If you are my long term reader, you might notice a pattern here – I blog ON and OFF. I am not a consistent blogger, and let me tell you why.
1) Blogging about personal life does not benefit readers
I have loyal readers. I easily identify them because they are the people who stab me in the ass if I don’t update my blog. “Hoi! update blog leh! my main source of entertainment woh”.
The truth fact is, I am only providing a pure source of entertainment to the readers. And by entertaining my readers, I have to sacrifice my own effort and time,which brings up the next point.
2) Requires significant effort and time
Updating entry takes serious effort and time.
I’ve been blogging since the day I came to Australia for oversea study. I’d say probably four years of blogging experience (took blogging more seriously the last two years). Since I’ve graduated, and planned to move back Malaysia. My blog topic would not be as exciting as during my stay here in Australia.
On top of that, blogging became a habit during university life. It gives me temporary “escape” from daunting university tasks.
In hindsight, I am not benefiting myself in terms of income or reputation. That amount of reputation and income do not justify the effort and time I invested.
3) Limited space for improvement
Sufficient to say, blogging had benefited me. I’ve learn a lot from blogging. English became my mother tongue, and I am half ang mo already. The only thing is, I am not able to speak fluently. I blame myself for not practicing enough during my stay at Australia because all friends from Malaysia 
The biggest benefit I gain from blogging – able to write proficiently in English. Albeit I am not a world class writer, I am able to express what I meant. I am grateful to acquire this skill, which enables me to explore my to way around the internet freely.
And around internet, I found exciting events where I see opportunities to expand my growth and put my knowledge to test. Mainly the internet lifestyle, what I always wanted.
One of my best female friend, Cassie, knows I am choosing this path, says, “It’s so you, suits you 100%”
4) Communication with readers
The past four blogging years, I am grateful to meet some awesome blogging friends. I definitely won’t have the chance meet up with them without blogging medium.
I still remember four years ago, my main purpose of setting up a blog is to keep my girlfriend updated (friends and family starts reading my blog). Subsequently, Friendster appeared, followed by Facebook. Needless to say, I do not need a blog to update my friends and family anymore.
Besides that, I have many lurker readers. Lurkers are people who read blog and rarely leave comments. When you meet up with the readers, they remember every posts I have written. In most cases I forgot what I wrote, hahahaha. I am flattered. Seriously. This brings to next point..
5) A good blogger connects with the readers
A good blog involves a lot of interaction between author and readers, but only if the author is able to write well and convert readers to take proactive action, example, “please leave comment and tell me what you think”. If readers swamp your comments, that is a good chances you are a excellent blogger.
My point is, I am not able… to… pull… out.. this.. ^^; I tried asking questions in past few posts. And result is?
I only get 1% of reaction from my readers. 100 readers visited, 1 reader leave comment. Seeing a low reaction from readers, I wonder, do I really connect with my readers?
Conclusion
I might stop updating ahbing.com. Its not a statement yet, but I won’t deny the possibility of shutting down this blog in near future.
The worst case scenario would be updates with less effort – no photo edit, no proof read, and only photo with captions.
My main efforts will divide into projects and websites that bring solutions to readers, and possibly revenue for myself.
Three more months until 2010, I want to achieve something significant in 2009. Maybe my first million? HEHEHEHEHE.
Question: If you own a personal blog – what has the blog benefited you?
If you do no own a blog, how does a personal blog benefits the author?
Leave comments.
Update: Some readers claimed errors in leaving comments. Please use cBox on the right while I investigate the error.
Update#2: Comment errors fixed!
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