Welcome Back To My DoFollow Blog! I’d Like to Extend a Big Thank You to You and Give You FREE Access to my “101 Ways to Connect for E-commerce” Report. Discover NEW Key Ways to Reach Your Audience! ~ Christine Brady
Do you ever have those days when you are running around, trying to get a lot accomplished only to feel more behind than when you started?
This past week has been a whirlwind of jumping from one project to another. I work on this for a while and then shift gears to that project over there. There is not enough time to get everything done that I want to.
So, this morning I felt the need express why blogging is just the thing to help focus your thoughts and bring your ideas full circle. I felt a “best of” post would be a good idea to get back to my comfort zone. 
Blogging – what’s not to love?!
- Blogs allow you to express yourself in the way that you want to. Don’t like to write? Create a vlog – a video blog. Uncomfortable on video, but still don’t want to write – create audios and post them on your blog. There is an opportunity for everyone. The term blogs was first coined to mean an online journal – A way to publish whatever you wanted to. As a publisher, we forget that this space is ours to do with what we see fit. Your blog and my blog are completely different – and that is what makes them appeal to our audience!
- Want to start a business, but not sure where to start or what to do first? Start a blog. When I was first starting out online and did not know what I wanted to do, I started several blogs. They’ve all been condensed into just one now. But starting all those blogs allowed me to explore the possibilities of what exists online. Even if it’s just a way to recapped what you’ve discovered or chronicling your online journey – it can be the springboard for a new business.
- Blogs can make money. Yes, blogs can be income producing. Running a profitable blog is a business model that can be very lucrative – just look at Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income Blog. More often than not, however, blogs don’t produce income quickly. That is just the nature of that business model – more often, it takes a few months, sometimes many months to build up your blog. Getting laser-focused on your niche and zeroing in on your audience is the first step to making money with your blog.
- Connecting with other bloggers is awesome. Bloggers have a sort of support system in place that is unlike any other that I have seen. It’s almost like everybody wants to help each other out! Essentially, a community of bloggers can help you in so many ways – from sharing your content to bouncing ideas around. If this list was in order, meeting other bloggers would rank right up near the top of my “best of” list!
- You have something to share. If you are just starting out online, having something of your own to share with others is pretty much essential. Commenting on other blogs, conversing on Twitter and Facebook – it’s all so much more fun when you have something you wrote or created yourself that you can talk to others about.
- And finally, a blog can help you get better at generating content. This is so true in so many ways! If you are thinking making a vlog might be the thing for you, then with every video you make, you’ll get better. If you are writing your posts, then with every post, your writing will get better. The widely known quote (and overused if you ask my 8 year old) of “practice makes perfect” rings so true with blogging. I guarantee if you start the Ultimate Blog Challenge with me on April 1, you will be a better blogger by the months end. And if you don’t feel that you’ve gotten any better, I will give you a copy of my report on Profitable Blogging for FREE!
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, there is no question as to the many benefits of having a blog. If you have not started one yet, then check out how to start a blog and that will help you get started in the right direction. And if you have been blogging away, I want to know…
What has surprised you the most about blogging?
What is your biggest struggle with your blog?
Thanks for sharing!
This is a very well written article with many good tips.Thank you.
Thanks Joel,
So glad you liked it!
Great post. Motivational also. Thanks!
Armi Niemi recently posted..Free Text-To-Speech !
Thanks Armi!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I am new to blogging. I write books and short articles, not blogs, until now.
I guess I am a true writer now.
I will take some of your advice to heart and I guess by being in the Comment and Blog exchange – found via a friend – is a great step to connect with the blogging community.
I liked reading your writing.
Regards,
Digger
Hi Digger,
Glad to meet you!
With those kind of credentials, you will surely be a great blogger!
If you’ve been reading my posts, you’ll see that there is a constant learning curve that never ends. But, the good thing is that we’re all in the same boat, discovering new techniques and strategies everyday!
Looking forward to your blog…
I suppose the thing that has surprised me the most is just how appreciative I am of the comments on the things I write. Before when I would read a blog I would almost never comment on the article because I always figured the author probably doesn’t care that much but now I see how wrong I was. Comments really help prevent the feeling that your not writing to empty space.
Your article has come at the perfect time Christine because I have been spending so much time at mine its feeling like a home on the internet. Glad to see some other people who like blogging as well.
I suppose my biggest trouble right now is the point that stuck out the most to me and that’s zeroing in on my target audience. I feel like my posts are all over the place so I need to put some more attention there.
