Why I changed my mind about blogging

Back in October I tweeted the following:

"Why I don't yet have a blog, and why maybe you shouldn't either. Answer these 10 questions. http://is.gd/57PQ"

Well, I think I can answer those 10 question now. Here goes.

(Questions courtesy of HubSpot's Online Marketing Blog)

1.  Who are your primary and secondary targets for your blog?

First, I'm targeting innovators and decision-makers in the fields of energy efficiency, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), automated meter reading (AMR), so-called "smart grid" technology, and the like. Second, I'm targeting citizens who care about solutions to what may be the two most critical problems facing humanity today: global warming and energy security.

2.  What do you want to tell them?

I want to shine light on technologies and solutions that have the power to revolutionize the way we live by changing the way we produce, distribute, and consume energy. I want to tell my audience why specific technologies and businesses are important and why others are just hype. I want to show what is feasible and what is not so feasible, enabling politicians and voters to make informed decisions regarding how we invest our shared resources. And, finally, I want to ensure that, through public education, the critical energy problems get addressed efficiently and openly, in ways that benefit inventors, entrepreneurs, investors, and citizens.

3.  Do you understand what the key informational needs of the audience are?

I know what my own informational needs are as an active citizen, technologist, and entrepreneur. So I think I can guess what sorts of things people like me would want to know about.

4.  Are you reading other blogs on that topic, and ones targeting your customers and prospects?

I have had my head buried in more technical documents for the past couple of months. That in itself counts for a lot, considering the amount of material I have consumed. Now that I have built some technical depth, I will be spending more time tracking what others are doing and saying in this arena. My FeedDemon is loaded and ready to rock'n'roll.

5.  If you are reading, are you leaving comments that add to the online conversation on the blogs you cover?

I'm working on that.

6.  Do you have a firm grasp on the types of keywords to focus on that would be relevant to your blog?

Oh yeah.

7.  Do you follow those keywords on Technorati and Google Blog Search?  Do you have alerts set up around those keywords at Google Alerts? (or possibly even use a reputation management system?)

Yeperoo.

8.  Can you commit to blogging at least two-to-three times per week? (consistency is key, based on the expectations you set with your audience)

Hell, I'm semi-retired. I love this shit. And what else do I have to spend my time on? Might as well work on making the world a better place. Beats the hell out of drinking myself into a stupor. And now that I've rehabilitated one run-down house, I don't think I'm going to be jumping back into that fire again any time soon. I suppose I could travel, but unless we get this energy thing under control, travel is a luxury we won't be able to afford for very much longer. Might as well get used to staying in one place.

9.  What is your ultimate goal in starting a blog?  In one year from when you start blogging, how will your life be different?

I sure as shit hope I've informed someone about something in a way that's improved a life or two. How will my life be different? I suppose I'll be pretty excited to be part of yet another technology revolution. That last few (Internet, Mobile Internet) were fun -- and largely so because I was in the middle of the action. I'd be kicking myself in a year if I hadn't jumped into energy too.

10.  Are you looking at blogging as a challenge or something that could be fun?

Both, although I rarely think of anything as "fun". I'm not really into fun. I'm into exhilaration, passion, innovation, wisdom, and insight. If those things turn out to be fun, that's cool.