Think blogging is dead? Think again! There are so many reasons why you should start a blog in 2020 (and beyond!). Whether you’re a beginner, already have a business, or simply want to make money, we’re proving why blogging is still relevant and necessary, and giving you all the inspiration you need to take the plunge!
This post is sponsored by Bluehost. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make it possible for us to provide free content and blogging business inspiration.
Wait… isn’t blogging dead?
So you’re thinking about starting a blog, but have heard rumors from other “experts” about how blogging is dead. There’s plenty of people out there eager to rain on your parade sharing stories about how they’ve worked tirelessly on their blogs for years and never made a dime. “Nobody reads blogs anymore,” they say.
PSA: Don’t let the people who couldn’t figure it out make you believe that you can’t, either.
Just look at me. I started my blog Root + Revel in 2015, wayyyy after blogging’s heyday. And just four years later, over 2.5 million unique visitors have read my content, over 50,000 people have signed up for my email list, AND I’m going to make nearly $200,000 from my blog this year, in just my fourth year.
And if I can do it, so can you!
Read on for nine compelling reasons you should start a blog TODAY! If you want to jump straight to one of these points, simply click the link:
- Blogs are virtually free to start.
- It grows your existing business.
- You own it, unlike social media.
- You can make money from day one.
- Authority and credibility.
- You get to serve and help people.
- Fuel your creativity and learn new skills.
- Location independence.
- You’re your own boss.
9 Reasons You Should Start a Blog in 2020
1) Blogs are virtually free to start.
What other business can you start for about 100 bucks?!
All you need is a domain name and hosting, and you can get started. Show me another business, or even a hobby, that doesn’t require some start-up costs?
To get started, I recommend buying both your domain and hosting with Bluehost. There are dozens of hosting services out there, but in my opinion the best, cheapest and easiest option for beginning bloggers is Bluehost.
They’ve got a few different plans, but I recommend just starting with the Basic Plan for just $3.95/month (this is a special deal just for my readers; normally it’s $7.99/month). I also recommend choosing the 36-month plan, which will help you save money, too. Another way to save money?
Sign up for eBates, the FREE cash back app that gives you extra money in your pocket! With Bluehost, you’ll get $10 cashback.
Even better? When you choose Bluehost, you can get your domain for free. Keep reading to find out how! Simply type in your desired domain to make sure nobody else has already taken it.
AAAAAAAAnd, with Bluehost, you’ll have WordPress automatically installed, and you can even pick a theme right away. To learn more about how to get started blogging, check out this 6-step guide we created for you!
But here’s the thing: while blogs are virtually free to start, I still recommend investing some money into it in the early days if you want to see success faster. If you’re serious about wanting to grow your blog (and thus your income)–even just part-time–then this is exactly why I recommend investing some money into it. You need to treat it like a business.
This is like saying, “I want to open my own restaurant, but I won’t spend any money on ingredients.” Newsflash: you can’t open a restaurant without food 😉 Even if you’re a ‘hobby blogger’, I challenge you to show me one other hobby that exists that doesn’t require a dime for activities or materials. If you try to start or grow a blog with zero investment, it’s going to take you WAY longer to reach your income goals and be much more demanding on your energy. Smart investments are where it’s at!
All too often, I hear people talk about how the cost of starting a blog (or any business) holds them back. People simply say, “It’s too expensive” or “I can’t afford it” and proceed to tell me 20 reasons why the thing they want isn’t possible right now.
To be honest, I find this infuriating! I’m not saying that you should spend money willy nilly, or that it’s never true that spending money on a business at a particular time is a bad idea.
But almost always, people argue for their limitations, rather than fighting for their desires.
If you spend tons of energy telling me about the reasons why you can’t be/do/have what you want, ask yourself instead why you’re not spending that energy on focusing what it is you truly WANT and figuring out a solution and roadmap for how to get there? It’s up to YOU to make it happen!
2) It grows your existing business.
Maybe you already have a business as a health coach, or maybe you’re a web designer. Perhaps you offer consulting services, or maybe you even own a brick and mortar business.
No matter what business you currently have, you’re probably wondering why on earth–given your busy schedule and existing demands you already have as an entrepreneur–you should even consider starting a blog and adding anything more to your plate.
Or, if you already have a small blog on your website, why it matters and why you need to make time for it.
Here are just a few stats for you left-brained people out there to get your head wrapped around just how important blogging can be:
- B2B marketers who use blogs generate 67% more leads than those that do not. (source)
- Marketers who prioritize blogging are 13x more likely to have a positive ROI on their efforts. (source)
- 57% of marketers say they’ve gained customers specifically through blogging. (source)
- Small businesses that blog see 126% more lead growth than the businesses that don’t. (source)
- 77% of internet users read blogs and US bloggers are projected to have a readership of 31.7 million by 2020. (source)
- Internet users in the US spend 3X more time on blogs than they do on email. (source)
- 81% of U.S. online consumers trust information and advice from blogs. (source)
Convinced yet?
