Blogging Beyond The Stats

I’ve recently read a few posts about bloggers feeling down and fed up about their stats not increasing. I had a week like this as well where I questioned what I was doing and why my stats were staying flat.

I think it’s a common theme amongst bloggers, with many having feelings like this. So I thought I’d list the reasons to blog beyond the stats. Why you should keep going even if no one (or few people) are reading:

• Better Writing – By blogging frequently, you are honing your writing skills and becoming a better writer. All serious writers (my mum is an author!) say that you need to write on a regular basis to keep your skills fine-tuned.

• Keeps Your Brain Active – Blogging and writing regularly keeps your brain active and improves your creativity. If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly on the look- out for new topics and subjects to write about. It makes you look at things differently. I’m always thinking about different angles and how different news items or the things my kids say might be used for a blog article.

• It’s Cathartic – If something’s on your mind or bothering you, it can be very cathartic to write it down and get it all out! I wrote this piece when I was having a bad week and I know of several other bloggers who write about very emotional topics which seem to help with their healing process.  

• Meeting & Networking – Blogging involves a lot of reading and commenting on other people’s blogs. This leads to networking and even friendships that you wouldn’t have necessarily made. Networking can in turn lead to : 

• Opportunities – Blogging can create opportunities. It can open doors to possibilities that range from reviewing products or the chance to speak to some of your favourite brands about writing for them. I started my blog as a way to showcase my writing style and skills to potential freelancing clients.

• Read More – Through the blogging community you read more. I’ve read so many interesting and different blogs. Reading more is not only a good thing but you tend to read and consume faster. Reading widely can lead to more ideas for your own posts. I’ve written a couple of blogs after reading other people’s posts that have inspired me to write my own take on a subject. 

• Developing Your Style – By reading other people’s blogs and writing your own posts regularly you are developing your own style and your own voice. I’ve read some very funny and sarcastic blogs, others which are chatty and informal and others which are serious and informative or advice driven.

 

I’m sure there are other benefits that could be added to this list. The point is, that there are plenty of reasons and advantages to blogging which we should all take time to remember  when we get a bit bogged down and focused only on the number of people reading our work!

If you can add to this list of reasons, do let me know in the comments below!