I read a lot of blogs. Not counting this one, I check in with at least 49 blogs daily. Using Blogshelf, a RSS reader app on my iPad, I organize and read those 49 blogs. I read blogs about quilting (the largest group of blogs I read), tea, writing, non-profit marketing (the second largest group), knitting and social media, among other topics.
While I’m only an intermediate knitter at best, I read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s blog on knitting as much for her excellent writing about life in general as for her knitting tips. Two marketing blogs, one by Katya Andresen and one by Beth Kanter, keep me current on trends in non-profit marketing and challenge me to consider new ways to promote Women of the ELCA. The list of blogs I read is fluid, with some blogs coming and going, depending upon what I encounter in other media.
Do you think my checking in on 49 blogs daily is crazy or a huge waste of time? It probably takes me no more than 30 minutes, since not every blogger writes a post every day. I can tell pretty quickly if a particular blog post has something helpful for me, so I don’t read every word of every blog. I consider it among the most productive 30 minutes of my day. Besides, a recent study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project reports that about 39% of Internet users—or about 57 million American adults—read blogs, so I’ve got lots of company!
What I like about blogs is the exchange of information and opinions. There’s no shortage of blogs (something like a staggering 450 million English-language blogs exist). You can find a blog on just about any topic you can imagine, from dentistry to photography, pies to gardening, interior design to jazz and then some. While the quality of the writing varies, you can find blogs that are serviceable as well as some where the blogger is an extraordinary writer.
So, do you read blogs? Share a favorite blog and tell us why it’s on your top ten list.
Linda Post Bushkofsky is executive director. She’s very proud that this blog was recently recognized by the Religion Communicators Counsel with a Best of Class Award in the social media class!