Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Why I stopped blogging here

Well, it's now over 4 months since I last posted on this Tax-Buzz blog. And not one person has asked me why or seems to have missed it.  After over 400 posts over the previous 4 years. I think this evidences that much of what is said about blogging is bogus. I first shared my concerns on this topic back in 2008.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still an active blogger - especially for Ambitious Accountants where I share tips, insights and advice for a key target audience. I have posted almost 500 items there over the last few years and routinely adapt blog posts for inclusion in talks and longer articles.

But returning to this Tax-Buzz blog, the main purpose was to attract traffic and interest for the Tax Advice Network. Initially the blog was embedded in the site and then at the end of 2007 we moved to this blogspot platform as it is more Google friendly.

I also had an idea at the outset that the blog would evidence my stance as an independent tax commentator and explainer of complex tax issues. But for each year of blogging here I reckon I have had no more than two approaches by the media for interviews or comment. Not really worth the effort I think it's fair to say.

And my life has moved on. I remain Chairman of the Tax Advice Network and we publish a weekly practical tax tips newsletter written especially for accountants in general practice. Beyond this though my income generative writing, mentoring, facilitating and speaking gigs have no direct connection with tax commentary issues. When I reviewed how I was spending my time I realised that blogging here was taking too much time for no perceived benefit. So I stopped.

The writing was on the wall when I posted this piece last November: After 400 Tax-Buzz blog posts - what now?

I was recently advised to make it clear that the absence of any Tax-Buzz blog posts in 2012 was a conscious decision. Maybe I'll find an new angle that better resonates with my other activities. There's certainly no absence of tax stories these days to highlight, flag, explain or clarify. But for now I'll leave it to others.