People start blogging for different reasons.
I started because I wanted to help people with their money. Others start because they want a creative outlet where they can practice their writing and share their thoughts. Still others start because they want a flexible way to make money from home.
Whatever your case, there are several common reasons to start a blog that you should keep in mind if you’re currently on the fence about blogging. Growing a blog takes practice, patience, and perseverance but if you put in the efforts, the rewards are certainly worth the effort.
The Main Reasons to Start Blogging – A Note on Competition
Considering that the internet has been around for a while, it’s not surprising that there are more than 600 million blogs out there. In fact, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 30 million bloggers, which is nearly 10% of the population!
If you’re thinking of starting a blog, the sheer amount of competition might be intimidating. However, your blog doesn’t have to replace your day job or even make money to be worth doing.
In fact, there’s numerous reasons to start a blog that you should keep in mind. Besides, you never know where your blog will take you in the end. If you have the urge to write and want to become a blogger, it’s time to turn that dream into reality.
1. Networking
I doubt anyone has ever started a blog because they wanted to grow their network but honestly, I think this is greatest benefit of blogging.
The more time you spend on the internet, the more interesting people you tend to meet! You meet people you would never meet otherwise.
The powerful thing about meeting other bloggers is they're generally like-minded people. These are other aspiring writers, business owners, and entrepreneurs who all have the same passion as you.
Inevitably, this new network lets you share ideas with similar people, partner on future projects, and learn from others who have more experience.
Blogging conferences and Facebook groups about blogging are two great ways to start meeting people as a new blogger. A quick search on Facebook for “blogging” yields dozens of groups with thousands of members that are free to join:
Finally, you can also create social media accounts for your blog and begin connecting with other bloggers in your niche.
2. Learn New Skills
Another amazing benefit of blogging is all the new skills you'll learn. In terms of soft skills, blogging helps you improve:
- Writing
- Marketing
- Time management
- Project organization
- Communication
- Taking on multiple roles for a business
Of course, you'll also learn a bunch of tech skills. For example, starting a WordPress blog teaches you how to navigate WordPress’ backend, create a website from scratch, and deal with website hosting. Considering that WordPress powers nearly 40% of all websites, this is one marketable skill that’s worth knowing.
Other marketable skills include things like SEO (search engine optimization) and social media management, .
Then there are all the skills you'll learn that are less easily defined… such as getting comfortable with technology and working from home. You'll learn how to build and maintain professional relationships over the internet and how to build a community.
Related: What to do if You Hate Tech
3. Become a Better Writer
As the saying goes: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence therefore is not an act, but a habit.”
The simple fact is that blogging makes you a better writer. From learning how to captivate and inspire readers to becoming a better storyteller, it’s impossible to publish thousands of words without improving your skills.
Now, I’m not saying you’re going to become the next Hemingway by starting a blog. However, if you want to sharpen your online communication skills and improve your writing, a blog is the perfect hobby.
Of course, if you want to speed up the process, you can enroll in my Hit Publish course to learn how to craft high-quality blog posts that get results.
4. Freelancing Opportunities
With all those new blogging skills under your belt, you'll get the opportunity to take on freelance work. All it takes is one editor or a fellow blogger stumbling across your blog and deciding to reach out for a project they’re working on.
Making money with freelancing can involve freelance writing for other people, but it doesn't have to. Other freelance gigs you can get land because of your blog include:
- Editing work
- Social media management
- Affiliate management
- SEO consulting
- Graphic design work
If this sounds appealing, you can create a “Work With Me” page on your blog that lists your freelance services and how potential clients can get in touch.
Your blog probably needs some time to grow before people begin reaching out with freelance work. However, this is one lucrative reason to start a blog you might not have considered.
Related: 7 Ways to Make Money Blogging as a Freelancer
5. Land a New Job
Of course, if you can freelance you can also find a full-time job with all your newfound skills. A natural progression from learning new skills with blogging is landing a new job because of your blogging hobby.
Freelance contracts can develop into full-time offers with your clients if they like your work and are looking to hire.
And nothing is stopping you from hitting the job market yourself and applying to new positions. Examples of jobs you can get because of your blog include:
- SEO specialist
- Social media marketer
- Email marketing specialist
- Staff writer
- Editor
Even if you don’t apply to another job immediately, the skills you learn from blogging might also be transferable to your day job. Ultimately, the pursuit of knowledge is another reason to start a blog, so get excited about the chance to learn some valuable new skills.
Related: 5 Unexpected Results from Starting a Blog
6. Make Money
A common reason people start a blog is to make money. In fact, in a survey from Growth Badger, two-thirds of bloggers report that money is their primary motivation.
