The Internet has provided a forum for anyone to share their views on any subject no matter how controversial their opinions or how mundane the topic may be. Creating and maintaining a blog has also allowed business owners and professionals an outlet to build their own brand and unique following. Let’s take a look at some more benefits of blogging and a few of the drawbacks to consider as well.
Pro: You Control the Message
Your personal blog is a space where you control the message that you want to send. If you want to speak out about climate change or take a stance that your employer may not like, your blog is the place to do it. Theoretically, you should be able to say what you want without suffering any negative repercussions as long as you state that the content is your own and doesn’t necessarily reflect the views of others.
Con: Marketing Your Blog Takes Time and Money
When talking about the pros and cons of blogging, it is difficult to ignore the fact that writing content is only half the battle when it comes to getting your message out. In addition, you have to spend time marketing your blog to gain any sort of visibility. This may mean writing guest posts on other blogs, maintaining one or more social media accounts or paying for advertising on various channels. While you have the option of outsourcing either content creation or marketing, you may find that you lose control of your message when you outsource.
Pro: Use the Content In a Multitude of Ways
Over time, you may find that there are multiple ways to use your content to your advantage. For instance, you may compile several long blog posts and turn them into an eBook that you can either use as an ethical bribe to new subscribers or that you can sell for a profit. You may also be able to turn your blog into a portfolio of your work or as sample material to use as part of a pitch to magazine editors or other websites where you would like to publish your work. Finally, your blog may be used as part of your resume to show that you have broad appeal and can be an asset to a future employer.
Con: Controversial Views Could Tarnish Your Professional Image
It is important to remember that anything that you write will be indexed and could be found by anyone who knows what to look for. Therefore, something controversial or offensive that you wrote several years ago could be brought back to the surface and result in a job offer being rescinded. While you do have the right to express any viewpoint that you wish on a personal blog, you should make sure that you are always putting your best foot forward if you hope to use it to further your career.
Pro: Leverage Your Following for Financial Gain
If you have a consistent amount of unique traffic coming to your blog each day, week or month, that could be attractive to advertisers looking to reach their target market. Advertisers may be willing to pay you for each unique page view that you bring or each time their ad is clicked by a potential customer. While you should expect to make $1,000 or less per month when you start out, a successful blog could command tens of thousands of dollars per year from advertisers.
Con: Poor Blog Design Could Hurt You
There is a lot that goes into designing a great blog. You have to update your content on a regular basis, connect the blog to social media accounts and create lively debates in the comments section. In addition, you have to make sure that it loads quickly on both desktop computers and mobile devices. If your content is weak or your blog takes too long to load on a smartphone, you may be seen as behind the times. This could result in your blog being pushed down the search results and reduce your visibility.
Pro: Learn to Be a Better Writer and Communicator
If nothing else, you will learn how to become a better writer and advocate for your position on issues that you feel passionate about. Furthermore, you will learn how to connect with those who think like you and potential leverage those relationships into job opportunities or opportunities to advance your cause.
While there are many pros and cons of blogging, there is no doubt that it can be a powerful tool when used correctly. Whether your goal is to sell products online, build your professional brand or simply let your voice be heard about a particular issue, it is easy to start a blog with no money or coding experience necessary.
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