For those of you who have been blogging for a while, you certainly have discovered that there are clearly benefits of blogging that may not be related to adding a few dollars to your bank account. I went into this undertaking with very little knowledge of the blogging world and what it was really all about. What I have learned in a short time is that there is a lot more to blogging than helping you make a buck.
1. Support System
What do I mean by a support system? Well, I’ve had a chance to meet more people since I started blogging than I would have in almost any other endeavor. If you have a WordPress blog, which most of us do have, the community out there is endless. Asking help from commenters to your blog or of other blog owners is certainly an option. I belong to three different forums specifically related to blogging. The information and contacts I have made through these forums are priceless. And even if you don’t belong to a forum just utilize Google search and you’ll probably find the answer to your question.
2. Online Portfolio
Let’s face it. If you blog, chances are you also love to write. It’s pretty much a prerequisite or you’re not going to be doing it very long. What could be sweeter than having a place to display your talent and your best work? Maybe you want to do a guest post on a more popular blog like… perhaps BloggingTips? You can send along the guest post but, more importantly, you can provide a link to your blog and your popular posts which may go a long way in showing the blog author that you really do have some talent. What if you are looking for a paying writing job? If you have a blog that you’ve developed for a while, you’ve got your portfolio of work one link away. Try to look at your blog as not only an outlet for you to write and express yourself but also as a potential launching point to more writing jobs.
3. Honing your craft
I started blogging because I enjoy writing. But, what I have noticed is that the more I blog the better I write. Writing, like any other skill, takes practice. Blogging regularly is a great way to develop your writing skills. There are also numerous blogs specifically geared toward developing writing skills. Visit them and heed some of their tips and add them to your writing toolbox. There is a lot of great information out there and you only have to visit or subscribe and you may see your own writing flourish as a result.
4. Developing technical skills
The blogging landscape is varied when it comes to the level of technically skilled people. Some bloggers have the technical skills to develop WordPress themes. Others contract out others to do everything technical when it comes to the development of their blogs. No matter where you stand on the technical scale, you can always learn new skills pertaining to your blog. Maybe you want to expand your HTML, CSS, or PHP proficiency. It is certainly up to you how much you really want to learn. The opportunity is certainly there and, as a result, your blogs will improve as a result of expanding your technical skills.
5. Helping others.
When I started blogging I needed a lot of help and I still do. But one thing I have learned is that there are other bloggers out there who know less than I do. The education I have received in a short amount of time is vast and being able to help other bloggers is a way to give back. I asked for help when I started out and I got it. There were so many giving people out there ready to help me and they didn’t charge me for it. I tend to believe that everyone has the inner desire to help others. The blogosphere is full of giving people so if you have a chance to give back do so. Through Kevin Muldoon at BloggingTips I am able to reach a far greater audience than I could currently through my own blog. Let’s just say it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.
Some may get into blogging to make money. But once you blog for a while you may be surprised that there are benefits to blogging that just may mean more to you than a few extra dollars. Developing relationships, adding to your online portfolio, perfecting your craft, learning new technical skills, and helping others, have proven to be priceless benefits to me. I just hope that you, my fellow bloggers, feel the same way. I’d be surprised if you didn’t…
Since I started blogging I have learned so much about the industry it is crazy. And most people out there, even some of my competitors, are very nice and willing to help out. I still have a long way to go but my blog is definitely a bit part of my learning process. It also provides immediate feedback. I can make a change to my site and then ask people what they think and I get feedback right away.
Hi Tom,
Isn't it strange how even competitors will help out if you ask. I think everyone realizes that there could be collaboration down the line that could benefit each party. Or, I like to think that people are basically glad to help and generous. My learning curve has also been incredibly steep since I started blogging and it's all good. Just think what we will learn in the coming year!
Thanks for much for reading and leaving a comment.
Best,
Bob
Great post.. Not always about making money.
Hi John,
This is why I wanted to stress the non-monetary benefits because there are many. I think some tend to get caught up in the money aspect of blogging and maybe don't realize the many other really inspiring benefits. Thanks for reading my post..
Best,
Bob
I used to write a weekly column about music and used my blog as an archive.
Thats so true and makes so much sense. I am relatively new to this and have learned a lot along the way. Even skills pertaining to programming and networking side has shown good improvement. This is more like you keep doing, writing, exploring and you will keep finding some hidden gems.
There are numerous benefits I've got from blogging, I now get media invites to networking and industry events. Get to travel on media tours to explore the tourist attractions around the country, as I blog about tourism. I started blogging to improve on my writing skills and that has worked wonders…before I was very shy to express myself, yet now I'm always eager to express an opinion and knowing that I have a loyal community of readers is priceless.
Everyone who is blogging is absolutely love to write. I do agree with you. Instead, in my case, I love to write and I love to do blogging but the problem is I don't know how to express or disgorge my ideas into writing. That's my major problem that sometimes caused me a mental block to do blogging. But, I believe, practice makes perfect. I believe I could overcome it if I always keep writing for my blog.