Why Should I Start a Blog? 5 Reasons You Should NOT (And 9 Reasons You SHOULD)
These days, it seems like everyone and their mom are starting blogs. This might lead you to wonder, “Should I start a blog?” I've been blogging since around 2010 with no sign of slowing down. Below, I'll go over some reasons you should (and should not) start a blog. Read on!
Table of Contents
5 Reasons You Should NOT Start a Blog
#1 It takes a LONG time to make any money.
While I'm a big proponent of making money blogging, you should understand that it is a SLOW process. I had my first blog for FIVE years before I started monetizing it, and even after that, it took about two years to start earning $5K/month from it. You should expect to be in this for the long-haul. I always say it takes about a year to see any real money from your blog.
#2 You probably will never be famous.
According to Statista, as of 2019, there are more than 31 million bloggers in the U.S. alone. So if you're seeking fame, blogging might not be the way to go. It is TOUGH to stand out in the crowded blogging world.
#3 Traffic comes slowly.
Again, blogging is a SLOWWWW process. Give it a year before you see a good amount of traffic (as in, tens of thousands of visitors each month).
#4 You'll have to do a LOT of waiting.
In line with the previous points I made, being impatient is a huge disadvantage if you want to start a blog. There's the entire setup process, the writing and creating, and then the WAITING for Google to start ranking your site in search results. It's a long-term play. If you're the type to give up on something after two months of seeing no results, blogging may not be for you.
#5 You're on your own; no one's around to tell you what to do.
As a blogger, you get to be independent and creative! Your blog's design and content are totally up to you. But if you don't like being creative or if you prefer a more structured environment (like an office), then blogging isn't a good fit.
9 Reasons You SHOULD Start a Blog
#1 It'll give you a creative outlet to express yourself.
This is probably the number one reason people want to start a blog. A blog becomes like your own personal magazine, of which you are the editor. You can write about photography, dogs, travel, vegan food, ANYTHING your heart desires. It's really nice to have a platform you can use to express yourself.
#2 You can keep your friends and family updated.
This is the reason I started my travel blog seven years ago. I was on a road trip, and my dad suggested that I start a blog to keep my friends and family updated on our travels. It was convenient to have one place where I could upload my photos and write out my thoughts and then give that URL to my loved ones who were interested.
#3 You'll meet new people.
I've met some of the most amazing people AND made new friends thanks to my blogs! When I had a travel blog, I'd post about where I was traveling and sometimes I'd even meet up with readers. One time, when I needed a place to stay in Canada, a reader offered me a room at her place. We ended up becoming good friends, and it's crazy to think that I would never have met her if she hadn't come across one of my blog posts.
#4 It'll serve as a portfolio.
When I was going through the interview process for my first job out of college, a manager asked me if I could send her proof of my creativity. I sent her a link to my travel blog—and she hired me!
I've also had freelance clients ask for my portfolio, and I've sent them my blog, and they decided to work me after seeing it.
Your blog, if done professionally, can become a portfolio that helps you land jobs later!
#5 You could make money.
This is one of my favorite reasons to start blogging: You can make “passive” income. But I say that with a caveat: “passive” income isn't really so passive (you have to work for it), and making money blogging is a slow process. But once you're doing it, it's SO much fun because you're making money doing something you love. Plus, it's still MUCH more passive than freelancing or working in an office, because both require you to be there for someone and provide a service. With blogging, however, you just put ads on your site or affiliate links, and your blog makes your money without you needing to be there.
#6 You could become an influencer or thought leader.
Even if you don't make money from blogging, you can gain influence and be seen as a thought leader in your niche. You may even receive free products, press trips, or speaking engagements.
#7 You'll learn new things.
Blogging taught me about photography, business, marketing, and even sales. Again, running a blog is like running a magazine where you're the editor in chief, creative director, marketing director, and basically every job imaginable. You'll cut your teeth on photography when you're having to take photos for your blog; you'll learn about marketing when you're trying to drive more traffic to your blog. Running a blog is an education unto itself.
#8 You'll become a better writer.
Writing blog posts is great practice. It's helped me write in a way that's easy to understand and entertaining to read. It's also helped me to find my voice as a writer.
#9 You can help people.
Arguably one of the BEST reasons you should start a blog: You'll help people all over the world. This is a huge motivator for me. When I had my travel blog, I would often be inspired to write a post because it solved a problem I had. Anytime I traveled somewhere and couldn't find good information about the destination, I made it a point to write a thorough travel guide to that particular destination later—divulging ALL the information I learned—because I myself had had a hard time finding helpful info about it.
I once had a woman with multiple sclerosis contact me to thank me for writing about my trip to Machu Picchu; my blog post had helped her realize that Machu Picchu would be easy enough for her to get around, even with her painful MS symptoms and limitations. She sent me a photo of her at Machu Picchu! Moments like that make blogging worth it for me.
#10 It's cheap/FREE and low-risk.
Starting a blog is extremely low-risk; you can start a blog for FREE, and if it doesn't work out, you just delete it. For that reason alone, I don't know why you WOULDN'T start a blog!
