1,000th Blog Post!

This post is number 1,000 on my blog. WOW!

When I started this blog back in January 2009 my goal was to help churches of all sizes, but especially smaller ones, reach the next generation. That is still a passion of mine. But as the Lord has continued to evolve my ministry assignment, my blog has reflected that evolution. Now I also post devotionals that typically come from some observation I make in everyday life. I also post tips on how to have a healthy church even when it has nothing to do with reaching the next generation. I also try to post articles from guest authors from time to time when I read something they wrote that I think my readers would be blessed by. I like to this this expansion of the blog has made it more helpful for readers.

More than 250,000 individuals have read one or more posts on the blog. I would have never imagined that many people would be influenced by a simple blog written by a guy in New England that no one has ever heard of. God has a way of using technology for His glory, even when it sounds impossible from a human perspective.

One of the things I enjoy about my blog is interacting with various readers. When people leave comments, I get an email. Though sometimes I can't respond immediately, I do try to respond later in the day. These online conversations are mutually encouraging. Frequently readers leave comments that add extra depth to whatever the subject of the post is about. Without those comments, the post itself is less powerful. So keep commenting!

If you are thinking of starting a blog, here are my suggestions for how to be successful at it:

1. Write good content. Every post does not have to be long, but every post does need to say something interesting and unique.

2. Write on a regular basis. My life is a bit hectic. Sometimes I write very regularly. Other times I write less often. I have noticed that when I write on a more regular basis I get a better response than when my posts are irregular.

3. Respond to those who leave comments. When I first started blogging I did not do this as well as I should. Now I try to respond to every comment (I do occasionally miss one, no one is perfect!). Though it takes time, it increased dialogue on the page, encouraged more readers and taught me a lot I would not have learned otherwise.

4. Keep at it. Don't expect thousands of readers all at once. I have slowly built up a group of people who enjoy my posts and that group often shares those posts with others. Now nearly 3,000 unique readers visit the blog every month. It has taken years to get to this point. I have tried to focus on quality content. Bit by bit the number of readers have increased. If a blog is worth reading, people will find it.

I think we can make the world a better place by sharing ideas through blogging. It takes time. But if we are willing to stay focused, we can do it!

Start writing!

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Dr. Terry Dorsett has been a pastor, church planter, denominational leader and author in New England for more than 20 years. He is a happy husband, a proud father and adoring grandfather. He is a cancer survivor and believes that God works powerfully through times of suffering. He writes extensively and you can find all of his books at:   http://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Terry-W.-Dorsett/e/B00405U4NY