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Comment by JKCalhoun | Hacker News Reader

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Most people don't care about this and they should, I have the google analytics import on my business endeavors, but why would I put it into a blog? Why subject both myself and my poor readers to yet another tentacle to suck our interaction into its googolplex of data. I hope all webdevs start caring more. On that same note, I hope all webdevs stop using substack, it's so trivial nowadays to make and style your own blog however you want, why take the even lazier route of giving substack control over everything

I suspect two reasons. First, it's not easy to make your own blog - what are you thinking of here - self hosted wordpress, which will surely get hacked? If you use a service like WPEngine, that's no better than using substack.

Second, Google only surfaces the big platforms any more.

I'm talking about developers specifically. I understand if non-tech people would rather delegate all of it to a third-party like substack or medium, but as a dev, a blog is about the next hard thing you could make after a to-do app, especially post-AI.

As for your second point you're probably right, it depends on what your intention is with your blog. I wouldn't mind having thousands of people read mine, but I personally think it's eventual as long as you're a good writer and hang out in relevant communities, but I guess it makes sense from an SEO pov.

So, here on HN, some years back, when I said as much (about my blog having no analytics, etc.) I was asked why did I even blog?

I've always thought of blogging as just writing a note, dropping it in a bottle and tossing it. No idea what happens to it once I post it.

I've always considered mine a 21st century Commonplace book/journal mashup. Write it/post it/move on...

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