In this competitive economy and rising prices of commodities, it’s slowly becoming impossible to live on just one source of income alone. Even if you have a full-time job, sometimes it’s good to start something of your own that can supplement the income from your main job or generate another source of income entirely.
Of course, there are plenty of other side hustles that you can do instead of blogging. But here are eight reasons why you should start a blog to give you an edge in this economy:
Reason #1 It’s free and easy to set up
Today, all you need is an internet connection and a domain name, which doesn’t even cost that much. You also need a blogging platform like WordPress and the basic design for your site is free, too. But if you have the skills to create a bespoke web design, you can always create a site that looks unique and stunning.
Reason #2 It’s a way to express your interests and opinions
If there’s something that doesn’t quite agree with you, you can always start a blog to express your views. You can even do it anonymously if you want so that people will focus more on the content itself. But if you want people to know who you are and what you have to say, your blog will be the way to go.
Reason #3 It can help you create your personal brand
If you want to keep things simple, there are blogging platforms out there that allow you to post under your own brand. This works great if your goal is just to share tips and views of things you love with people that are interested in the same things.
However, if you want to have a larger community, you can always start your own website using a custom domain name. You can even hire someone to design a logo for your site so that people will be able to remember you easier. This way, it will be much easier for you to create your personal brand.
Reason #4 It can give you insight into readers’ thoughts
If you’re just starting and would like to know what type of content to post, the best thing you can do is start hanging out on sites where similar blogs are present. Observe how they write their posts and what kind of content they put out. This way, you will know what readers want from blogs.
Reason #5 It’s a way to do affiliate marketing and advertising
If you like to talk about certain products, it’s a good idea to start doing affiliate marketing. Bigger sites like Amazon can provide you with an affiliate link that you can use to sell the products they are advertising. If your site is popular, advertisers may come to you instead since they want the traffic your site can provide.
Reason #6 It makes jobs easier to find in this economy
If you’re good at writing, blogging will give you the chance to hone your skills even more. In this economy where jobs are becoming scarcer by the day, skills like these will be a plus if you use them the right way.
Additionally, if you’re just starting and want to get into the corporate world, blogging can be a great way to build your portfolio. You will probably have to do it for free to start but once you have made a name for yourself, bigger companies will probably come calling.
Reason #7 It provides an opportunity for freelance writing jobs
Freelance writing jobs that pay are becoming rare these days, too. If you have a blog and a few other sites where you can post your written material, you can always approach companies and see if they want to hire you.
Reason #8 It helps you network with other like-minded people
Blogging allows you to create a community around your brand. It gives you the chance to meet other bloggers and people that have similar interests to yours. This can help you expand your network and even find more freelance writing opportunities.
Best of all, it only takes a few minutes to set up a blog and get it running. If you’re interested, you can even browse through some free website templates out there and start one yourself. So, what are you waiting for? The sooner you begin, the better.
Of course, there are certain pitfalls that you want to avoid, such as not giving the blog enough time in the beginning, and not having good content. But if you can somehow manage to avoid those, blogging is one way you can increase your sources of income!