[click here if you can’t see the video, “Book Giveaway – My 14th Blogaversary”]
Reasons NOT to Blog
In 1999 there were 23 blogs on the internet.
In 2022 there are more than 600 million blogs online. And 7 million blog posts are published every day, hoping to capture our attention.
Yet of people who start a blog, more than 90% quit within a few months.
Why do bloggers stop blogging?
- It is time-consuming to generate content.
- It requires patience to build an audience.
- It costs money for hosting, plug-ins, domains, etc.
- It can be technically challenging.
- It takes effort to promote posts on social media.
- It can expose privacy and vulnerability.
- And it occasionally draws haters and who needs that?
I was naively unaware of these challenges when I started my blog 14 years ago today.
I fell in love with blogging despite it all.
My first blog post was Take the Pain on Blogspot on August 8, 2008. My most recent post is When You Become a Different Person on WordPress last Friday, August 5, 2022.
In the 3,480 blog posts in between, I have indeed become a different person . . . and partly because of blogging.
14 Reasons to Keep Writing Your Blog
Here are 14 reasons to keep blogging for the long haul.
Keep blogging because . . .
1. You still have lessons to learn.
Many people blog to teach. That’s valid (see reason #2). But blogging also teaches you.
Writing your posts generates motivation to research, to self-reflect, to pay attention to details, to listen to others’ opinions and to clarify your own.
• Learn about life and yourself as you write.
2. You still have lessons to teach.
Every person knows a lot of things, each person with an angle unique to themselves. Blogging is a natural place to share what you know. No one else will teach it exactly as you do.
For example, I’ve taught series with my own personal twist on “20 Ways to Practice the Enneagram for Spiritual Growth” and “How to Uncover Hidden Biases.”
• Teach what you know on your blog.
3. You still have friends to meet.
Building relationships is a huge perk of blogging for years. Through comments, through linkups, through off-blog conversations, and occasionally through in-person meetings, you can create close relationships through blogging.
Participate in a weekly linkup to see for yourself. Some of my favorite blog parties are here.
• Blogging is a group activity—find your people.
4. You still have things to give.
Maybe you sell things on your blog. Or maybe you give things away. Either way, as you send your craft into the interwebs, you’re making it a brighter place.
• Be generous with your gifts to your online community.
5. You still have skills to master.
Writing content is one skill that repetitive blogging can improve. But formatting and publishing your writing onto a blog requires another set of skills. There’s always more to learn about blogging platforms, designing graphics (I highly recommend canva.com), social media, editing photos, link building, and mastering SEO and CSS and HTML.
And then they make changes and you get to learn again.
• Blogging gives you opportunities to master more skills.
6. You still have questions to ask.
Asking questions on your blog is a great way not only to generate conversations, but to receive legitimate answers to questions you have, whether about a sticky relationship issue or a question about life or even which BBQ sauce to use (Jeff would say Dreamland).
Don’t underestimate the wisdom of the crowd.
• People love to give advice, if only you’ll ask.
7. You still have fears to conquer.
Hitting “publish” is no small thing, especially if you’re sharing something personal or something you’ve created. It takes courage to be vulnerable (like sharing an unrealistic expectation), to admit your faults (such as trying to change your spouse), or to reveal your quirks (does anybody else do this with ham?).
But every time you publish, you grind down the edge of fear a little bit more.
• Use blogging to face your fears.
8. You still have things to share.
Blogging is a great platform for sharing your favorite things, whether books (I love recommending books every month) or products or even opinions. Whether you’ve found the perfect hack to fold sheets or a new phone app that is changing your life, share it with your blogging audience.
Heather Gerwing created Share Four Somethings as an easy way to share more about yourself on your blog each month.
• Readers appreciate hearing personal details and recommendations.
9. You still have wrongs to right.
Many use their blogs to create awareness for social issues that need changing. Blogs are a place you can share personal stories or explain why a bill should be passed or shed light on racial inequities.
• Let your blog help change the world for the better.
10. You still have room to grow.
If you’re still alive, you still have areas you can grow in. As you work to pour goodness and love into the world, document it through your blog, not only as personal notes but also as a witness to others who may also be pursuing their own growth.
• Attest to your experiences with growth in your blog posts.
11. You still have time to fill.
You’re still here for a reason. You’re going to spend your time on earth doing something, so if you find meaningful purpose in blogging, why not dedicate a few hours to do it?
• Use your time wisely and intentionally with blogging.
12. You still have people to encourage.
A great benefit of reading blogs is finding encouragement. Whatever the issue, someone is probably writing a blog about it. If you have words of hope you can pass along through your experiences, your gift of encouragement and connection is invaluable.
• Restore hope to others through your blog.
13. You still have money to make.
This is not one of my reasons for blogging, but many people do make a living through their blogs. You might earn income through selling products or services or from hosting ads, enough to create a full-time business or at least as a side-hustle.
• Your blog can provide a stream of income.
14. You still have stories to tell.
Every day you live fresh stories. And you repeat them to others. You tell some in person. But maybe you can tell some online on your blog.
I appreciate our One Word community linking blog posts with their stories each month.
• Speak your truth online.
Blogging Keeps on Giving
14 years ago, I had no idea of the life changes I’d experience from my little experiment with blogging.
I’m glad I tried it.
It’s been far from easy though. Blogging has made me frustrated, made me tired, and made me angry at times.
Blogging isn’t always enjoyable.
But overall, blogging has given me far more joy than pain.
If blogging is something you like to do, too, hold on to your reasons. Keep writing your blog now and into your future.
You never know what you (and others) may discover through it.
What’s one reason you read blogs or write blogs? What reason would you add to the list of reasons to blog?
Share in the comments.
