In the event you’re contemplating beginning your individual weblog, you’re most likely additionally looking for details about the professionals and cons of running a blog. Effectively, you’re in luck. On this publish, I’ll be discussing whether or not or not running a blog is price it. Learn on for the assorted benefits and downsides of running a blog.
I’ve been running a blog full-time for over 2 years and it’s a tremendous solution to share your experiences, information, and tales with others. You may make nice cash running a blog too, if you happen to do it the suitable approach.
Nevertheless, whereas I really like being a blogger, there are positively a number of adverse features to this technique of publication. You have to be conscious of all the professionals and cons of running a blog earlier than deciding whether or not it’s best for you.
15 Benefits and Disadvantages of Running a blog
Like every job, running a blog comes with its personal set of rewards and challenges. A few of these apply to all bloggers, others may range relying on area of interest. It’s essential to notice, moreover, that the professionals and cons of non-public running a blog are considerably totally different from the professionals and cons of running a blog for a enterprise.
I’ve put collectively the next listing of running a blog execs and cons primarily based by myself private expertise as a blogger. You might need a barely totally different expertise, however I consider most of those factors apply pretty universally.
Professionals of Running a blog
Is running a blog price it? Total, running a blog is nice and there are various advantages. Listed here are 10 optimistic issues about running a blog that I really like:
1. Inventive Freedom
Inventive freedom is among the greatest benefits of running a blog. Many writers (journalists, columnists, authors, and so on.) have to put in writing in a approach that satisfies an editor, or another person with a say over what will get printed. Running a blog, however, is totally different.
Your weblog is your individual private canvas. You’ll be able to say no matter you want, about no matter you need. You get to decide on what narratives to discover, what opinions to precise, and learn how to current the data you want to share.
This inventive freedom means that you can develop a novel voice and magnificence that resonates along with your viewers. It additionally extends to the selection of subjects, codecs, and multimedia that you simply use: photograph essays, movies, guides, diary entries, interviews – it’s all utterly as much as you.
2. Versatile Way of life
For me, among the finest issues about running a blog is the pliability it gives. You’ll be able to work from wherever – a French café, a Thai seashore, and even from the consolation of your individual dwelling.
That is nice for individuals who like to journey and desire a approach of incomes cash remotely from wherever they’re. I’ve labored in some wonderful locations everywhere in the world and I really like how releasing it feels to not be tied all the way down to an in-person job.
This flexibility isn’t solely about the place you select to work – it’s additionally about how you select to work. You get to set the principles: select your individual schedule, resolve what to put in writing about, and choose what number of days or hours you wish to work per week. And if you wish to take a number of weeks off, you’ll be able to no – trip requests right here!
3. Potential Earnings
Let’s get one thing straight early on. Running a blog is positively not a get-rich-quick type of factor. It takes lots of exhausting work, lengthy hours, motivation, perseverance, and a wise technique to show a beginner weblog right into a money-making machine.
Nevertheless, if you happen to handle to construct and scale a profitable weblog, it may be extraordinarily profitable. There isn’t actually a restrict to how a lot cash you’ll be able to earn as a blogger; the extra your weblog grows, and the extra visitors you get, the extra money you may make.
I discover this “blue sky considering” facet of running a blog extremely rewarding and thrilling. In my earlier job, there was a clearly outlined profession monitor, with a set path as to how you might get a promotion or a pay rise. As a blogger, there are not any such limitations. The sky’s the restrict – it’s superior!
Running a blog is an effective way to construct a neighborhood of like-minded individuals who share your passions and pursuits. In the event you weblog about, say, mountain climbing, you’ll simply be capable to join with different people who find themselves additionally into this pastime. You may even find yourself assembly your subsequent trekking buddy this fashion.
The identical goes for just about no matter matter you weblog about. Asian cooking, language studying, guitar educating, fly fishing, parachuting, equestrian care, historic reenactments – the listing is countless! In the event you weblog about it, you’ll quickly cross paths with different individuals who share your ambition.
Then, growth! Earlier than you understand it, you’ll have simply discovered an entire load of latest individuals who share your curiosity(s). This could result in collaborations, meetups, and possibly even shut friendships. It’s extremely rewarding, and likewise lots of enjoyable.
