Blogmark

It's an incredible feat to have been blogging for so many years, to have done it so consistently, and to have it all still out there for the world.

I've had a blog for the better part of the last 15 years, but there have been various iterations of it that no longer exist anywhere on the public internet. In fact, I'm not even sure I could find the static site generator repos where some of those lived.

The metamorphosis of the internet means the path I took to get here literally doesn’t exist anymore. Back then, a nobody with a personal website could rank for top search engine terms, webcam footage could go viral on YouTube, and the hot thing for gaining subscribers was something called a “blog carnival.”

While there are a lot of benefits to blogging -- e.g. refining your own ideas and documenting your expertise -- it is tempting to think that putting out interesting articles could hockey stick your audience and, by proxy, your career. Unfortunately, that's trying to play a game that hasn't existed for a while.

After twenty years, I think my only advice is to write the kind of stuff you like to read. That way, you’ll know you’ll reach an audience of at least one person.

I feel conflicted about statements like this because there is probably some truth to it. At the same time it's a bit dismissive when you're trying to have an impact and build enough of an audience to be part of The Conversation™.