Chris Ellis recently posted..Behind The Scenes
Hi Chris,
I think blogs evolve. You may start out blogging about several topics and then find out that one topic interests you more than others. I’ve been doing a lot of research about this lately and I think the only way to determine what works for you is just to keep writing and see where it takes you. Or doing videos or audios or whatever your preferred method of communication.
It will become more clear, probably never entirely, but at least you may have a better sense of what you do best.
Glad you enjoyed the post
Hi Christine,
I’m with you. What’s not to love. I have only been blogging since the beginning of the year, but I love it. It keeps me sane, my head clear of too many thoughts and gives me a voice.
The biggest struggle is getting subscribers. People comment but no one subscribes.
Madonna
Madonna recently posted..The Top 7 Reasons I Failed in MLM More Than Once
Hi Madonna,
About getting subscribers – take that EFT guide you have on your site and create an opt-in for it. That’s an awesome guide – it will surely start your list off on the right foot.
This blog post – http://insightfulmommy.com/5-actions-steps-to-build-a-list-now will help you get it started quickly.
Hey Christine,
I think you made a TON of excellent points here. I personally love blogging as a business because it is such a great strategy for getting your business up and running for almost no up-front cost. I started a blog 3 years ago that is now a decent money-maker, so I know for a fact that it works well.
I think too many people think of “blogging’ as something only sci-fi followers are doing, but in fact any website that updates frequently is considered to be a blog… Many people are just unaware of the potential.
Thanks for sharing, I am glad I read this as it reminded me of why blogging as a business is such a great idea!
Talk soon,
Paul
Pauly C recently posted..A CASE STUDY (Static home page vs Blog home page)
Hi Paul,
Glad you liked it – it seems like whenever I have a ton of things working (or not working) if I just write a blog post, they all seem to come together much better.
Blogs can definitely be big business – look at TechCrunch – sold for $30 million!!!
I just want to mention something regarding blogs that make money. I’m hard pressed to find ANY blogger out there that makes money simply from blogging. I know a few but their incomes are not as sizeable as you would be led to believe, and rather then the blog directly making them money, it’s their email newsletter that bring in the lions share.
Pay Flynn made his money with his membership site before making money blogging, because as you rightly state, making money blogging can be a lengthy process. Even then, the amount of money you make is directly proportionate to the market size you dominate.
People who enter blogging simply to make money are often being misguided, and often from people selling courses on how to make money blogging (this is how I got into blogging).
Blogging as you quite rightly mention has numerous other benefits, but I just wanted to highlight that blogging simply to make money, is not only often long and hard – it is quite unlikely to be your main living too. Using blogging as a way to promote another product/ increase your exposure or mailing list size, is really where the money lies.
I often get upset with clients who believe writing post after post is the way to make money, it is not and it is a waste of your time, unless you are concentrating on building a list or using your blog to sell another product.
Rant over!
Dee Kumar recently posted..Validating niche ideas – How to check that your niche ideas are actually as good as you think they are.
Hi Dee,
Love the rant!
Ultimately blogs could be considered the front door to your business. Invite people in and walk them through your house, encourage them to stay and play a while. The admin area of your business includes the list, the products, the marketing, the socializing, etc, etc.
But I think we all agree – inviting people back to our house opens the door to our business.
Great post. I’ll be looking at others now.
Frank Viola recently posted..Why I Gave Up Trying to Live the Christian Life: Five Reasons
Thank you Frank!
Appreciate the feedback!
Hi Christine
I love blogging, it is a great way to build up your business and make some great contacts. I have been blog commenting to increase traffic to my blog and it is a great way to do this as well as meeting some very nice people in the blogging world! I am building up some great relationships as well as building my list!
And now we have found the 30 day challenge this will only get better
Have a great day
Pauline
Pauline recently posted..Tips On How To Get Free Traffic
Hi Pauline,
Exactly!
I sometimes wish my blog was the only thing I had to focus on, it’s so much more fun than trying to tackle something like a Facebook timeline cover!
Hey Christine,
This is such a nice write up. I could completely resonate with your thoughts about jumping between projects. I go through such days several times, when nothing seems to be really taking shape or moving ahead. Good to learn how blogging helps you to focus your ideas.
I really like your idea of starting a video or an audio blog, if we cannot express ourselves much in writing. After all, as you said, there’s an opportunity for each one of us in this. Thanks for the great share and inspiration.
Sarah Reece recently posted..Bluehost Coupon
Hi Sarah,
Glad you liked it!
Yes, I wrote this for partly selfish reasons too, as not everything always goes as planned – this post helps me focus on the important things.
Thanks for the kind words!