Why do people blog their trading?

[It's Snake Pliskin]

I have seen many blogs from traders of all levels and styles.

I am curious as to why people blog their trading.
Please feel free to talk about your own personal experiences.

Finally, there are some who I feel should blog, but don't.

 

[theasxgorilla]

To me it's about being a serious student of my trading life.

It also saves my girlfriend from an overdose of trading talk at home

 

[tech/a]

I dont blog---havent the time.
But some of them are just magnificent.
The time and effort to maintain must be astounding.

Reasons I would guess.
(1) You have the time,Successful trading can be very very boring.
(2) Sharing your thoughts with like minded people (They wouldnt comment if not interested).
(3) Gaining input from others interested.
(4) Keeping yourself Honest.(Trading on a blog exposes your + and - .)
(5) Gives you something to reflect on.
(6) As ASX says gives you an outlet. (I have friends who dont know I trade)

 

[sharechaser]

I dont blog---havent the time.
But some of them are just magnificent.
The time and effort to maintain must be astounding.

T/a - Any in particular you know of off the top of your head?

 

[Pager]

I don’t run a blog but do have a thread on ReefCap (Chartist) website about a simple futures system I trade and have updated with my weekly results for the past 6 months.

My

I would agree on all points tech/a has posted, trading can be boring particularly systems trading, its also very difficult for anyone who doesn’t trade be they family/friends to understand what you do, posting on a website/ running a blog is a way of communicating with other likeminded individuals.

I have found updating my thread quite rewarding in many ways and quite a few people have contacted me via personal messages about the system with either questions about how I trade or info/ideas similar they either trade or are thinking about trading, I think its been beneficial to others and myself who have bounced ideas or sought an opinion about trading futures and as ive said above if your family/friends don’t understand or have an interest in what you do then not only blogs but websites such as this or reefcap play an important role for traders at all levels as what we do is quite a lonely occupation/hobby/interest.

I would also add from my experiance posting/running a blog helps keep you focused and maintain dicipline.

Cheers

Pager

 

[tech/a]

T/a - Any in particular you know of off the top of your head?

Stevo from Reefcap.
ASX (From here) has a lot on it.
Ducati goes to a lot of effort but like looking at a debating teams blog!!
There have been many that Ive stumbled upon and just thought WOW that would take hrs to build and all day to maintain.

 

[tech/a]

Another good one and great Portfolio software too boot.

http://www.stator-afm.com/technical-stock-analysis.html

Not a blog but a great site.
Massive amount of work.

http://compuvision.com.au/

 

[Dutchy3]

I tend to use this forum as a blog ... not hit by hit so much as a place I can record my positions in real time and get feedback from others.

My wife has no interest in what positions I take and I find my mates are looking for tips rather than wanting to understand the 'why'.

The more success I'm enjoying the more boring trading position is becoming (or maybe that should be said in the reverse?) so this forum and the blogs I read seem to fill in that gap

 

[lesm]

Reasons I would guess.
(1) You have the time,Successful trading can be very very boring.
(2) Sharing your thoughts with like minded people (They wouldnt comment if not interested).
(3) Gaining input from others interested.
(4) Keeping yourself Honest.(Trading on a blog exposes your + and - .)
(5) Gives you something to reflect on.
(6) As ASX says gives you an outlet. (I have friends who dont know I trade)

I don’t run a blog but do have a thread on ReefCap (Chartist) website about a simple futures system I trade and have updated with my weekly results for the past 6 months.

I would also add from my experiance posting/running a blog helps keep you focused and maintain dicipline.

Similar to Pager (Cookie), I have a thread on ReefCap that I have set up related to Fx.

Agree with tech/a's points, in particular numbers (1), (4) and (5).

Trading can be very boring, especially when you are using a disciplined approach and it does highlight the + / -'s.

The priority is on trading though. When you maintain a thread (journal) or blog it does assist in reinforcing your focus.

