Writing is truly a lost art. And connected to that so is reading. We read less now that we have in the last 70 years per numerous statistical reports. I think we all know the reason for this. We have even done Holistic Health News (HHN) episodes on it. Screen Addiction….Gaming Addiction…Cell phone addiction. It’s not like there has been an increase in board game playing or poetry writing. We are sitting and looking at screens more and being less active and stimulating the mind. Well, if you are planning to continue sitting let’s exercise the mind….let’s talk about the Benefits Of Starting A Blog.
The Benefits Of Starting A Blog?! “What are you crazy?” is a common response when I tell people about its benefits and how it has changed my life. The common retorts are “It’s too expensive” or “I don’t know how to do it.” While the apprehension to starting a blog is understandable due to the fear of the unknown, I will briefly respond to these questions before discussing the veritable benefits of starting a blog.
Benefits of Starting a Blog
Chump Change
The cost of creating a blog is not prohibitive at all. First you have to get a domain name, like www.naturopathicearth.com. The smartest choices will be ones that have your name or a name that covers your topic. Go to www.godaddy.com to search what domains are available. Most are only $2.99 a year. That’s it!
After that you have to get a server to host your domain. There are loads: Host Gator, Ramnode, and others. I use Ramnode, but search the web for best prices. I pay $30 quarterly. That’s it.
Go to Wordpress or Weebly to find a design you like. Now these sites offer free websites, but just know that you will have their name in your domain site. For example, www.naturopathicearth/wordpress.com. If you are okay with that, then go the free route, but I recommend you spend the money to get a site that doesn’t have it. It looks more professional. That’s it vis-à-vis the cost. (Now if you are planning on doing a podcast that costs more money.)
Know Thyself
So what are the Benefits Of Starting A Blog? The first one is simply expression. I had written previously on the Benefits of Journaling. (Check out that article since some of these arguments will overlap.) Expression is crucial. We all have something to say. No one is boring. We all have unique experiences that formed who we are.
Your blog doesn’t have to be on a given topic like health, sports, gardening, etc. The prime objective of your blog is a sanctuary for you. A place where you can express whatever you like and share it with the world. Like journaling, it is cathartic. Get if off your chest.
I can speak personally that blogging has changed my life. Since January of 2017 I have written and podcasted. Early on I would release an episode or article 3 times a week. For the last year, it has been 5 days a week. Each time I hit “Publish” I feel like a proud father. I’ve created life. Now not all the articles or HHN or Confessions podcasts and articles are exemplary, but they are all an expression of me. And for that I take immense pride.
Make the Dinero
Another of the Benefits Of Starting A Blog. Money…There are close to 150 million blogs on the internet. Most rarely publish work. Maybe two posts a month. Some are prodigious like Naturopathic Earth. But if you work hard on creating good content and you find a niche, you can make it a side gig. You can make some ancillary side money and maybe, if Lady Fortuna shines upon you, can quit your main job to follow your passion.
It is difficult but that can be a motivation. Most people either don’t like or perhaps tolerate their day job, but for most people it is not their passion. Their raison d’etre. (Blessed are you if it is AND if it is lucrative.)
Your blogging can be your passion. You can write daily like journaling where you write about your day. Many people blog about their particular journey. Like weight loss or desire to run a marathon. People with similar interest, if your Search Engine Optimization is good, will find your blog and you will get traffic. That traffic could potentially turn into profit if you ever decide to create a product, like a “How To” book or a memoir.
So the key takeaway about money-making is that you must think of a topic that people will want to read about. This may be difficult since people are reading less, but it is possible. Introspect and think about “What topic could I write daily on that I love dearly?” and “What topic do I have some expertise on?” and “What topic are there not a lot of sites?” This is only important if you want to monetize your site; if not, just write daily ruminations. The goal of traffic is not paramount. It has more to do with your prerogative to express your unique story.
Idles Hands…
The most discipline aspect of the Benefits Of Starting A Blog. There is an old saying that goes something like “Idle time is the work of the devil.” Meaning when we are full of useless time, we are more likely either indulge in self-destructive activities (drinking, emotional eating, online shopping) or sloth (e.g. watching TV for hours).
One of the benefits of starting a blog is that it takes time to write. I normally can write an article in less than an hour but it still takes time. Now this might sound like a disincentive, but it isn’t. Blogging has the dual benefit of creating a unique expression of who you are but also it distracts you from doing something deleterious to your health or psyche.
Some might say “I don’t have the time to blog.” You do. You just need to allot the time to do it. Make it a mandatory priority…just like slotting time for exercise. Just carve out one hour less of TV or wake up a tad earlier.
If you think long-term, “sacrificing” that one hour of TV or useless social media browsing can make an immense cumulative difference. If you blog for that hour for 4 times a week, after a year, you would have 200 articles by the end of one year. Thousand articles in five years.
That content with good SEO and marketing will increase your Domain Authority which means you could turn your content into a traffic magnet and possible revenue via Google Adsense or affiliates (like Amazon). No episode of even Game of Thrones is worth that!
You don’t have to blog daily, especially at the beginning but you will notice that the immense pride you have when you see something you wrote on the Internet will impel you to write more. It’s almost addictive, but a good addiction.
The last thing about the benefits of starting a blog. “Perfection means paralysis.” This essentially translates to “Just write!” Don’t negative self-talk that your writing is crap or that no one wants to read it. You should endeavor to have good punctuation and make your paragraphs small and use headings but in terms of content, don’t focus on it needing it be perfect.
Expression of your ideas and what makes you singularly unique is paramount to all when it comes to blogging. It is key to remember that. Just write…write to your heart’s content. Get everything off your chest that needs to get off. You must find an audience….you might not. But most importantly, via the pursuit of blogging you might find yourself.
Make Some Money