketing and other important topics in my field.

    Congrats on starting your blog and look forward to more posts!

  • http://twitter.com/sueherron Susan Herron

    Hats off and congrats on your inaugural post! As a person who also has many notebooks full of “illegible squiggles” I believe in the power of writing to channel and clarify ideas like no other process can. The added benefit of a blog is real-time feedback and interaction. What could be better than that? I’m looking forward to your next post! :-)

  • http://twitter.com/sueherron Susan Herron

    Hats off and congrats on your inaugural post! As a person who also has many notebooks full of “illegible squiggles” I believe in the power of writing to channel and clarify ideas like no other process can. The added benefit of a blog is real-time feedback and interaction. What could be better than that? I’m looking forward to your next post! :-)

  • http://ggpedia.blogspot.com Gayatri

    Welcome to blogosphere – looking forward to more of your writing. Why did I get into blogging? It was just a way to keep the grey cells going, a way to document memories (little things that I am sure to forget in a little while, but I’ll be happy to remember that those little things mattered at one point in time…)and a way to connect with like minded people, known or unknown.

  • http://ggpedia.blogspot.com Gayatri

    Welcome to blogosphere – looking forward to more of your writing. Why did I get into blogging? It was just a way to keep the grey cells going, a way to document memories (little things that I am sure to forget in a little while, but I’ll be happy to remember that those little things mattered at one point in time…)and a way to connect with like minded people, known or unknown.

  • Radha

    Nice work Viji! Look forward to more of your posts.

  • Radha

    Nice work Viji! Look forward to more of your posts.

  • Viji Iyer

    Thank you for all your encouraging comments! Its always interesting to listen to your stories of what got you into blogging in the first place! There’s always something new to learn when we get to share with others.

  • Viji Iyer

    Thank you for all your encouraging comments! Its always interesting to listen to your stories of what got you into blogging in the first place! There’s always something new to learn when we get to share with others.

  • http://sas-bi.blogspot.com Angela Hall

    What wonderful Monday news to receive! Congratulations on making the jump Viji, keep it up.

  • http://sas-bi.blogspot.com Angela Hall

    What wonderful Monday news to receive! Congratulations on making the jump Viji, keep it up.

  • http://themagnificientshirish.wordpress.com/ Bela Bapat

    Good going Viji and a warm welcome to the blogosphere! I am so happy that you are showcasing your talent of writing here.
    Go Viji!
    Love,
    Bela

  • http://themagnificientshirish.wordpress.com/ Bela Bapat

    Good going Viji and a warm welcome to the blogosphere! I am so happy that you are showcasing your talent of writing here.
    Go Viji!
    Love,
    Bela

  • Manisha

    Hey Vij.. way to go!! So glad you started this.. Happy writing!! :)

  • Manisha

    Hey Vij.. way to go!! So glad you started this.. Happy writing!! :)

  • Elizabeth (Jincy)

    Hola Vij!

    Fantastic Piece of work and good luck for all your endeavours…
    I still remember the little book in which you penned our ‘Sona Happenings’ and would read it out to me during the long recess in school! The writer in you has come a long way!!!
    All interested deserve to ‘know your mind’.. way to go Gurl!

    Whenever time permits – it will be a delight to read ‘your space’

    Love n ((hugs)))
    Jinx

  • Elizabeth (Jincy)

    Hola Vij!

    Fantastic Piece of work and good luck for all your endeavours…
    I still remember the little book in which you penned our ‘Sona Happenings’ and would read it out to me during the long recess in school! The writer in you has come a long way!!!
    All interested deserve to ‘know your mind’.. way to go Gurl!

    Whenever time permits – it will be a delight to read ‘your space’

    Love n ((hugs)))
    Jinx

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  • Deepa

    Hi Viji-
    What a great start! I’m looking forward to reading more of your writing…keep me updated!
    Deepa

  • Deepa

    Hi Viji-
    What a great start! I’m looking forward to reading more of your writing…keep me updated!
    Deepa

  • http://vijiiyer.com/2010/09/launching-your-blog-some-considerations/ Launching your blog? Some considerations | Viji Iyer

    […] from my own mould and not be my own enemy as I venture into new things. As a natural sequel to my introductory post I’d like to dedicate this post to all the people who influenced me during this process as I was […]

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    My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!

  • http://vijiiyer.com Viji Iyer

    @College Grants for Single Mothers, thank you for your comment, very encouraging! Love your website for single mothers, looks like a great resource with a lot of useful information!

  • http://vijiiyer.com Viji Iyer

    @College Grants for Single Mothers, thank you for your comment, very encouraging! Love your website for single mothers, looks like a great resource with a lot of useful information!

  • http://www.syntha6.org Meryl Petrone

    What a comment!! Very informative also easy to understand. Looking for more such blog posts!! Do you have a myspace?
    I recommended it on digg. The only thing that it’s missing is a bit of color. Anyway thank you for this blog.

  • http://www.syntha6.org Meryl Petrone

    What a comment!! Very informative also easy to understand. Looking for more such blog posts!! Do you have a myspace?
    I recommended it on digg. The only thing that it’s missing is a bit of color. Anyway thank you for this blog.

  • http://vijiiyer.com Viji Iyer

    Meryl, thanks for your positive comment and sharing my post! I appreciate it. I do not have a myspace presence currently. But will try to spruce up my blog with colorful pics keeping your advice in mind! :)

  • http://vijiiyer.com Viji Iyer

    Meryl, thanks for your positive comment and sharing my post! I appreciate it. I do not have a myspace presence currently. But will try to spruce up my blog with colorful pics keeping your advice in mind! :)

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