5. Enhance Your Writing Abilities
As a blogger, you’ll most likely end up writing quite a bit. I imply, it type of goes with the territory in any case. And, generally, the extra you write, the higher you get at it.
Whether or not you already contemplate your self a superb author or not, common running a blog is among the greatest methods to enhance your writing expertise. You’ll get higher at expressing your ideas, conveying concepts and emotions, and conserving your viewers engaged and wanting extra.
And, in fact, being a greater author isn’t solely restricted to your weblog. It’s one of the vital helpful transferrable expertise you’ll be able to have. Whether or not it’s crafting a considerate e mail, writing a report, a charming social media publish, or perhaps a novel, the writing expertise you develop by running a blog may be actually helpful.
6. Private Progress
This one type of overlaps with lots of the opposite advantages of running a blog on this listing. Running a blog is a tremendous alternative for private development. It challenges you, pushes you out of your consolation zone, and forces you to discover new concepts and be taught new expertise.
Throughout my running a blog profession thus far, I’ve discovered an enormous quantity and developed a variety of expertise. I’ve change into a greater author, and a greater photographer, discovered extra about search engine marketing (see beneath), and am now higher at speaking my model in a approach that resonates with my viewers.
The journey isn’t all the time straightforward or easy. As with all profession, there are many challenges to beat and setbacks to cope with. Nevertheless, the resilience, mindset, and expertise that you simply be taught from running a blog may help you develop an enormous quantity as an individual.
7. Networking Alternatives
Running a blog is a tremendous solution to community with different professionals, each in your area of interest and out of doors of it. You’ll get to attach with different bloggers, trade consultants, firms, and types on an virtually each day foundation.
There are lots of other ways to community as a blogger. I’m a member of a number of wonderful Fb teams which are filled with fellow bloggers and different helpful contacts that I attain out to pretty typically.
LinkedIn will also be an effective way to make connections, as can attending in-person occasions comparable to conferences and seminars. These connections typically result in collaborations, visitor running a blog alternatives, and generally, even new profession alternatives.
8. search engine marketing Abilities
If you wish to run a profitable weblog, you’ll inevitably must familiarize yourself with a minimum of some Search Engine Optimization (search engine marketing) expertise. search engine marketing is among the greatest methods to be sure that your weblog is seen and skim by as many individuals as potential.
search engine marketing could seem intimidating at first, however the fundamentals are literally pretty simple and straightforward to select up. When you’re comfy with doing key phrase analysis, constructing backlinks to your web site, and developing with a stable content material technique, you’ll be in a superb place to develop your weblog.
search engine marketing expertise are additionally extremely wanted in lots of industries. Buying these expertise can actually repay, each with regards to your individual weblog, but additionally when it comes to discovering different work. search engine marketing specialists are typically paid fairly effectively too.
There are many sources out there on-line that you need to use to show your self the basics of search engine marketing. Some are free and a few are paid. I took this course by Nick from Goats on the Street and it taught me most of all I find out about search engine marketing. (He didn’t ask me to put in writing this, truthfully, the course is simply wonderful!).
9. Portfolio Constructing
Your weblog is a real-time portfolio of your work. Identical to an artist contains their work in a portfolio, a weblog showcases your writing (and/or images or videography) expertise, in addition to your private model and magnificence. It’s additionally publicly out there so may be seen by anybody.
Whether or not you’re an aspiring author, a photographer, a graphic designer, or perhaps a meals recipe developer, your weblog serves as a set of your greatest work. You’ll be able to even use it to show testimonials and evaluations of any providers you may supply.
Some folks will come throughout your weblog organically (particularly if you happen to nail your search engine marketing sport). For others, all it is advisable to do is ship them your URL and so they’ll immediately be capable to see what you’ve created and what you’re able to.
10. Journey Perks
Okay, so this doesn’t apply to each sort of weblog. However I’m primarily a journey blogger, so I wish to embrace this one right here too. For me, one of the vital thrilling perks of being a journey blogger is the quite a few journey perks that may come your approach as soon as your weblog begins turning into extra profitable.
From complimentary lodge stays and free outside gear to fully-funded press journeys sponsored by tourism boards, these perks can mean you can journey in fashion and have wonderful experiences for a fraction of the associated fee, or free of charge. Generally you even receives a commission! Sounds fairly nice, proper?