The reality is, making money with a blog is tough work. You typically need thousands of monthly visitors and consistent traffic to really begin moving the monetization needle.
However, this shouldn’t discourage you from starting a blog if making money is your goal. After all, there’s several popular methods to monetize a blog, including:
- Display advertisements
- Affiliate links
- Selling digital downloads to readers
- Selling physical merchandise
- Writing sponsored posts for other companies
- Creating a membership service for premium members with Patreon
- Offering your freelancing skills
Even if it takes months or years to grow your blogging income, the amount of revenue streams you can create is remarkable. Plus, even if blogging doesn’t replace your main income source, you can still turn a hobby blog into a decent stream of semi-passive income that serves you for years to come.
7. Creative Expression
A lot of blogs are started just because someone wants a place to put their thoughts in the world. If you’re the type of person who likes to keep a diary or reflect on life every so often, starting a blog could help you exercise your creative side.
There’s something strangely therapeutic about sitting down at your computer and focusing all of your attention on writing. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing about a recent event in your life or your latest sourdough bread recipe either; writing has a way of calming the mind and getting you in touch with your creative side.
Trust the process, and take comfort in your new hobby. Blogging is really an outlet for you to get creative and to forget the plethora of other responsibilities and tasks you have in life. Plus, you can always have a bit of fun while you’re at it and add your own personal flair or humor into your writing.
Related: 5 Steps to Mapping Out Your First 10 Blog Posts
8. Help Other People
I bet starting a blog to help others is tied with “creative expression” for the top reason people start blogging.
Blogging also lets you share your personal experiences with others. If you’ve learned life lessons by going through something challenging, passing your wisdom onto others is definitely one worthwhile reason to begin blogging.
The thing about blogging is that, usually, the readers who find your writing are looking for a specific answer to their problems. This is also known as user intent. Therefore, if you write posts to tackle a specific question or problem people have, your content automatically helps the readers who find you (assuming you know what you’re talking about!)
This could be something small or even trivial, like that sourdough bread recipe. However, if you write about topics like physical and mental health, finances, spirituality, parenting, or other potentially life-altering topics, your advice can change lives.
9. Branch into Other Businesses
When you grow your blog, you’re building a brand and online audience. This can help you monetize your blog and also help you launch new business ventures.
Commonly, bloggers branch into other online businesses like:
- Podcasting
- Starting a YouTube channel
- Selling eBooks and courses
- Online coaching
Additionally, you might find that you get invited to speak at conferences or on various media outlets if your blog begins to get some national attention.
10. Create an Asset
One final reason to start blogging many people forget is that a blog is an asset.
For starters, if you monetize your blog, you now own an income-generating asset that’s completely yours. Even if you take a step away from blogging for several months, the traffic you still manage to get on your blog can generate passive income.
You can also hire help so you can work fewer hours and just step into a managerial role.
Plus, unlike many businesses that simply end if you decide to walk away for good, you can always sell your blog for your exit strategy. According to Forbes, websites typically sell for 24-36 times their monthly revenue. This means that even a $500 per month blog can sell for upwards of $13,000; even more if your blog traffic is trending upwards.
Reasons You Shouldn’t Start Blogging
Generally, there’s no reason you should hold off on blogging. After all, blogging is a fun, productive hobby that can turn into an income source, expand your network, and open doors.
However, there are several red flags you should look for before starting a blog to avoid disappointment or possible burnout:
You Want to Get Rich Quick. The reality is that most blogs don’t make money and those that do, don't make it right away. The blogs that generate significant revenue also typically take years to develop, so blogging isn’t a get-rich-quick idea.
You’re Living Paycheck to Paycheck. You can start a blog for free, although to remain competitive, many bloggers pay for independent WordPress hosting and buy a paid theme to get started. If you’re currently strapped for cash, blogging might be an expensive hobby that’s worth keeping in mind for the future.
You Don’t Have Free Time. If you struggle to find a moment to breathe and feel like you’re overwhelmed with responsibilities, adding a blog to your daily routine could prove challenging.
Don’t let these reasons completely stop you in your tracks, but consider them carefully before investing time and resources into blogging.
Conclusion
In terms of hobbies, it’s pretty astonishing how much potential starting a blog has. What begins as a jumble of your thoughts on the internet can help you land a new job, grow your freelancing career, and meet people across the world you’d never meet otherwise. Plus, you can even become a better writer and help your readers along the way!
Granted, the road to growing your blog won’t always be a cakewalk. However, as long as you stick to a blogging gameplan and have patience, there are plenty of reasons to start a blog that can even change your life.