Finally, just to drive this point home further, I’ve got to mention Google since it’s the #1 traffic source for almost all websites. Google LOVES blogs!
- Companies who blog get 97% more links to their websites. (source)
- Companies that blog receive 434% more indexed pages. (source)
- Companies that blog have 55% more visitors to their websites. (source)
- Businesses that blog experience twice as much email traffic as businesses who don’t. (source)
So even if you have another business or creative project, adding a blog to your existing website is a no brainer. It helps your audience gain trust with you and builds your email list, so that when you launch a new program, a podcast, a book, have a sale on your products–whatever your business may be–that those other projects will be more successful!
3) You own it, unlike social media.
Sure, social media is important, but what trumps all of that is your OWN website (and, as an extension, your email list).
Why?
Because your blog and your email list are your routes to communicate DIRECTLY with your audience.
Think about this: at any moment, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter could pull the plug or change their rules or algorithm–and whatever fan base you’ve grown on those platforms could disappear. That’s why I never recommend anyone just be an Instagram influencer, for example, because you could have 1 million people following you, but you don’t control it. Get your own website, get your own email list, and those platforms are yours–forever!
4) You can make money from day one.
Okay, while you’re not going to make six figures on day one, I love that you CAN monetize immediately! How?
- through affiliate marketing (recommending other people’s products and services, like on Amazon)
- creating a product for sale, like an e-book, course, menu plans, etc.
- selling your services (coaching, consulting, writing, speaking, etc.)
According to BlogHer, 61% of U.S. online consumers have made a purchase based on recommendations from a blog (source). That’s POWERFUL!
If you start a blog today, you truly can make money from day one, with limitless potential as you grow.
5) Authority and credibility.
Building an archive of content makes you credible and, over time, establishes you as an ‘expert’ in your niche. This can lead to speaking gigs, book deals, podcast interviews, TV show segments–the sky is the limit! You just need to start by putting yourself out there and creating a platform for your knowledge.
6) You get to serve and help people.
At the root of it all, it comes back to being of service. You’re not going to be successful at blogging or owning a business if your audience isn’t receiving value from you–simple as that.
Plus, you’re most likely not going to enjoy what you’re doing in the long-term, or have it feel rewarding or sustainable, if you can’t connect into the bigger picture of WHY you’re doing what you’re doing.
Blogging (like any job) can be hard, and sometimes I want to throw in the towel. But then I get a beautiful email from a reader telling me how much I’ve helped them, and everything comes back into perspective–that reminder of why I’m doing this in the first place renews my inspiration and motivation. Nothing feels better than getting to help someone else!
7) Fuel your creativity and learn new skills.
One thing I love love love about blogging is that I’m constantly learning new skills, being challenged, and getting to flex my creative muscles. Whether it’s designing images, emails, and sales pages, or crafting compelling stories that improve my thinking and writing skills, or learning new tech, or strengthening my knowledge on subjects I’m passionate about, it never gets dull or complacent!
8) Location independence.
As long as you have an internet connection, you have the luxury of working whenever and from wherever you dang well please! I’ve worked from the mountains of Central America, the beaches of Hawaii, a jungle in Thailand, my grandparent’s cottage on Cape Cod, hotels in cities all around the world, my parent’s lake house, you name it…I’ve probably worked there. It’s the ultimate freedom!
9) You’re your own boss.
There are few things I love more than being an entrepreneur (obvi, my family takes the cake!).
But seriously, just imagine if…
- you had a flexible schedule and the freedom to work from home, watch your kids grow up, all without sacrificing self-care.
- you could financially contribute to your family, pay off your debt or travel the world, all while working on YOUR terms.
- you could grow your blog from a passion project or hobby into a legit, profitable, full-time career, and STOP TRADING your TIME FOR DOLLARS.
- you felt empowered and confident in knowing where to start and could stop wasting time and money, feel less overwhelmed and stressed, while getting more results and satisfaction!
This isn’t some pipe dream or made-up reality. It’s my REAL LIFE, and it can be yours, too!
Ready to start your blog? There’s no better time than today! Check out our FREE resources to help you get started:
- Download our 99-Step Roadmap to a Profitable Blog: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by #allthethings and have no idea where to start, take it from me and download the checklist–you’ll go from overwhelm to profitable blog in no time! Why reinvent the wheel when you can follow a proven formula?
- How to Start Your Blog in 6 Easy Steps
- The Best WordPress Plugins for Bloggers
- Quiz: What Kind of Blog Should You Start?: If you love the idea of blogging (maybe you love to write, are looking to make extra money, or have a story you’re burning to share with the world) but aren’t exactly sure what kind of blog to start, this quiz is for you.
- Quiz: Are You Ready to Turn Your Blog into a Profitable Business?: If you’re ready to level up and add blogging as a revenue generator in your business, or if you have a blog that’s currently a side hustle or passion project, this quiz will help.
- See all my favorite blogging resources here!
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