The Secret Sauce for Blogging Success: What is your purpose?

When you sat down at your computer one day and said, “I think I’m going to start a blog,” what led you to that decision?

Why did you launch your blog? What were your plans and goals?

What was your blog’s purpose?

Everyone starts with an intention, some plan or dream or goal. Maybe it’s morphed over the years as you’ve learned more, made connections, and expanded your worldview. Or maybe it’s the exact same as the day you checked to see if your dream URL was taken…

Either way, you’re blogging with a purpose.

We get a lot of traffic here and participate in discussions on social with folks who are looking for the “secret sauce” or “magic formula” to becoming a successful blogger.

Here it is… THE awesomesauce secret sauce:

Do whatever it takes to achieve your purpose.

Not the answer you were expecting?

Here’s the thing: Blog posts with tips and tricks on how to up your Twitter game are awesome… if you’re trying to get better on Twitter.

Blog posts about getting your pageviews to 10K to increase your revenue opportunities are awesome… if you’re trying to earn money from your blog.

Blog posts about the trials of raising foster kittens (seriously, do they have to put all four paws in the dish at once?) are awesome… if you’re trying to connect with the community of kitten foster parents.

There is no single or simple solution for achieving success because there’s no single or simple definition of success. All those posts circulating the web with “blogging secrets” and “how to be a better blogger” and “are you making these mistakes?” might help someone, even if that someone’s not you. And that’s OK! We’re all responsible for our own education, so seek out what does resonate for you.

At the end of the day, the purpose for my blog is unique to me. Even other blogs out there who cover pit bull issues and multi-species-home issues (or dogs refusing to bark at ducks… no? just me?), do it with their own views and their own goals. The tips and tricks and strategies that work for me won’t necessarily work for you and vice versa.

The secret sauce to blogging success, then, is to know your purpose and seek the education you need to achieve that purpose.

What’s YOUR purpose? Have you found the “secret sauce” for your blog? What content can we source or create to help support you and your purpose?

Maggie Marton serves as the BlogPaws senior editor. When not hiking with her two pit mixes, Emmett and Cooper, or playing with Newt the Cat, Maggie writes about them (and the pet industry) at ohmydogblog.com and maggiemarton.com. 

Image: Sergei Kardashev/Shutterstock.com and mimagephotography/Shutterstock.com