If you happen to’re contemplating beginning your individual weblog, you’re in all probability additionally trying to find details about the professionals and cons of running a blog. Properly, you’re in luck. On this submit, I’ll be discussing whether or not or not running a blog is price it. Learn on for the assorted benefits and drawbacks of running a blog.
I’ve been running a blog full-time for over 2 years and it’s a tremendous option to share your experiences, data, and tales with others. You may make nice cash running a blog too, in the event you do it the correct approach.
Nonetheless, whereas I really like being a blogger, there are a number of unfavourable elements to this technique of publication. You need 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 several job, running a blog comes with its personal set of rewards and challenges. A few of these apply to all bloggers, others would possibly differ relying on area of interest. It’s vital 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 record of running a blog execs and cons primarily based by myself expertise as a blogger. You may need a barely totally different expertise, however I imagine 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 constructive issues about running a blog.
1. Inventive Freedom
Inventive freedom is likely one of the largest benefits of running a blog. Many writers (journalists, columnists, authors, and so on.) have to write down in a approach that satisfies an editor, or another person with a say over what will get revealed. Running a blog, however, is totally different.
Your weblog is your individual private canvas. You may say no matter you want, about no matter you need. You get to decide on what narratives to discover, what opinions to precise, and find out how to current the knowledge you want to share.
This artistic freedom means that you can develop a novel voice and elegance that resonates along with your viewers. It additionally extends to the selection of matters, codecs, and multimedia that you simply use: picture essays, movies, guides, diary entries, interviews – it’s all utterly as much as you.
2. Versatile Life-style
For me, among the finest issues about running a blog is the pliability it gives. You may work from anyplace – a French café, a Thai seashore, a coworking area all over the world, and even from the consolation of your individual residence.
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 all around 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 foundations: select your individual schedule, determine what to write down about, and decide 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 Revenue
Let’s get one thing straight early on. Running a blog is not a get-rich-quick type of factor. It takes lots of onerous work, lengthy hours, motivation, perseverance, and a sensible technique to show a beginner weblog right into a money-making machine.
Nonetheless, in the event you handle to construct and scale a profitable weblog, it may be extraordinarily profitable. There isn’t a restrict to how a lot cash you’ll be able to earn as a blogger; the extra your weblog grows, and the extra site visitors you get, the extra money you can also make.
I discover this “blue sky pondering” side of running a blog extremely rewarding and thrilling. In my earlier job, there was a clearly outlined profession observe, with a set path as to how you can 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 a good way to construct a group of like-minded individuals who share your passions and pursuits. If you happen to weblog about, say, mountain climbing, you’ll simply be capable of join with different people who find themselves additionally into this pastime. You would possibly even find yourself assembly your subsequent trekking buddy this manner.
The identical goes for just about no matter matter you weblog about. Asian cooking, language studying, guitar instructing, fly fishing, parachuting, equestrian care, historic reenactments – the record is countless. If you happen to weblog about it, you’ll quickly cross paths with different individuals who share your ambition.
Then, growth! Earlier than it, you’ll have simply discovered an entire load of latest individuals who share your curiosity(s). This may 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 in all probability 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 think about your self a great author or not, common running a blog is likely one of the finest methods to enhance your writing expertise. You’ll get higher at expressing your ideas, conveying concepts and emotions, and protecting your viewers engaged and wanting extra.
And, after all, being a greater author isn’t solely restricted to your weblog. It’s one of the 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 submit, or perhaps a novel, the writing expertise you develop via running a blog will be helpful.
6. Private Development
This one type of overlaps with lots of the opposite advantages of running a blog on this record. Running a blog is a tremendous alternative for private progress. 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 to date, I’ve realized an enormous quantity and developed a variety of expertise. I’ve turn out to be a greater author, and a greater photographer, realized extra about web optimization (see under), and am now higher at speaking my model in a approach that resonates with my viewers.
The journey isn’t at all times straightforward or clean. As with all profession, there are many challenges to beat and setbacks to cope with. Nonetheless, the resilience, mindset, and expertise that you simply be taught from running a blog may also help you develop an enormous quantity as an individual.