Nevertheless, it’s crucial that you simply take an moral method to such freebies and perks. Any evaluations and content material that you simply write should be sincere and clear. What I imply by this, is that you simply shouldn’t write glowing evaluations about an organization and a model simply because they gave you free stuff.
Sure legal guidelines and laws (just like the FTC Guidelines on Affiliate Disclosure and the UK Promoting Requirements Authority’s Code) additionally require you to adequately disclose affiliate hyperlinks and different enterprise relationships to your readers. That is one thing that every one bloggers must take severely.
Cons of Running a blog
Regardless of the numerous benefits, there are additionally a number of downsides to running a blog and it’s essential to acknowledge the much less glamorous facet of the job. It’s not all sundown cocktails on the seashore. Listed here are some challenges that I’ve personally confronted as a blogger:
1. Time-Intensive
Running a blog generally is a large time-sink. There’s rather a lot extra to it than simply typing out posts. In addition to the up-front studying you’ll most likely need to do, you’ve additionally bought to handle your web site, have interaction along with your viewers, and preserve updated with the most recent technical developments and trade tendencies.
I typically discover myself spending way more hours engaged on my weblog than I might in an everyday 9-to-5 job. That is partly as a result of I care rather a lot about it, which I truly see as a optimistic factor. Nevertheless, it’s simple that the entire strategy of running a blog takes lots of time.
You additionally need to be ready to handle admin too; duties like coping with funds, advertising and marketing, associates, and collaborations. It’s a juggling act between being a creator, a marketer, and an entrepreneur.
In the event you’re not cautious, all this work can result in burnout, which is why it’s essential to strike the suitable stability between running a blog and your private life.
2. No Assured Earnings
One of many issues I discover most tough about running a blog is how unpredictable your earnings may be. In contrast to an everyday job with a gentle paycheck, the earnings I get from my weblog varies vastly from week to week and month to month. And I earned nothing in any respect for the primary 12 months or so.
Most bloggers monetize their blogs by a mix of affiliate internet marketing and advertisements. Some additionally do sponsored posts and/or promote their very own services or products. Nevertheless, the quantity of visitors you get every month can range fairly considerably, which impacts how a lot you earn.
This typically means you must diversify your earnings streams, which may add much more to your workload. Constructing a weblog to the purpose the place it generates a big earnings is certainly a protracted sport. Till you get there, budgeting for all times may be fairly a problem.
3. Extremely Aggressive
As soon as upon a time, there weren’t very many blogs. Subsequently, the blogs that did exist had a neater time when it got here to competing for the very best key phrases. I’m not saying it was straightforward again then, but it surely was simpler.
Immediately, issues are fairly totally different. By some estimates, there are greater than 600 million blogs on-line as of 2023. So, it’s honest to say that the running a blog world is sort of crowded.
Getting your weblog to face out and change into observed amid this huge sea of content material creators is not any small feat. With so many blogs vying for consideration, carving out a distinct segment for your self requires not solely nice content material but additionally savvy advertising and marketing and search engine marketing expertise.
For brand spanking new bloggers, breaking into this saturated market may be daunting and requires a mixture of perseverance, creativity, and strategic considering. I’m not attempting to place you off – it’s positively nonetheless potential. However it is advisable to be in it for the long term and work each exhausting and good to achieve success.
4. Technical Challenges
Navigating the technical features of running a blog generally is a hurdle, particularly if you happen to’re not naturally tech-savvy. I’m pretty pc literate, nevertheless once I first began running a blog I discovered myself feeling fairly overwhelmed by all the tech stuff that I needed to be taught. It’s fairly a steep studying curve.
It’s worthwhile to cope with web site internet hosting, upkeep, pace, area administration, and numerous different parts. If one thing goes flawed along with your web site, it is advisable to determine learn how to repair it. And don’t even get me began on having to troubleshoot points whenever you’re someplace with dangerous WiFi.
I’ve been very careworn at occasions when attempting to cope with an issue with my weblog, particularly once I was simply beginning out. My weblog truly crashed and went offline at one level and I wasn’t positive whether or not I’d misplaced months of exhausting work, (fortunately, it was advantageous ultimately!).