Doing it for the first time does raise the question of, what if you blow an account in public, but then that is life and the thought quickly passes.

There are a number of very good blogs or threads (journals) scattered across the net and they provide a vehicle for communicating with like minded people.

 

[CFD]

My wife has no interest in what positions I take

Yes, I can see how this would add to the boredom

 

[reece55]

To me it's about being a serious student of my trading life.

It also saves my girlfriend from an overdose of trading talk at home

HAHAHAHA..... I would second that.......


My wife, whilst loving me dearly and does her best, can't really keep up with my verging on obsession with analyzing stock markets.

For me, like ASX.G, it's a discipline thing. It means I have to write down my trade ideas before I do them, diary my entries and stops and my rationale for making trades. I've only just started, but it was really ASX.G and Kennas that showed me how fun it could be.

Plus, there is the satisfaction of having comments back from fellow traders - I learn every day, it's my quest that until I die I want to learn new things... I have a pretty large thirst for knowledge....

Cheers to all
Reece

 

[sharechaser]

For me, like ASX.G, it's a discipline thing. It means I have to write down my trade ideas before I do them, diary my entries and stops and my rationale for making trades. I've only just started, but it was really ASX.G and Kennas that showed me how fun it could be.

That also seems like a good way to learn from your mistakes. I'm only starting out in the sharemarket, but i think that's a good idea and might take it up. Means that if (read: when) i do make mistakes, i can look back at my throught process and see what i did wrong or what i can do better next time.

 

[nizar]

I plan to begin blogging my trading, starting in a few weeks time.

 

[CFD]

Looking forward to it nizar.

 

[It's Snake Pliskin]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Like some of you I don't havethe time to do it. I would like to and may think about it.
Nizar I look forward to yours.

 

[Trembling Hand]

I have blogged for just three weeks and cannot believe how much I’m loving it. It's pretty hard sitting at home all day in front of a couple of screens with little interaction with anyone, trading would have to be the most isolating profession you can do. But in a short period I have made a lot of trading contacts . When I started I didn't think I would use the blog to map out every trade (I have up to 20 a day) but I thought it would be of use/interest to some to see some examples off short term trading. I'm not trying to show how smart I am because the Market makes me look very silly often but I still enjoy putting my ideas out there for comments.

Here is the biggest surprise tomorrow I'm traveling to Sydney to try out at a Prop firm largely because of the exposure I have got from the Blog. That experience alone will be worth the time I have put in.

I also have to say it has helped with my trading as putting into words my ideas has resulted in being very prepared for the day ahead.

 

[YELNATS]

The more success I'm enjoying the more boring trading position is becoming

I can imagine what you mean, but I for one would never get bored by success.

 

[Joe Blow]

Just a note to those thinking of starting their own blog in the near future. Jelsoft, the developers of this forum software Vbulletin, will soon be releasing an official blogging add-on. I will be installing this when it is first released which will hopefully be in the next month or so.

It will completely integrate with ASF and will not simply be a standalone product. It will also be very customisable (you can decide who reads it and who doesnt) with plenty of options and will also have a real focus on social networking.

I will supply more details as they come to hand.

 

[CanOz]

To me it's about being a serious student of my trading life.

It also saves my girlfriend from an overdose of trading talk at home

Another great Blog here....now that i've got my proxy server list i'll be checking in regularly on you and Reece!

Cheers and many thanks for sharing your thoughts G'rilla.

 

[wayneL]

Couple of other reasons why people blog.

*To market their services, eg Brokerages, option services, tipsters etc.

*To try and make money from advertising, google etc.

*To make believe they are a guru.

I've blogged on and off for about two years now and to be frank I don't have a clue why. Some people just like writing crap on the internet... that's why we're all here isn't it?

So thats my reason, to write crap on the internet.

I haven't done much for a while as it was option specific and now I've moved more to commodities it just didn't fit. So I've made a few changes. Same URL but a new name befitting my cynicism... Trading The Apocalypse. LOL