What Is a Blog?
In the early days of the internet, blogging was more akin to journaling. Some of the earliest blogs were used as a way to chronicle someone’s personal viewpoints and experiences.
Blogging has since evolved to become much more than a form of digital record-keeping. Nowadays, both businesses and individuals alike create blogs to share information and to bring in sales or commissions.
7 Reasons You Might Want To Start a Blog
There are several reasons to start a blog. You could be looking to start a blog to try a fun hobby, generate some side income, build a community or for any of the following reasons:
1. To Have a Creative Outlet
Blogging encompasses writing, editing, and to some extent, design. This makes it a very creative pursuit. If you’re looking for a relatively low-cost way to express yourself, blogging is a great option.
2. To Document What Happens to You
The word “blog” is actually a shortened form of “weblog,” a relic from its origins as a way to document what was happening. You may want to create a blog to have a space or a way to save your thoughts and photos in one centralized place.
3. To Connect With People
Blogging is an excellent way to connect with others, whether they be other bloggers, content creators or your intended audience. Blogging opens doors to meet people that you otherwise may not have come into contact with. The blogging community is highly active on sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Reddit.
4. To Share Your Thoughts and Experiences
No one else is you—which means you have thoughts and experiences that are uniquely your own. A blog is a platform through which you can share your thoughts with others, have discussions and build genuine connections while doing so.
5. To Build Your Brand and Credibility
Creating a blog can help you build your brand and establish you as a credible expert in your niche or industry. Your blog content can demonstrate how knowledgeable or experienced you are on certain subjects.
6. To Get Better at Writing and Digital Marketing
Blogging is a craft. If you’re looking to brush up on your writing skills, writing daily or weekly for a blog could be beneficial.
Similarly, running a blog takes a lot of work behind the scenes. Bloggers are often their own webmasters and social media marketers in addition to content writers. If you want to build skills in those areas, starting your own blog will allow you to gain valuable experience.
7. To Bring In Sales or an Income
Blogging can be used to bring in sales—whether that’s for your existing business or an entirely new one. According to Ambition Box, bloggers bring in an annual income of INR 3 lakh to INR 5.8 lakh, with an average annual salary of INR 3 lakh.
Misconceptions About Blogs
You don’t need to be famous to start a profitable blog. Anyone can blog, no matter their experience. Here are the most common misconceptions people hold about starting a blog:
Blogging Is a Dying Medium
Blogging is not dead or dying. It is more saturated now than it was a decade ago, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a successful one. Building a profitable blog nowadays may take more effort and initial investment than it would have if you started earlier but that shouldn’t necessarily dissuade you from starting one.
Blogging Is Expensive
You can start a blog for free, as long as you have an internet connection. Even if you decide to pay for a custom website, domain name or photography, these costs are relatively nominal compared to the amount of money you can potentially generate from your content.
You Need To Have an Existing Following To Start a Blog
You don’t need to be a celebrity or existing social media personality to start a blog. In fact, many now-famous bloggers, including Shraddha Sharma, Ashish Sinha, Amit Agarwal, were not famous until after they started blogging.
Every Blog Post Needs To Be Perfect
You should publish blog articles that you’re proud of, but don’t let the fear of your content not being “good” enough or “perfect” enough hold you back. Blogs are editable, so if you find you’re not satisfied with something after it’s gone live, you can always go back and change it.
Blogging Is a Fast Way To Earn Money
While it’s true that blogging can be used to earn an income, it’s not something that will help you “get rich quick.” You need to build an audience that wants to purchase items from you before you can start earning any money.
Blogging Is Easy
Blogging may seem easy in theory: write words, press post, done. But in reality, unless you have a staff or have outsourced the marketing or webmaster aspects of running a blog, you’ll be spending time on more than just writing.
Depending on your niche or goals, you also might need to spend considerable time researching your topic or creating complementary assets such as photos or videos. Blogging is not necessarily easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable or rewarding.
