Whether or not the first bloggers created these myths or they formed over time by the way the media perceived bloggers, there will eventually come a time when everyone that wants to know about blogging or how to start a blog will realize that they were being fooled (at least for the most part). What you need to know is that blogging is an art that millions of people have already ventured onto – it isn’t going away for the time being and is continuing to evolve to this day.

Now, in this post I don’t want to make complete generalizations, but what I and others have noticed over the years since blogging grow in popularity. They may have died, but are still present in many cases where “old” media and “new” media collide.

1. Blogging is hard.

That, for one, simply isn’t true. Unlike most professions, you don’t even need a degree to get started. All you need is some know-how on how to use a computer and follow instructions. There are thousands of posts and support forums available to get started, even if it means starting with Blogger or any other free service. You aren’t obligated to start with your own self-hosted account with your own domain or server from the start. Plus, you have the freedom to make it as easy or as difficult as possible – in terms of the type of blog you want to run (work put in and difficulty are rather proportional).

Keep in mind that the following tend to help:

• Computer and Internet knowledge.
• Background on a topic or hobby you want to explore further through your blog.
• Ability to communicate (write) with others and create a community.

2. Blogging is opinionated and personal (too personal for me to do it).

Again, if you think this, you haven’t looked at a significant number of blogs and websites out there. Even traditional websites (not updated in a reverse-chronological order) had people expressing their thoughts. Just because you write on a blog doesn’t mean that you have to give your opinions on everything nor take sides on issues – you can simply present what you see happening or information about something you love. In the end, all sites present content, and depending on your own style, readers will either read it for the information or the unique viewpoint and the feeling that you have created a community.

Bloggers have notoriously been known for getting into deep conversations with others – it is just something that people have and there is nothing wrong with expressing your thoughts – it is your own website and there is no one stopping you from doing what you want.

3. Blogging can’t reap benefits quickly enough for my liking.

Partly true, this statement would be corrected by saying that blogging can be more beneficial in the long-term than anything else you do. If you have an interest in sharing your ideas, products, or services with others from the start, you have yourself well on your way to becoming successful. Give it at least six months until you see some return on the initial investment – more than likely hours of time, rather than the thousands traditionally required if you started your own business. 

People have started blogging at the personal scale and they have been able to expand to much greater avenues, from writing their own books, promoting their own product, and being hired by other companies – you aren’t limited in this respect either.

Put in more work and you’ll certainly see more in return.

4. Bloggers are really evil, unfriendly people.

Depending on who you are talking to, this might be true, but for the most part, it isn’t. Bloggers are already talking to people on the web everyday. If you doubt this, look at Twitter. The entire community there has grown to “accept” one another, not erupting into huge arguments every day. Bloggers can be viewed more as someone who has spent too many hours working, as is the case for many bloggers. They will certainly have their low points, but get on their side when they are feeling less stressed, and they will generally reach out their hand to you to start a conversation.

Leaving a comment and not seeing a reply is not a reason to think that they don’t want to talk to you, as the blog could receive thousands of comments per day, making it nearly impossible to read all of them or even reply to each one individually.

5. You have to be a celebrity to start blogging and becoming popular.

Nope. You can be a “nobody” and reach a popularity that rivals other bloggers within a year or two, which isn’t even true for people in the limelight. Develop a personality and ensure that you are able to evolve over the lifespan of your blog, and you’ll be nearly set to create a portal of content that others flock to everyday. 

6. Community is extremely important.

It certainly is. However, as your blog grows, there will be a perceived sense of community, because despite more traffic and readership, you won’t necessarily receive more average comments per day. There will still be the 1-10% of people (depending on the type of blog you have) that will leave a comment, while the others will barely even read the content or have no meaningful input. 

What is important is community initially – develop this and it’ll be that much easier to expand when you look at how you will still grow over the long-tail.

Your readership will help prop you up when you are down, help grow your site and ultimately lead to your success – respect them and they’ll respect them back.

Conclusion

Myths come and go with the wind, but you have to know, that even as you become more experienced as a blogger, a few of them will still be there, and you will continue to doubt or fail to realize how to blog along some of the fine lines, those that may ultimately run the way you blog and communicate. 

Keep in mind that blogging might not come naturally for some, while others were “born to blog.” A majority of blogging is about how you are able to communicate, while the other is about how you market and promote yourself, which is separate from the communication aspect.

What are some misconceptions or myths that you had when you first started your blog and what others can you share with first-time bloggers?