7. Networking Alternatives
Running a blog is a tremendous option to community with different professionals, each in your area of interest and outdoors of it. You’ll get to attach with different bloggers, trade consultants, corporations, and types on an virtually day by day foundation.
There are various other ways to community as a blogger. I’m a member of a number of wonderful Fb teams which might be filled with fellow bloggers and different helpful contacts that I attain out to pretty usually.
LinkedIn can be a good way to make connections, as can attending in-person occasions similar to conferences and seminars. These connections usually result in collaborations, visitor running a blog alternatives, and generally, even new profession alternatives.
8. web optimization Abilities
If you wish to run a profitable weblog, you’ll inevitably have to become familiar with not less than some Search Engine Optimization (web optimization) expertise. web optimization is likely one of the finest methods to make it possible for your weblog is seen and browse by as many individuals as potential.
web optimization could seem intimidating at first, however the fundamentals are pretty easy and simple to choose up. When you’re snug with doing key phrase analysis, constructing backlinks to your web site, and developing with a stable content material technique, you’ll be in a wonderful place to develop your weblog.
web optimization expertise are additionally extremely wanted in lots of industries. Buying these expertise can repay, each in terms of your individual weblog, but additionally by way of discovering different work. web optimization specialists are typically paid fairly properly too.
There are many assets out there on-line that you should use to show your self the basics of web optimization. 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 what I find out about web optimization. (He didn’t ask me to write down this, actually, the course is simply wonderful!).
9. Portfolio Constructing
Your weblog is a real-time portfolio of your work. Identical to an artist consists of their work in a portfolio, a weblog showcases your writing (and/or images or videography) expertise, in addition to your private model and elegance. It’s additionally publicly out there so will 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 finest work. You may even use it to show testimonials and critiques of any providers you would possibly provide.
Some individuals will come throughout your weblog organically (particularly in the event you nail your web optimization recreation). For others, all you should do is ship them your URL they usually’ll immediately be capable of see what you’ve created and what you’re able to.
10. Journey Perks
Okay, so this doesn’t apply to each kind of weblog. However I’m primarily a journey blogger, so I wish to embrace this one right here too. For me, one of the 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 changing into extra profitable.
From complimentary lodge stays and free outside gear to fully-funded press journeys sponsored by tourism boards, these perks can will let you journey in type and have wonderful experiences for a fraction of the fee, or totally free. Generally you even receives a commission! Sounds fairly nice, proper?
Nonetheless, you need to take an moral method to such freebies and perks. Any critiques 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 critiques about an organization and a model simply because they gave you free stuff.
Sure legal guidelines and rules (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 each one bloggers have to take severely.
Cons of Running a blog
Regardless of the various benefits, there are additionally a number of downsides to running a blog and it’s vital 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 is usually 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 in all probability must do, you’ve additionally acquired to handle your web site, interact along with your viewers, and maintain updated with the most recent technical developments and trade developments.
I usually discover myself spending much 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 see as a constructive factor. Nonetheless, it’s simple that the entire means of running a blog takes lots of time.
You additionally must 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.
If you happen to’re not cautious, all this work can result in burnout, which is why it’s essential to strike the correct work-life stability between running a blog and your private life.
2. No Assured Revenue
One of many issues I discover most troublesome about running a blog is how unpredictable your revenue will be. Not like an everyday job with a gradual paycheck, the revenue 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 via a mix of internet affiliate marketing and advertisements. Some additionally do sponsored posts and/or promote their services or products. Nonetheless, the quantity of site visitors you get every month can differ fairly considerably, which impacts how a lot you earn.
This usually means it’s important to diversify your revenue streams, which might add much more to your workload. Constructing a weblog to the purpose the place it generates a major revenue is a protracted recreation. Till you get there, budgeting for all times will be fairly a problem.
3. Extremely Aggressive
As soon as upon a time, there weren’t very many blogs. Due to this fact, the blogs that did exist had a neater time when it got here to competing for the perfect key phrases. I’m not saying it was straightforward again then, but it surely was simpler.
