Think blogging is finally on its last legs in 2020? Think again. Blogs compose one-third of all websites, meaning this medium is more popular than ever before.
Are you thinking of jumping on the bandwagon? Whether you’re looking for an entertaining hobby or a serious business opportunity, blogging is worth your consideration. Starting a blog could be the best decision you ever make.
Of course, you need some inspiration. So here are the 7 most important reasons to start a blog in 2020.
1. Make More Money
Let’s start with the world’s greatest incentive: cold, hard cash. It’s no secret that high-quality blogging opens doors to passive income. Huffington Post — a popular blog site — makes over $14 million every month.
Obviously, your personal blog isn’t likely to earn you a modest mansion. That said, it can lead to a bit of pocket money, and if you’re lucky, a full salary.
How do you monetize a blog? That depends on the industry yours covers.
For example, review blogs tend to earn money from sponsored reviews and affiliate marketing. You might imagine that most blogs make their money from advertisements. This is only true for those that see a great deal of traffic.
For smaller blogs that are just getting started, many rely on charitable donations and patrons.
Always look at the income potential as a bonus. If you start blogging just for the money, you’re not likely to find success.
2. Build a Portfolio
Freelancers of all stripes stand to benefit from a well-composed blog. It tells potential clients that you’re an informed professional that stays up-to-date in the industry. Even better, a blog with decent SEO can bring traffic to your website, and thus to your services.
These types of personal blogs are essential for both writers and artists. The existence of a modest following tells publishers that there is an audience for your work. This is known as an author platform.
Even if you aren’t a freelancer, a decent blog can give you an edge over other candidates vying for the same job position. In this market, a great resume offers no guarantees. The more experience and dedication you can leverage, the better.
So why not start a blog?
3. Create SEO Real Estate
Do you already have a website? It doesn’t matter what purpose it serves. Including a blog offers many digital advantages.
Search engines look kindly on websites that publish regular blog content. If you create content worth sharing, there is a great chance people will. Every time a website links your article, you’ll gain a backlink, improving your website’s search engine ranking.
Best of all, you can include targeted keywords in each blog article. Without regular content, you only have so much space to incorporate these keywords.
Not savvy with search engine optimization? Here is the short of it: Blogging draws more eyes and traffic to your website.
4. Improve Your Writing
No matter what you’re blogging about, one thing is certain: writing, and lots of it. Odds are, your first set of blog posts won’t be anything spectacular.
But practice makes perfect. The more you write, the better you will become. Writing skills are valuable not just for writers, but for most office occupations.
You don’t have to improve your writing skills just to impress an employer. Maybe you’re looking for an excuse to improve as a hobby. Blogging is a great place to dip your feet before moving on to larger projects, such as self-publishing a book.
5. Learn New Skills
Blogging is more than typing up a report like you’re back in high school. If you run the most basic blog possible, meaning no images or WordPress functionality, you’ll still have to contend with the content itself.
Most bloggers become adept at researching relevant sources. You know what they say: if you can’t explain something simply, you haven’t mastered it yet. The process of distilling complex information into a pleasing, conservational narrative takes a great deal of skill.
And you’ll learn a great deal about the industry and yourself in the process. If you run a proper blog through WordPress, you’ll also learn the technical side of things, whether that is something like SEO or content management.
6. Master Self-Motivation
Since blogging is a personal affair, there’s only one person who can keep you accountable: That’s you. The most successful blogs publish a new article every other day. Think you can keep up?
Maybe not at first. But if you stick around, blogging will force you to learn self-motivation and time management. Every good blogger possesses these traits, and that’s because they improve them through the blogging process.
7. Enjoy a Free Hobby
Is blogging worth it? Considering you can get started without paying a dollar, the answer is yes.
There are countless websites available with free blogging functionality. It may not be the most beautiful or customizable website ever, but you don’t need anything fancy if you’re just starting out.
Everyone should give blogging a try, especially since there is virtually no barrier to entry. Want to move your cheap blog to a personal WordPress website later on? You can import the information with a few clicks.
There Are so Many Reasons to Start a Blog…
So what are you waiting for? Blogging is completely free and comes with personal, financial, and employment incentives.
Of all the reasons to start a blog, we haven’t even covered the most important: it’s fun! The surprising entertainment value makes it easy to get started — and to keep going months down the line.
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