Understanding the 3 Stages of a Blog
September 13, 2008 
7 Comments
There are three stages that a blog goes through: The Spike, The Downfall, and The Plateau.
Just like you guys, I have a lot to learn about blogging and its dynamics. One thing I do know though is that we cannot be naive in our approach and understanding of blogs.
Blogs are like everything else in life when it comes to growing and maturing: it takes time.
For me, and I assume for many of you, we get really excited about a blog for a few days. Then, if no comes or if we don’t get flooded with comments – we give up and decide that the blog won’t work or was a bad idea to begin with.
Needless to say, that mentality is the wrong – plain and simple. So I wanted to take a few moments of your time to explain how a blog works, the trends you’ll see when it comes to visitors, and clear up some misconceptions that exist.
The Spike
If you have a blog then almost all of you can relate to this. Day one, you launch your blog and, so far, you are the only person who has visited it. Before you even write your first post (except for the “My New Blog!” post) you are telling everyone about your new blog. You use your Google/AIM away message, send out mass e-mails, and bring it up in your conversations.
All of a sudden your blog goes from having 0 visitors to have “x” amount of visitors per day. Sometimes we sit there and refresh the page over and over hoping the counter goes up or that someone left a comment so we can respond to it. This is the spike and it doesn’t last.
Initially, people come to your blog because it’s a new link to click. These same people though probably have different interests than you and simply have no reason to return to become a returning reader. This is normal and is not in any way an indication that your blog sucks or your writing is boring.
This spike and initial enthusiasm usually lasts 2-4 weeks.
The Downfall
This is where most bloggers give up. Most people you sent the e-mail out to have stopped coming and almost everyone on your buddy list clicked the link at least once.
When you are left with only a small handful of visitors, do not give up!!!
Despite the numbers giving only what seems like bad news, I have good news for you: This is the lowest point your blog will ever be at. From here, it’s only growth with an occasional dip. The readers who have stuck around or begin to come will be there because you both share similar interests.
How long this stage lasts depends on the type of blog you run. A personal blog make take longer to rise from this stage when compared to something about technology or politics.
The Plateau
Congratulations! If you’ve made it this far then you held on, remained patient, and will Insha’Allah become a successful blogger. Most likely you will reach this stage within 9-12 months after starting your blog. This means that only the truly dedicated will have made it.
By this point, any visitors that start coming regularly seem like a blessing. Of course, Allah (swt) is the reason we have any success After Allah (swt) comes your efforts and your writing. Feel good that you made it here because you earned it.
Your blog has now passed the dramatic ups and downs and this period is like a “rebirth” of sorts. From this time forward you will see a much more steady pace of growth for you blog.
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The key is to remember that everything takes time and that time means patience. I ask Allah (swt) to give us all patience and make us successful at whatever we do in life. Ameen.
Have you ever had an experience where you started a blog and gave it up? Did you ever meet The Downfall and decide not to give up anyway? If you’ve already reached The Plateau, what advice can you offer those who are struggling to get to this point?
