The Advantages and Disadvantages of Blogging
These days, many people are looking for new ways to work, including starting their own online businesses. Blogging is a business option that has been around for years and continues to expand. Before starting a site, take a critical look at the advantages and disadvantages of blogging to consider if it’s right for you!
The self-employed lifestyle can be an appealing choice! With options for flexibility, no cap on income, and a variety of business models, online businesses are becoming more and more attractive. In general, entrepreneurship among Americans is steadily rising as a growing number of individuals are starting their own businesses.
From social media platforms, course software, e-commerce platforms, self-publishing sites, blogging, and more, online business structures will only continue to grow. Today, many bloggers utilize a combination of these strategies in successful businesses!
Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of blogging.
What are the advantages of blogging?
Blogging has the potential to be a rewarding online business for entrepreneurs. With a solid understanding of what it takes, it can be a great fit for those who like to plan, create, and learn a variety of skills!
- First, a huge advantage of setting up a blog is that you retain full ownership of your content – especially on a self-hosted site. No other employer or platform owns the work you produce, and you don’t need to wait for permission before you share your expertise and experiences with others.
- Running your own blog will require more work upfront, but it can pay off with passive, residual income in the long run. You can also incorporate multiple revenue streams through ads, sponsors, digital products, and more.
- A personal blog allows you to establish a deeper connection with your audience. You can interact with your readers and create content that serves them. Additionally, you can alter your niche, content pillars, or messaging as you continue to refine your brand to serve the audience that you want to.
- You get to be your own boss, determine your own working schedule, and set your own priorities. While this does take some continuous fine-tuning, there is a lot of freedom to be found here. Read more tips to get your business started here.
- Blogging is very low-cost to get started. There are some expenses as you begin, but you can certainly plan to gradually invest in your business. We discuss the costs of blogging more here!
- Listen to more of our personal reasons for blogging and the career benefits in episode 2 of the podcast.
What are the disadvantages of blogging?
Like any business venture, there are disadvantages to blogging, too. Any form of entrepreneurship will have its challenges and it is necessary to honestly assess the effort and resources required from you when running a blogging business.
- Blogging as a business requires a dedicated time commitment. It takes time to set up a blog on the technical side, and it takes time to create content regularly. Many people see blogging as a fun, creative outlet but don’t realize the necessity of consistent content creation and systems for a blog to steadily grow.
- A successful blog does not happen overnight. It can take a lot of time to gain traction and get traffic, whether through marketing strategies or organically. Even more so, it can take longer to grow a sustainable income.
- Blogging is certainly accessible to anyone, but it does require at least some technical knowledge. Although, don’t let this stop you – help is available! Check out our blogging support program here.
- Working as a blogger can feel isolating. Many people feel the lack of camaraderie and support gained from team members in an office setting. The best way to combat isolation is to join a blogging community (join one of our membership communities here).
- As a blogger, you must stay on top of new technologies, systems, and trends, and be willing to continually learn new things. This can be difficult for some who prefer a clear path of training, education, or other mentorship.
- While being your own boss may appeal to some, others can find it challenging to work with minimal direction or feedback, or clear pathways to success. If you aren’t comfortable with structuring work time and professional priorities, this can be a learning curve (we chat more about this and other challenges here).
Deciding if blogging is right for you
Despite the disadvantages of blogging, this endeavor can be truly rewarding. Running a blog as a business is full of possibilities as both a revenue stream and a platform to share your ideas with the world.
If you’re debating whether blogging is right for you, explore more resources here on mindset, technical details, and content planning. Also, listen to some of our many podcast episodes with bloggers and industry experts who love what they do! Here are just a few:
- Episode 116: Let’s Get Technical: SEO with Casey Markee
- Episode 112: Creating Sweet New Roots: Cortney Sparkman’s Blogging Story
- Episode 89: Freelancing, Growth Mindset, and Authentic Entrepreneurship with Kirsti McNabney
- Episode 82: What I’ve Learned in 10 Years of Blogging with LaKita Anderson
Looking for more blogging support for your business? Check out our programs for aspiring and established bloggers here or connect with us on Instagram at @sparkmediaconcepts.