This stuff positively get simpler the extra you do them and the extra you be taught (see the factors about expertise and private development, above). However, it may be robust and irritating at occasions, significantly originally.
5. Work-Life Steadiness
I was a company lawyer. One of many many causes I modified careers was the shortage of work-life stability.
As a blogger, I completely love the liberty and suppleness that this profession gives. Nevertheless, I nonetheless typically discover myself working odd hours, weekends, and generally late into the evening. It’s straightforward to get a bit obsessive along with your weblog, a minimum of that’s what it’s like for me.
I need my weblog to succeed and develop a lot that I pour giant quantities of time and emotional vitality into it. This isn’t essentially a nasty factor – however, it’s essential to make sure that you don’t find yourself defaulting to being in “work mode” all the time.
I discover that is very true for journey bloggers. While you’re adventuring, each second can really feel like a possible weblog publish and also you may find yourself viewing experiences extra by your digital camera lens than with your individual eyes. It’s essential to recollect to step again and really take pleasure in experiences for their very own sake.
Private Expertise as a Blogger
I’ve all the time beloved touring, ever since I used to be a toddler. After spending most of my 20s finding out and dealing in London, I felt an more and more robust pull in the direction of a life that was extra adventurous, spontaneous, free, and thrilling.
Turning into a blogger was among the finest choices I ever made. I completely love all the advantages that include the job (see above). For me, with the ability to work exhausting on one thing that I’ve 100% possession of is the very best a part of it – I’ve by no means been extra motivated, it’s a tremendous feeling.
My weblog – Simply Go Exploring – focuses primarily on exploring lesser-known locations world wide. My readers are typically individuals who admire a mix of out of doors actions and tradition, with the occasional consolation thrown in right here and there.
There have been ups and downs alongside the way in which. One among my greatest frustrations is the pace at which I produce content material. I’m a fairly gradual author, so it takes me a very long time to put in writing and publish every publish. Nevertheless, my weblog is on target and I’m excited for what the long run holds!
FAQs
Listed here are solutions to some continuously requested questions on the principle benefits and downsides of running a blog:
Turning into a blogger may be a good suggestion if you happen to’re passionate about sharing your concepts and tales, and are prepared to take a position effort and time into creating partaking content material. It’s a great platform for inventive expression and will also be probably fairly profitable.
The most important benefit of getting a weblog varies from individual to individual. It could possibly be the flexibility to precise your self creatively and set up a private model. Or, to share your information, experiences, and opinions with a large viewers and interact with a neighborhood of like-minded folks.
Whether or not it’s best to begin a weblog depends upon your targets, pursuits, and dedication. In the event you take pleasure in writing, wish to share your information and experiences, and are dedicated to recurrently creating content material, then beginning a weblog could possibly be very rewarding.
The disadvantages of running a blog embrace the time-intensive nature of making and sustaining a weblog, potential earnings inconsistency, and the problem of standing out in a saturated market. Moreover, managing the technical features of a weblog and attaining a superb work-life stability may be difficult.
The principle execs of running a blog embrace inventive freedom, a versatile way of life, high-income potential, neighborhood constructing, studying new expertise, and private growth. The principle cons embrace an unsure earnings, market saturation, technical challenges, and difficulties in sustaining a superb work-life stability.
Is Running a blog Value It?
For me, the numerous execs of running a blog positively outweigh the cons. Running a blog is an especially versatile profession; you’ll be able to select to give attention to no matter you’re enthusiastic about, and you may work from (virtually) wherever on this planet.
Nevertheless, running a blog additionally requires a giant funding of effort and time. It takes a reasonably very long time to earn any cash from running a blog, your earnings will fluctuate rather a lot, there are technical challenges, and it is advisable to make sure you carve out a way of life and work-life stability that’s sustainable for you.
Total, I’d say that running a blog is price it so long as (i) you take pleasure in writing; (ii) you’re the kind of one that doesn’t thoughts slightly uncertainty; (iii) you’re self-motivated and are in a position to handle your time effectively; and (iv) you’re ready to work exhausting (and good) to attain your targets.
If these all apply to you, why not give it a go? To begin your individual weblog, click on right here to obtain Goats On The Street’s free Newbie Running a blog Course that can assist you get began the suitable approach.
