If you’ve asked yourself this question, you likely have something to say and a blog is a great platform to share it. Not sure what starting a blog entails? First of all, you don’t need to be an HTML whiz, an established “influencer” or big name to have an audience, because anyone can become a blogger!

Why should you start a blog? Because you have something to share with the world, or at the very least (for the first year or so unless you have your ish figured out in which case, share the wealth) your mom and dad.

Many people want to start a blog but are intimidated to take the leap. What’s holding you back? Unsure of where to start? Not sure what to blog about? Does starting a blog seem impossible? Look, the steps for starting a blog might be overwhelming at first, but you can do it!

With the myriad of user-friendly platforms available, (Wix, WordPress, Squarespace) and block formatting so simple a hamster could do it, there’s really no reason NOT to start a blog.

If you’re oscillating between the great debate: to start or not to start a blog, here’s why I think you should go for it!

You Have Something To Share

Most of us start blogs as a digital journal and platform to share our thoughts and experiences. For example, I started my blog to chronicle my study abroad experience in Italy. Did you click that link? Yikes! A perfect example of how starting a blog is a process and you will post cringe-worthy posts in the beginning because you don’t know what you’re doing yet and that’s totally fine! That’s how we learn, right?

The point is that I started my blog because I wanted a platform to share my travel experiences. Did I know SEO? Umm, no. Did I know how to format, pitch, conceptualize, promote, etc.? No. But I did it anyway and everything else I learned along the way.

Unfortunately, many people don’t start a blog because they want to launch it as a complete and perfect product. My heart breaks a little every time I hear someone tell me they’re starting a blog but are waiting for it all to “come together” before sharing.

Guess what? If you post a crappy blog post… no one is gonna show up and throw you in the shameful dungeon of bad blog posts, because fortunately, that doesn’t exist. If so, I would’ve been locked up long ago!

But enough about me, this is about you and why you should start a blog.

Blogging is a dynamic and strategic way to build an online platform that could even potentially turn into a full-time business.

Easy, tiger. Baby steps because at the very least, it’s an outlet for your passions!

If you are a gardening whiz, financial guru, marketing expert, traveler, fashionista, investor, entrepreneur, musician, artist, jeweler, teacher, fitness lover, WHATEVER, you can start a blog.

All you need is a willingness to share… and a lot of patience.

The best reason to start a blog? There are no rules! Literally, you can write whatever you want. Will it be successful? Maybe not, but it’s an outlet, which is why you should start a blog in the first place.

Your Content Will Inspire, Help or Entertain People

When I first started blogging, the most redundant thing I heard was that you had to find your “why”. This is a way of summarizing your purpose, sort of like a mission statement, and reasoning behind why you do what it is that you do.

Blah, blah, blah.

Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely merit in “finding your why”, but I wouldn’t necessarily put weight in that when you are a beginning blogger. Worry about that later, for now, focus on following the impulse to build a blog. Why do you want to start a blog? Because you feel like it. Why did I eat that third piece of cake? Because I wanted it.

It’s so easy to convolute our impulses to the point of inaction.

That said, if you want people to read your blog or come back to read your posts, the “why” gains more power. Why am I sharing this blog post about starting a blog? Because my authority on blogging is relevant in helping prospective bloggers start a blog.

Still, your “why” is not singular or linear. It can be a great big dotted and zig-zagged line. However, if you choose to follow the zig-zag line, stay on track to see where it takes you. It just might be the beginning of a beautiful and unexpected journey!

You Want To Join A Community

The blogging community is seriously amazing. There are tons of Facebook groups with segmented niches, all filled with bloggers contributing their knowledge and insight. Bloggers, in general, want to build one another up, because when we elevate our platform, we can all thrive.

Of course, all fields have competition which is unfortunate because blogging really is self-expression and why wouldn’t we all want to boost one another’s blog?

For the most part, I’ve experienced nothing but positivity from the blogging community. It’s actually overwhelming how supportive bloggers are to one another. Starting a blog is an excellent way to build a digital community, and once in a while, you even get to meet your blogger friends face to face!

Establish An Online Presence And Grow Your Business With A Blog

Do you need to promote yourself? Have a product that needs an online presence? A blog is an excellent way to root yourself in the online space. As a professional freelance blogger, I’ve witnessed first hand the value of having a blog. I write blog posts for online businesses every day and have repeatedly watched my clients’ sales increase exponentially from blog traffic.

Shameless plug coming: Want to hire me to do the same? Learn about my blogging services and how I can help you grow your business!

See what I just did there? I used my blog to establish myself as an authority on blogging and GROW MY BIZ. I may forget to eat sometimes and get lost at the grocery store, but I know a thing or two about a thing or two. 😉

But enough talk, I’ll let the stats speak for themselves. Here’s what a business blog can do:

• More than triple your business when you blog 4x a week
• Get you 126% more lead growth
• Influence 61% of people to buy after reading a blog post with your product recommended
• Generate 434% more indexed web pages on search engines

*Stats from WP Forms. 

Nuff. Said.

Show Off Your Skills

A blog serves as a resumé or portfolio for your work. In fact, I built my entire freelance writing career from my blog. Why? The unassuming blog which started as my digital diary became a travel blog that illustrated my blogging and writing skills.

You can apply this same method to grow your business and build your online presence. If you’re an artist, a blog is a perfect space to share your portfolio online. The same goes for any freelance work. In fact, whenever I need to hire a graphic designer, I scour the artist’s blog to see their work in action.

A blog is your own little corner of the digital universe where you can share your unique voice, flex your skills, and build your brand.

You’re Ready To Add Your Two-Cents

Truth is, anyone can start a blog and become an authority online with enough consistency and tenacity. Think the market is crowded? Good, because it is. Does that mean your voice is invalid? Hell no. You’ve got something to say and you won’t be ignored. Glad we got that out of the way!

Now, are you ready to start a blog? Should I share more blogging tips and tricks in the future? Comment and let me know where you are in your blogging journey!

Happy blogging!