Right this moment, 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 turn out to be seen amid this huge sea of content material creators isn’t 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 web optimization expertise.
For brand spanking new bloggers, breaking into this saturated market will be daunting and requires a mixture of perseverance, creativity, and strategic pondering. I’m not attempting to place you off – it’s positively potential. However you should be in it for the long term and work each onerous and sensible to achieve success. Investing in your self and taking programs that will help you develop is a good concept as properly.
4. Technical Challenges
Navigating the technical elements of running a blog is usually a hurdle, particularly in the event you’re not naturally tech-savvy. I’m pretty laptop literate, nonetheless after 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.
You want to cope with web site internet hosting, upkeep, velocity, area administration, and numerous different parts. If one thing goes flawed along with your web site, you should work out find out 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 instances when attempting to cope with an issue with my weblog, particularly after I was simply beginning. My weblog truly crashed and went offline at one level and I wasn’t positive whether or not I’d misplaced months of onerous work, (fortunately, it was fantastic in the long run!).
These items get simpler the extra you do them and the extra you be taught (see the factors about expertise and private progress, above). However, it may be robust and irritating at instances, notably at first.
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 really like the liberty and adaptability that this profession gives. Nonetheless, I nonetheless usually discover myself working odd hours, weekends, and generally late into the night time. It’s straightforward to get a bit obsessive along with your weblog, not less than 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 power into it. This isn’t essentially a nasty factor – however, it’s vital 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. Once you’re adventuring, each second can really feel like a possible weblog submit and also you would possibly find yourself viewing experiences extra via your digital camera lens than with your individual eyes. It’s vital to recollect to step again and luxuriate in experiences for their very own sake.
Private Expertise as a Blogger
I’ve at all times liked touring, ever since I used to be a toddler. After spending most of my 20s learning and dealing in London, I felt an more and more robust pull in 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 really like all the advantages that include the job (see above). For me, having the ability to work onerous on one thing that I’ve 100% possession of is the perfect 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 all over the world. My readers are typically individuals who recognize a mix of outside actions and tradition, with the occasional consolation thrown in right here and there.
There have been ups and downs alongside the best way. One in all my largest frustrations is the velocity at which I produce content material. I’m a fairly sluggish author, so it takes me a very long time to write down and publish every submit. Nonetheless, my weblog is on target and I’m excited for what the long run holds!
FAQs
Listed here are solutions to some often requested questions on the principle benefits and drawbacks of running a blog:
Turning into a blogger will be a good suggestion in the event you’re passionate about sharing your concepts and tales, and are keen to speculate effort and time into creating partaking content material. It’s a super platform for artistic expression and can be doubtlessly fairly profitable.
The largest 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 data, experiences, and opinions with a large viewers and interact with a group of like-minded individuals.
Whether or not it’s best to begin a weblog will depend on your objectives, pursuits, and dedication. If you happen to take pleasure in writing, wish to share your data and experiences, and are dedicated to frequently 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 revenue inconsistency, and the problem of standing out in a saturated market. Moreover, managing the technical elements of a weblog and reaching a great work-life stability will be difficult.
The primary execs of running a blog embrace artistic freedom, a versatile life-style, high-income potential, group constructing, studying new expertise, and private growth. The primary cons embrace an unsure revenue, market saturation, technical challenges, and difficulties in sustaining a great work-life stability.
Is Running a blog Value It?
For me, the various execs of running a blog positively outweigh the cons. Running a blog is a particularly versatile profession; you’ll be able to select to concentrate on no matter you’re keen about, and you may work from (virtually) anyplace on the planet.
Nonetheless, 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 revenue will fluctuate rather a lot, there are technical challenges, and you should 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 form of one who doesn’t thoughts just a little uncertainty; (iii) you’re self-motivated and might handle your time effectively; and (iv) you’re ready to work onerous (and sensible) to attain your objectives.
If these all apply to you, why not give it a go? To start out your individual weblog, click on right here to obtain Goats On The Street’s free Newbie Running a blog Course that will help you get began the correct approach.