Summary

The key to successful blogging is to focus on serving the readers with valuable content.

Abstract

The article emphasizes that the primary motivation for blogging should be to provide a service to the audience. It argues that while there are various reasons people may start blogging, such as making money, gaining popularity, or self-expression, the only sustainable path to success is by prioritizing the readers' needs. The author draws a parallel between blogging and being a waiter, stressing the importance of delivering value to the audience, much like a waiter serves guests. The article also cautions against using vulnerability as a mere tactic for success, advocating instead for authentic storytelling that aids the reader's growth and learning. By shifting the focus from personal therapy to serving others, the author suggests that not only will the content improve, but the blogger will also experience personal growth and satisfaction from their work.

Opinions

Blogging should be viewed as a service to others, not as a means for personal gain or therapy.
Success in blogging comes from providing value to readers, which can lead to a loyal audience and personal fulfillment.
Vulnerability in writing should not be used as a tactic for success but should serve the purpose of the narrative and provide value to the reader.
The author believes that focusing on serving the audience will naturally lead to better content and a more successful blog.
Approaching blogging with the intent to make a difference rather than just earning money leads to greater happiness and fulfillment.
The article suggests that the key to becoming a better blogger is to become a better person by consistently striving to provide value through one's work.

How to Become a Successful Blogger: Serve Your Readers

Writing is not your therapy, it’s a service to others

Why do people blog? There are as many reasons, as there are bloggers out there. The main ones are the following:

To make money
To become popular
To build a platform
To promote a product, service or business
To say something worth saying
To stroke one’s ego

And while your reason for blogging may be something else (or a combination of the above), I would argue that there is only one that’s right.

There is only one reason for blogging that will position you and what you create for maximum success. People who blog for this reason — succeed.

That reason is this:

You blog because you want to serve your readers.

When you blog, you’re essentially a waiter

You serve your guests (audience).

But instead of bringing dishes, coffee and liquor to the tables, you’re bringing valuable, insightful, funny or simply entertaining pieces to your readers.

Serving is your job.

The better you serve, the more people like you. The more you put yourself out there (emotional labour) into your day-to-day, the more people will be happy with your service and the more they’ll come back.

My favourite place in Moscow is the one with the waiter Mario (not a typical Russian name, I guess). Mario always waves, says ‘Hi!’ and smiles when I come.

People don’t usually smile in Russia. He does. He goes out of his way to greet his guests and he always gives them something extra.

He doesn’t get paid for it. He can’t help himself.

But that’s exactly the reason why people (like me) keep coming to that place.

When you blog (or build a business or do anything else that involves other people interacting with what you create), your job is to do the same. You provide an experience for the people. And the better that experience is, the more successful you’ll be.

People say you’ve got to be vulnerable in your writing

And all I hear is another tactic (to become successful on Medium).

I don’t like tactics. They turn art into a numbers game. And whenever you turn art into a numbers game, the result is shit.

I would say, don’t be vulnerable. At least don’t be vulnerable for the sake of being vulnerable.

When I just started writing on Medium, I thought that writing is going to be like therapy for myself. I would open myself up, write about things that I was scared to admit. Some people liked it, others didn’t.

100 written pieces later, I realize I was wrong.

Writing is not therapy. It’s a service to others.

Nobody wants to read about your daddy issues unless it makes your point clearer. Nobody wants to read about your vulnerability unless it allows you to bring your idea home.

People want valuable stuff that helps them become better. If your story is there just because you want it to be, that’s not good writing. Good writing helps people learn, realize something and improve.

Be vulnerable only when it’s needed. Otherwise, it’s nothing more than emotional nudity.

When you start serving others, your content changes

Once I realized that writing is not something I do for myself, everything changed.

I stopped trying to get more readers like me. I stopped going for the external stuff, and I focused on what’s right in front of me. I focused on making my writing better, and make it resonate with readers even better.

Instead of searching for something in the distance, I decided to become great at what I do now

I focused on creating content that I would love to read myself.

When I stopped serving myself and started serving others, trying to create as much value as possible, everything changed. My content became better. My following started to grow on all 3 blogs that I am currently pushing.

And most importantly, I started to feel better about my work. I became proud of what I do.

You become a better blogger when you become a better person

And you know the best part? It started to change me from the inside. I realized that whatever I am doing, I am not really doing for myself.

If I am building a business, I am trying to provide as much value to the customers as possible.

If I am writing a blog, I am here to serve my readers and give them as much value as I can by writing about the key life lessons I’ve learned.

If I am working as a freelancer, my job is to provide a great service to the person who hired me.

When you approach your work as a service, not only does your work change. You change too.

Your work, your art and your business — are all representations of who you are as a person.

There are two types of people

People who work for money, and people who work to make a difference.

People who work for money are lost. They don’t know what they want out of life, so they chase extrinsic rewards. They’ll never have enough.

People who work to make a difference, even if it’s for one person at the far table who just ordered a lobster, are the happiest people on Earth.

We are most happy when we feel needed and effective. We can achieve that if we start approaching our jobs (and yes, blogging is a job too) with a deep longing to be helpful to others.

There is a huge difference between these two types of people. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living. The whole difference is in the how.

And it’s always your choice.

Remember: as a blogger, you serve your readers

The readers are not here for you. It’s the other way around: you are here for them.

As I am here for YOU.

It starts with the little things: whether you check your spelling or not, whether you think about what you really want to say, how you choose your headline, whether you delete unnecessary words, how you pick your photo, and so on.

It’s how you approach these little things that show how you approach the whole process.

But when you approach your blogging as a service, you’ll see your results skyrocket.

In Russia, we have a saying:

Do it fine, and it’ll be fine.

It’s true.

Thanks for reading.