I have been blogging for about ten years now. I don’t post new content every day, but I do post consistently throughout the week. I talk to a lot of writers who want to become more consistent and create a bigger following. I’ve talked to others who started a blog at one point but realized posting fresh content on a regular basis is a lot of work!
What are some of the benefits to creating a blog?
- It is a great place to share your knowledge and expertise. Everyone is an expert in something. What do you have to share? My guess is that a simple Google search would turn up people asking questions about something that you know the answers to. It probably will not happen right away, but by establishing yourself as an authority in a particular field, you might even be able to start generating some extra income.
- Develop your writing skills. The only way to get better as a writer is by writing. Creating consistent content allows us to develop our writing skills. This is especially important if you you want to get paid for writing. Companies are always looking for copy writers, social media content creators, or even people who know how to write great product descriptions. The only way to improve is by consistent practice. I talk to people every week who want to be authors but don’t write consistently. A blog is a fantastic place to start.
- It will develop your critical thinking skills. I have found that writing on a regular basis forces me to think through problems and to educate myself in those areas where I am weak. I have many friends who keep a journal and testify to the same results. For me, I prefer blogging but either way is valuable. Writing our thoughts out or typing them into a keyboard will be good for you.
- A blog is a great place to express your views on what is important to you. Not surprisingly, there are probably others who share your views and before long you have created an online community. For example, many of my blogs have to do with Christianity, the Bible, and other faith-related subjects. I receive feedback on a regular basis from people who enjoy what I write or who have been inspired by one of my posts.
- It will become a repository for your thoughts. I find that I revisit and repurpose my content all the time. Some of my blogs have been modified into sermons or leadership teachings. In other cases, posts have been turned into podcasts. This post, for example, was originally a two-part podcast.
- It is a great way to promote your business. Most businesses have websites. These websites provide potential customers with the services they provide, the costs, hours of operation, and maybe some of the history of their company. If your company has an online presence why not add an informative blog to your website that gives your customers valuable information? If you run a plumbing company, what are some of the things that people need to know about their plumbing? What are some preventative maintenance tips you could offer? What is the best way to clear a stopped up toilet? By providing helpful information, you are setting your company up for success and demonstrating that you care about your customers. If you are in business for yourself, look at ways that a blog might help you.
- Your blog might lead to a book. Some estimates indicate that 80% of Americans have considered writing a book. Maybe you are a part of that number. Where would you start? Several of my books came directly from my blog. For example, my book Leading into the 21st Century…and Beyond! 2.0 is a collection of blog posts that I wrote over several years on leadership. I compiled the posts, edited and revised them, and then formatted them as chapters in the book. Blogging consistently about a specific subject is one of the best ways to write a book.
Can you think of any other benefits to starting a blog?
David and Annie are serving the Lord in the US, Africa, India, and South America. Would you consider joining their team? Just click here to get involved. Thanks so much!
