A few weeks ago I talked to you about stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something that scares you. I mentioned how starting this blog was that for me. But what I forgot to tell you is that whether it scares you or not you should start a blog, too. My life has honestly been changed by this exciting journey I started just six months ago. I have a new circle of friends from all over the country, a passion that is slowly leading me to great opportunities, and I’m learning some really great skills that will benefit me for the rest of my life. If that isn’t enough to convince you to start a blog, I decided to compile a list of the most beneficial reasons to start a blog.
You’ll Make New Friends
To be a successful blogger you are going to need to network with other bloggers, and I promise that it won’t be long before you find that you really “click” with some bloggers in particular. Despite being an anomaly in the blogging world by being a teenager, I’ve found that I have made connections with bloggers of all demographics that I wouldn’t trade for the world!
You’ll Become a Better Writer
If you run a blog, you need to be able to express your ideas clearly so that your readers can get a good idea of what you’re trying to get across. At first, it’s hard. But the longer you blog the more practice you’ll get and the easier it will become. Writing first drafts of my blog posts used to take me hours, and editing even longer. Now through practice and improved writing skills, a post takes me just around 3 hours to write and edit. If you’re in college like me, these writing skills will transfer over to essays. When you’re used to writing 1000 words posts, a 500 words essay becomes a breeze.
You’ll Learn New Skills
SEO, HTML, and CSS become much more than just a jumble of letters to you once you start blogging. You are going to want to learn Search Engine Optimization as well as basic coding (though I recommend learning as much as you can!) so that your website runs smoothly and attracts as many visitors as possible. On top of that you’ll quickly learn how to make cool graphics for your blog, how to grow your social media followings, and how to manage your time more effectively.
You’ll Become More Creative
When I first started blogging I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able continue coming up with posts after a while, but the more your blog – the more you have to blog about. I now see everyday things differently, I constantly am trying to imagine how I could make a post out of the mundane things that happen in my life. Not only has that resulted in a boost in my creativity, but I also find myself bored a lot less frequently.
You’ll Make Money
If you take blogging seriously then chances are that you’ll make some sort of income. That’s not to say blogging is a get rich quick idea – it’s not. It took nearly six months of constant blogging for me to even break even and cover my hosting fees, but some people like Lindsay and Bjork from Pinch of Yum make a full time living from blogging. And that’s crazy.
You’ll Become a Goal Setter
A lot of blogging is goal setting, coming up with attainable goals such as: I am going to post once a week, get x amount of visitors a month, improve my Alexa ranking by 10,000 this week, etc. I’ve gotten good at setting goals that are tricky, but still reasonable. Goal setting is no longer limited to my blog now. I have a huge list of goals that you can find here and I now am able to better plan how I am going to reach my goals.
You’ll Begin to Brand Yourself
When I google my name, my Facebook and Twitter are the first two things that show up, third is my blog. When you apply for a job, there is a good chance you will be googled. Having a blog shows that you are: computer savvy, dedicated, and clever. If you were neck and neck with another applicant, chances are that your blog will put you in the lead. If you are a niche blogger, you can also establish yourself as an expert in your field, making you all the more appealing to potential employers.
You’ll Have Something Productive To Do
In between the daily hustle and bustle of life, it’s likely that you’re going to find yourself with some downtime. Utilizing that time to create a blog is not only a great use of your time, but blogging is something you can do anywhere. If you’re bored in line at the store you can brainstorm posts, if you can’t sleep you can make cool graphics, and if you’re itching to express yourself you can pump out a post. 
